The political divide on this forum...

[SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

That sums up my thoughts exactly. I could make a "political" forum, even make it a "sub-forum" and bury it, so to speak, so only those determined to antagonize each other will dwell there. Problem is, after a period of time, we would have the same problem all over again. I would be getting PMs from Joe saying Bill is flaming, or Gus is calling people nazis, etc. and like to said, that's not the reason we pay $600 each month for servers and hosting. I prefer to re-use the feeble solution we've always used, which is when things get out of hand, we collectively agree to chill. Historically, most people in the Subsim forums agree, no kind of forum changes or enforcement is needed. We have people of all kinds here and the few who cannot get along will be asked to take their agendas elsewhere. Let them call Air America or Rush Limbaugh, or post on any of a thousand forums where people daily try to dismember each other. We don't want that atmosphere here.

Just make a discalimer - enter at your own risk! And state that these kinds of things will generally be ignored!

-S

[STEED]

I think we should take a step back and know when to back off and stop.

May be the moderator's need a colour code system?

For example -

Green - Moderator's are watching this thread closely
Yellow - Moderator's issue first warning but let the thread continual
Orange - Moderator's issue second and final warning
Red - Moderator's close the thread and give there reason why

This is a course just an idea and it's up to Neal and the Moderators at the end of the day.

[Ishmael]

I personally try to never engage in personal attacks against my conservative friends here as I don't hate them. I just consider them misguided. I read most of the links they offer and compare it to what I've read or seen other places as it helps my own personal analysis of the subject. I also try to back up my arguments here with links to the relevant facts as I know them to assist them in their own analyses.

This board is really unique for the convergence of people from all over the world interested in defense technology and political issues from a variety of international perspectives, something I think Uncle Neal can take great pride in.

So I offer the following lyrics as testament that, in a similar situation with my conservative friends, I would do what the singer does. Written by Nick Gravenites,it's an old song called,"I'll Change Your Flat Tire, Merle."

Oh, I'll change your flat tire, Merle.

I wouldn't want your guitar-pickin' fingers covered with oil

You're a redneck I know,

But Merle, you got soul.

So I'll change your flat tire Merle.

[Sailor Steve]

I'm divided politically...

[jumpy]

Originally Posted by waste gate

Originally Posted by jumpy

.

I've always thought this a bad idea. Ignoring or blocking the opinion of others diminishes your understanding of, not only the thread but also the mindset of those with whom you may disagree.

My modus operandi is to not block any view or member of the forum. This does not mean I have to attend every argument to which I am invited.

There is some merit in what you say about listening to the other opinion, but at the risk of trotting out a tired old cliché:

I'd rather suffer fools than bigot's, any day.

With that in mind I am forced to conclude that (sometimes) there are fewer fools than bigots here at times. That might sound a bit harsh, but in some topics it is spot on.
Sadly there's only so many times I can listen to the same old twaddle before I make a more permanent judgement regarding an individual or member. It's the same for me in real life (as it were) you get three strikes and then I have no more time for you; Life is too short to spend eking it out over time wasters and the older I get the more I seem to loose patience with loud-mouths and anyone with too heavy a chip on their shoulder. They won't thank you for your time, so why bother?

Don't get me wrong, I don't add people willy-nilly to my ignore list just because they have a different opinion to me, there's more to it than that, especially when the discourse turns to the inevitable personal slight, which round here is pretty much unforgivable if no direct or public apology is forthcoming.
In all my time here I have never felt the need to publically insult or deride another member for their beliefs or understanding, regardless of how the conversation goes. But if others are not prepared to extend the same courtesy from behind the safety of their monitor...

Poking a sly jibe in the spirit of humour is altogether different when a thread diverges in humerous lines, in which case the context should be obvious to all who read it.

On the whole I like it here, but again I must reiterate; the ignore list can make this a peaceful place to be when so desired.

Originally Posted by waste gate

Originally Posted by jumpy

.

I've always thought this a bad idea. Ignoring or blocking the opinion of others diminishes your understanding of, not only the thread but also the mindset of those with whom you may disagree.

My modus operandi is to not block any view or member of the forum. This does not mean I have to attend every argument to which I am invited.

What's wrong with sticking one's fingers in their ears, and saying "La la la la la la la la la la I can't hear you la la la la la la la la"?

That sounds like mature adult behavior and somebody with razor sharp debating skills to me. Above all else it is eminently a sign of somebody that reasons with their intellect instead of their emotions; out of sight out of mind. Such a person knows all that they need to, they need not be bothered with trivialities such as details; their mind is made up.

Furthermore, it allows them to coolly and calmly formulate a rational response predicated on facts and logic, rather than firing off rash responses in haste. Not only that, but after the other person has finished talking, the listener can take the fingers out of their ears and continue the debate unfettered without any emotional baggage respecting whatever was said.

Ever talk to somebody that you know isn't listening to and trying to comprehend what is being said, but instead are thinking about what they're going to say next? Usually, but not very often, these people will capitulate to truth, facts and logic only after trying to stymie the argument with fallacies, shouting one down (so as to prevent debte), ad hominem and when that fails they stick their fingers in their ears and say "La la la la la la la la la I can't hear you la la la la la la la". That's when you know you won; 'cause they're pissed and you're not.

[Skybird]

Using the ignore button to block opinions is ignorrant.

Using the ignore button to block repeated bad manners and repeated personally offending behavior is... good for my blood pressure.

I use to block bad manners, not opinions. With just two names at the moment, the list is pretty short.

[baggygreen]

wait... we got an ignore option???





learn somethin new every day

[Skybird]

Choose User CP in the menu (left top corner).

In the menu left, the last option.

Listed people will be displayed in your thread list by name and placeholder only. Their text will be supressed.

I would like to see the placeholder and name being supressed altogether.

Don't enter the same name in the ignore and buddy lists the same time. It will crash the server completely and give Neal a hard time to clean the mess on weekends.

[Bertgang]

Fine, now I kow that we have an ignore button, and how to use it.

I'd like to have this function in the professional forum where I spend most of my time, but I doubt that I'm going to use it here.

Each of us has a different feeling with other forum members, and with their favourite topics, but I often had nice surprises reading posts from people I (virtually) like less.

Despite some excess, flames and so on, our general topics is the best place I know for great opinion sharing.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Bertgang

Fine, now I kow that we have an ignore button, and how to use it.

I'd like to have this function in the professional forum where I spend most of my time, but I doubt that I'm going to use it here.

Each of us has a different feeling with other forum members, and with their favourite topics, but I often had nice surprises reading posts from people I (virtually) like less.

Despite some excess, flames and so on, our general topics is the best place I know for great opinion sharing.

Agreed...just so long as it isn't offensive

[SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Using the ignore button to block opinions is ignorrant.

Using the ignore button to block repeated bad manners and repeated personally offending behavior is... good for my blood pressure.

I use to block bad manners, not opinions. With just two names at the moment, the list is pretty short.

You mean that you can't see what I write about you? :p I knew the sword/gun conversation would get to you eventually! No contest there!

-S

[SUBMAN1]

By the way, who cares about the political divide. So what? Why is everyone harping on it? This is why some people live in some countries, and other people in other countries. If you don't like your political system (You can't please everyone), leave! Simple. The only time it will be a problem is when we have one world government. Then things will get bad. Until then, there is no way to get over the political conversations on this forum. They will always be there, because people have different views than the next guy. So get used to it.

To end this thread - The simple solution is if you don't want to get involed or don't like a topic of a particular conversation, don't click on it and read it. No one is forcing you to read every political thread on this forum! If it upsets you, don't read it. I personally don't read half the threads in the general forum myself.

-S

[August]

Originally Posted by SUBMAN1

You mean that you can't see what I write about you? :p I knew the sword/gun conversation would get to you eventually! No contest there!

-S

No no, it's not you it's me that he has on ignore. Betcha he won't even see this post unless someone quotes it.

[SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by August

No no, it's not you it's me that he has on ignore. Betcha he won't even see this post unless someone quotes it.

THere I quoted it. Anyway, he can't see mine though since he can't stand the idea that his sword can't hold a candle to a .45. So I am safe! :p So he can't probably see this one either!