Gee, even as a newbie I can see both sides of this fence.
On the one hand, I can appreciate and acknowledge “flirt” threads for what they are. Even sexually themed threads that seem to degenerate to nothing but flirting. If I’m interested in the subject matter, I’ll read to the point where the fun begins and then I’ll click off that and on to some other topic. If that’s all the thread is, I usually tend to ignore them.
However, I have upon occasion or two, participated with friends on various boards in this kind of thing. I don’t think (hope) that it ever went overboard, but I’m sure that someone, somewhere, didn’t like it or think that the exclusivity of it was appropriate or the content pertinent. Unfortunately though, IME (albeit limited), either the participants didn’t realize/care, thought it was harmless or enjoyed the fact that others might want to join in, seem envious (like “ooooh, see how popular they all are!”) or only wish they could belong, perhaps like some involved had felt in the past. The times this has happened to me, I belonged in the clueless category as it was essentially my first MB and I never thought for a minute that other folks could be disgusted, annoyed or assumed less of our characters. So, maybe in all of the above, there might be something that applies here.
Now, as to where I am now… I’m always grateful, as previously mentioned, on adequately titled threads. That helps tons. I have read some of the postings in question and I don’t ever recall anyone hijacking a thread that wasn’t about sexish things already. If I’m wrong, someone please correct me. But, as the target of the OP felt, jarbabyj and others do have the right to be tired of the sheer poliferation of them. Or at the small amount of “ewww, not again” one might encounter when inadverdently opening up something to read that may be like that when you thought otherwise or going along and hitting that midway through. Kind of throws you off your pace.
So, I guess my take is more “cutting of slack” all way 'round. You know, as previously suggested, more accurate titles. More skipping it if’n ya ain’t interested. And less assumptions from both camps because I don’t think many people here are prudes -or- desperate. Although I suppose I could be wrong and all insults are necessary. Or is that just a pit requirement?
Signing off on my armchair psychology.
You may now return to flashing and moaning with impugnity.