Discussion within the US politics thread. Section closed. What to do with 'Current affairs/Politics' forum debate.

[crust]

My 2p

I rarely look at the politics section, when I do its the same ming mong from the same people, neither side is going to change their mind, just the same POV with increasing insults.

Close it, delete the posts and anyone who introduces politics or religion into the forum gets 30 days to find another forum to piss off.

Keep it bikes or light hearted

[JackyJoll]

Allow political conversations to go on for just long enough to arrange to meet in real life for a fight.

[Skub]

I rarely bother with politics,either in real life or in here,but I'm not so mean spirited that I'd deny others the 'right' to debate on matters important to them.

Since I don't participate,then I don't expect to have the right to report any posts in that section and those who read comments just to find something reportable should be asked to desist.

How about making the current affairs part a closed group,without charging a fee? Those wishing to participate can apply to join the closed group and approval comes from Weeksy or the mods. Easier to moderate too.

If the group isn't seen by anyone other than those desiring to be there,then none of the less interested can casually wander in and report what they don't like.

[Dodgy69]

Think they naughty boys need a facebook account...

[DEADPOOL]

If the group isn't seen by anyone other than those desiring to be there,then none of the less interested can casually wander in and report what they don't like.

Don't you mean if the group isn't seen by noone other than those not desiring to be there, then none of the less interested won't casually wander in without reporting what they don't like.

Surely that makes more sense?

Anyhow, I could be less interested in politics. Seriously. The problem I have is with media bias and social network censorship. Doesn't matter to me what the topic is. If anything interesting turns up about motorcycles, I'm in. Sadly, all the pro-motorcycle chappies are just moaning that nobody is posting anything bike related.

[Tricky]

I obviously don't have to deal with any mess that's created, but I am wondering whether this really is as big an issue as it seems to be made out to be?

I personally don't think banning, or trying to ban politics or religion, etc is the answer, and it simply isn't possible as it can very much be part of other subjects - for instance, a Covid-19 discussion, or a joke in the Jokes thread?
And anyway, even though these subjects can bring out the worst in people, they can also be of value, to me anyway, both in terms of learning more either about a subject or an individual and also entertainment.

I do through experience understand the issues of situations where people publish inappropriate content- that has to be monitored and be acted on, but if the infraction we're talking about here is a small bunch of aging men personally insulting each other, and especially if it's in a fairly well-contained area like the politics forum, then I really don't see what's so difficult, either let it happen until it passes whatever the deemed threshold is, and then either warn or ban them - it's only a forum, after all, it's not like someone is going to pull you into an unfair dismissal tribunal if you ban them.

My (perhaps simplistic, but IME that's often best) way, if I were in Weeksys shoes would be to operate - and publish- a yellow/red card system.
If he or one of his trusted lieutenants deems any post the wrong side of a line, a yellow is issued- there is no he-said-she-said too-ing and fro-ing with whiny PMs or entering into any discussion about it, the management's decision is final and you're on a list.
Get to three yellows and you're gone.

That, in a nutshell, is it.

[Cousin Jack]

I obviously don't have to deal with any mess that's created, but I am wondering whether this really is as big an issue as it seems to be made out to be?

TRC used to have 'robust' discussions.

Many people just avoided those threads, others joined in and fanned the flames, almost everyone recognized that it was t'internet and that real life was a totally different matter. Very occasionally people went OTT and tried to take arguments from TRC into the real world, they were rightly banned. Very occasionally opinions were offered on line that might have lead to real life poking it's head into TRC, and those were rightly locked.

As for the rest, your forum, your rules, but IMO the more restrictive the rules the more boring the forum. There were lots of boring motorcycle forums, but only one TRC.

[DefTrap]

Iccy is a wind up merchant.
Surprised he can't take it.

I'm not bothered either way.

[chillitt]

I obviously don't have to deal with any mess that's created, but I am wondering whether this really is as big an issue as it seems to be made out to be?

TRC used to have 'robust' discussions.

Many people just avoided those threads, others joined in and fanned the flames, almost everyone recognized that it was t'internet and that real life was a totally different matter. Very occasionally people went OTT and tried to take arguments from TRC into the real world, they were rightly banned. Very occasionally opinions were offered on line that might have lead to real life poking it's head into TRC, and those were rightly locked.

As for the rest, your forum, your rules, but IMO the more restrictive the rules the more boring the forum. There were lots of boring motorcycle forums, but only one TRC.

It's also pretty boring when the same few people turn any thread they fancy spoiling into a shitfest. Maybe rather than segregating the shit, there should be a grown ups area thats invite only..

[Cousin Jack]

That wouldn't work, no one would invite me.

[Yorick]

It's also pretty boring when the same few people turn any thread they fancy spoiling into a shitfest. Maybe rather than segregating the shit, there should be a grown ups area thats invite only..

[weeksy]

Hey I'll tell you what though, since Weeksy closed the politics wankfest there has been a lot more decent content posted on the rest of the forum.
Some people who only ever (or mostly) post on there might even feel like posting decent non-political content - imagine what a nice forum that would be

Lol move on buddy. If it's better, just go with it. Don't keep kicking the dog.

[DEADPOOL]

It is a dangerous road to go down, censorship. Not for this forum where there are a handful of, let's say, cognitive posters who might be able to enter into a rational discussion about current affairs.

But to try and remain unprovocative, let's just take climate change, Brexit and the US elections. A mere few of the top ten issues which will affect us all, like it or not. There's not a lot we can do about them and the topic areas get shouty almost immediately, Yorick has his finger poised on the kill switch already.

That's not the point. The issue is more about censorship, media bias and fake news. If we retire into our own little bubble and ignore diverse opinion, we end up living in a society created by others. So far so what? Who really cares if it's Biden or Trump on the other side of the pond?

The problem is social media and our reliance on network based communication. For example, there is a movement in the US who organised a rally in DC. They used an online service called eventbrite, tens of thousands of people possibly 100's of k signed up for it to show the world they protest <at whatever>

Eventbrite unilaterally decide not to allow it (!) and emailed every single subscriber to say the event was cancelled!

Without going into the ins and outs of that specific situation, clearly other "mostly peaceful" protests are allowed to be advertised so the internet companies, social medias and big tech end up deciding for us what we are allowed to complain about plus of course they control the channels of mass communication.

Aha, conspiracy theory I hear you say. Well, no. Despite "The Great Reset" there are no conspiracies, there is no "Illuminati" just a very small number of extraordinaily rich vested interests steering our destiny to their personal advantage. If it cannot be contested (and the eventbrite situation will never make it to mainstream news, Twitter, FaceBook et. al. delete any mention of it) then those vested interests will have their way. And not just "over there".

Just wait until it affects your personal freedom to ride a motorcycle (or a bicycle) on public roads and it will be too late. If big tech get their way, they will ultimately end up being in control by for example, installing a puppet leader via some shady "democratic" process. Opposition will be publicly vilified while at the same time "their man" is all sweetness and light and can literally do no wrong.

These are extraordinary times and I suggest the last thing we should do is turn a blind eye or make a list of those who do not toe the line so that they can be punished for daring to question what they are told to believe.

[chillitt]

It is a dangerous road to go down, censorship. Not for this forum where there are a handful of, let's say, cognitive posters who might be able to enter into a rational discussion about current affairs.

But to try and remain unprovocative, let's just take climate change, Brexit and the US elections. A mere few of the top ten issues which will affect us all, like it or not. There's not a lot we can do about them and the topic areas get shouty almost immediately, Yorick has his finger poised on the kill switch already.

That's not the point. The issue is more about censorship, media bias and fake news. If we retire into our own little bubble and ignore diverse opinion, we end up living in a society created by others. So far so what? Who really cares if it's Biden or Trump on the other side of the pond?

The problem is social media and our reliance on network based communication. For example, there is a movement in the US who organised a rally in DC. They used an online service called eventbrite, tens of thousands of people possibly 100's of k signed up for it to show the world they protest <at whatever>

Eventbrite unilaterally decide not to allow it (!) and emailed every single subscriber to say the event was cancelled!

Without going into the ins and outs of that specific situation, clearly other "mostly peaceful" protests are allowed to be advertised so the internet companies, social medias and big tech end up deciding for us what we are allowed to complain about plus of course they control the channels of mass communication.

Aha, conspiracy theory I hear you say. Well, no. Despite "The Great Reset" there are no conspiracies, there is no "Illuminati" just a very small number of extraordinaily rich vested interests steering our destiny to their personal advantage. If it cannot be contested (and the eventbrite situation will never make it to mainstream news, Twitter, FaceBook et. al. delete any mention of it) then those vested interests will have their way. And not just "over there".

Just wait until it affects your personal freedom to ride a motorcycle (or a bicycle) on public roads and it will be too late. If big tech get their way, they will ultimately end up being in control by for example, installing a puppet leader via some shady "democratic" process. Opposition will be publicly vilified while at the same time "their man" is all sweetness and light and can literally do no wrong.

These are extraordinary times and I suggest the last thing we should do is turn a blind eye or make a list of those who do not toe the line so that they can be punished for daring to question what they are told to believe.

Parklife.

[Hoonercat]

I've been riding for 30 years, most of that 5 days a week, been a member of a few bike forums but they're all much the same. For me, VD, TRC and RTTL stand out because of the characters, humour and width of discussion. I'm also on a couple of sports-related forums which allow politics but I rarely post because they tend to little more than mud slinging and bitchy comments. The political/news posts on here tend to be more informative with better thought-out posts for the most part and a bit of humour thrown in. Comparing it to what TRC had become is ridiculous; the posts might get a bit heated at times but we're all adults, I'm genuinely shocked that you're getting messages of complaint on a regular basis. It got a bit heated this week, wrists were slapped, that should have been the end of it but here we are again. I don't know why you even bother justifying yourself over your refusal to allow the sharing of a video showing kiddies being touched, that's a no in anyone's book.
Maybe make the section permission only? Obviously those who have no interest in the section won't be applying for access.

[Horse]

A quick Google suggests that Evenbrite said that it violated their terms of service. If so , that parallels what Weeksy has said about his concerns, as owner of this site, as having responsibility for content.

[DEADPOOL]

Evenbrite said that it violated their terms of service.

.

LOL.

[Horse]

Evenbrite said that it violated their terms of service.

.

LOL.

Ah. 'Normal' standards of discussion have resumed, then?

[DEADPOOL]

Evenbrite said that it violated their terms of service.

.
'
LOL.

Ah. 'Normal' standards of discussion have resumed, then?

Oh, sorry. You weren’t joking?

[wheelnut]

Well, fair play, some people have made a compelling argument to turn (at least part of) this place into TRC.
It'll bleed over, you can't have one section with a load of people spaffing over each other because of politics and then expect it not to drift over onto the other sections, but if Weeksy is prepared to put up with it every morning then I guess it's his call.

FWIW, you’re probably one of the worst ones for poking that section of the forum with a stick and then standing back and saying ‘Who, me?’.

I thought you said you’d left the trolling behind with Iccy. Seems not.