Shall we ban politics? Take the poll.

Do you want politcs to be banned from this forum?

  • Yes, ban it.

    Votes: 37 50.0%

  • No, keep it.

    Votes: 37 50.0%
  • Total voters
    74
  • Poll closed .
Status
Not open for further replies.
Matrix

Matrix

Admin
Should SF ban politics to be a friendly forum, or depend on politics to be an active and fun board?

Please take the poll, only two choices: yes or no.
 

Warrigal said:
it is important to discuss current affairs in the interest of becoming better informed.
Click to expand...
If it can be discussed in a civil manner, I'm all for it.

Unfortunately moderating politics into a friendly forum is mission impossible, it's against the nature of politics. I'm at my wit's end.
 

Matrix said:
If it can be discussed in a civil manner, I'm all for it.

Unfortunately moderating politics into a friendly forum is mission impossible, it's against the nature of politics. I'm at my wit's end.
Click to expand...

Understood. Hence, the creation of this poll. Perhaps you might enlist a special moderator to police the Political section.

I'm not being facetious, but I seriously would consider Warrigal, if she be willing.
 
I rarely read political posts but feel a site should offer a wide range of topics to suit all members, as long they respect each other's point of view and things don't get nasty...
 
I have not been active here for many months. I left because the political discussions became quite unsavoury. I can recognise that it is difficult to moderate poltical debate objectively on a board like this, so I would be happy to have then removed.

We should also remember that extremists will use boards and social media to put across their agenda. They can do this by bringing colleagues into play or creating multiple accounts to create the impresssion that they are many. So, it is very easy for things to get out of control.
 
No one is forced to read the politics topics. Just pass on by. I have strong beliefs but I do read others opinions and think about them and sometimes I alter my view of a subject.
 
1.) Domestic and global politics has an impact on senior citizens, our children, our grandchildren, and our Country. I believe it's important to have the opportunity to discuss politics on a senior citizen forum.
2.) I agree with a couple of the posters that what one clicks on or reads on a discussion board are at their own "risk". If one does not believe the political forum or any specific thread on that forum agrees with their political beliefs, they are not forced to click on it.
3.) The political forum on SF has been refreshing in that there has been a mix of ideologies. So many discussion boards are weighted heavily towards one side or the other. I believe most who post on SF's forum are good people. You can be a good American, a good person, a good grandparent even if you don't agree with my personal politics. That's what has been enjoyable about the back and forth on SF. Good people. Strong convictions. The ability to discuss those differences in non-threatening tones.
4.) Moderation of a political forum is a difficult task. From what I've seen, the moderators on SF have been excellent at keeping personal attacks regulated/disciplined. Some threads do get a little out of hand with the repetitive back and forth that happens deep into certain threads. In those cases, I believe pm's to those who insist on the bickering would allow the chance to mellow the rhetoric. If those warned don't abide by the wishes of the mod... they should be banned from that forum.
5.) We ALL must remember that any on-line discussion board is not a public playground that belongs to us. It is a privately owned and operated entertainment center where we can all get along or we can be escorted off the premises. Whether the political forum is continued is totally and completely up to the owners of this board. If we don't like how that owner regulates it, moderates it, or allows certain discussions we are free to leave... or have the opportunity to go play in someone else's sandbox.

I have been so impressed with the fantastic people who seem to have congregated on SF. If Matrix does decide to delete the political forum, I will miss it greatly. However, that is his/her choice and his/her decision and I will be fully understanding of that decision.

p.s. I do not know the capabilities of this board's software. Two other discussion boards I post to have political forums. Both are sports boards. Their political forums are "hidden". A member must request permission to have access to the political discussion and can, likewise, opt out at any time. I have not opted in to either board's political discussion because I believe the board's purpose is discussion of and support of that particular sport. SF's mission, I would imagine, is support and interest for seniors. Politics can be important to seniors. Yet, if it were possible to have that forum "hidden" where those who wanted to participate could, maybe that would be a "compromise".
 
Aunt Bea said:
I like the political threads but the constant tit for tat back and forth comments by a few members get tedious and IMO add little value to the discussions.
Click to expand...
I got fed up with our political forum and seldom even go there anymore. Politics brings out the worse in too many people and it doesn't take very many of those people to ruin it. I wouldn't wish moderating our political forum on anyone.
 
tnthomas said:
Understood. Hence, the creation of this poll. Perhaps you might enlist a special moderator to police the Political section.

I'm not being facetious, but I seriously would consider Warrigal, if she be willing.
Click to expand...

Warrigal declines. You don't want to unleash the Vice Principal in me. A lot of people would be sentenced to writing out lines such as "I must remember that every poster is a human being with genuine feelings". No cut and paste allowed and the finished lines would have to be hand written and posted as an image.

Besides, I live in a different time zone. When most members are jousting in the political arena, I am sleeping.

Seriously though, all that is required is to remember that we are all guests on a forum organised for us by Matrix and SeaBreeze and to behave as well mannered guests. Sometimes we need to have our say, then shut up and allow someone else to have the last word for a change.
 
I enjoy the political forum... but it does need moderating... and the moderator should be fair and unbiased.. rules should apply to everyone equally, and everyone should be aware of them.
 
dpwspringer said:
I got fed up with our political forum and seldom even go there anymore. Politics brings out the worse in too many people and it doesn't take very many of those people to ruin it. I wouldn't wish moderating our political forum on anyone.
Click to expand...
I totally agree. Especially considering the world we have today. We certainly don't want to raise people's blood pressure in a Senior Forum...:rose:peace
 
I think that discussing ​ politics is fine; but it seems more like a street brawl when I try to read the current events section of this forum; so I have been avoiding it because it seems to bring out a lot of anger in some people there.
When it spills over into other threads (we had Trump being blamed because there are hurricanes, for heaven’s sake !), then the animosity has just gone way overboard, in my opinion.
I think that if people want to discuss politics (or argue about it) then they can start one of the private groups and do it there. None of it would show up under new posts, and then other current events could actually be discussed in the current events section of the forum.
 
Happyflowerlady said:
I think that discussing ​ politics is fine; but it seems more like a street brawl when I try to read the current events section of this forum; so I have been avoiding it because it seems to bring out a lot of anger in some people there.
When it spills over into other threads (we had Trump being blamed because there are hurricanes, for heaven’s sake !), then the animosity has just gone way overboard, in my opinion.
I think that if people want to discuss politics (or argue about it) then they can start one of the private groups and do it there. None of it would show up under new posts, and then other current events could actually be discussed in the current events section of the forum.
Click to expand...

I think that's a great idea!
 
Happyflowerlady said:
I think that discussing ​ politics is fine; but it seems more like a street brawl when I try to read the current events section of this forum; so I have been avoiding it because it seems to bring out a lot of anger in some people there.
When it spills over into other threads (we had Trump being blamed because there are hurricanes, for heaven’s sake !), then the animosity has just gone way overboard, in my opinion.
I think that if people want to discuss politics (or argue about it) then they can start one of the private groups and do it there. None of it would show up under new posts, and then other current events could actually be discussed in the current events section of the forum.
Click to expand...

Personally, I think both groups would die out from disinterest. People will get bored having everyone agree with them.. Part of the appeal of a political forum is the debate. Without that aspect, "preaching to the choir" gets old.

As I have already said.. Keep the political forum with FAIR moderation... and if that's not possible... then I agree with getting rid of it entirely. Makes no difference to me.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top