Hmmm. Wonder If it works both ways ?

[weeksy]

I'm not censoring anything if that's where you're going with it. But this place is supposed to be a bit different to the old forum, a bit less argumentative, but you guys have to work with me a little at times

It is different. Folk asked more than once in the last place that politics had its own sub forum and meh was the answer. You provided the sub forum what is good and just leave them to get on with it. Cant say i am that bothered about them arguing as its not getting bounced in your fave like GM was. If folk dont like politics then stay the fuck out that section rather than calling them whining tossers.

I will, to an extent but you have to remember, this forum does not belong to 5 people, 20 people, it doesn't even belong to me, it belongs to everyone, it belongs to people who are yet to visit, yet to be aware of its existence. I know some people see if like you, they can post what they like, but no, they really can't

I'm trying to build a forum, a community, a spirit, I'm trying to bring back discussion forums lost to Twitter, Facebook and every other ranty jump up and down froth at the mouth form of social media.

I know that's a bit deep, but that's how it is.

Please note I said "not actively moderated all the time" that doesn't mean people have free reign to just post without consequences

[moth]

Can't you make this board 'by application only Weeksy'?

Then anyone who is offended has applied for it.

[weeksy]

I will, to an extent but you have to remember, this forum does not belong to 5 people, 20 people, it doesn't even belong to me, it belongs to everyone, it belongs to people who are yet to visit, yet to be aware of its existence. I know some people see if like you, they can post what they like, but no, they really can't

I'm trying to build a forum, a community, a spirit, I'm trying to bring back discussion forums lost to Twitter, Facebook and every other ranty jump up and down froth at the mouth form of social media.

I know that's a bit deep, but that's how it is.

Please note I said "not actively moderated all the time" that doesn't mean people have free reign to just post without consequences

Never said post what they want but you are the boss. I just think over moderation can be just as harmful as under.

Do you think I've been that?

I didn't do anything more in the Brexit thread than have a word and lock the thread for a few hours to let people cool down.

I deleted a thread earlier at the request on the OP as it had turned to shit and then we have this thread, where ice not moderated any posts just commented about what I see as right or wrong.

I'm never going to please everyone with what I do it don't do. But as long as I can sit here and be happy I've done what I think is for the benefit of the community then I'll be happy.

If you, him, them or anyone else don't like it, tough.

[Screwdriver]

There is no need for personal insults though I do happen to enjoy getting in a good defence if I am being pestered (clearly not in this case).

We digress, it is censorship and that's fine. The site is owned and operated by weeksy and he can do as he pleases of course. It is a tiny corner of a vast online space, no harm, no foul.

However, this sort of censorship is currently rife in the larger arena of worldwide media and social networking, the same type of censorship has become become the norm and that is fantastically dangerous. Humans have no idea just how simple they are; we all like to think we make considered judgements and conscious, fact based decisions using self will and independent thought process to form our conclusions. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Our thought process is more like that like a butterfly in a hurricane. We can flap our wings and believe we are choosing our own path but we are steered by our environment and there is no fixed point of reference to aim at to establish if we are really on target. Perhaps this is why religion is so popular for those who need to follow a path ordained.

I appreciate my own weakness which is to drive a conversation to a point where I can be convinced, I am perfectly prepared to allow that to happen. How else does one learn except by testing the boundaries of what you believe to be "the truth" against an opposing view which someone else firmly believes to be true?

We see this in climate change, trangenderism, racism and of course religious studies. What generally happens is before a critical debating point can be argued to a conclusion, somebody gets angry and makes it personal. While I would love to debate that observation and suggest it is because the opponent simply "has no answer" to the point in question, this is not the forum for it.

I should perhaps take it to some other outlet, Facebook, YouTube, write to my MP, to the press but no. All of those avenues are now closed to an open mind. There is no forum for debate. Censorship is everywhere. Social media has become a weapon.

[Yorick]

Apologies to anyone offended. Not.

I thought the OP was an ignorant comment on a nonsense subject. And replied in kind.

Oh well.

I hate racism. Where was the ignorance ?

[DefTrap]

I have a quadraplegic granddaughter who can't even wipe her own arse. But I'm not offended by your use of the term "spastic" which of course applies to her. Just thoughtless use on your part.

Good for you. Apology accepted.

In the same way I'm not offended by a 'racist dance' I didn't see not nor am I bothered about the supposed sodding politicisation of light entertainment. If it wasn't so boring they wouldn't feel the need to jazz it up with a bit of controversy.

[Saga Lout]

Pedantry any good for you?

Whales are mammals, as you know.

I would hope that Chillitt could see through that, maybe I should have put a smilie in there just for you?

I wasn't having a go at you. I was going to say the same thing. Maybe I should have put a smilie, just for you.

[irie]

I have a quadraplegic granddaughter who can't even wipe her own arse. But I'm not offended by your use of the term "spastic" which of course applies to her. Just thoughtless use on your part.

Good for you. Apology accepted.

In the same way I'm not offended by a 'racist dance' I didn't see not nor am I bothered about the supposed sodding politicisation of light entertainment. If it wasn't so boring they wouldn't feel the need to jazz it up with a bit of controversy.

"Apology accepted"?

I haven't made an apology, lost me there!

[Hoonercat]

I'm liking the way the forum is moderated, putting a thread on hold for a few hours if it's becoming heated isn't censorship, it should in theory extend the longevity of the thread by keeping it fairly civil. It also serves as a little reminder not to get shouty before you post.

[Yambo]

What generally happens is before a critical debating point can be argued to a conclusion, somebody gets angry and makes it personal. While I would love to debate that observation and suggest it is because the opponent simply "has no answer" to the point in question, this is not the forum for it.

That's the problem right there.

Losing the argument? Not thought things through? Call the opposition a gammon, simple.

Another thing that makes an argument difficult (argument is a good thing in my book) is the tendency for those unable to debate is to write long tracts most of which are tangential to the main point. It becomes tedious to argue every point but as soon as you decide you can't be bothered, boom, they think they have beaten the gammon in a straight fight.

If you try to keep the argument on topic you're not only a gammon, you're a racist gammon.

My own approach would be to censor the poor debaters rather than the argument itself. But it's not my time, effort or money (I'll look at contributing though) and following every line of every thread takes time and effort. So carry on weeksy, your doing OK.

[DefTrap]

This is just going down a rabbit hole of preconceptions from the usual suspects. Boo boo it's not fair I want my say it's censorship he called me a gammon.

Maybe this talent show should just do a MAGA/Trump section to keep all you interpretative dance policemen happy.?

[weeksy]

On other forums I've used any sections of the forum that might raise 'debate' have been made only accessible to paid up members.

That stopped the left-wing moaners and freeloaders coming on to vent their spite at random whenever they were premenstrual, and as a result it was a little bit quieter but much politer. Any political whining on the rest of the forum is stamped upon immediately.

That's what I'd do.

The software will allow that, but it's not a road i want to go down at this stage. I'm still seeing this place as building and growing and don't want cliques in any way they're formed to be a part of that, even if they're just based upon who's paid into the pot or not.

[Nidge]

On other forums I've used any sections of the forum that might raise 'debate' have been made only accessible to paid up members.

That stopped the left-wing moaners and freeloaders coming on to vent their spite at random whenever they were premenstrual, and as a result it was a little bit quieter but much politer. Any political whining on the rest of the forum is stamped upon immediately.

That's what I'd do.

Or if people stopped being dicks and not getting into/starting political arguments on a bike forum?

[G.P]

It's stretching an old analogy but it's like going to a party at weeksys house, you behave nicely and you don't start a fight.
You certainly don't have some God given right to have a brawl in the kitchen and tell anyone who doesn't like it to fuck off and they can stay out.

Opposing opinions arent unexpected, just keep it civil

This. but my all means spend the whole evening arguing in the kitchen

Personally, depending on who the protagonists are, I don't bother staying in the kitchen because I know the argument will be the same one that's been going on for 16-17 years

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Or if people stopped being dicks and not getting into/starting political arguments on a bike forum?

There must be a forum for middle aged moaners who want to get angry at each other somewhere, if not I might start one, the advertising revenue would be massive.

[Yambo]

Or if people stopped being dicks and not getting into/starting political arguments on a bike forum?

I'm in an on-line rowing club which has a forum. I rarely go there because it is very much a one trick pony. The forum attitude is that they're a rowing club and anything else can be discussed in other places. This is one of those other places and long may it be so.

I don't do the bike thing much, I only have an Kuba electric scooter to get me around the village with heavy boat stuff so I guess I'm not a biker any more. But you're a good crowd, intelligent, a wide range of backgrounds and opinions. I sort of like you all but if you only discussed bikes? I'd be out of here.

[weeksy]

Or if people stopped being dicks and not getting into/starting political arguments on a bike forum?

I'm in an on-line rowing club which has a forum. I rarely go there because it is very much a one trick pony. The forum attitude is that they're a rowing club and anything else can be discussed in other places. This is one of those other places and long may it be so.

I don't do the bike thing much, I only have an Kuba electric scooter to get me around the village with heavy boat stuff so I guess I'm not a biker any more. But you're a good crowd, intelligent, a wide range of backgrounds and opinions. I sort of like you all but if you only discussed bikes? I'd be out of here.

It's a fair point, i want the forum to be bike centric, but i also know some don't have bikes but have virtual mates on here, hence having MAyhem and Current affairs, cycling, DIY etc.

[ogri]

A bike forum with a index for Current Affairs / Politics / News discusssion, and people in said index moaning about non bike stuff being discussed?

[cheb]

I'm going to start a rowing forum where any discussion of sculls, wherries, eights, pirogues and the like is only allowable if it's a full on heated discussion with shouting and death threats.

[Nidge]

A bike forum with a index for Current Affairs / Politics / News discussion, and people in said index moaning about non bike stuff being discussed?

But it's not moaning about non-bike stuff per se. It's more that, axiomatically, a post like the original one here will descend into division, polarisation and ultimately insults. Frankly I think we were all tired of that in the old place(s).

I welcome the breadth of discussion and wouldn't want discussion to be only limited to bikes, but really did anyone not think that a thread like this would only go one way? Surely we can have a variety of discussion without provocative political/racial posts?