Simon,
I like the direction you are thinking.
The ratings system and self monitoring that I mentioned Slashdot and other websites are trying is designed to attract the largest number of people by bringing the flow of quality material to the top. This system has some validity in sites where there are a lot of active posters.
If your goal is that of making this a enjoyable and friendly watering hole that ex-dubs can enjoy, learn, and participate in..without the need to make it bigger then there is a few alternative approaches that work just as well.
The first is catagorization of information. This is what you are suggesting by people putting their posts in certain area. Look at the example of a large city newspaper. If there were no catagories, you would have to read the whole damn thing through to find the information you are looking for. You don't want to read the sports scores if you are shopping for a car.
This leads me to agree with you that you should get rid of the "Main" catagory but replace it with a better idea. Remember that existing ideas are replaced by better ideas. Why not try modeling things after a newspaper?
You would have a front page section that would have a limited number of posts and then your index for people's favorite sections. To keep the front page from getting clogged with everything (people are like lightning and take the path of least resistance) put a restriction in the number of posts someone can start in this section each day (say one or two) and that will keep the trolls and spammers from wasting prime-time bandwidth.
For the "favorite" sections you could have something along the lines of a ex-JW cafe or pub where people could go to hang out and post as much as they wanted but it would be mostly fluff and chitchat as this area would be for socializing. It would be similar to your chat room but better because not everyone can get on the chat at the same time and here people could post when they wanted and enjoy the ongoing discussions.
You could have another section for "dirty laundry" in which people could engage in their unlimited bickering if they so desired. If they start an arguement in the pub, just drop the thread into the laundry room and let it play itself out.
How about a section for newbies who want support? Maybe this would be a kinder and gentler section of the board that allows new people to share their story and hang out until they feel brave enough to walk into the Wild Wild West section that anything goes?
You have some good catagories now but you make it too easy to just plug into the main board as it gives the largest audience and attracts the trolls and spammers. The trolls and spammers are not going to go away but with a good catagory system, you can minimize their droppings.
Oh, and you know as well as I do that as much as you tell people to play nice and all that, it has about the same effect at the infamous saying: Just Say No to Drugs.
We are animals Simon, got that? grrrrrr
Skipper
