Thread to Discuss Current Events & Politics

[Sarge]

I think some of us are pretty reserved and respectful, but it doesn't take much to send things careening out of control. There are forums on which, if I wander into the political thread, I just quickly scan and confirm that they're still a giant ideological echo chamber (and disgusting to boot), and see myself out. Hanging out there literally impacts my ability to enjoy the other sections of the forum.

I don't think we've every gotten to that point here, but I will very rarely pop in these days to comment. Mainly because I don't need the headache and stress. If others want it, that's fine, though! I would recommend that anyone that hates the idea of the thread, or it stresses them too much, or makes them angry, just avoid it. That's what I'm (mostly) doing, and it has done wonders.

[Ziggy]

My vote would be to avoid having that type of thread on this forum, period. I've said many times in the past that I love how we can talk about anything on this forum, so I may contradict myself by saying this, but politics is the ONE topic that is guaranteed to not end well. For every one person who is able to stay cool, not take things personally, accept that different people have different opinions, et cetera... There's one person that is the exact opposite. If I had to pick one topic that should be avoided on a video game forum, it would be politics.

You couldn't even avoid that thread when you were trying to. Trust me, I tried. The toxicity of that thread spilled out into other threads. I wouldn't even bother to poke my head in that thread and it was STILL negatively impacting my time on the forum. And I don't see how deleting it once a month would help any. The posts would be deleted from the servers, but not from people's minds. Whatever was said, whatever feelings (or butts) were hurt, they will STAY hurt regardless of if those posts still exist or not. You can't take back things you've said, once the damage is done it's done.

[Xeogred]

You couldn't even avoid that thread when you were trying to. Trust me, I tried. The toxicity of that thread spilled out into other threads. I wouldn't even bother to poke my head in that thread and it was STILL negatively impacting my time on the forum. And I don't see how deleting it once a month would help any. The posts would be deleted from the servers, but not from people's minds. Whatever was said, whatever feelings (or butts) were hurt, they will STAY hurt regardless of if those posts still exist or not. You can't take back things you've said, once the damage is done it's done.

This. The End.

I never really posted in those threads. But it was all too easy to see how issues between members here, 9 times out of 10 more than likely stemmed from those discussions.

Flake, on behalf of the entire staff I would assume, made a decisive action and axed the last thread. Let's not back peddle. There's a door at the end of the room here, that door that says "internet". It's open to everyone and all. Your options are literally endless to bask in this elsewhere. Let's focus on games.

[racketboy]

You couldn't even avoid that thread when you were trying to. Trust me, I tried. The toxicity of that thread spilled out into other threads. I wouldn't even bother to poke my head in that thread and it was STILL negatively impacting my time on the forum. And I don't see how deleting it once a month would help any. The posts would be deleted from the servers, but not from people's minds. Whatever was said, whatever feelings (or butts) were hurt, they will STAY hurt regardless of if those posts still exist or not. You can't take back things you've said, once the damage is done it's done.

This. The End.

I never really posted in those threads. But it was all too easy to see how issues between members here, 9 times out of 10 more than likely stemmed from those discussions.

Flake, on behalf of the entire staff I would assume, made a decisive action and axed the last thread. Let's not back peddle. There's a door at the end of the room here, that door that says "internet". It's open to everyone and all. Your options are literally endless to bask in this elsewhere. Let's focus on games.

I'm leaning this way as well. I've been kinda been looking for a convincing argument to lean me toward keeping it as I typically like openness, but I'm just not seeing it.

[dsheinem]

Let's focus on games.

Should we just get rid of the off topic selection entirely?

Video games (and their fan communities) have political dimensions. One of the reasons that a political thread is handy is that it is a place where discussion of political matters can go...instead of infesting any/every thread that might have some political connections. I am happy to just bring up political stuff in other threads (e.g. the "made you smile/ticked you off" thread) if that is the preferred idea...but having some blanket "no politics anywhere ever" policy is pretty antithetical to the kind of dialogues that have always taken place on this forum.

[CRTGAMER]

I'm leaning this way as well. I've been kinda been looking for a convincing argument to lean me toward keeping it as I typically like openness, but I'm just not seeing it.

Agree with most comments, do not allow political threads and update the Forum rules to no longer allow it.

There is no way to make it a fair dialog due to everyone having opinions and a less popular point of view getting shut out literally. This cause members to leave or get banned. Yes it is best to avoid the thread, but then not right to allow just one side on a point of view in a given subject to take over. The fix is just do not allow such a thread.

[BoneSnapDeez]

The problem with threads like this is that moderators - due to their misplaced fetishization of nebulous concepts like "free speech" and "rational debate" - will allow, say, LGBT members and extremely homophobic types to butt heads, occasionally pop in to tell "both sides" to "settle down", whilst reminding us that "both sides" have "equally valid" concerns. What happens next is that LGBT peoples and other marginalized folks bail because why the fuck would they stay, while those who chose to marginalize and discriminate become emboldened. Radical "centrism" just rolls out the red carpet for fascism.

I enjoy political discussions online. But a catch-all "politics" threads on a forum not specifically dedicated to politics will just end up becoming a bunch of shit-flinging.

In any event, that's my opinion. Proceed as y'all will; I will simply choose not to participate.

[Ziggy]

As I said in my earlier post, I've always loved the fact that we can talk about ANYTHING on this forum. So banning one topic really goes against something that I enjoy. Why ban one topic but not another? Where do you draw the line? Well, it's simple.

Should we just get rid of the off topic selection entirely?

No. Politics has been the only topic to cause an undeniable amount of problems. The decision to ban this one specific topic would be justified for that reason. No other topic would have equal justification for removal.



I can go on for a while about this, but I'll try and keep it concise. People have left this forum with a bang, but believe me, more people have left with a whimper. Not everyone cares to have a public "Fuck you, I'm out!" speech when they plan on never returning to the forum. Some people just stop visiting without notifying us. I wont name names, but I know this for a fact. I'm willing to bet there's plenty of people that stopped visiting due to the toxicity. Some people just don't care to be involved in such negativity. And what would the point be of explaining why you're leaving to such a group of people, just to be told, "Don't let the door hit you on the ass!" Hell, I've never even bothered mentioning my distaste before now.

Most of us that play video games and talk about video games do so to GET AWAY from shit like politics. The fact that we talk about other things besides video games on this forum doesn't really matter. Politics has been the ONLY thing that has been unbelievably negative, and has lead to the most problems and the biggest problems. No other topic of discussion comes close. I swear, this place was much better before "The World" thread. And I firmly believe that "The World" and it's toxicity has caused more people to leave in a whimper, and has kept people away. And I wonder how many people started to browse the forum and think, "Oh, this seems like a nice community," then finds the toxicity and runs for the hills.



I think a community poll would be a good idea. There's plenty of people that would rather avoid any negativity so they would never bother commenting about the toxicity (myself included until now). But if you could vote anonymously about it, I wonder if more people would share their opinion. Ban political discussion, or have it be strictly controlled?

[Jmustang1968]

I think there should be a thread. Political discussion will happen regardless, and this at least focuses it and puts it in a certain location, for those who don't want to be involved can avoid it. Thread is an enter at your own risk, and it is quite easy to not get involved and skip over.

[Ziggy]

for those who don't want to be involved can avoid it. Thread is an enter at your own risk, and it is quite easy to not get involved and skip over.

Well, unfortunately, that has not been the case.