Hi RoRK, I'm thinking more on the logistics here. This phenomemon you're describing does not just exist within the musicians wanted/available section of the forum but the ENTIRE forum. For us "oldies", the noise is everywhere. Yes, I do get tired looking through the forum, but then that's the majority of the target audience of SOFT. I may not have tried to form a band using the forum section you mentioned, but I've frequented SOFT enough in all other sections since the day SOFT was born and believe me, screening through all the other posts in this forum is just as tiring and "unproductive".
So if we really want to "reduce noise", we really need to do it throughout the entire forum. That means a separate age bracket for each section. Then the entire forum will double in number of sections, making more work for the moderator (ie James), and more fatigue for many users. There will be a segregation of age groups - younger will just click on their sections and "oldies" will click on theirs - nobody is going to click every section looking at every thread. There will be less interactions between the age groups which will be a loss eventually to musicians - since young and the not so young can learn from each other.
The poll James put up already showed that above 25 constitutes only 18% of the community in SOFT. So the new age bracket will get less posts no matter what. Of course, one can argue that splitting up the sections into different ages may increase posts from the above 25 bracket, but I doubt so. I think the only way is for existing members above 25 to post more "age specific and sensitive" threads so as attract more within their age groups to respond.
As for those looking for a band with above 25 years old, there's no harm posting a thread within the "musicians wanted/available" section stating the critiera for age in joining the band. Of course, having an additional section within the musicians/wanted section does not seem to hurt. If there's enough above 25 looking for a band, then perhaps you're right - putting up a separate section may help. But the statistics is already against this.
Perhaps one way is to set up this "above 25 musicians looking for a band" section and monitor it to see how it goes. But then, shutting down a section is more difficult than setting it up (ie if it comes to that eventually). Of course, if logistics is no problem for James, it's Ok for me.
And RoRK, don't get intimidated by negative posts. Conflicting ideas and suggestions are good for this forum! At least keeps us thinking. Keep it coming!!!
