As has been communicated, I too, am very thankful for this new 'Serious Discussions' sub-forum. THANKS A WHOLE LOT !!!
I also will work hard to keep it in a state where good discussions and debate is carried on, but without letting any topic or debate get out of hand--to the point where statements are close to personal attacks, or overly negative towards a particular poster, rather than simply the argument that poster may be presenting.
Ok, what is considered a serious discussion? Are there certain issues or subjects only? I know what I think is serious. For example, would the Fat Tax thread be a serious discussion or is that just chit chat?
I would say that the format of the presentation is what can really make the difference between a
serious discussion thread and one that would be in Chit Chat & Misc, and would not be about Japan, or Japanese things, per se. There may be some threads that are pretty much borderline too. I did consider moving that thread about the fat tax here, but for the moment have left it there.
If that thread's main theme had been on, for example, 'The Problem of Obesity' with that article as a basic 'case in point,' with an abstract of sorts leading into the presentation, then I, at least, would consider it a 'Serious Discussion' matter. That thread you mention above, does fairly well follow that, but I couldn't convince myself, for whatever reason, to bring it here. Maybe due its narrowness of scope? (related more so to the airline tax matter, or on public transportation)
I look forward to enjoying this area, and I want to express my thanks for the help in filling it out with some of the older things that could fit here !! THANK YOU !!

