Of course. Still doesn't mean it's not collaborative. Not all members feel comfortable posting publicly, especially when they're not sure how their fellow members will react.

You keep suggesting that we look at things from a regular member's POV. We do, and guess what? Sometimes they suggest great ideas that we've never thought of, cf. forum glossaries, Nude-o-Scope sticky, lounge threads, etc. Sometimes PMs confirm ideas we've already thought of, such as a forum split. That's collaboration in its most fundamental form. I would bargain most forums already function in this manner. It's a bit rich to suggest some forms of collaboration are better than others or some are wrong because they don't meet your standard of discourse. Not every one is as confident in communication as you or I, koko.


For the record, I think the essential suggestion in the OP has merit. I also think it's out of TB purview to mandate specific types of threads, in particular those pertaining to questions of moderation.