[thehooplehead]

No to be a bastard, but I disagree. The design is really off-putting. It instantly made me bounce off the site. If design isn't an early concern, just go for something boring/popular/obvious. Lobste.rs isn't going to get too many compliments for its design, but it also won't get many demerits either.

I say change the colors and don't do it in three columns. That's just my opinion. The site might be awesome, but really, the design made me bounce.

[prawn]

I'd keep the three columns at wider browser widths, but make that third column more useful than now. Something like recent comments or hot threads or a list of recent games that members are working on. Give some incentive for contributing maybe.