I know this thread has been made a million times but I want to give what I believe to be a unique take on it.

The porn threads, anime threads, "low quality" threads like arguing about popular artists, and beginner question threads that are easily answered with any beginner book...

I strongly believe that these types of threads have thoroughly ruined the quality standard of /ic/.
I know.. I know.. 4chan isn't the place to look for any kind of standards but you need only remember the past, there was no anime general, there was no porn general, there was no /beg/ general, and if someone made a dumb thread the only replies you see would be "read the sticky".

In the beginning /ic/ was focussed on just art for the sake of art, and they understood well that if you wanted to draw anime you had to learn the fundamentals, and since /ic/ is a place for amaetuer beginner artists, posting anime was strongly opposed unless you were very good.
Later the board became focussed on concept art, and this too required a great deal of fundamental skill to pull off.