The Dope is “your direct line to thousands of the smartest, hippest people on the planet, plus a few total dipsticks.” Is that the image visitors are getting about the SDMB when they see that snapshot on the front page?
So, get rid of ATMB and Pit threads. The former is irrelevant and often petulant. The latter has a high chance of being profane or inflammatory.
While you’re at it, weight topics from GQ, IMHO, Cafe Society, and MPSIMS more heavily than threads from Elections and maybe Great Debates. Give visitors an image of a general purpose forum where people ask questions and goof around rather than one where we’re just screaming at each other about contentious topics.
They can figure that out after they sign up.