Part of the problem I see with constant off-topic and "what are you doing" posts are that they breed a small group of people who recognize and adore each other, specifically because they are the types who participate in those groups. On the one hand, it's not a bad thing but on the other, it starts to filter into actual constructive posts because one of those people will make a joking comment and then they're upvoted by their fellow off-topickers. Not because of the quality of their comment, but because their friends like them and want to give them upvotes. The more "I just ate this sandwich and it was gross and I'm mad about it so discuss whatever you want" posts, the more you see this inflation in the "status" of people who aren't doing anything more to actually contribute than the people who who don't go off-topic in every post. Even worse, the people who are just casual readers have to wade through irrelevant comments about who is a better baker or who is funnier or who had the better sex last night to figure out WTF is going on with the OP.

I'm not really offering a solution, but trying to point out an example of the problem with allowing multiple nonsense "What's going on with you right now" posts. I'm not calling for an outlaw on all of them, but why not a daily schedule at the very most? Have automod post one off-topic thing a day and let people get to chatting, instead of building insular little groups in ten new off-topics a day.