Why does political affiliation matter? And why do people, let alone mods doing their job, need to label themselves with a reductive right vs. left label?

I make little secret of my own political leanings, but I'm far more conscious of the fact that some posts, threads and members do more to provoke, inflame or offend than others. Any moderator's job is not to push politics, but to keep the place tolerably friendly for the largest possible number of members. We also consider this to be the members' job here. I don't moderate general topics, but I can tell you for sure that I've known several moderator decisions before where the moderator who made the call did so completely against his political preferences. The problem is rarely the subject of the thread, but the tone, intention and extremity. I can tell you that 100% of political or religious threads which get closed are not because of leanings, but rather because people dominating them are doing so at the expense of this forum's mission, which is to provide a friendly and welcoming environment for subsimmers. If you're here to preach and pick fights, maybe it's a good idea to step back. That's the message behind forum discipline, not that you shouldn't believe what you believe.

To answer your question more directly, the moderators' political views are diverse, but that doesn't even enter the equation here.

Moderators are neutral and everything you see on the internet is true :yep:

I'm a real right wing leftis

Markus

if you continue on your pattern of only posting purely to cause controversy and then not to participate in the website then you should be banned and considered for keel hauling as well IMHO

if you are here just to cause trouble then why bother coming here at all?

For anyone that still believes in the significance of Left and Right wing (in terms unrelated to flight) The 20th century has just called to ask if he can have his politics back. :yeah:

Left wing or right wing? As long as the chicken is properly cooked I don't mind. I can eat both ...

:D

.

I can't tell left from right, even with the "<-- This is Left ... This is Right -->" stickers on my windshield. I know exactly how to get to some place, but always end up on the side of town opposite from my destination. :oops:

Heck, this one time I tried to drive down the block to the grocery store and ended up 300 miles away in South Dakota. Boy howdy. Imagine my embarrassment. :haha:


:03:

I can't believe there are so many replies to this! :damn:

You'd never catch me posting here... oh, wait - I've done it again, haven't I! Just let it drop off the first page into oblivion.

I've been on several forums like this(General Topics) There I have meet and discussed with leftwing, Rightwing, and other wing people. I respect their opinions. But what I can't respect in any way is racism.

Markus

Not sure why I am bothering to respond, but ok.

I tend to be pretty central in that I agree with some aspects (different ones) from each side. I mainly tend towards concepts of personal liberty and equality (for all spectrums), but I guess that is why I am studying to be a Clinical Social Worker. I am doing my masters right now in fact in it at a very liberal arts college. It is considered to be the top CSW program in North America, if not the world.

As a result of my all over the map leanings, I have had most labels thrown at me (particularly as a moderator, where I try very hard to be neutral and not let my own personal feelings on an issue cloud my judgement). I feel I am doing a good job if both sides think I am taking the other side's position at the same time. I also believe very much in honest debate and encourage it when ever possible (even if I completely disagree).

Anyhow I am not going to close the thread, or ban you (yet). But I would encourage you to pick a new mode of behavior (and stop with the hit and runs). The irony as I see it is that you have actually earned the general dislike of both camps here including the one you seem to claim allegiance to.

Me I claim allegiance to no side. I can think for myself unaided.

Sit back and enjoy the show. :D

Moderators are the attack dogs of Big Internet. They workin for da' man! :D

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/...2/0b92b880.jpg

It has nothing to do with that.
Act like a troll, get treated like a troll.

Exactly.

As for the OP question, I am guessing it originates from the frustration when one has a strong opinion and appears to be isolated. I can tell you this, I am moderately conservative, but the moderators (as far as I can tell) range from left to right. I know of at least two who are much more left leaning than me, but I think it is good to have them included in the process because 1. they are very smart guys 2. every forum needs balance 3. I trust them to be responsible, ethical, and fair--they got the moderator job based on these qualifications. Plus, they are part of a large segment of the population, I'm not going to ignore that.

This community encompasses a broad swath of folks with various political, religous, and economic beliefs and I don't see how a community can run without that, unless we're talking a narrow-minded club. Not for me. As long as one behaves with respect and civility you're welcome here. Militant racists, professed nazis or stalinist commies, xenomorphs, and other extremists are not.