Shoul we ban all politics from the board?

[The Godfather]

I was wondering....there's so much political crap on here... it doesn't look like a Mercedes forum. It personally makes me sick.

But I wanted to know the opinion of others.

[GermanStar]

Banned topics are inconsistent with the concept of Open Discussion. No good can come of it...

[nhodges]

This is an open forum. There are plenty of Benz discussions in the other forums. Open forum means open forum. Leave it open... and alone.

[LK1]

I just figured out the biases of everyone on here, now you want to shut it down. I say leave it alone, and if you take a position you can't intelligently defend then stop whining and go play someplace else.
Also the political threads are pretty easy to pick out, if a person doesn't want to participate they can see them a mile away.

[Diesel4me]

Originally Posted by nhodges

This is an open forum. There are plenty of Benz discussions in the other forums. Open forum means open forum. Leave it open... and alone.

I agree.

I am a former Bush lover, but reading the forums here, and just watching the news has really changed my mind over the last 6 months or so. I feel like the political (as well as other controversial subjects discussed here) discussions are actually healthy and it's fascinating reading. I can't imagine someone that would get physically sick reading here. If you get sick then don't read it.

[Snibble]

I am going to be a flip-flopper and vote to ban it. I think we made the point clear... Bush is a bad Pres :p


Hey mod... MAKE A SEPARATE POLITICAL FORUM, that way they can do their own thang over there and not here.

[Jason Beal]

If you don't like it, you don't have to read it. It seems that many of the people who get upset are so because they see opinions they strongly disagree with.

[moparmike]

I can't imagine someone that would get physically sick reading here.

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.

[Pete Geither]

I think a few posters are here just to piss some people off and go a bit over the top with their comments, but,,,, it is open for any topic, and really, if it makes the poster feel good and superior in some way, just let em rant. I usually just pass over most of the political threads. The tips and help I have gotten from this site far outweigh the crap.

I used liked the politic but due to the huge volume it's a little overwhelming so I've choosen to duck out of most of them because it's difficult to have a conversation with people who post 20 times more than yourself.

[mikemover]

Of course you should NOT ban political discussion....or anything else.

What is the point of an "open discussion" section if you're just going to start banning things, and dictating what people can and cannot discuss on it?

There's a dozen other areas on shopforum that are ALL about Mercedes of all flavors, so what's wrong with some of us talking politics here?

People who don't care for it DO have the option of NOT READING it, ya' know?! Seems pretty simple to me.


Mike

[rickg]

As much as I've whined about them, I say leave 'em. Or ban them. I don't really care one way or another.
My only valid complaint is when someone feels the need to turn a non-political thread into one.

[Eskimo]

I neither participate in nor closely follow much of the politcal discussion, but I think that the banning of topics is a slippery slope that should be devoutly avoided. What's the point of "closing" an "open discussion"?

If I don't like the content, then I'm free to ignore it. I'm also free, by and large, to help create some content I do like by starting and/or participating in other threads. Though I don't think we'd see a lot of heated debate in a thread, say, about the really cool wind chimes that I made for my wife...


-- eskimo

[G-Benz]

It's an election year...political threads are prolific nowadays.

Hopefully it will die down somewhat, and then we can talk about the holidays, credit problems, cold-start issues, family deaths, and other neat subjects!

I don't wish to get involved in the political threads (nor am I saavy enough or informed enough to jump in), so I browse through the content w/o comment, and just move on to the "Pretty Girls" thread!

[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.