Ability to categorize posts within a group?

Yes, the person initiating the thread would control the categories. I suggested text strings for the categories so that there can be multiple of them without a cumbersome interface. You simply add a text field to new forum posts (similar to subject, but for categories). Naturally, the search control on this site would have to be modified to search categories. The search control also needs to be brought out of hiding. I'll bet most people don't even know it exists.

One crude way to do this already exists, but it would require people put category keywords at the end of their subject lines (e.g., my subject - marketing). The search control already has the ability to search for keywords specifically in subject lines. Since the original poster retains the ability to change the subject line, they can always go in afterward and add/remove categories as desired or when requested.

Either way, the search control should really be made more accessible in the system. If you're in a forum, it should be one click away. Right now, you need dive down three screens to get to it. The list of groups to search in also needs to be sorted.

Either approach can then be used to categorize posts in any forum. The search control has the option to search across multiple or even all groups, so it could be made to search for a given category across groups. That way it doesn't matter if you put your posts in a specific group or in Premium.

Although, I do want to add: I think mere categorization isn't enough. It's a start, but even better would be to provide a live list of all recent threads -- a central helm tying it all together. If we can't have a main forum where we can share together as a group, we could at least have a live feed of everything. I love (love) the idea of universal categorization. But I would also love being able to click on and see what lively things have been said lately, over the vast field of the site, so I can participate without having to search on each category one by one. What if someone offers a great tip I'd have loved to know about, but I never read it because it didn't occur to me to click the "great tip" category? My, I hate the burying away of topics.

Oh, is that why you split up the groups on the new site? You'd prefer each group have its own moderator? I find it frustrating, but I can see why you'd prefer not to do that on your own. I still think we miss a lot of potentially rich conversation for the quarantine. I didn't realize you act alone as moderator within the main forum. I hadn't thought of that side, actually. I wonder if people would volunteer to moderate. (I wouldn't.)