As a user who has returned after initially registering (as Riotgirl) then spent several months away from the board **, I am not conversant with the issues that AO has experienced - however, I have many, many years experience of using web-based forums (much like this one) and the issues being discussed are not uncommon.

1. Personal vendetta's:
Deal with it. People have ego's, more often than not, these are puffed out and inflated more than the indivduals sense of self-worth (compensation, if you like). No matter what system you install, there will always be flames, bitching and disagreements.

Deal with it.

2. Karma system:
The system isn't perfect but I think it's a decent solution precisely because it's open and non-anonymous. Having an anonymous system provides no accountability and absolutely no consequence for one's actions. If someone has a grudge against another user and is constantly negging them, then it's blatantly obvious that they're abusing the system. Either desist or face a ban -- irrespective of how many greenies you have. Simple.

See point 1. No karma system will completely eradicate vendetta's but it keeps people honest. Also, it's so easy to spot post whores (providing they post on-topic, I don't see it as a problem), trolls, lamers amidst the users who post golden nuggets. It's not the post count that matters but the quality and content of the posts -- one or two cursory glances at what users have written tends to either disqualify or justify their greenie/post count rating pretty quickly. Give users some credit and intellect to be able to distinguish between post quality.

3. Lack of content:
If you are referring to a lack of users posting real challenges, or questions/discussions that haven't been asked before then you have to accept that over a period of time, all systems return to mean. Dip in an out of threads, skim read, learn a language or learn to play an instrument, develop a hobby -- in other words, live your life and soon enough there will be a topic that will interest you.

Remember, that the users who know their shitniz and provide answers are probably a minority compared to the one shot posters looking for an easy solution to their problem. As the site grows, and the community grows, for sure the security focus may be a tad diluted but the principle reason for this community is for discussion and knowledge of security issues, as well as sharing that knowledge in an educational and constructive manner.

This forum has been such an excellent resource and my knowledge and desire to learn (pity about my current lack of desire to learn my accountancy topics, eh :P) has increased in such a short amount of time. Two threads by way of example, both challenging orthodoxy and containing educational (if advanced) information:

Firewalls
OS Security


That's my 0.02c and some chump change -- which, by today's exchange rate is pretty damn cheap for me ;)

Regards,
Riotgirl

[edited] P.s. Having mulled this thread over whilst making a cup of tea (how very English and very quaint of me), to emphasize the focus on security (back to the original principles of the site) as someone else has suggested, remove all AP assignments - both personal and thread - for all non-security forums. Besides, users should be able to discuss and debate issues in General Chat without fear of having their opinion shot down in flames just because someone else disagrees and lacks the ability to engage in a constructive debate. The site AUP (as well as mods) will keep users honest.

I'm a big fan in allowing the community to moderate itself.

[edited] ** Paragraph amended for the sake of precision and clarity - oh, and also because I've just read "How To Ask Smart Questions".