Close the Politics Forum?

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Profile Bill Walker
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Message 1658349 - Posted: 28 Mar 2015, 18:37:51 UTC

I agree with Chris. There are lots of other Internet forums for the lunatic fringe.

Number Crunching and the Cafe do promote a sense of community. This forum only serves to make me despair for humanity.

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Message 1658354 - Posted: 28 Mar 2015, 18:48:16 UTC - in response to Message 1658349.  

...

Number Crunching and the Cafe do promote a sense of community. This forum only serves to make me despair for humanity.

... and if we do close it, all those conversations that make you despair will end up happening in number crunching and the Cafe.

Just think of this forum like a quarantine zone.
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Message 1658355 - Posted: 28 Mar 2015, 18:56:26 UTC

What is it with people that are apparently so distressed over being confronted by people who do not share their views that they want to close the whole place down?

And sure, perhaps if the place was filled with racism, homophobia, sexism and posters declaring their love for the Nazi's you could wonder what the point is. But really, by internet standards, this place is relatively tame. Sure, things get heated, but whats wrong with a little passion?
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Message 1658359 - Posted: 28 Mar 2015, 19:06:51 UTC - in response to Message 1658354.  


... and if we do close it, all those conversations that make you despair will end up happening in number crunching and the Cafe.

Just think of this forum like a quarantine zone.


Not if the moderators keep the other Forums on topic and within scope. Lots of other specialty Forums do this quite nicely.

I repeat - there are existing venues for political axe grinding. Those that enjoy that sort of stuff can probably find them very easily. This set of Forums should remain true to S@H.

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Message 1658360 - Posted: 28 Mar 2015, 19:09:30 UTC - in response to Message 1658355.  

Sure, things get heated, but whats wrong with a little passion?


Nothing wrong, if it relates to S@H. Otherwise it duplicates other venues that provide this service for those who need it. Why should the overworked and underfunded staff at S@H have to put up with this?

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Message 1658361 - Posted: 28 Mar 2015, 19:10:39 UTC - in response to Message 1658359.  


... and if we do close it, all those conversations that make you despair will end up happening in number crunching and the Cafe.

Just think of this forum like a quarantine zone.


Not if the moderators keep the other Forums on topic and within scope. Lots of other specialty Forums do this quite nicely.

I repeat - there are existing venues for political axe grinding. Those that enjoy that sort of stuff can probably find them very easily. This set of Forums should remain true to S@H.

well firstly it sounds like you are making more work for the moderators, and secondly, I am not sure any of the forums beyond the Q & A actually remain true to S@H.
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Message 1658362 - Posted: 28 Mar 2015, 19:17:04 UTC

Why should the overworked and underfunded staff at S@H have to put up with this?


Well of course in reality, they don't, which is why there are volunteer moderators.

Having only really been a mod for a short while I echo ES's sentiment, that closing the Politics forum and then banning all discussions of Politics or Religion would certainly make our job harder.
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Message 1658363 - Posted: 28 Mar 2015, 19:33:20 UTC - in response to Message 1658360.  

Sure, things get heated, but whats wrong with a little passion?


Nothing wrong, if it relates to S@H. Otherwise it duplicates other venues that provide this service for those who need it. Why should the overworked and underfunded staff at S@H have to put up with this?

Well then why do you want to keep the cafe and science forums around? They duplicate other venues as much as the politics forum does.

And if you are so concerned about the staff workload, why not actually ban all non S@H discussion? Just make the entire forum completely functional to S@H and ditch the whole community aspect. It would be boring and a shame, but thats the easiest way to avoid all of this.
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Message 1658366 - Posted: 28 Mar 2015, 19:41:19 UTC

"is this forum simply more trouble than it is worth?".


For who?
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Message 1658368 - Posted: 28 Mar 2015, 19:49:21 UTC - in response to Message 1658364.  


Nothing unless it just gets too heated. Online bulletin boards tend to attract mainly two types of people :-
    1. Single people without a partner, few friends, or little family, that use them as a social medium like Facebook or Twitter.

    2. A group of people that feel strongly about certain issues, but for one reason or another, feel unable to say what they think in real life. They find it easier to assume an anonymous identity and say things that way.



hmmmm...

That really is quite a sweeping generalisation.
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Message 1658371 - Posted: 28 Mar 2015, 19:54:26 UTC - in response to Message 1658368.  
Last modified: 28 Mar 2015, 19:57:16 UTC


Nothing unless it just gets too heated. Online bulletin boards tend to attract mainly two types of people :-
    1. Single people without a partner, few friends, or little family, that use them as a social medium like Facebook or Twitter.

    2. A group of people that feel strongly about certain issues, but for one reason or another, feel unable to say what they think in real life. They find it easier to assume an anonymous identity and say things that way.



hmmmm...

That really is quite a sweeping generalisation.

I agree Es99.
Here is one who use social forum. Former PM and FM Carl Bildt:)
https://twitter.com/carlbildt
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Message 1658373 - Posted: 28 Mar 2015, 19:57:39 UTC - in response to Message 1658364.  

But it is, that is most of the problem.

Well no one here has openly declared that Hitler was a cool guy. And sure, there are some racist/sexist/homophobic/otherwise negative attitudes here and there, but hardly any of it significantly deviates from the norm. Its simply impossible to interact with people without encountering at least a bit of one of those things.

I wouldn't know what other places in the Internet you frequent.

I've been to quite a few forums (not even considering places like Reddit) and I've also moderated a politics forum a few years ago. I consider this place relatively tame.
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Message 1658375 - Posted: 28 Mar 2015, 20:05:38 UTC - in response to Message 1658372.  


Yes it is but I think it covers most aspects even if it is non pc to say so.
..

In this case you are replacing the word "incorrect" with the term "non pc"

Unless you'd care to explain which of those categories you think I fit in to.
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Message 1658377 - Posted: 28 Mar 2015, 20:07:36 UTC - in response to Message 1658375.  


Yes it is but I think it covers most aspects even if it is non pc to say so.
..

In this case you are replacing the word "incorrect" with the term "non pc"

Unless you'd care to explain which of those categories you think I fit in to.

Thread derailed :P
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Message 1658380 - Posted: 28 Mar 2015, 20:10:40 UTC - in response to Message 1658372.  

The project

This fora is not a part of the SETI project
Fora
1.A place for discussion.
2.A gathering for the purpose of discussion.
3.A form of discussion involving a panel of presenters and often participation by members of the audience.
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Message 1658385 - Posted: 28 Mar 2015, 20:35:41 UTC - in response to Message 1658372.  

For who?

The project and the volunteer mods.

Now, if all the 7 mods say that they are happy to continue Moderating the Politics forum, it is no problem and none of them think it is onerous in any way then fair enough, we have our answer.

But that begs another question "Should the Mods HAVE to put up with the Politics forum?

There is a very simple answer here isn't there? Shut it down for one month and see how many of 1,500,000 active users complain. Less than 10? well you would have your answer wouldn't you, why keep it going to pander to a mere handful of people.

That really is quite a sweeping generalisation.

Yes it is but I think it covers most aspects even if it is non pc to say so.
It is useful to note those that would like to keep it going foe their own personal purposes.


No problems on this end, as long as everyone keeps it civilized.
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Message 1658392 - Posted: 28 Mar 2015, 20:48:35 UTC - in response to Message 1658383.  

So Janne, what would you do with your day if this thread wasn't here?

I have lovely days here. Walking with my our dog Tosca in this beatiful springtime weather:)
Croyden seem depressing to me:(
However Ealing and Hounslow...
Yes Hounslow!
And Liverpool of course.
I met my nephew Matthew when we celebrated my mums 85 anniversy.

And of course a lot of other things.
I'm semi retired and I have no boss.

Cheers Chris.
Maybe not. A brit told me to behave in a British/Swedish pub in Stockholm.
Invective hailed from that man. The other fellows said.
BEHAVE!
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Message 1658402 - Posted: 28 Mar 2015, 21:08:40 UTC

Now, if all the 7 mods say that they are happy to continue Moderating the Politics forum, it is no problem and none of them think it is onerous in any way then fair enough, we have our answer.


You are not necessarily going to get all mods to be happy with politics, no reason, they should, different people bring different strengths and outlooks to being a mod.

As long as Fred and the project is happy with the way the moderators are coping then that should be enough.
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Message 1658405 - Posted: 28 Mar 2015, 21:12:58 UTC
Last modified: 28 Mar 2015, 21:14:06 UTC

Maybe, if this forum serves as a platform for subjects that attract those with more passion for being argumentative then it keeps the other forums more civil. Lately, until the last week or so I have steered clear of the politics forum and concentrated my comments elsewhere. But this week there were a couple of topics in politics that I wanted to join.

People who don't like to get their blood pressure up can just avoid looking in the politics forum for a fight. It's not mandatory to read every thread.
Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.
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Message 1658407 - Posted: 28 Mar 2015, 21:18:00 UTC - in response to Message 1658390.  

No problems on this end, as long as everyone keeps it civilized.

Hi Julie,

The problem is that they don't keep it civilised do they? As a Mod look at the last months stats which you will be privy to, but I'm not.
    (A) How many % were hidden in Politics compared to all the other Seti forums?

    (B) How many were from the usual dozen trouble makers? (me included)

Any sort of future plan coming to mind?



People help the people popped up to mind all of the sudden:))
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Message boards : Politics : Close the Politics Forum?


 
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