Dear Joe,
I will take this thread as opportunity to express myself regarding some issues regarding this website.
First, the several sections you have created make it complicated to find the thread you want, with one politics section it was easier, especially that in Lebanon everything is interrelated, there is politics in everything. Remember very well people are here for the enjoyment, you are not an academic institution trying to educate. I know all forums that went this way ended up closing down, please take it into consideration. Not only that, but most people use the forum through their handsets this time around, which makes it even more difficult to go through the different sections, whereas back in the day you were using desktop/laptop.
Then, in this 2019, forums are long outdated i know you are aware of it, during the time when there was msn or messenger, the trend was that people stay anonymous with nicknames online, that was the internet, and that is where forums or message boards picked up. Then when social media came to the scene the whole understanding changed with people exposing themselves totally. So you should take into consideration making people flash their real names as usernames, or even better make it that every forum account has to be linked to a facebook or twitter account, if you are allowed to do that. This will make conversations safer, and would help separate trolls from serious debates.
Bare in mind, the only reason why this forum is still alive, is because of the quality you offer, either in the quality of debates, or the quality of the interface this website has. So please try to attract more of the intellectual posters, those are your main asset, i see they have become very few, it has come down to a set of 10 regulars that have their personal issues in between, with occasional youngsters coming in every now and then.
Third, the extremism, i don't know whether intentional, but i see you have opened the door for everyone to voice themselves with all racist sectarian trash they feel like saying, good, that is smart, no one wants peaceful, lukewarm i spit of my mouth. But and a big but, this is a double edged sword, many will just refrain from posting here again, you have to keep a red line somewhere, let the racist voice himself but allow many moderates to express themselves too, keep it balanced, your forum has now the reputation of being a gathering of extremists.
Please take what I've written into consideration l nasi7a bjamal, i'm probably the oldest active member here, correct me if i'm wrong, i still do come here because its the only Lebanese forum left online.
Waiting for your response,
@Jo
Thanks,