Shoul we ban all politics from the board?

[KirkVining]

Lebenz, you and I have had a problem since day 1 on this forum, and it is not surprising you would use a thread like this as an opportunity to continue your personal attacks and your personal vendetta. Your real problem is the content of what I post, that is obvious because you advocate it be censored. Why do you even post on a public forum? They are meant to be an open forum for political ideas. If one person's political beliefs and how they express them bother you so much that you become that bitter, your the one with the problem.

[Bokonon]

Let me tell a story, and then I will use it to illustrate my point.

I am a long-term participant on another web forum dedicated to wristwatches. Actually, several other people who regularly post on Mercedesshop are participants there.

That forum -- which will go nameless -- used to have a terrific board called "The Water Cooler" where people were allowed to discuss anything and everything that did NOT relate to watches.

Simply put, it was one of the most vibrant and interesting places on the web.

The Water Cooler was shut down, however, because the moderators objected to the heated political discussions, as well as the personal attacks, etc. that some doofuses insisted on posting. So they killed the entire discussion board, and replaced it with a heavily policed, heavily censored "Lifestyles" forum where people discuss stereo equipement, acquariums, pots and pans, etc.

These days, the replacement board is usually pretty boring and sterile -- sort of like a rip-roaring amusement park that has been bulldozed and replaced with a cornfield, complete with chirping crickets. When an interesting thread gets started, someone usually claims that it touches on one of the topics that is now forbidden -- like politics -- and the thread is then eliminated.

The result? The most interesting people have drifted away, and the ENTIRE forum has suffered a decline in viewership and quality.

Censorship kills. I think that if it is injected into this discussion board vis. politics, it will kill the quality and interest of the board. The reason is that virtually EVERYTHING has got a political aspect these days, and virtually ANY topic can be controversial.

The solution is pretty clear, and it has to do with self-discipline. If the subject of a particular thread offends you, don't read it. And if you don't like personal attacks, don't post them. And if some troll attacks you, ignore them.

Another thing is clear -- calling down the moderators to nuke particular people or topics is part of an all-too-typical trend in the U.S. these days where people do not tolerate differing viewpoints, and try to actually DESTROY those viewpoints as bad, offensive, illegal, traitorous, etc. rather than engaging them. Let's stay sane and not engage in that here.

-- Bokonon

[ericdee]

No way! I rather enjoy the debates.

[Joe Bauers]

Originally Posted by Lebenz

Thank you, Doctor, for taking the time to ask the membership!

I don’t see anything wrong with political threads. I do see a problem with one particular member -- KirkVinning. Not because of the inordinate volume of posts he makes. That is a prerogative. And there is no rule for the number of posts one may make. And definitely not because of his political alliance. That is a right. But due solely and exclusively to his rude, confrontational to the point of being harassing, arrogant, and indifferent nature. Were I a moderator, I would warn this individual to tone down the verbiage of his posts. He could make all the same points without the arrogance, harassment and rude nature. If he refused, I would edit his posts and warn him again. If he continued to refuse I would ban him.

Political threads aren’t the problem at all. One person is the motivator of the problem that is demonstrated in political threads. But again, there is nothing wrong with political threads themselves, nor is there anything wrong with discussing politics. If someone is using words to hurt anyone and everyone who disagrees with him, banning political threads will do nothing to solve it.

I have put him on ignore, and that works for me, but only after I remember to log on, so that ignore works. There are daily comments from many folks who find this person untenable, due to his above mentioned behaviors.

I think this post is outrageous. This poster doesn't like KV--so he uses this thread, which is supposed to be a survey of member thoughts, as an avenue upon which to express his displeasure. He implies that there are others (unnamed, of course) who agree with his extreme descriptions of KV's spirited offerings.

I say--let the forum remain open, and tell those who want to turn it into a personal vendetta to find their entertainment elsewhere.

Joe B.

[MTI]

Gosh, if political debate were banned here, what would happen . . . political debate would have to be done in the dark back alleys in unsanitary conditions with who knows who participating in unfettered espousing. Or worse, someone might actually get involved in a political campaign! I worry for the republic if that happens.

[moparmike]

Originally Posted by tkamiya

A full fledged debate is not in the taste of everyone.

Where is there a debate? The last thing we could call a "debate" was the gas-tax thread, and even then the word "debate" is a bit of a stretch on that thread.


We dont have debates here. We have flamefests and childish bickering. That is why people are leaving until after November.

[Palangi]

I am not in favor of outlawing political discussion, but I think we need to face up to the fact that it has overwhelmed the Open Discussion forum to the point where if some newcomer asks a car question here, he doesn't have a prayer in hell of getting an answer. If he doesn't get an answer, most likely he never comes back, and thus never purchases parts, which is the main reason why Mercedesshop exists in the first place.

The solution is obvious, as others have already suggested. Make a separate forum for political arguments. The political types can beat each others brains out to their hearts content, and leave the Open Discussion Forum as the civilized place it used to be. If an innocent thread in Open Discussion turns into a political argument, simply move it to the Political Forum. Of course, on the new Political Discussion Forum, the same rules should apply regarding name calling, threats, etc.

The obvious problem with setting up such a forum, of course, is where to find a mature and unbiased moderator stupid enough to accept a position which would undoubtedly subject himself to frequent heaping abuse.

[MTI]

Let's have an exclusive pretty girls forum; or how about forums dedicated to car maintenance, diesels, tires, audio, and whether there should be other separate forums.

[GermanStar]

Originally Posted by Palangi

The obvious problem with setting up such a forum, of course, is where to find a mature and unbiased moderator stupid enough to accept a position which would undoubtedly subject himself to frequent heaping abuse.

I've heard that VD is willing to volunteer.

[Old300D]

Originally Posted by moparmike

Where is there a debate? The last thing we could call a "debate" was the gas-tax thread, and even then the word "debate" is a bit of a stretch on that thread.


We dont have debates here. We have flamefests and childish bickering. That is why people are leaving until after November.

I completely disagree with this characterization. The open forum has some of the most mature discussions I've seen on any forum. If the arguments get hot and the insults are made, the offender usually gets called on it. Most folks here have thick enough skins to be able to take it.

[KirkVining]

Originally Posted by MTI

Gosh, if political debate were banned here, what would happen . . . political debate would have to be done in the dark back alleys in unsanitary conditions with who knows who participating in unfettered espousing. Or worse, someone might actually get involved in a political campaign! I worry for the republic if that happens.

Maybe we should allow debates only in the first two trimesters. In the final trimester, it will only be allowed if the debater has been a victim of rape or incest. And partial-debates will be banned.

[Diesel4me]

Originally Posted by moparmike

Do you consider rising blood pressure, stress, and the creation of ulcers physically sick? I had 2 out of the three, and called a stop to it. Especially in the fights I really didnt have a dog in. I just couldnt stand to see someone bashing someone undeservedly.


I dont blog anymore either.

Those maladies are self-inflicted it sounds like. If you think reading gives you high blood pressure and ulcers, then for goodness sakes, stop reading!

[DslBnz]

I believe a certain stringency must be applied to those who delight in attacking others personally.

Instead of profilling each other, why can't there be a simple standard as "Open Discussion Forum: We Can Agree to Disagree"

I won't talk pish about your candidate/party, and you won't talk posh against my candidate. Not in a rudimentary fashion, at least. Why isn't that being enforced?

The OD forum has been making me sick with the load of political threads. If somebody posts anything about any candidate in outright belligerence, just DON'T RESPOND! DON'T ENTERTAIN THE ISSUE! It's merely a box with a stick support, a carrot attached to a string being held by Elmer Fudd who is played by the thread initiator. "Huh-huh-huh-huh-huh-huh-huh".

No matter what logic is presented, nothing will be taken as concern. Minds are closed, views are set, persuasion ain't going to happen. Us MB enthusiasts are too strong-minded for that crap be you a turd-eating arse, or a blimp with a trunk....Myself, the latter.

[rickg]

And he's the college boy

[moparmike]

Originally Posted by Diesel4me

Those maladies are self-inflicted it sounds like. If you think reading gives you high blood pressure and ulcers, then for goodness sakes, stop reading!

Only reading here does that. And that is why I usually avoid the OD here.

The open forum has some of the most mature discussions I've seen on any forum.

You need to get out more. IMO, Fark has more mature discussions than this place. YMMV.