Not to make too big deal about this (or maybe to do exactly that?), I guess my point was just that, by not creating spaces for certain types of discussion, one is less likely to get them.
And it is not like this site has no predetermined categories (whatever the highest level organizational structural elements are called; myself I haven’t found tags a particularly useful method of navigating content here yet). So it would seem like somewhat of a self-fulfilling prophecy that most people are going to stick to talking mostly about tech projects/problems only and not larger conceptual issues (the lack of engagement with which I know I’ve seen some people bemoan) if such discussions are most logically put in a category called “Off Topic” (which, while a perfectly fair name for certain subjects of discussion, is somewhat dismissive).
Again, I think something as simple as an adtl. catch-all “Misc.” or “Etc.” category could be an intermediary solution, a more neutrally labeled place where things could emerge. (Or maybe just renaming “General A/V” to be even more, well, general since the “A/V” makes it sound like one is supposed to be talking tech there?)
But, yeah, probably bringing some of my own baggage into this discussion as I generally bristle at suggestions that things will/do “just arise naturally.” As if we all don’t live within myriad systems that constrict our choices and actions. But that is maybe a larger discussion, maybe indeed off-topic.
