At the end of the day, what makes this a
community is not ordered discussion (well, not primarily; we obviously put a LOT into ordered discussion of something we all have in common). Community happens organically... which must allow for SOMETHING of the non-directed group conversation (which I differentiate sharply from "discussion", but that's just my take), or it stagnates. And if there's anything this community isn't, it's stagnant.
We need
some yeast or the whole thing will fall flat and risk becoming boring (ever eaten matzah?
). And that would be a horrible shame, given the liveliness of the thing that brought us all together in the first place.
My official two cents' worth: Keep
one non-directed, non-organized, non-titled (well, it HAS to have a title, just not a specific one that limits the category) subforum. Police it more heavily (when you have wild yeast, you always run the risk of breadsplosions), being sure to rub the puppy's nose in it immediately so he knows what he's done. Heck, call the place "Enough Rope" if you want - make the whole Community forum "Mac's" and call the free-for-all room "Enough Rope" - to drive the point home.
... jeez, I don't just stretch a metaphor, I put it on the frickin' rack.
