Why don't we discuss politics?

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Maggot

Banned
Jun 3, 2011
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Somerset
At the moment, my 'Riots' thread is alive and well, and didn't degenrate too much. We have the HSL thread, which is fairly rocketing along, and includes a link to a petition aimed at changing Government policy, so that's quite political. There is the recent 'Climate Change' thread, well political. The 'Scotland as a test ground' thread, that was allowed to run, and got really heated at times. 'Wind turbines' very very political around planning etc. 'Naked Rambling' bang him up or let him go.

Then we have the 'Scotland to be 3rd World Economy' 2 posts and shut for being political, the one about crowd control methods, 1 post and shut for being political, because it contained a link to something that could have been construed as political, just like the High Speed Link thread, only not as overtly political!

Why do we have a rather inconsistent and ill policed ban on politics, when everything in life is political? Knives, guns, right to roam, access, hunting, fishing, driving, walking around starkers, I can't think of anything that has absolutely no political element.

So, why don't we ditch an unworkable ban?
 
Lock him up and throw the key away. He can be naked in solitary all he likes.

For all the softy softy, it's only a body stuff on here, society has norms, and those norms need to be heeded for the greater good.

Here is an excellent analogy. What would happen if someone started posting pictures of naked men and women on here? Not sexual images, just naked men and women, standing there in all their nakedness. Anyone want to give it a go, and keep doing it, maybe attaching one to every single post they make. How long before the long arm of the moderators intervene? I reckon 1 post, that would be a warning, if you kept doing it, you would have deleted posts and a final warning, followed swiftly by a forum lifetime ban. Obviously, moderators, you are free to disagree, Google has millions of 'naked' images ready for the challenge;)

Society has agreed norms, just because you disagree with those accepted norms does not give you carte blanche to act how you want. Bang him up.


Is this a society? :)
 
I agree with you Maggot that any discussion can be made into a political discussion very easily.

That is why you will find inconsistencies.

The rules are very clear regarding political subjects. They are banned.

Please abide by them on this forum.

Cheers

George
 
Is this a society? :)

Absolutely, I'm really asking the question as to why some political threads are allowed to run, but others are stamped on almost immediately, not discussing politics.

Although that Ed Milliband is a bit of a damp squib.
 
I think it that some topics are given a chance to run where as other subject have been tried and always degrade into "IM RIGHT YOUR WRONG" but with insults and bad feelings rather than discussion and well rounded points, remember this isn't a democracy, the site is privately owned and responsibility for the content is delegated in part to the Moderation team, I would think it better to put your points to each member of the team, than have a thread like this which could in some sense be construed a axe grinding, I get that its frustrating but we all chose to be here and so we choose to abide by the rules including that the Mods are always right,
 
If the mods decide a certain subject isn't suitable then their judgement stands.

I believe in that as it's too easy for things to get out of hand.

I had the same queries as you maggot when I first joined thinking some good discussions could be had but we must remember that this a bushcraft forum.
 
"...Why do we have a rather inconsistent and ill policed ban on politics...So, why don't we ditch an unworkable ban?.."

It is Tony's place, he doesn't think it is an unworkable ban and for the for the six or seven years I have been here, things have generally been fine as they are.

:)
 
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At the moment, my 'Riots' thread is alive and well, and didn't degenrate too much. We have the HSL thread, which is fairly rocketing along, and includes a link to a petition aimed at changing Government policy, so that's quite political. There is the recent 'Climate Change' thread, well political. The 'Scotland as a test ground' thread, that was allowed to run, and got really heated at times. 'Wind turbines' very very political around planning etc. 'Naked Rambling' bang him up or let him go.

Then we have the 'Scotland to be 3rd World Economy' 2 posts and shut for being political, the one about crowd control methods, 1 post and shut for being political, because it contained a link to something that could have been construed as political, just like the High Speed Link thread, only not as overtly political!

Why do we have a rather inconsistent and ill policed ban on politics, when everything in life is political? Knives, guns, right to roam, access, hunting, fishing, driving, walking around starkers, I can't think of anything that has absolutely no political element.

So, why don't we ditch an unworkable ban?

8 years of experience dictates that the general rules are needed. If there's a thread that we let run longer because it's not degenerating then that's a bonus and we're allowing some slack so enjoy them for what they are.

If we go down the path that you want in complete consistency then it would be down a strict no politics, religion route etc I'd rather let things run where possible but always have the right to stop it. There's plenty of sites that allow political conversations so if that's a need in your life then feel free to pursue it on one of those other sites. There are people on bcuk that could comfortably hold a conversation about politics etc and it would never get out of hand, there are others however that would not be able to resist the urge to get mad, stroppy and start saying things that are not appropriate.

The rules are there because I decided they should be there and as I own the site that's my prerogative. So, the 'ban' is non negotiable i'm afraid, it's one of those things you live with or spend your time elsewhere.
 
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On a point of order, climate change isn't about politics. It's about survival.

I have no time at all for politics in any disguise, and Tony's flat "NO" is one of the reasons I'm still here.

So Tony: Thank you. :)
 
I agree with Tony. In the 90's there wasa flourishing mailing list -- Primitive Skills Group -- on the same basic topics at this forum. But after a while some people could not keep from pushing their religion and their politics down the throat of all the other members, and the list died and horrid death as the idiots flamed each other and anyone complaining about their screeds. By banning the two single biggest hot buttons life can be much, much easier and pleasant.

I usually see this kind of places as taking place in someones living room, and as courtesy to the host you also abide to their house rules and listen when they clear their throat in a meaningfull manner.

The PSG list was of course resurrected -- by yours truly -- but is fairly dormant, with only a few posts a week at the moment (http://lists.tinho.net/mailman/listinfo/psg).
 
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