long philosophical discourses

Yes, definitely gets my vote. These are fascinating areas of discussion - but at the end of the day it's about differenciation, so enabling navigation. There has surely to remain a recognition that, work or play, this is a language forum?

And perhaps also we could consider posting the "Good, one, Bert" messages as Private - don't you just hate finding that as the endpiece of a thread that has taken two minutes to display itself?!?

However, I really want to underline this: I did not, and do not now, intend any of this as a personal criticism of any individual contributing to this wonderful forum. As I kind of implied, it is only because I too have gone thro' those experiences of trying to talk to all of you at once in the initial magic of discovery, and only because I care about the forum continuing to give some pleasures to all, that I have posted these ramblings.