Q:(karlsc@utne) Do you see a difference in the online levels of this sophistication vs. "real life"?
A: I don't engage people in racial discussions in real life, and have no real desire to do so. It's because I have come to such a sophisticated and nuanced level of comprehension through my interactions with people online. Plus, being a curmudgeon, I don't want to have to punch any idiot in the nose (c.f. Ellison). But to answer your question directly, I think it unlikely to achieve the level of sophistication in real life that you can achieve online. Take any group of Americans and put them in a room for as long as they can stand each other and they will achieve X level of understanding. Online, that can easily be tripled.
Since I figure that the online population is representative, what I notice is the difference in sophistication between discussion spaces. Although that is often a function of the personalities involved, the way spaces are constructed and moderated makes a very big difference in the level of sophisticated understanding people can reach.