Hi,
I want to start by saying that SB is the best source of diving knowledge online.
I'm responding here as a new member with a "new member" perspective. I've read for quite a while in areas that interest me or to gain some knowledge/information, but I'm reluctant to ask questions about diving. I see a few threads with antagonistic answers, or members "attacking" the original poster, and I think "Why would I bother?" Sometimes the question isn't even answered.
I saw NetDoc's reply the other day in a thread, (Near Misses, I think) and I believe BoulderJohn, one of your moderators also replied, saying they don't want to moderate too much and ruin the exchange of information. But there's a great deal of difference between argument and debate. I see too much argument, where people are intent on pushing their opinion on others and they become downright rude. That thread can become spoiled and useless as a source of information for those of us who are new to posting, in my opinion. Debate, where people are able to respond civilly and counter the issues politely and thoroughly, is a much better way to go. There has to be a degree of expectation that you won't get howled down because others don't agree with you. I see some prolific posters (TSandM is one) are always polite and always helpful. That "helpful" bit often gets lost in a sea of acrimony, with the "I'm-right-and-you're-wrong" attitude.
In the same thread I mentioned above, another new poster said she didn't feel she could post and get a reasonable answer. I know you moderate the basic scuba section differently, but it IS off-putting to see any argumentative behaviour and rude responses. It's unnecessary to be rude to anyone, even if you disagree with them. And I don't think ANY question is silly. EG: I'll bring to your attention the thread in Scuba Related Court Cases (I'm in the lgeal profession) where I saw a thread called "Lost Dive Holiday whilst in The Maldives". I'd ask you to read some of the responses there, and try to look at them from the POV of a new member. Maybe people thought it was a frivolous question, but some of the replies are harsh and very impolite. Why? Because they can from behind their computer? I have to wonder what that brings to your site. Do you think that type of response is appropriate? And I don't think "growing a thick skin" is an answer. If you want your site to be used by new members then it has to have some type of standard of behaviour. Do you think being polite is going to stifle free speech? I think you'd get less "readers" and more "posters" if they didn't feel like they were going to be attacked for asking anything.
I know moderation is a difficult task, and deciding where the line is in the sand can be subjective, but I think your forum would be a lot friendlier if it cut down on the "argument" and reinforced the "debate".
I hope this has been what you wanted. I think your forum is generally great, but it could be improved even more.