This might be radical but...

[Chinajan]

...what about running the site as an Answerbank?

If we must have these frankly unfunny 'jokes' clogging up the place, could they not be shunted off to a proper forum for those who want just to chat?

[jno]

ah, I remember when it was like that and the only chatty thing you were allowed to say was "Good morning", anything else was removed. Presumably it didn't make much money that way.

[grasscarp]

Are you also in favour of dropping chatterbank then. I think it's ok as it is. Easy enough to ignore the bits you don't like.

[ladyalex]

Don't be such a misery.
If you don't like jokes etc, don't read them.
Simples.

[cupid04]

Only your 17th question on here in nearly 10 years, boy you must love it on here!

[rockyracoon]

Here's a better idea, why not just read the questions in topics that interest you and leave the rest to everyone else.

[Chinajan]

Fair comments, especially as previously it was too much the 'other way'.

I don't read the jokes, but I can't avoid what you see on the main page as the most recent posts. I was suggesting that non question-answer threads be given a separate place.

That's the reason I've not posted so much over the years. Too strict before, too lenient now.

[Chinajan]

Oh - and cupid04, you'll see I've answered over 200 questions, so don't go by what I've asked.

[cupid04]

I apologise for being sarcastic.

[naomi24]

We've had some excellent discussions ruined by people who'd rather we didn't talk about subjects they object to. Why do they bother to read it? If I see something in the grey box that doesn't interest me, I ignore it. I wouldn't dream of trying to prevent others talking about it.

[ummmm]

I agree with Naomi.

Too strict before, too lenient now.

You have to be kidding. It was troll paradise before.

[emmie]

surely that is the point of chatterbank?

[boxtops]

I ignore the jokes, I only answer or participate in threads which interest me.

[emmie]

some of the jokes are funny, and don't we all need a bit of a laugh in an increasingly stressful life.

[brenda]

I would rather read a joke, however tame it may be ,than read a reply which is nasty and hurtful to the original poster.

[venator]

If you don't like looking at the "Latest posts", either don't look, or cut a suitably sized piece of paper and blu tack it over the offending area.

[boxtops]

some of the jokes are dire, though :-)

[emmie]

boxy true, but some are laugh out loud funny.

[AB Editor]

1. If a joke appears outside of the joke section, please report it. We'll remove it.
2. There is a section of the site called ChatterBank, this is an area where users can chat. Last time it was removed users chatted EVERYWHERE.
3. Even the majority of questions in ChatterBank are still questions in search of answers - as we bank these for later use, I'd suggest we're running it as an answer bank :)

"That's the reason I've not posted so much over the years. Too strict before, too lenient now."

This is nonsense.

[Ann]

You leave us alone, we love it as it is! If you don't like it, lump it or leave!

[jno]

ummmm, it was really strict before, that was before the trolls started turning up.

For what it's worth, looking at the latest posts panel now, I can see six threads only one of which ("Clicky, Painful Neck") looks like an answerable question.