Your subtlety is lost on me here. It was a bad idea then? All the participants were trolls? It was closed improperly? What are you trying to say?
I'm not sure why it was closed, but it was clearly stated from the start that it was experimental and could disappear. I thoroughly enjoyed it

Maybe NetDoc will share some of his whims and fancies.
Jep makes a point that it was different than a Mild West idea, although it was certainly not strictly diving related.
I like how this place is moderated, although I'm rarely on the receiving end of that moderation. I can understand the situation for those that are just trying to have fun and get moderated, vacationed, or banned, and why they would see a need for a safe haven.
I think a Mild West area would be alright, although I wouldn't want to see it as a free-for-all zone. I don't think it would work if it were a place for people to attack each other, openly or subtly. I think it would work if it were a place for people to hang out as friends and not worry too much about what topics or words they used.
I don't think this thread is about the Surface Interval, but the SI is a good example of the attitude needed to make a Mild West area work. People post as friends in there, even if they are taking jabs and joking around. I post in there and I don't worry about 2 dozen people flaming me because they don't agree with my opinion or they disapprove of my post. For example, there was a discussion about reels a few threads ago- several people threw down their 2 cents about reels- divers with different backgrounds, different training, and different opinions. It was civil and didn't blow up into "My instructor can beat up your instructor." In my opinion, the threads in there much more respectful of differing opinions.
I think the SI forum is the best part of Scubaboard- it's a smaller, more perfect retreat from the big board.