Should there be a politics forum?

[ShavedForNow]

I understand why the rules are currently set up the way they are, but there seem to be a lot of members here who are interested in these kinds of issues.

If there were to be such a forum, I think there should be an understanding that the participants are allowed to get a little mud on one another - without getting TOO extreme - and then go back and play nice on the rest of the site. Most of the guys around here seem to be mature enough to handle that.

There would also have to be a rule against insulting any group of people or any individual other than a public figure.
Just my $0.02.

[Tyler]

It has been tried before and we've found that it drives wedges in the brotherhood and takes away from the real purpose of this site.  If you're looking or a good political discussion, try out the forum at http://www.treesandthings.com.

[ShavedForNow]

It has been tried before and we've found that it drives wedges in the brotherhood and takes away from the real purpose of this site.

That's a shame. I would have thought the bro's knew how to respect different opinions.

On another note, thanks for recommending Trees & Things. I like their member-moderation approach: it's rare (if not unique) among political forums.

[hammerdrill376]

I agree with Tyler. While I do respect the feelings and opinions of my liberal SBG brothers ( I am for the most part conservative) it seems that anytime the a political discussion comes up things get nasty. So there are definantely other websites more well suited for discussions like that.

[stoic1975]

thank goodness!  The LAST thing this great board needs is politics.  So few boards transcend our political opinions.  Let's leave this one as it is...

Thanks,
Brett

[aarrggh]

I agree !  THANK GOODNESS--- you don`t want me too get started on my new clown senator out here in minnesota--------OH MY          Im outta here   

[TheSlyBear]

Noooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ShavedForNow]

I agree !  THANK GOODNESS--- you don`t want me too get started on my new clown senator out here in minnesota--------

I sympathize: here in California in the 60s and 70s we had to put up with a clown governor who made his money playing poombah to Bonzo the chimpanzee in Hollywood. 

I see the tribe has spoken, so I'll shut up about the idea now. 

[slyatlast]

I deal with enough politics at work, so no...also no religion forums.   There have been threads started about religion and it only leads to problems.  Everything has its place and time.

[benmcd]

Aaaahhhh . . . the shining domes of wisdom.   

[wpruitt]

Politics and religon are two of the most dangerous topics to have on a forum.  Tyler knew, in his youthful but infinite wisdom, what he was doing when he established guidelines regarding those issues. 

I deal with enough politics at work, so no...also no religion forums.   There have been threads started about religion and it only leads to problems.  Everything has its place and time.

[Stu]

I sympathize: here in California in the 60s and 70s we had to put up with a clown governor who made his money playing poombah to Bonzo the chimpanzee in Hollywood. 

I see the tribe has spoken, so I'll shut up about the idea now. 

Too bad you had to insert your parting shot at Reagan... I thought you understood that politics was off limits, but obviously you couldn't resist.  This is exactly why politics are banned.  And yes, I have had things removed too, but from the opposite end of your political spectrum.

[ShavedForNow]

Too bad you had to insert your parting shot at Reagan... I thought you understood that politics was off limits, but obviously you couldn't resist.  This is exactly why politics are banned.  And yes, I have had things removed too, but from the opposite end of your political spectrum.

No, Stu, the point of my last remark was not to take a parting shot at Reagan, but to mimic aarrggh's parting shot at Franken. (Gee, I wonder why you didn't chastise him?)

It should be obvious from this thread that I'm not interested in unilaterally violating the rule against political discussion. I simply made an honest, straightforward, lobbying effort for a part of the forum where that rule wouldn't apply. Apparently several other members don't want such an area, so I backed off.

Personally, I can throw wicked punches in the boxing ring and later behave like a perfect gentleman at the dinner table with all my sparring partners. Unfortunately, not everyone can make that clean separation. If they could, arguments on political or religious forums wouldn't spill over into the rest of a site.

[sellitman]

As a politically active person on the web and beyond I have more than enough places to post and to vent .

Nobody changes the mindset of others who feel differently and trying to usually creates problems.

It's good politics is left to a minimum here. Everyone here gets along that way. I say hail to the Mods! They are Sly & Smart.

 

[Dome of Steele]

I think even this short forum makes it CRYSTAL clear that Tyler's rule need not be changed.