I cannot stand to have it said of me that I don't have "a clue what is going on". It is my position that I ALWAYS have a clue what is going on.
Here is my view on the matter:
1. This forum was established by a decorating magazine and they have invited all of us, who buy their magazine and patronize their advertisers, here. Are they policing what we speak of? As I understand it, they are not, unless we swear or type too fast. I imagine that H & H is pleased with the patronage of all of us dedicated consumers, though I wonder if the expected this success!
2. I became registered to use this forum for the purpose of discussing decorating and design. I wish to continue that pass-time. I prefer not to be "kicked off" the D & D forum and risk missing out on DecorGirl's latest purchase, or the rest of SuzieG's house photos when they are finally posted. The reason we have so much in common is that we are like-minded, to at least some degree.
3. Some of the other forum users are offended when we go from paint colours to licking spiders, birth parents or the 1980's. I regret that they feel annoyed, but I would not be offended by a decorating topic of no interest to me... I would simply skip that thread. I have skipped many threads. I can censor my own reading and I am surprised that some find it an inconvenience to scroll past a topic, though I realize that it would be time consuming to have to go through all comments that diverge from the topic looking for posts on the topic of the thread.
4. I do not consider my chats with Artsy, or with anyone, to be private. I know I am on a forum and I expect others may read our posts and might join in. If I have ever made anyone feel unwelcome, that was an oversight and not an intentional slight.
I think a MSN chat on the Members Album would be fine, but we would all have to agree to go there! I don't want to give up my association with the people that are here!
It does not seem necessary to me that anyone should devise a complex solution. It seems to me that we need to be a little more conscientious, that is all. We will title our threads with more care, and we will move off a decorating thread and start our own thread if we start to banter or veer wildly off topic. If I ever want to have a private dialogue with someone - and IF they are willing to have such a dialogue with me - we will get off the forum!
You know, some people say I talk too much.
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what I said in the post below, it's too stressful to frantically keep checking two forums at the same time! I can't cope. Now, I'll leave you two ladies alone to come up with a solution ;)
I just realized that you are finally HERE! I have been literally checking all day. I want to read what you have said so give me a minute.
I'm very glad to hear from my very old (literally) and very dear (literally) friend! :)
I am not opposed to a live chat, of course, if it could be accessible from the forums. I have an inkling, however, that maybe that is too much to ask of H & H.