Out of the first 50 threads, I see one asking us to label ourselves by type of post, one saying people in one part of the country are better than another, one wanting to talk about our patriotic morale and fiber, one wanting to trash fat people (again), one asking about those awful illegal aliens, one trying to trash small towns, and one about prostitution.

I know I don't have to read any of them, but it makes me wonder if this is a travel forum or a soap-box or trolling pool. Everytime one of those stupid non-travel things pops up, a real travel question slides down a notch.

Is this who we want to be?

No, Tom it's not.
This forum isn't what it used to be.
Glad I was here when I needed information about the southwest & Las Vegas before all these mean spirited people showed up.
It's winter in much of our country. Perhaps people are bored. Here's hoping for better threads for Spring!

Several months ago another large company with many message boards on all topics (including a fair one on travel) shut down. These were the types of posts often found under "Family" and "Current Events" or other categories. I believe people have migrated.

Everyone is here

http://www.winternet.com/~mikelr/flame1.html

Apparently it's exactly who some want it to be.

Tom - you are so right. But I have noticed that when everyone completely ignores the off-topic poster, he/she goes away faster. Lets just pretend their postings don't even exist!