Hello; Afraid I only partly agree with this. While true I joined this forum for the fish, the lounge has become very important to me. I continue to take part in the dedicated fish threads in areas of experience and interest. That part of the site is the basis for the existence of the forum but not all I come back to see.
I do not disagree with the characterization of the lounge being a distraction. However I very much like the distraction. We have personalities in the lounge and I feel closer to those I interact with. Some days I do not want to deal with an overstocked tank issue or someone who does not use a QT.
I happen to look at it this way. While I may not quit the site if the lounge gets damped down much more, I will not make a point to visit each day. Now that I am writing this my thinking becomes more solid. I enjoy the lounge more than the other forums most days.
I get that you and the other mods have the final say so. I get that there is little I can do about it. I have not liked the way some threads have been handled over time, but I get such is the way things go for us without authority. But if my voice counts in any manner then I am for the lounge and the distraction it can be.
I have been keeping tank for over 50 years. Well over 40 of those years before I discovered web fish sites and this site in particular. I have as of a few years ago quit all the other sites because they censor and restrict too much. This site has for as long time allowed fairly open discussions both about fish topics and in the lounge.
Sure things get to be too much in the lounge from time to time and some level of control is proper. I do get frustrated when some of the more enjoyable threads are closed or deleted entirely when individual offending members could be dealt with. I am trying to be civil now and do so most of the time on here but I get closed down just the same as the rowdy folks when a good thread is closed or deleted. I will stop now.
