We are listening to what you're all saying, and I probably need to add a comment or two.
First off, there's no way either Dave ir I want to stop the sides completely. What we're trying to do - and trying to please everyone in the process - is simply have a forum in whcih there can be both relaxed comments and humorous comments and asides and serious debate. Even in a serious debate there are bound to be the odd off-the-cuff comments, but what we don't want is for them to dominate a topic in which folk are trying to debate seriously. That's really the problem; some folk take a lot of time over composing their posts on some issues, and when the only responses they get are puns and jokes, it can be disheartening.
In a sense ,that why the "arcade" was set up; in there you can say what you want and joke to your heart's content, because no one is debating any one particular subject. But those who like to debate and discuss seriously surely deserve the chance to do so.
Finally, Dave and I don't take much notice of third-hand comments from people who've not posted. If people don't like what they see, then they should join another place. Or join this one and try to change it from within.