Linux user since 1998. Used Lubuntu for most of the last 10 years. Seriousöly considering dropping Lubuntu becase of… NOT support per se… because of this forum.
I never, ever experienced such an atrociously disfuncional support platform.
Insanely hard to access. Poor service by Mictosoft is not an excuse.
Chaotic semantics, Butt ugly graphics. Virtue signaling search for cutting edge nonfunctionality. Can’t find things if my life depended on it - I routinely find answers only by going outside Lubuntu Discourse. Tagging forces to use preset tag except no tags emerge.
I AM SORRY TO SAY THAT, NO AMOUNT OF CUTTING EDGE, HEROIC EFFORT, GOOD INTENTIONS, ETC. BALANCES ATROCIOUS UX.
I seriously propose tro drop Discourse to go back to an Ubuntu subforum or to move to any other system, literally chosen at random. I checked at the platforms used by Arch, Fedora, Mint, Debian, etc. ad nauseam. THERE ISN’T A SINGLE ONE THAT DOESN’T PUT THIS FORUM TO SHAME.
Sorry to hear this. 
I am using neither Lubuntu nor this forum for too much time, so perhaps I’m considered to be not qualified to respond to your post. But I’m very surprised by your rather fierce reaction because I haven’t recognized the problems you have mentioned at all. Indeed, I like Lubuntu and this forum very much.
Please consider: In case you have any questions about Lubuntu you don’t need to search in this forum by yourself, just ask!
At www.lubuntu.me/links you have more support options.
I will again echo the sentiment given that there are other support avenues, including Reddit, AskUbuntu, the Ubuntu forums, the mailing lists, not to mention various chat methodologies including Matrix, which itself is searchable. There is absolutely no requirement that one must use this forum in order to use Lubuntu.
Your issue with Discourse seems to be about the software itself rather than the Lubuntu instance of it. I can completely understand that. I don’t really like the Ubuntu forums, for example, and avoid them like the plague. However, I have lots of other resources I can use.
A notable thing is that we never removed any of our support resources when we added Discourse. The point is we’re trying to provide different avenues for everyone. There are plenty of folks out there that have your same exact feelings… about everything other than Discourse.
It’s worth pointing out that all sorts of folks use Discourse. I left a little list at the end of this for examples. There are hordes of others. The point being is that we are not alone in our use of it, including within the Linux/open source community in general. It’s notable to add that LXQt used to use one, too, until they had this little kerfuffle with their domain name registration and ended up deciding to just put everything under the GitHub banner (they’re using Discussions there).
My point is not to quibble. I don’t think it’s worthwhile argue about what are ultimately subjective reactions to Discourse. While my own opinion does not align with yours, you have every right to have your opinion. I again reiterate you do not have to use it.
https://discuss.kde.org/
https://discourse.flathub.org/
https://discuss.python.org/
https://users.rust-lang.org/
https://discourse.haskell.org/
https://discourse.mozilla.org/
https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/
Even Arch seems to be playing with the idea:
https://discourse.sandbox.archlinux.org/
I guess I am not the only one around here who is 1) not using Lubuntu daily, or 2) has a partially negative sentiment feeling about Lubuntu, or is 3) critical (amongst other things).
I have my days too, but in general I have a fond feeling for the Lubuntu project and this Discourse.
I’ve noticed that activity here is slow, not much to read. Sometimes it takes just a person to throw a stone in the pond. To liven things up a bit. I can only encourage that (do it myself from time to time).
I like this Discourse, because it is a Discourse about Lubuntu. And the fact that there is not too much activity here allows me to read (almost) all contributions. In general I’ve learned a lot here. Not only about technical stuff, but it has also broadened my views about other things thanks to the remarks other people make. This posting is a great example.
I welcome change and love to broaden my horizon. But, there is absolutely no need to shout at us!
BTW: I am proud to be Linux user since 1992
but this one is open source. 
Yes, Discourse is open source. Admittedly, so is FluxBB (what Arch uses) and phpBB (Mint, Debian). The Ubuntu forums use vBulletin, which is proprietary. So, over that, Discourse is certainly an improvement.
Another consideration, albeit perhaps one of little relevance here: Discourse is one of the few that isn’t programmed in PHP (Ruby on Rails/JavaScript instead). Of the other two that aren’t, one is proprietary and one is kind of weird in that it’s closely related to I2P.
Personally, I don’t find a lot of difference within those other forum softwares. That is actually why I don’t like them, but may be the reason why OP prefers them over Discourse.
The thing I always find funny is Ubuntu itself has its own Discourse but last I recall it was for like devs or administrative stuff. Not for any sort of support sort of thing. If it was at one point in time, I don’t recall. Probably before I discovered it. 
Ugh, yes, this is still true. I find the logic that is based on a little weak, but their argument is that users should use already established methods (IRC, Ubuntu forums, AskUbuntu, mailing lists) to get support. The thinking is that by opening up the floodgates to any sort of conversation, that it will scare the developers away. Or something.
If that were not the case (and I’ve tried several times to suggest it shouldn’t be), I would totally vote to remove our Discourse instance and instead carve out a little Lubuntu territory there.
Long time user of Lubuntu . . . usually trying to keep it in “devel” . . . runs fine on my Mac.
I have had numerous problems with the Discourse forum, not loading when clicking on the digest email links, or trying to access it directly from the site . . . and it occurs intermittently. The man in charge doesn’t seem to be overly interactive, historically speaking . . . so I could see taking umbrage with that aspect.
Today I’m running LMDE and clicking on the email digest link, Discourse loaded right up . . . so maybe it’s a “new day” for Discourse??
Have a look.
I’m not a fan of Discourse forum format.
I was introduced to Discourse forum when I used Ubuntu Mate many years back.
It is different than most other forums and it does has its quirks from time to time hey what doesn’t.
It does take a bit of use to get used to and to learn how to navigate through wow a new learning curve.
AFAIK all Ubuntu and Ubuntu flavors are using Discourse forum format.
Bottom line it’s what we have to go to to get help and ask questions and find solutions so learn to use it.
Just my 25 cents. 