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You might be able to control thread topic types (demarcation line between 'Site Related' issues and 'Extended Topics'), but you'll never be able control the conversational boundaries which evolve in the natural course of discussion. Just look how this thread has shifted form!
For instance; we may well start talking about, say, gravitation, and wind up debating the methodology and philosophy of how and why we investigate 'stuff'. This then introduces the 'human element' into the debate. By 'human element' I am referring to our observations and how they affect our thoughts, mindset, reasons for investigation and why there is a need to investigate in the first place.
Whether you choose to believe it, the investigative process is in two parts, the analytical objective investigation (science), and the bilateral subjective investigation (philosophy). For life an living to make any cognitive and intuitive sense to humans in general, the two need to be investigated...it's a natural curiosity. Many, have a natural disposition for the investigation of one or the other. I feel a majority have a disposition for both...and all fractions in-between.
My point is; to draw a line in the sand as to how and what topics should and shouldn't be discussed is restrictive, and that perhaps a natural evolution by the forum as a collective whole will find a natural balance between the science and the speculative; between the topical and the non-topical. This is a form of 'natural selection' in itself, a self governing dynamical debate, whos pathway is governed mostly by the individuals involved and the current affairs of the day...as well as long-standing debates.
Yes, this is an Astronomy forum, but when you shake-down the facts (the data), what's the ratio between the number of posts on 'General Chat' versus any other forum section?
At the end of the day, I feel that the reason why the 'General Chat' section attracts so many posts, opinions and debate, and on such a wide array of topics, is because people are connecting and wish (desire) to be apart of something - something which is perhaps missing in the everyday world, and which, through modern technology (thanks to science), has allowed different thoughts and mindsets to come together into the proverbial 'melting-pot'.
Arguments, occasional hostilities and off-topic debates included, is that really such a bad thing?
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