[GustavM]

So, we've new mods and owners around here.
1. What is the purpose of the OTF forum

Imran said it best.

2. How should we deal with personal attacks, flames, etc. Depends on the spirit, severity, and amount.
If you can tell it is in good spirit, or that it was very short lived knee-jerk - leave it alone.

If it is mean spirited, intentional trolling, and very aggressive ("fascist scum" >> "you jerk") then
1. post a warning + PM
2. if it's severe / prolonged / repeating - 12/24/48h ban.
3. if it's a 2-way feud - punish both.
4. if the personal feud disrupts the thread, delete offending posts while trying to keep conversation flow. NEVER EVER do this without explaining what you did.

In general - ALWAYS post explaining moderator action. ALWAYS be consistent. Even if it's silly 12h bans for people to cool off.

In the TOPIC forums - post more warnings regarding aggressive language that can be overlooked in the OT. That's where noobs likely start out.

3. How should we deal with thread jacking
In the OT - only if the thread starter complains. If it's an interesting conversation - split it. If it's intentional badgering - warn + punish. Be careful not to nib conversations that naturally flow from one subject to another. As Drake said, often 'thread jacks' make threads better.

ON TOPIC - This is much more likely to be due to natural conversation flow. If need be - split a 2nd thread. If it's spammy in nature - a warning should do in 99%.

4. How should we deal with user-spam (not commercial spam)
Spammy posts
OT - ONLY IF threat starter complains, or thread is severely disrupted (continuously posting the huge mile long picture). ALWAYS start with a warning, unless it is someone's vendetta to disrupt someone else's thread.

ON TOPIC - one or two friendly spams add to friendly atmosphere. Prolonged spam should call for warning.

Spammy threads
ON TOPIC - leave threads in good fun. move/close threads that are disruptive. Always explain why.

OT - unless they are vile / utterly dumb - Give it a chance to turn into fun discussion. We've had very interesting / amusing discussions rise out of various spammy drunk threads.

If the spam is crap, the thread will die on itself, and it can be locked and moved later.

while I basically agree with Other than personal insults and porn, I honestly think anything goes. No one is harmed by threadjacking or spam threads or copycat threads, it's all just harmless funning. No harm, no foul. It is important to moderate some spam. Having 8 copycat threads, 5 of them being unfunny, is disruptive. So is people posting APOLYTON APOLYTON in large font in random discussions.

5. Is there anything in these forums you miss? What kinda debates / topics aren't possible here but would be good for the OTF, what can we do to bring them here?
nothing you can do beyond regular moderation as described in 2,3,4. Paraphrasing Guynemer: curtail personal attacks and keeping everything else as it is now.

Prevent threads on religion / middle east / torture / UAVs / MBTs from reaching high tone personal feuds. These decrease interesting conversation in the current thread, and also prevent such threads from being started in the future.

6. Are there reasons for you to post or not post in this forum descent to personal feuds is a reason not to post certain threads / new topics.

7. Do you like the idea of a 'closed threads' forum, or do you prefer to keep closed threads in the forum, or do you prefer them to be deleted completely? If a thread is closed by mod action - you could send it to the closed forum, so people can see what happened. Beats plain deletion, and can be reopened if mod over-reacted.

Also opens up a leeway to a locked porn archive

If a thread is closed due to natural reasons - reaches 500 posts / request - close and let sink.

8. What can in general be done to make the OTF a better place A bit more moderation, applied consistently - especially to prevent threads collapsing to the usual personal feuds.

9. What should remain to keep the OTF a good place?
Current level of sex talk / babe posts is good. No new censorship.

Btw, the "harsh OT" idea is bad. People always had other forums to vent off (CG and the likes).
Keep it that way. If people have a legal refuge where they can badmouth and insult other people, it's bad.

Thanks for your input. thanks for your inquiry

I very much agree with all the points Asher makes, regarding moderation as well as regarding generating new content for Apolyton the site, and the On-Topic forums.