Politics sub-forum

[Petrushka]

I rarely contribute to political threads but as an avid reader of them I find myself increasingly irritated by the contributions of certain posters who just insult each other and add nothing to the debate. Simon has been mentioned, and while this doesn't necessarily mean I agree or not with his posts, he can certainly hold his own. It is up to those who wish to present a counter-argument to do so in a reasoned and coherent manner. Resorting to silly insults means that those contributors who do so have lost the argument and, rightly or wrongly, Simon wins every time.

If FF is going to try and police this alone then she has her work cut out because despite best intentions it will be 'business as usual' in no time at all.

[french frank]

...save yourself the trouble ff and ditch this idea....the mere use of right wing - left wing in a post would start the banter and contumely obfuscation.... do you REALLY want to patrol this border....

Well ... I could set up three parallel ones:

1. For the right-wing perspective

2. For the left-wing perspective

3. For intellectual discussion

If FF is going to try and police this alone then she has her work cut out because despite best intentions it will be 'business as usual' in no time at all.

If people stepped out of line, I would exclude them from that board. And when I was the only one remaining, I would talk to myself

[Anna]

I'm of the same viewpoint as Petrushka. I read but don't contribute to political threads because they normally descend into playground insults and people invoking the Ignore Button and settling scores. However, if french frank wants to give it a go and she's prepared to spend the time moderating and chucking out the bullies with their set agendas then I say give it a go. If it causes too much bad feeling then she can just pull the plug on it.

[Serial_Apologist]

And when I was the only one remaining, I would talk to myself

Which is where I find myself most of the time, these days! Thank heavens (and French Frank) for this forum allowing us to discuss matters in greater depth than I have ever had the opportunity for. It allows one the chance of being outraged, stepping out for as long as it takes to cool off, and then return to the fray ready and in a calmer state of mind to take up disgreements one has had time on which to ponder - which no pub situation ever does!!!

[Serial_Apologist]

I'm of the same viewpoint as Petrushka. I read but don't contribute to political threads because they normally descend into playground insults and people invoking the Ignore Button and settling scores. However, if french frank wants to give it a go and she's prepared to spend the time moderating and chucking out the bullies with their set agendas then I say give it a go. If it causes too much bad feeling then she can just pull the plug on it.

Set agendas tend, I'd claim, to be based on assumptions that experience in the long run has proved their holders correct. Well, that is true in my case...

[MrGongGong]

And when I was the only one remaining, I would talk to myself

I fear that is likely to happen to your "leader" as well

ooops

sorry I mustn't kick the ball until you blow the whistle

[french frank]

I remember now that we had a poll (was it charles t's suggestion?) on 'Would an Ideas, Religion and Ethics forum be a welcome addition?' and the result was by a bit of a margin, No. I suppose Religion and Politics attract a similar range of responses.

I did think that the Plebs v Toffs thread started to produce some cogent arguments from both ends of the political spectrum which I personally was finding interesting, but it went downhill once the comments began to target other members, with a greater or lesser degree of subtlety.

[eighthobstruction]

Yet Plebs and Toffs has been very interesting today....

....if you are offering I'll have custard on my crumble....

[Resurrection Man]

Can we also have a separate "high horse" sub forum for those of superior intellect ?

Thus proving my point for me far better than I could have done so myself. Much appreciated, Gong. I thank you.

[MrGongGong]

Thus proving my point for me far better than I could have done so myself. Much appreciated, Gong. I thank you.

aaah the serious ones with REAL ideas have arrived
stand aside plebs

[Petrushka]

Looks like it won't be long before FF has to hand out the red cards...and that's before a Politics sub-forum has even started!

[doversoul1]

You are brave, ff. Politics and religions and all that… But I see the point; it is much easier to kick out unwanted posts or posters when the board is set up for a specific purpose (e.g. The EMS ) but if you have to do the policing singlehandedly, will it not be too much work?

How about starting it for a limited time, say a month, and at the end of the period, you can invite the members to put forward thoughts and ideas for a set of rules or something like Special Purpose Panel if necessary? Or you may decide to scrap the idea all together, which will be a pity as it means that we are unable to behave like civilised adults we think we are.

[french frank]

Looks like it won't be long before FF has to hand out the red cards...and that's before a Politics sub-forum has even started!

I would also have the option of making a new forum password protected. People who want to participate would get the password and anyone accepted who became tiresome could be excluded.

When the old Radio 3 messageboards were set up, the Radio 3 version of The Brains Trust was on air. That messageboard was really impressive. I read it with great interest but didn't dare to contribute .

I probably still haven't made it quite clear that I don't mean 'politics' in the sense of current political affairs of a tribal nature. That would still be on Platform 3.

[amateur51]

aaah the serious ones with REAL ideas have arrived
stand aside plebs

[amateur51]

Thus proving my point for me far better than I could have done so myself. Much appreciated, Gong. I thank you.

Oh dear