Politics forum is closed

SGaynor

Well-known member
Dec 6, 2006
7,148
162
52
Bristol, TN
The biggest global crisis in the last 80 years, and you don't want to talk about it? I don't get it, but you pay the freight, so...
 

seventyfive

Well-known member
Jan 3, 2010
4,280
100
over there
The biggest global crisis in the last 80 years, and you don't want to talk about it? I don't get it, but you pay the freight, so...


scott,
i know this sounds insensitive to those who may be affected by this virus BUT for the vast majority it is not a crisis it's simply an inconvenience.

chris is the owner, it's his say. like he typed, if you want to keep the hysteria going do it on facebook. advertisers rely on keeping the fear going to charge more for ad space, they desperately need fear and panic, and inspirational memes.

here it's just a bummer topic.
 

chris snell

Administrator
Staff member
Aug 15, 2005
3,020
152
What is there not to get? We are not lacking in places to talk about this situation. Again, literally every social media feed is full of it. Immersing yourself in that kind of thought is not healthy for your brain. Many people are making themselves miserable over this situation which none of us can do much about. Fuck that. Not me. YOLO and I'm not going to marinate in woe for the next three months no matter how bad things get for me.

We are lacking places where people can get their minds off of it for a bit. That's what I want this place to be and that's why I'm asking people to knock it off with the depressing corona talk.
 

brian4d

Well-known member
Dec 3, 2007
6,499
67
High Point, NC
What is there not to get? We are not lacking in places to talk about this situation. Again, literally every social media feed is full of it. Immersing yourself in that kind of thought is not healthy for your brain. Many people are making themselves miserable over this situation which none of us can do much about. Fuck that. Not me. YOLO and I'm not going to marinate in woe for the next three months no matter how bad things get for me.

We are lacking places where people can get their minds off of it for a bit. That's what I want this place to be and that's why I'm asking people to knock it off with the depressing corona talk.

I can't tell you how many people I've had to tell over the last two weeks no more Gloom and doom talk, knock it off.
 

kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
What is there not to get? We are not lacking in places to talk about this situation. Again, literally every social media feed is full of it. Immersing yourself in that kind of thought is not healthy for your brain. Many people are making themselves miserable over this situation which none of us can do much about. Fuck that. Not me. YOLO and I'm not going to marinate in woe for the next three months no matter how bad things get for me.

We are lacking places where people can get their minds off of it for a bit. That's what I want this place to be and that's why I'm asking people to knock it off with the depressing corona talk.

The question still remains in regard to what else people are going to talk about. Generally not much. It ain't just that particular topic.

How is anyone to know what is and isn't going to end up being shuttered, when, or even why/why not? I sure as hell don't know right now.

Where's the point posting in an uncertain environment that's already tapered off anyway? If a place is to be welcoming, and at the same time expect all members to be clean, it needs watchful eyes on a more regular basis. Otherwise, there's not much of an incentive to post.

Cheers,

Kennith
 

AbnMike

Well-known member
Apr 6, 2016
1,218
117
Western Slope, CO
Really? People want to discuss things among those with whom they are familiar; or at least with others who share similar interests.

Many don't visit sites like various "chans" or Reddit. There's no satisfaction in a comment section, and quite a few forums where it seems that stuff is allowed are censored to the point of picking and choosing an official board position. Not everyone has a full-on digital life, or even wants to engage one.

Discoweb has historically been overshadowed by the other Rover forums, and indexing seemed a bit laggy. Posting here didn't place you at the top of search results. It was, as a result, a safer place to express your opinion without professional or social backlash. It's not a social media site with idiot-proof tracking and associations with your other activities.

Those are the reasons many people want to explore the current political climate here; the same reasons people have always brought current events into interest groups. This is nothing new at all.

Section that off, and you create a battleground. If that's the choice, fine. Dial back indexing or get some people moderating.

Letting things ride the lightning until they peter out and then closing it all up, banning, and making it go away is asking for trouble in the first place. You can't have your cake and eat it too. You just end up with no cake.

There's no way around having a few mods in trying times if you want people to actually be able to have any discussion at all.

Cheers,

Kennith
Absolutely.

I also run a forum for a small group of niche-minded people into 2-stroke bikes. By far the most read and participated groups are the general and politics - they don't want to argue with anyone's grandma over politics, but they love arguing with each other about politics. The shared interest in niche motorcycles brings them together.

However the politics forum isn't indexed, so people don't find it by searching. It's also restricted to viewing by members who are logged in. The general public can't even see those sections even if they find the site and browse it.

I do agree with Chris that the Covid19 topic in here was way too much social media news feed and news article vomiting and not much actual conversation.

The only thing I got out of all the Social Media news feed garbage before I turned it off is that it's not difficult to see how the Soviets got everyone to tattle tale on everyone and report people to the State. Motherfuckers on SM can't wait to shame, tattle, report, etc anyone in order to get attention for it.
 

kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
Absolutely.

I also run a forum for a small group of niche-minded people into 2-stroke bikes. By far the most read and participated groups are the general and politics - they don't want to argue with anyone's grandma over politics, but they love arguing with each other about politics. The shared interest in niche motorcycles brings them together.

However the politics forum isn't indexed, so people don't find it by searching. It's also restricted to viewing by members who are logged in. The general public can't even see those sections even if they find the site and browse it.

I do agree with Chris that the Covid19 topic in here was way too much social media news feed and news article vomiting and not much actual conversation.

The only thing I got out of all the Social Media news feed garbage before I turned it off is that it's not difficult to see how the Soviets got everyone to tattle tale on everyone and report people to the State. Motherfuckers on SM can't wait to shame, tattle, report, etc anyone in order to get attention for it.

True.

This one was indeed indexed, though; and that's a deliberate choice. I don't buy anything about removing it because of harm to the forum. Not a single word of it, because it doesn't track with the reality we've all observed.

That was obvious as hell from day one.

A person can do what they want with a forum they own and manage, but they can't expect people to play along or even stay around.

Cheers,

Kennith
 

bri

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
6,178
152
US
I can't disagree with your statement. I also agree 100% with Kennith. If I want woe, I go to news. If I want to participate in discussion I go to the computer, but am avoiding that as much as possible right now.

There were MUCH more heated arguments around GWB.... back when I was a arguing against republicans.

I ended up meeting with guys that I argued with for weeks..... I am now happily middle of the road republican. I also formed my opinion on term limits and 2A after reading here.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kennith

fishEH

Well-known member
Jan 26, 2009
6,927
201
Lake Villa, IL
I for one am glad I am no longer forced to view and comment in the Polictics forum. I was getting really tired of the Dweb powers that be making me participate in those posts and not allowing me to post on other topics.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: gimebakmybulits

kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
I can't disagree with your statement. I also agree 100% with Kennith. If I want woe, I go to news. If I want to participate in discussion I go to the computer, but am avoiding that as much as possible right now.

There were MUCH more heated arguments around GWB.... back when I was a arguing against republicans.

I ended up meeting with guys that I argued with for weeks..... I am now happily middle of the road republican. I also formed my opinion on term limits and 2A after reading here.

Indeed, and purely from the perspective of that subject, I've absolutely learned things here, and so have many others; many of whom have wandered off.

Despite argument, this place has historically been one of the most well-informed pieces of real estate on the web.

Now, it's not.

That happened before the politics section even popped up. A few come back every now and again, nothing's going on, and they don't return.

Uncertainty isn't going to help that, or the work people put into those posts being lost to them.

Are you going to put that much effort into posts here now, when you never know what's going to be deemed distasteful?

More power if you can, but I can't justify it, myself. The problem isn't politics or even argument to begin with.

Cheers,

Kennith
 

chris snell

Administrator
Staff member
Aug 15, 2005
3,020
152
For the record, I never said "no COVID-19 talk". I said no fear-mongering or political arguments. I consider posting virus infection numbers and stock market woes to be "fear-mongering", even if they are true.

If you want to talk about how this is affecting you personally, go right ahead. Just don't come here and post some stats or story you read in the news that's going to bum people out. This is not the place for that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: gimebakmybulits

AbnMike

Well-known member
Apr 6, 2016
1,218
117
Western Slope, CO
For the record, I never said "no COVID-19 talk". I said no fear-mongering or political arguments. I consider posting virus infection numbers and stock market woes to be "fear-mongering", even if they are true.

If you want to talk about how this is affecting you personally, go right ahead. Just don't come here and post some stats or story you read in the news that's going to bum people out. This is not the place for that.
That's fair guidance, thanks Chris.