I have to say that your post made me a bit cross - It's bad enough having to deal with this stuff daily - Now I'm being criticised for allowing it to happen?
Please read my words again and you will see that no criticism is contained.
Still, if you are happy to preside over a forum that seems to cater for a realtively small core of members, then it is your bat and ball.
For the avoidance of doubt, this is not a snide comment, just an observation from my perspective about your empowerment as moderator and as you have said
I don't accept that this thread is driving content away - in fact it is generating traffic to the forum.
So, not much more to say?
I will be taking a break, as there are other fora which are more interesting at the moment, but maybe I'll be back later, to have a look.
Have safe travels.