Prologue
I find it important to maintain a functional family environment in a forum. Even though this is a family by voluntary association (unlike one's birth family), it is a family none the less. Every family has a culture. That culture can sometimes become toxic because of a few disruptive members. The association continues as long as the benefits outweigh the costs. Personally, I remain here on that basis. Not dealing with the disruptive members, however, risks family disintegration.
Treating people fairly is frequently implemented by treating everyone identically. This is harmful, not the least because it dehumanizes everyone. Weak managers tend to like it because it requires less thinking. And our legal systems punishes those that do not follow it. I resent this approach deeply. Everyone wants to be treated as an individual; appreciated for their talents and tolerated for their foibles. This is true of a family by birth and a family of voluntary association. The disruptive must be dealt with or it harms the family. Doing so in an individualized manner, with care, compassion and civility is my goal. I remain a work in progress here.
In a forum that is sponsor supported, whether provided for the owner's profit or as a break-even service, there is a certain responsibility incumbent on the managers to deal with members that risk its survival. Passing judgement on others and firing someone are the two aspects of life that cause me the most discomfort. Having to fire someone has caused me many sleepless nights before and after the fact. Before resorting to firing someone, I try to make them productive, less disruptive and more team orientated. Many times it has cost me considerable money not only because of lack of productivity, but because of the disruptive impact on the other members of the staff. I have been able to counsel some into becoming productive and a team player. With most I have failed. I still try, because that is my nature.
To the question
Adding some humor to the dialogs is mostly a harmless thing and adds color to discussions that are sometimes gray by their nature. The right level of off-topic posts in a thread is hard to determine. Most of us know it when they see it. Zero tolerance is harmful to the enjoyment of life and has caused many a tragedy when implemented in the public arena.
I'm of a generation that finds discomfort in vulgarity and sexually explicit humor in mixed company. The younger generation seems more tolerant of these things. Were I in charge, I would tolerate much less of it than is displayed in our forum.
I will punt on passing judgement on a particular individual. Were I to have the responsibility of creating the environment for a productive and useful forum, I would not be able to punt. I hope I would do it well.
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