Folks, let's stop the cycle of nastiness, please. Snarky comments and GTFOs don't help anyone.
Again, I see where you're coming from... though perhaps I don't see the problems you cite as a debasement. As a point of interest, perhaps, Janet addressed the matter of the locks/use of personal clout in petty ways, and even apologized:
Actually. This lock I can admit was bad. But I did it because simply... I guess I needed to see for myself how bad the reactions to this one simple thread being locked can get. Simply put I don't think it's worth locking on my part ever now simply because people react so badly to it. It's... Weird.
But yes I apologize for that one.
As far as whether the "Things that made you _____." today threads are technically conversations or not, that's all rather beside the point to me. People discuss things, and share findings, experiences, events, and so on in them. At least for me, they've had more than enough interesting things to share about world affairs, modern culture, and entertainment, to make up for any circlejerks or silliness that happens therein. I can glean enough goodness out of it, that I don't have a problem with them.
I think you're making a Crusade out of... well, I'm not sure what, really. People are people, my friend... and it's a hard lesson to learn that it's not ones place to change another. I like the people here plenty, and I wish everyone well. Sure there's dysfunction... that happens. When people make a drama of things, make a spectacle of themselves, or do something in a desperate plea for attention, I can see it plainly, and though it frustrates me, I don't play into it. Neither do I browbeat them with it. I think this is a fundamental thing which you may want to do some thinking about. (Note: I'm not putting it eloquently right now; fucking haven't slept more than 6 hours in 4 days, so... yeah.)
Anyway, when I'm more lucid, it seems a worthwhile discussion to have, and might be worth starting a thread of its own. I'd prefer to keep it impersonal if public, because there is tricky line between well-intentioned unsolicited advice, and personal attacks... moreover unsolicited advice is generally a slippery slope.