Keep it going, BUT ( you knew there was going to be a but, didn't you ? LOL ) , bring it back to where it used to be. What do I mean by that ? Bring it back to being a POLITICAL form, and not something that is closer to a chat room. There is NOTHING of political, nor cultural value, in thread after thread of why Harry Potter is Satan, and Christians who read / allow their children to read the books, are going to burn in hell. Threads about which music FREEPERS have lifed fromthe net, doesn't constitute political action, news, nor anything else, that is stated as a goal of this site, either. I can continue with the list ; however , I think that you know what I am talking about.
Yes, anyone not interested in these things CAN ignore them. Since you have posted how much bandwidth costs, I am posting this reply, as a suggestion on how to cut costs , and still keep FR vital, important, and on line.
Ye speaketh the truth.... Bring it back to political issues. Who cares if a Freeper is single. Join a local chapter and get involved. Who cares what kind of computer to buy. Ban Vanities....
There is NOTHING of political, nor cultural value, in thread after thread (about) Harry Potter (and) which music FREEPERS (prefer) . . Culture is all-embracing, and threads of the kind you mention help dispel the canard that conservatism is monolithic, dull, rigid and oppressive.
Well, most of them do.
You objections to people sharing other things in their lives outside of straight politics is ... short-sighted. While politics is an important part of social intercourse, knowing something about the others with whom you discuss politics helps put faces on them and make them more than mere internet cyphers. This is an important part of building community and creating the glue of friendship and fellow-feeling that holds communities together.
On the other hand, your note about the bandwidth eaten by such discussions is also pertinent. Perhaps we could each refrain from "me, too" posts, or continuing discussions that have drifted off-topic into the realm of pure chat. After all, there are plenty of programs and services out there that support pure chat, and it's seldom difficult to start a new room or mailing list on one of them. Yahoo!Groups is one such.