I concur with the sentiment that more traffic made the forum alive and probably visited more often, even if a sizeable % of those messages was not really new information. Since despite some warnings the Chatter area deterioated, I doubt that just reopening would result in better results in the long run.

My take on things is that chatter was not always given the same level of thought as postings on technical questions. Some posts offered new info, others were reflective ping-pongs of previously uttered opinions, after some exchanges perhaps spiced with more sarcasm.

I believe with some ideas from traffic shaping the quality of posts in chatter could be elevated. Since only a few rules would have to be created, it might be a chance without management spending a lot of manpower. Other options like self-policing I believe wouldd create more bad blood. Decisions coming from Michel were acepted with minimal grumbling, clear rules set into stored procedures should evoke less grumbling, perhaps some ideas of better/more refined SPs.

While personal stingyness keeps me from getting a subscription in a forum where I think I offer more help than questions, I would try to help to create some rules for automatic dampening of some chatter-threads going overboard into regions turning off those not directly involved ;-)

Just going back offering the same is no solution IMO and evokes the quip of expecting different results... We are DB oriented, we should be able to define such rules for ourselves ;-)


>Now that there has been a cooling off period, could you reconsider restoring the Chatter?
>Seems like a lot of people are really disappointed.
>My business experience says you listen to your paying and also non paying clients. I learned this a few years ago.
>
>Just a thought......