I don't understand those that say that "the first page on General Discussion is why they avoid the forums," because that's indicative of a problem that needs to be addressed. If it's such a perceived cesspool, then they should have moderators reevaluate what is and isn't working. There should be an expectation set on what is appropriate conduct and moderate as necessary.

If the current expectation is that the forums are a mess, because there is little to no moderation, then it should fall to the forum mods to change how they interact with the community (be it with more intervention, more mods, or both). A mess isn't cleaned up just by staring at it.

And to add, a little interaction from community reps would go a long way. I get it's volatile to respond to one thread vs another, but it does overall give people the knowledge that they are seen and heard.