The problem's content. Do we have any threads about food? I've seen the odd thread in flames, but it's not really enough to sustain a forum. Back on LWS the answer to questions like this was always "provide content". If you want a Mess Hall, and this goes for anybody else who's interested too, make relevant threads and prove there'd be enough activity to make it worthwhile, then dump some links in this thread so they can be found. If there's enough interest to warrant it, either someone with actual authority will get back to you or I'll whine about it in the mod forum.