as a frequent poster in the OT board, I think that many people have come to think of it as just only political discussion now. that couldn't be more untrue as any non-political posts are very much welcome to break up that tension ... but I can definitely understand why some would avoid it.
This is an easy thing for me to say, I know... but I'll say it anyway.Chicken and the egg. Hard to get discussions going if folks don't post there.