The Politicization of Misc.

[RoJoHen]

I've never understood what some people's problem with TNZ is, on every other message board I participate in, there's a "special" TNZ-like section where all political (/and other controversial) discussion gets moved into and it works fine.

The problem is that some of us would like to be able to discuss such topics without having to put up with constant flaming that occurs in TNZ. At least in Misc, if you have a discussion, you know that at the very least you need to try and remain civil.

 

[Kestra]

Say "TNZ" topics were to be deemed TNZ Only?

I don't know what a "TNZ" topic would be defined as, but I like the variety of discussion topics that are available in Misc and I'd hate to see that narrowed into shallower waters.

 

[RoJoHen]

Say "TNZ" topics were to be deemed TNZ Only?

I don't know what a "TNZ" topic would be defined as

Same as a Misc topic, only evil.


Misc Topic: "I don't like Obama because I don't support his policies."
TNZ Topic: "I don't like Obama because you're an asshole."

 

[Shaw]

For me, the theory wins out though, because I can always choose not to read them.

Interesting... so if you choose not to read those topics, and the other moderators also choose not to read those topics, then doesn't that leave those topics unmoderated?

Frankly... why not just have a separate forum for political discussions? I rarely venture into Misc. these days because even the thread titles of those types of discussions tend to seem like baiting to me. But if it is a popular topic, why not give it it's own forum with a moderator who enjoys reading that type of stuff?

I mean if you guys are willing to divide up Trek into subcategories, why is it so hard to do the same here?

 

[RoJoHen]

For me, the theory wins out though, because I can always choose not to read them.

Interesting... so if you choose not to read those topics, and the other moderators also choose not to read those topics, then doesn't that leave those topics unmoderated?

Well, to start, Holdfast doesn't moderate this forum anymore, so he is under no obligation to read anything in here.

 

[Kestra]

Interesting... so if you choose not to read those topics, and the other moderators also choose not to read those topics, then doesn't that leave those topics unmoderated?

I don't think he's modding Misc anymore. There are Misc mods that read and moderate the political topics in this forum, along with the other threads.

 

[Roger Wilco]

Frankly... why not just have a separate forum for political discussions? I rarely venture into Misc. these days because even the thread titles of those types of discussions tend to seem like baiting to me. But if it is a popular topic, why not give it it's own forum with a moderator who enjoys reading that type of stuff?

You could even give this new political forum a Trek-related name, like TNZ or so.

 

[RoJoHen]

TNZ was split a few years ago into two forums (The Think Tank and the Briar Patch) for this very purpose, but it ended up not working out, so they just re-combined them and brought back TNZ.

 

[Shaw]

Well, to start, Holdfast doesn't moderate this forum anymore, so he is under no obligation to read anything in here.

-and-​

I don't think he's modding Misc anymore. There are Misc mods that read and moderate the political topics in this forum, along with the other threads.

I wasn't suggesting that he did, just that if the moderators are practicing what they are suggesting the rest of us do, that those types of threads will end up... well, like they usually end up anyways.

There is an old saying that goes something like this... those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

Political topics in Misc. has a long history, but it looks to me (based on what I've read here) like we're all doomed.

 

[RoJoHen]

Nah, at least some of the mods are reading the political threads. And I've seen political and hot-button issues discussed in here without anything going wrong. This was particularly evident during the last Presidential election.

Usually the problem lies with a few select posters who don't know when to keep their mouths shut. It's unfair to the rest of us to completely ban those topics just because of a few bad eggs.

 

[Lord Garth]

Say "TNZ" topics were to be deemed TNZ Only?

I don't know what a "TNZ" topic would be defined as, but I like the variety of discussion topics that are available in Misc and I'd hate to see that narrowed into shallower waters.

Controversial topics as that's what TNZ was created for 10 years ago.

But I like the variety too.

 

[Amaris]

Everything in TNZ is fine.

 

[RJDiogenes]

For me, the theory wins out though, because I can always choose not to read them.

Interesting... so if you choose not to read those topics, and the other moderators also choose not to read those topics, then doesn't that leave those topics unmoderated?

Only the Misc Mods are obligated to read the political Threads in Misc; Holdy is now free of that burden. And, aside from being reviewed by the Mods, there is also the Notification button if anything should go awry.

 

[ST-One]

I'd rather take political discussions to TNZ but the lack of moderation there made that place a dumping ground for "thread bombs" and all kinds of childish nonsense. You can't have a serious dialog in there. Misc is better because of moderation.

Misc., as far as political topics are concerned, is only better for those who prefer to use lies, distortions and thinly-veiled, but still within board-rules, baiting, trolling, flaming...

I, for one, prefer the open and honest political discussions of TNZ.

 

[KimMH]

I prefer the poop flinging monkeyshines relegated to TNZ. I like TNZ well enough but know to duck in there. I come here and the rest of the board for fun. TNZ is for when I feel political and/or eeevul!

 

[Amaris]

I prefer the poop flinging monkeyshines relegated to TNZ. I like TNZ well enough but know to duck in there. I come here and the rest of the board for fun. TNZ is for when I feel political and/or eeevul!

We're not evil. We're just misunderstood.

 

[KimMH]

not calling you evil dear - was just lookin' in the mirror!

 

[Amaris]

not calling you evil dear - was just lookin' in the mirror!

Oh, you're not evil either. You're just deliciously amoral.

 

[KimMH]

lol'd

 

[Scout101]

Just for fun-sies, instead of trying to ban topics, or move threads around constantly, we could just apply the rules, as written, to this forum. And when the same couple people start the same BS threads in here, trolling and baiting their way through, could deal with the actual problem instead of railing against something tangential to it. Pretty clear the mods/admins know what the problem is, and the rules already cover the situation, so maybe just do what you're supposed to do instead of more hand-wringing, followed by random bans on topics or words?

Just a thought.