Quote: EX.SALF.UNI "Accepted, but a physical forum would help bypass the anonymous, hateful, lazy drivel that this forum's discussions often descend into.'"
Not necessarily. I've been to fan forums and FR meetings that have encompassed all of the above. That said, very few are willing to step out of their online personas; their comfort zone. So it is a different kettle of fish when one is actually faced with backing up what you say on the Turkey.
The great thing about physical forums is spontaneity and the absence of edit. You can review a post on here, even get somebody to proof read it for you. But once somebody blurts something out in public, it's out there. There have been numerous forums & FR meetings where things have been said and not posted here, on request.
Quote: EX.SALF.UNI "An e-forum where users are accountable for their contributions [ishould[/i be enough to house sensible debate.'"
The problem is with more accountability you lose visitors and clout. Although the quality of debate is improved, or destroyed depending on your viewpoint, with more stringent moderation, it probably would be counter-productive as far as creating a conduit between the forum and the club is concerned.