Internet communities, like real life communities, vary greatly in what is and what is not acceptable in terms of subject matter; even in "off topic" forums. What is acceptable to talk about out loud in in a bar in Vegas is usually pretty different than what people will tolerate over hearing in a McDonalds in Salt Lake City.
It's not a matter of Freedom of Speech because that actually doesn't apply to private establishments. Yes, the management really does have the right to refuse service except in certain legally protected situations. What really matters is what the average and reasonable person would "expect" to hear under the circumstances. If management determines that it hurts their business, they'll deal with it. If management decides to let things ride, then the customers will determine what is and what isn't acceptable. In some circumstances, that's just fine and in others it causes fist fights to break out. In other cases, mom and the kids will just find a different place to buy their "Happy Meal".
What it really IS a matter of is finding the temperament of the community and adapting to it appropriately. I think just about any subject matter "ought" to be able to be talked about in most "off topic" forums, but there are some folks that simply can't talk about certain subjects without, well, going nuts. The fault isn't the topic, the fault is the people that can't control themselves.
BTW, you don't get to choose when you're born and nobody is "cooler" just because they voted in any particular decade.
