Don't you have better forums to argue politics?

[Spyder7]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Look, it is REALLY simple. There are rules and they are set out clearly. Do you agree or not?

This is not a public free-for-all. If you have a problem with the rules, go elsewhere. It is very easy to do so. There are plenty of forums that will have you.

If you want to stick around, follow the rules. If you dont like them then go elsewhere.


I agree. This is why I never complain when a topic strays into overt politics and gets locked as a result. The rules in place enforce a level of civility lacking on other forums.

Here in General Topics, because the topics are "general" its a fuzzy line on many topics that most of us (myself included) try to navigate without crossing it.

In the rest of the forums on this site, its not so fuzzy, and anything political really stands out like a sore thumb. Typically in the eyeball widening and rolling way, as you are then left to hope it gets cleaned up by the mods before it deteriorates further and the inevitable lock comes (and in both cases, I haven't seen an instance where either solution didn't strike me as the only real solution).

-Spyder

 

[motorguy222]

While this thread is mostly tongue in cheek,I am glad that profanity is not allowed.I think it is very unbecoming of an adult when they cant say anything without it being blank this and blank that.

Is it any wonder that society is as it is,people dont have respect enough for others,let alone themselves than to use vile language every breath they take and every other word they say.

 

[Volvo_ST1]

Originally Posted By: Artem
Do kids really frequent this site enough for us to NEED to have certain words censored for the little baby ears (or eyes in this case) in the audience?


My 12 year old nephew is spending a lot of time on BITOG's Firearms forum. He has very sensitive eyes and ears.

 

[pzev]

Unfortunately this website deals with topics that are often very political....oil and motor vehicle companies. Naturally, many threads are going to venture into the political realm by the very nature of the subject material.
Being the internet, people are more prone to sharing their thoughts. I won't go into detail on this, but anonymity, mob mentality, no direct human contact supplying non-verbal cues....etc etc. Million reasons why discussions on the internet are almost always more heated then they would be face to face, and why these discussions are more likely to break out in the first place.

 

[Merkava_4]

Separating oils and fuels from politics is a tough nut to crack. I'm very much
hoping I'll live to see the day when politics has NOTHING to do with energy.

 

[Vikas]

Given that we are (almost) all red blooded American males here, guess what is on our mind 99% of the time? It is certainly NOT politics!

- Vikas

 

[onion]

Post something that the mods agree with, and they'll let it slide.

Post something they disagree with, and you'll be threatened with the ban-hammer.

That's why I rarely engage in such discussion around here.

 

[Spyder7]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
Given that we are (almost) all red blooded American males here, guess what is on our mind 99% of the time? It is certainly NOT politics!

- Vikas


Tongue-in-cheek response:

Other issues aside, is that which is on our minds 99% of the time a discussion you really want on a forum populated with almost entirely red-blooded (mostly American) males whose primary interest here is motor oil

Pass!

-Spyder

 

[PandaBear]

I can tell you why. We human likes to blame everyone under the sun for our own misfortune. You life sucks? Blame the government. You are not making money in your business? Blame the government. Your health deteriorate? Blame the government. Your career take a dump? Blame the government. Your wife cheat on you? What the heck, blame the government because they didn't do the moral education so she didn't learn that cheating is wrong.

You get my picture.

 

[Volvo_ST1]

Originally Posted By: PandaBear
You get my picture.


What should I do with it?

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted By: Volvo_ST1
Originally Posted By: PandaBear
You get my picture.


What should I do with it?


Ignore it if it does not agree with you.

 

[javacontour]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Politics should be a $100/yr buy in.



There would be those who argue that's not fair to the poor. Only the rich could discuss politics, LOL.

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted By: javacontour
Originally Posted By: eljefino
Politics should be a $100/yr buy in.



There would be those who argue that's not fair to the poor. Only the rich could discuss politics, LOL.


Try $500k / yr, that's probably the going rate if you are to get anywhere.

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

I had a side board but bot-based spam was unrly, then it moved over to G-man's board.

It was nice, but the ISP's TOS changed. Now, no board.

In lieu of no board, get on Twitter, make each other friends (er...followers), and chat away.

 

[Spyder7]

I've visited a few politically oriented forums in the past, but never stuck around for the following reasons:

1. They lean one direction or the other, and anyone who offers an opinion counter to the prevailing status quo of that political bent (regardless of the political leanings, its true on both sides in my experience) has their opinion shouted down with outright hostility. Not a place I like to spend my time, and not good for one's state of mind (particularly when you're someone, as I am, whose views don't fit nice and neat into either political ideology and who is in favor of some ideas from both sides and against others).

2. They act as an echo chamber where there's no real debate or discussion, just a lot of group think and backslapping. Not healthy in terms of educating one's self to the ideas subscribed to by the different ideologies and placing them under a critical scrutiny.

3. The one's that welcome people regardless of political orientation are far too heated for my tastes, and discussions quickly become heated and often downright nasty.

That's why I have no interest. Here a lot of areas blur the line in terms of what's political, and there's a lot of good discussion on topics in that gray area, and members seem to try and stay away from the overtly political stuff. When they don't, the mods lock the topic. End result is there is a measure of civility and calm discussion here that is not found elsewhere.

This is why, recognizing the gray areas are unavoidable as they overlap the very topics that this board is about, while General Topics in particular is just that, I follow the rules as tightly as I can and recognize - and appreciate - the voluntary work the mods do.

I regard BITOG as Helen's house, and do my best to treat it with the same level of respect I'd pay when visiting anyone else's home. And that includes respecting their wishes and following them.

-Spyder

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted By: Spyder7

2. They act as an echo chamber where there's no real debate or discussion, just a lot of group think and backslapping. Not healthy in terms of educating one's self to the ideas subscribed to by the different ideologies and placing them under a critical scrutiny.


This.

I haven't had my mind changed on any topic based on internet ramblings, but I like to see how the other side thinks. I have to deal with all sorts of people in real life and it's nice to know what their hot buttons are... and to have irrefutable facts ready to counter their arguments.

There are some whose world view must lead to very high blood pressure as they can't even imagine what it's like to be in the shoes of someone with a different outlook. I try not to be that guy. Guess a generation ago you'd call it "tolerance".

 

[Papa Bear]

Take my advice .... I'm not using it.

Everyone is entitled to my opinion.

 

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted By: onion
Post something that the mods agree with, and they'll let it slide.

Post something they disagree with, and you'll be threatened with the ban-hammer.


^^^^THIS!!

IF their 'rules' were enforced to the letter of their 'law', but evenly, fairly, and completely UNbiased, it would be great!

 

[QuadDriver]

The 'rules' to which we agreed to when some of us signed up have been unilateraly changed. Sort of like a credit card agreement....

 

[QuadDriver]

Can I link to another site here? Id give you a site you can read without registering that was started with a core group of say 10 people. Id want to shwo you just how bad and rude people can be without moderators....