I'm still new to the site, but it is sad to see a rule like this on the forum. I fully understand NIW's position however, so I do not blame him. I would personally prefer to allow all topics in off topic so long as it remained respectful. Back when I ran my photography website, I too had off topic forums like this. I tended to always air on the side of free speech, anything goes, so long as it didn't devolve into toxic behavior. When people complained I would suggest they just not visit that particular forum - read all the other forums available. Over time the off topic forum became one of the most popular places people posted and interacted, especially the most invested members who had built relationships with other members. That was my position however and my experience. Its not right or wrong but a thing of preference. I would just throw my 2 cents behind keeping off topic as free as possible to any topic.
To those who are making comments like "yea I come here to read about tractors not this other junk" then simply live in the many other forums on the site. Thats like walking into McDonalds and complaining they dont have a ribeye steak, when the steak house is right next door. Why go into off topic then complain about off topic threads? You can totally ignore off topic entirely, and spend all day reading and discussing tractors on this site. Its all here.
I highlighted in red the reasons I had to put my foot down.
Several were not being respectful or polite
Too many times it became toxic to fast!
It wasn't staying in just Off Topic, it was spilling over into all different areas and threads causing many to get tired of it.
I read about 90% of what is posted on here, and it was just getting to be to many threads / posts and too many complaint's.
I have too many other things to do than to take care of a bunch of bickering over which character like Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Porky Pig, Daffy Duck, Sylvester, or Tweety was doing their job right this week.
You also have to be aware of our Oz, EU, and points all over members that simply don't care or want to hear or get involved in our countries toxic Political goings on.