Guest comment Posted January 20, 2007 Posted January 20, 2007 Currently there are two active threads in the Pub related to politics and my concern is this will continue to multiply with the upcoming '08 USA elections. I'm sure there are other men here who prefer to stay out of the political arena and do not care to see the Pub dominated by such conversation. Tampa Yankee I recall your past comments that you did not especially want a political forum. However it might be unavoidable. Therefore, I'm suggesting that you simply review and reevaluate the situation. Thank you. Quote
Guest funseeker 22 Posted January 20, 2007 Posted January 20, 2007 I agree. The pub section is already riddled with political standings and television reviews. Quote
Members TampaYankee Posted January 24, 2007 Members Posted January 24, 2007 >Currently there are two active threads in the Pub related to >politics and my concern is this will continue to multiply with >the upcoming '08 USA elections. I'm sure there are other men >here who prefer to stay out of the political arena and do not >care to see the Pub dominated by such conversation. > Good point. I agree that political discussion does not belong in The Pub, for the reason you state as well as others. >Tampa Yankee I recall your past comments that you did not >especially want a political forum. I haven't changed my mind. However, I was impressed to see the interest... and with only one lapse in decorum. That there was only a single lapse doesn't ally my concerns in general. I'm of a mixed mind. I believe in being responsive to members interests. Interest was clearly exhibited. Yet I haven't changed my view that politics internet forums are rife with abusive exchanges. Something about politics seems to prohibit some from exercising self discipline in the exchange of views. However it might be unavoidable. Therefore, I'm suggesting > that you simply review and reevaluate the situation. Oz opened this Pandora's Political Parlor. Maybe he will decide what he wants to do with it. Quote
Guest PWIT Posted January 25, 2007 Posted January 25, 2007 If it were possible for people to talk political discussions in a civil manner, I would highly encourage the political forum. BUT, I don't think it is possible in a forum of anonymous posters. The other site's political forum is filled with personal attacks. Seems when people can not debate the policy or proposal, they go straight for the jugular and either attack a fellow poster, some politician or a particular party. My fear is that if a political forum were established here, the civility that exists here would decline. My two cents...but you get them for free. :+ PWIT Quote
Members KYTOP Posted January 25, 2007 Members Posted January 25, 2007 I actually enjoyed the political conversation because, other than 1 comment, the conversation was very civil. Opinions were expressed and an intelligent conversation was created. Even the Republican thread stayed civil. As long as you have civil conversation I see no harm in a few political conversations. If people start attacking each other as in most political conversations, then I'd be for banishing it off somewhere. But if the Political conversation can stay civil...what's the harm? Quote
Guest Conway Posted January 28, 2007 Posted January 28, 2007 Honestly, I see it as having been handled pretty responsible by most of the members here with only a couple of exceptions. In comparison to the other place, for the most part, the crowd here at MER seems better educated and thus more capable of discussing controversial topics in a reasonable fashion. Its not as if we are dealing with the consistent belittling of people of differing opinions. As gay men, we all understand unreasonable prejudice well as many of us have been subjected to it as kids and adults. As a result, I think that we have the ability to develop a greater tolerance toward divergent opinion than the general public can and does (as a rule). Just my two cents. Sincerely, Conway Official Closet Republican Witch of MER Quote
AdamSmith Posted January 31, 2007 Posted January 31, 2007 The very fact that we are not quite supposed to be talking politics here is one thing that helps me keep my voice down in these threads. I wonder if anyone else finds the semi-quasi-prohibition helpful for discipline? (I'm having no success Googling it, but I could have sworn that John Stuart Mill wrote, "Liberty is the privilege of discipline." Which on first hearing in high school, of course we went around for days chanting, "Liberty is the privilege of bondage and discipline.") Quote
