I realize that there's gonna be some drift in a thread of any length, and try to make my questions as specific as possible when I want to avoid that. And I know that there will be some jokers, and some people who just want to put their two cents in. But take this thread for instance. Of the 11 posts, 7 were within the first hour. You can't use the "refresh" excuse for that. And the post died the day after it was started. And more than half the posts in that thread were not directly helpful in answering the question.

I don't let anything stop me from posting or starting a new thread if I have a question. But something like the above would keep me from coming back the next time I have a question - I would feel like this was another worthless batch of information on the internet. (IMO the 'net is about worthless - it's got tons of information, but to weed thru all the bullshit to find what you want usually isn't worth the effort. )

Aldus - I think you would have to define civil before demanding that someone be that way. Personally, I don't think advice like "put it to your lips and blow" is very civil.

I don't see much difference between having to ignore posts with "obscene" words or personal attacks in them and having to ignore ones that are just wiseass remarks with only the vaguest of references to the thread topic(s). Personally, I'd like to see the majority of the BS kept in the BS threads. A simple "refresh" would be sufficient to put a thread back at the top of the list.

In defense of 'Catters, I've started two threads recently, both to do with song writing. The amount of information and personal views that I've gotten from them is great, and I've enjoyed reading both of them. Some of the other threads I've found either amusing or helpful.