Well that's the reason I decided to post the question in this thread in the first place, knowing that I'll at least get some sensible answers out of it. The alternative would be to start a new thread, but then the question would be thrown to the wolves, with everyone wanting a piece of the action.
But yeah, this kind of thread only works if you have someone who's committed to the course (similar to PKM's draft thread), otherwise it'll just run out of energy and die.
But I guess if you enjoy what you're doing - why stop right?!?!
there are pros and cons to almost anything.
I could just start a clearly limited discussion/thread every once in a while that would draw people based on the topic. that's what is generally the rule in here, and it has the merits of the clear label to draw folks interested in it. And yah, most of the time it draws combatants who want to claim ownership on some ideological basis.
The general merit of a forum like JazzFanz is in the common interest that brings people here. A shared interest can be the beginning of some decent human interaction, even "friendship". . . . even "online".
In most neighborhoods, people don't go out on the shared street to claim "ownership" on an ideological basis. Americans still basically respect people who around them in their neighborhoods, regardless of political ideology. If someone breaks the rules in regard to noise, trash, or other significant norms they'll draw fire in the form of complaints. If someone starts some criminal behavior they'll draw police interest. But basically mere opinions are tolerated. Well, some not so much.
A private forum gets to set its own rules, and I have to live with the rules here or at least observe some kind of respect for them to the extent that the owners/mods can tolerate, and I think I have to make this thread actually constructive and worthwhile. If it's different somehow, and interesting to some, it could be a niche some members want to have around. . . . if just for a good laugh or some kind of notice.
I don't particularly think the format of a limited topic thread is the only way to go about being a JazzFanz member. We have some special forums dedicated to some one members' circle of friends that require a password to get in. I like that idea, too. It gives some a little field to have some talk with people who are willing to value that private forum, excluding perhaps some obnoxious nuisances. . . ..or people who are just hostile somehow, or with some axe to grind.
This idea has popped up in some other forums and I've seen where it can have some merit. Sometimes it can be a better format because if people are more interested in being friends than just having a certain topic discussed, it can be fun. Or if someone wants to talk without the contest over who is "King of the Hill" or "Right".
When friends come to me to talk about something, I don't tell them they have to listen to me and do what I say. I listen. I try to figure out what it's all about, and what I can do to help. I might have some suggestions, I might not. I will try to understand some things about the person. I don't often tell them what they need to do. I'm hopeful if I see them working through the ideas they're struggling with. I'm glad if they don't feel threatened with something they're afraid I might think.
I call it all good if they go home feeling better about life than when they came into my living room.