My impression is fluther occupies a space between the two. If it was to just discuss brief answers to specific questions, it would be structured differently and there are other sites that are more efficient at that. I believe one of the nice things about fluther is it does both. If we were, on the other hand, just to discuss topics, it would be structured more like a forum or blog. Perhaps part of the problem is when we fail to disclose in the initial question whether we are seeking short answers, references or links, or we are seeking discussion. Some of the more open-ended questions, like the recent thread regarding lying, could not possibly be briefly answered, while others, like where to go for good sushi in San Francisco, readily lend themselves to a brief response.