Should RF Keep its Political Forums?

[Terry Sampson]

Create a U.S. Politics DIR and enforce posting there on penalty of banishment. And fix it so that new threads in it don't make it to the "New Threads" list.
If and when things get too rowdy in that DIR, split it into sub-DIRs (categories to be determined), otherwise the majority of posters will eventually get banned for violating Forum decorum rules.

 

[Skwim]

Because those other discussions aren't happening all the time and resulting in needless moderation almost every single day. The RMA thread and LPITW thread aren't resulting in warnings left right and centre. That political discussion is one of the biggest things here, on a forum not dedicated to it, and results in mud-slinging, trolling, thread-locking and warning isn't healthy.
And I have already said I'd rather have a smaller forum dedicated to discussing mostly religion than a large one rampant with trolls.

If the job is too overwhelming then perhaps it's time to take a break. Just sayin'

The second issue is it's mostly US politics, which isolates anyone not from the US and comes across to us like needless whining when our countries have problems too but we're not making threads and threads about them.

I don't believe anyone is twisting your arm to read or not read any forum are they? If people don't participate in a forum it's only because they don't care to, not because they're prevented from doing so. If there aren't enough members who want to discuss your country's problems whose fault is that, those who want to discuss North American Politics?

.

 

[Rival]

If the job is too overwhelming then perhaps it's time to take a break. Just sayin'

This isn't what I'm saying. What I'm saying is that it would be overall better for everyone if we were giving fewer warnings and we had fewer trolls.

 

[David1967]

"Revenue"??? Somebody's making money off our posts? or from "contributions"?? Boy-o-boy! I've been naive, haven't I?

Some of us bought premium memberships so we don't have to look at adds. To me, it was money well spent.

 

[David1967]

But rage is the problem.
I'm thinking of a forum where people who really
really want to insult, demonize, abuse, & look
down upon others can let off steam.

Note:
I know it's a bad idea.

We can do that in the jokes section.

 

[Skwim]

This isn't what I'm saying. What I'm saying is that it would be overall better for everyone if we were giving fewer warnings and we had fewer trolls.

I would certainly think so, but human nature being what it is I guess it comes with the territory.
So, it looks like the issue comes down to a question of: Is it worth the work to give the membership a venue to discuss politics or not? I would hope it is because the forums do appear to be well attended (NAP in particular), perhaps even bringing in those who would otherwise never become interested in religion.

.

 

[Revoltingest]

WE discuss in North American politics what is pertinent to us. Last time I checked, Britain wasn´t in North America.
Many Europeans, and dare I say it, Canadians ( though not American, they are North American) decide to join the fun, so be it.
There are numerous forums where others should feel quite at home.

Just watch that clicker and you will be just fine.,

Britain doesn't even matter, except for the haggis.
I recall something from some movie or book...
"He who controls the haggis, controls the universe."

 

[exchemist]

I don't care if we lose membership; the number of trolls and lack of religious discussion in favour of political discussion is bringing the forum down. I'd rather have a smaller forum with good members than a large one with mediocre members and trolls all over the place.

There is another approach to that, of course: tougher moderation of the trolls. I am amazed by some of the things people seem able to get away with saying on this forum. I don't find simple abuse a problem but racism, and the spreading of palpably false and malicious tales about religious groups, strikes me as something that could be controlled. Also people who are clearly trying to annoy, or waste the time of others by posting in bad faith.

I find this forum a lively place compared to many others and would hate to see that suffer. I also find I learn something about politics - and political attitudes - in other countries occasionally, which is a good thing.

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

Given the amount of animosity, anger, gratuitous anger, and other negative emotions and behavior associated with RF's political forums, do you think RF would be a better place without political forums? What say you?

As hard as it is for me to say, I vote lock the political forums from further replies, if that can be done. My reasoning for this response is that I'm seeing members that can normally get along being divided over the subject of politics.

 

[Revoltingest]

We can do that in the jokes section.

That's where friends do it.
I'm proposing a place where warring tribes will scorch the Earth.

 

[David1967]

That's where friends do it.
I'm proposing a place where warring tribes will scorch the Earth.

That happens anyway. A place dedicated to it may be useful and entertaining.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

I say yes otherwise the righties will complain about free speech

 

[bobhikes]

Given the amount of animosity, anger, gratuitous anger, and other negative emotions and behavior associated with RF's political forums, do you think RF would be a better place without political forums? What say you?

The RF is only worth coming to because of open debate on many taboo social issues. Taking any away because of the negatives ignores the positives allowing the people to better in the real world where it counts. Besides if you go to other forums you'll see the animosity on the RF is rather tame thanks to the rules and moderators.

 

[Revoltingest]

That happens anyway. A place dedicated to it may be useful and entertaining.

I was thinking that regular threads should be more civil then they are.
Limit the gnashing of teeth to one place where all who enter can
expect to be abused for their beliefs or penis size.

 

[ChristineM]

Although i consider American politics to be mostly beyond my need to know i have on occasion commented on some of the myriad (often boring, often duplicated, often petty) threads. I do have an interest in UK politics, particularly the Brexit threads. So i voted yes.

 

[shmogie]

Are you proposing no more discussions of LGBT rights, abortion, immigration, religious freedom? I can think of huge overlaps between religion and politics, and undoubtedly all of our religious, (or irreligious) worldviews intersect with politics as a result of the philosophical underpinnings of those beliefs.

Discuss them all if you choose. I am prepared to rebut most, as I am sure my friend Salvador is.

BUT, lets not concentrate on words, they are a dime a dozen, and mean little.

Actions are tangible and reflect what is actually occurring.

Have at it if you choose.

 

[shmogie]

Although i consider American politics to be mostly beyond my need to know i have on occasion commented on some of the myriad (often boring, often duplicated, often petty) threads. I do have an interest in UK politics, particularly the Brexit threads. So i voted yes.

I stay completely out of the Brexit issue. As I would be properly told, it is none of my business and my opinion is irrelevant.

For the first and only time I will comment.

I am utterly amazed that a once proud and powerful nation, from which my ancestors came, would give up itś sovereignty and put itself under the control of a bunch of faceless bureaucrats who come from a different culture, ancestry, and language.

It did. Actions have consequences.

Finito

 

[shmogie]

T

Britain doesn't even matter, except for the haggis.
I recall something from some movie or book...
"He who controls the haggis, controls the universe."

That stuff is revolting ( do you like it ?) they can keep it. I wouldn't feed it to my dogs.

 

[ChristineM]

I stay completely out of the Brexit issue. As I would be properly told, it is none of my business and my opinion is irrelevant.

For the first and only time I will comment.

I am utterly amazed that a once proud and powerful nation, from which my ancestors came, would give up itś sovereignty and put itself under the control of a bunch of faceless bureaucrats who come from a different culture, ancestry, and language.

It did. Actions have consequences.

Finito

That shows your ignorance of the EU so i am not surprised you stay out of it.

BTW, the queen is still sovereign of the UK. The Maastricht Treaty placed into European law that no member county would in any way have its sovereignty diminished.

 

[Father Heathen]

I think British people should start making new threads every single time PM Johnson or Katie Hopkins or Rees-Mogg makes a new twitter post or does an interview, then perhaps the US people will see how unbelievably annoying and inane it is.

Please do. It would actually be an educational window into UK society.

I would hate to see the political subforums go (heated debate is where all the fun is at), but I wouldn't object to them being relocated to their own spin-off sister forum?