I'm not sure what bandwidth really has to do with it... We could be skirting on the edge of the allowable or how 17 times what we use available I don't see why it needs to be used up on such things. I don't have those numbers so I can't say either way.
As far as "acceptable" topics and replies... Our system has worked for years and I don't see any reason to change it. I have another forum that I visit that has these topics that are completely random and their purpose (although some times maybe a little funny
) Is simply to raise their post count. Then even talk about it... "Look at me! I have 72K posts now!" Big deal I say. It's been said before, you should look at your post quality not quantity. There is something to be said about replies that are just smilies or "cool"... We've covered all of this before, it's nothing new. Also, I don't feel like reading though hundreds of new posts to a topic like that every day to make sure everyone is being nice. And don't say someone will use the "report this post" feature. They simply don't.
As far as Farmer Dave's topic... I can see why Alexis shut it down. It had no aim. No where to go. One "I'm bored" thread can quickly turn into 30 "I'm bored" threads.
What about Nep_ak's topic "What boredom is" at least it started somewhere... Sure it went off topic BUT, I doubt his picture is a topic that someone will go in to read, and be upset it is no longer about his picture (other than him, and I don't see him complaining) and the topic has evolved into a discussion, one where people are writing long responses, and talking about something. Heck, if he wanted a mod to edit to topic to move it to the new discussion to bring in more people, we could do that too.
But the other topic:
I'm bored
me too
what do you want to do?
I dunno, what do you want to do?
I dunno a rooster woke me
Had no where to go... And who knows how long it would stay that way. Make a topic with a reason to bring discussion to this group of people. And these people will reply to your discussion with something to say. And that, is what others want to read. (I'll say it again) Want to chit chat about idle stuff? IM, chat room ETC. Yes, TerraForums does NOT provide a chat room. The one linked is UNOFFICIAL. We do not mod there.. We don't even promise it works. BUT, if you want to set up a chat room... We'll sticky it just like the other. No problem there. We just don't want that type of chit chat stuff on open forum. Not pages and pages and pages of it. I honestly do not think that is too much to ask of our members.
Andrew