Religion, Sex, Politics

Bio-T · Mar 29, 2004

All the Moderators have received many pro/con complaints concerning topics in the General Section. The split seems to run 50/50 for and against. With that in mind, would anyone like to see:

1. General and Off Topic with no religion, sex or politics and:

2. Add another General and Off Topic to allow only religion, sex, politics. (This would be very heavily Moderated for Board Rule Violations)

This was the most suggested ideas. So I am posting it for all to comment. Be Gentle.

sbc350gearhead · Mar 29, 2004

I am still against the religious discussions. And I can easily watch the political stuff go too. I don't see how splitting up the forum into two sections will help.........except that it might be easier to moderate. I guess it comes down to the question.........how much time are the moderators willing to devote to policeing an off-topic political forum? IMO the moderators shouldn't have to deal with any more crap than absolutely necessary.

labman · Mar 29, 2004

One, one, one. As I said in another thread, it would take the wisdom of Solomon, the patience of Job, and a 24/7 workweek to properly sort out the flat out lies, distortions, out of context quotes, etc. There have been some extremely dishonest posts in these areas, and I have felt somebody need to point out that what was stated as fact is the opinion of a minority. Let these people post their lies elsewhere.

The general forum is great. This is an active board with people that have experience with many things. I recently received some helpful answers on high energy discharge lights. Keep it, just drop the subjects likely to attract deceptive rants.

Asinine · Mar 29, 2004

How about any post related to those subjects needs to have "(SUBJECT)" in the thread title to warn people to put their hip-waders on

?

ALS · Mar 29, 2004

I think there isn't a problem with the sex and religion in general. But maybe a section in General and Off Topic dedicated to just Politics as Asinine says to warn people to put their hip-waders on. I haven't seen anything that has even got close to being a problem with the discussion of religion or sex on the board. This way by my not visiting that secion I wouldn't get my blood pressure up and go off. Plus those who are not interested are already aware of the type of discussion that would be going on in there and needlessly not be drawn into a quarral.

Gary Allan · Mar 29, 2004

quote:

I cannot understand why various individuals on this board have the issues that they do.

And that's the great part about it, IMHO. I get to sample other peoples rational` on issues.

Again ...those that complain don't have to read or participate in any of them. This leads me to conclude that some moderators and members would rather just shut out views that are in opposition to theirs. Sorta like "I will not passively endorse this sinful and imoral dialogue if I have any say about it" type thing.

Now I full support the individual's right to have that disposition AND the "board's right" to apply that attitude via the TOS ...but I find it rather childish and, at the same time, totalitarian in its conceptual origins (visions of a miserable older person wanting to stone someone for having a different POV on the aforementioned issues).

We're all big boy and girls here. If certain topics offend certain moderators ...ask a moderator that it doesn't to take it on. What's wrong with that? Now IF, however, a given moderator just wants to CONTROL the content because the posts enrage him personally ...well I'd do a little self evaluation on your motives for opposing the GOT.

If you, for example, think that you're being "patriotic" by shutting out those who critique the government ..then I submit you would appear to willfully engage in totalitarian approaches within the confines of your governess. That is, in defense of "America" ...you would be very unAmerican in your actions. This spans all topics in scope.

...on the other hand ...

Your house ..your rules...

It would make this board very dull in comparison IMHO if the GOT is "leashed".

labman · Mar 29, 2004

It is real simple. The moderators have not taken on the almost impossible task of disallowing lies about these subjects. It would be much easier and leave the board a cleaner place, to just ban them.

needtoknow · Mar 29, 2004

I vote Labman as moderator of the new "No Lies, General and Off Topic Forum"

tweeker43 · Mar 29, 2004

this board does not have to ensure anyone's first amendment rights. as far as i know, it is privately run and paid for.

there are a couple of easy options for the moderators. one is to ban all topics pertaining to sex, religion and politics. the other to to pretty much free-ball this section and let it go unmoderated.

on the hard side, they can try to separate the growing amount of noise from the signal.

since i'm not a moderator (nor would i desire to be one, the pay is bad and the job is thankless), i respect the fact that they are asking for input. but, it's not my board. i'm not paying to be here, nor am i working to maintain its content. the site sponsors and moderators should get first dibs on deciding solution in my opinion.

good luck.

JohnnyO · Mar 30, 2004

I think things are just heating up because it's an election year. Here people are pretty good at agreeing to disagree, at other boards I'm on they're not. As long as people stay off of personal attacks . Until the election, it'll get worse before it gets better though.
Or, create a sex, lies, politics, and videotape forum at least through the end of the year and keep it to one page so it doesn't eat up too much bandwidth.

[ March 30, 2004, 04:18 PM: Message edited by: JohnnyO ]

Shannow · Mar 30, 2004

I agree with Johnny, keep personal attacks out, and let it go.

I've seen a couple of boards (music related) remove all political, sexual, and religious posts from their general forums...both went belly up.

sbc350gearhead · Mar 30, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by Shannow:
I agree with Johnny, keep personal attacks out, and let it go.

I've seen a couple of boards (music related) remove all political, sexual, and religious posts from their general forums...both went belly up.

Yes but politics, sex, and religion, are very strong influences in music. They really don't have much to do with oil.

TC · Mar 30, 2004

I see religion as one of those "10 foot pole" things (as in "Don't go there"), but why ban sex? I mean, what good is a board if you can't talk about Britney Spear's gyrating, oiled and/or sweat-glistening melons and thighs? Where's the fun in NOT talking about that stuff?!!! Keeping quiet about such splendid, oiled and undulating loins would be a travesty in my opinion...a true disservice to us members of the beer-guzzling public as we watch halftime shows hoping, even praying for one tiny glimpse of a "wardrobe malfunction" or other peep show.

tweeker43 · Mar 30, 2004

i'm changing my vote.

throw in some liv tyler and i'll be an annual site supporter.

quote:

Originally posted by TC:
I see religion as one of those "10 foot pole" things (as in "Don't go there"), but why ban sex? I mean, what good is a board if you can't talk about Britney Spear's gyrating, oiled and/or sweat-glistening melons and thighs? Where's the fun in NOT talking about that stuff?!!! Keeping quiet about such splendid, oiled and undulating loins would be a travesty in my opinion...a true disservice to us members of the beer-guzzling public as we watch halftime shows hoping, even praying for one tiny glimpse of a "wardrobe malfunction" or other peep show.

labman · Mar 30, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by needtoknow:
I vote Labman as moderator of the new "No Lies, General and Off Topic Forum"

Checking out and dumping all your posts is an unreasonable task to ask of anybody. You are continually copying long posts from some kook site.

needtoknow · Mar 30, 2004

I don't know how much work there is to moderating these forums, I can just imagine it takes a lot to read every post, assess it and stay awake. Most of the problems I see on the GOT forum are personal attacks and typed screaming. The "Why can't he just see my point of view" frustration thing. The discussions on difficult subjects go pretty well when the tone is reduced and the personal attacks go away. What rules would the moderators use to keep everyone polite? Is splitting the GOT a solution for the moderators or the posters? For those that may be offended I think they are still going to be offended when the split occurs because they will still visit the separate forum and participate and get offended all over again. The work of the moderators will be no different as they will have one more forum to moderate. If this site was just oil discussion I would be less active as I think most others would be. Right now each section is a relief from the other and a draw to the other. We could do a test. Allow no controversial subjects (define) for a time and see what the reaction is.

GROUCHO MARX · Mar 30, 2004

How about a section for relentless ad hominum attacks!

carrera79 · Mar 30, 2004

First, I realize that this site is privately run and realize all that is involved in that. Second, I hold the moderators in the highest esteem for the effort that they put into this board. You are much appreciated.
Now, I cannot understand why various individuals on this board have the issues that they do. I feel that the arguments get more heated over oil than over politics or religion. I have yet to be insulted by anythign said on this board. Everyone has a right to their opinion, and I cherish the fact that there is a space on this board, a board consiting of individuals who I am interested in hearing from instead of the obsessed freaks who constantly hang out on politically oriented forums, where all of us can post our ideas/opinions. There are a large number of people here who disagree with my political views. I want to hear what they think. I feel that I can't really have an opinion unless I hear everyone's argument, even if they are diametrically opposed to my viewpoint. I do understand that these discussions are not the reason for the existence of this board, but I believe that we would all lose an great place to have discussions with a quality group of individuals if politics/religion were banned. If there needs to be a politics/religion board, so be it. Furthermore, IMHO I find the posts here to be the most civilized of any other board out there. Thanks to everyone for all of you comments and opinions on everything I have ever posted.

Religion, Sex, Politics

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