An attempt to have all the noob questions answered in one place, and those that don't want noob questions can ignore it?
But everyone will goto general anyway.
Maybe renaming general to 'welcome' since everyone is part of it. locking it down and pinning a message welcoming new comers, providing pointers on etiquette and what is and isn't allowed, and listing common channels?
Having channels listed will hint that conversations should be done in an appropriate topic/channel. Or we can hope it does.