US Government Bitches

[ancient kayaker]

I am starting this thread for all those posters who are highjacking Vulkyn's fine thread about Egypt. Go to it guys ...

[troy2000]

Thank you. All the Obama haters, liberal haters, America haters, socialist haters, capitalism haters, etc., can just take turns blaming their favorite target/s for everything that's wrong with the world....

I doubt it'll get the usage it should, but it's a good idea.

[Ad Hoc]

whilst i welcome your thread to prevent hi-jacking another, these threads troublr me. We can all bitch and moan about personal and subjective issues. But this is a boat forum What the hell has politics, local to where you live, religion inter alia have to do with a fourm ostensibly about technical issues of boats or marine related?

It just invites venom and personal insults...on very subjective issues.

That's my 2/c worth

[Boat Design Net Moderator]

Agreed.

The problem I have with political threads is that they don't stay self contained. People get angry at each other as the political back and forth becomes heated, and then that anger and insults spill over into other on-topic threads and the forum as a whole.

Even in cases where it doesn't result in people with design knowledge to share being offended, I fear the political threads become a large distraction from the focus of the site.

There are so many political sites compared to boat sites on the net that I'd prefer to keep this site as a sanctuary where we can all enjoy discussing the interest we all share in common: boat design, boatbuilding, and all things related to boats.

[gonzo]

Can threads that got into political ranting be deleted or at least locked? For example, the ones about Global Warming.

[Ad Hoc]

See what I mean.

These threads should be under a different log-in to BD Forum as they are non-boat/marine related.

The more of this that is posted the more it attracts non-marine/boat postings and users who search the web. Ultimately it shall be the end of the forum as we know it if these threads are on the same log-in and website.

My 2/c worth

[ancient kayaker]

Originally Posted by troy2000

... I doubt it'll get the usage it should, but it's a good idea.

Troy: You were right. Political rants can rave on for many pages in other threads. This thread was intended to function a relief valve so those other threads can get back on topic, but it’s not going to work.

Moderator: since this is the Open Discussion forum, I assumed any socially acceptable topic was admissible, even if not boat-related. I apologize if this thread is out of order.

Originally Posted by gonzo

Can threads that got into political ranting be deleted or at least locked? For example, the ones about Global Warming.

Gonzo: I think killing off a worthwhile but highjacked thread would be regrettable.

[Doug Lord]

Originally Posted by Ad Hoc

whilst i welcome your thread to prevent hi-jacking another, these threads troublr me. We can all bitch and moan about personal and subjective issues. But this is a boat forum What the hell has politics, local to where you live, religion inter alia have to do with a fourm ostensibly about technical issues of boats or marine related?

It just invites venom and personal insults...on very subjective issues.

That's my 2/c worth

==================
I agree with you and Jeff. Amusing to read sometimes especially when my "side" gets in a good zinger but probably counterproductive for this forum...The Egypt thread is more than just good-it gives us all precious insight we might not find anywhere else from a brother who is interested in many of the same things we are. Lets let Vulkyn speak unfettered by our personal politics.

[wardd]

come the revolution and we'll all be rich

[Frosty]

I think its terrible that anyone should want to criticise this perfect world.

If you have anything bad to say you should keep it to yourself and stiffle your thoughts.

This is not a place of free thoughts, what were you thinking.

You cant just go around saying what you think,-- what--you think this is a democracy or something,--or Egypt perhaps.

I agree,-- this thread should be closed and people should learn to say good things only.

signed ---A Hitler

[ancient kayaker]

I have just unsubscribed from the Egypt thread and will do the same with this one.

[hoytedow]

Good plan. Me too.

[Frosty]

How does that song go ? The land of the brave and home of the free.

Hmm I just cant seem to remember --i've heard it somewhere.

Ahh --apathy ---I love you apathy,--your my friend, with you and my blankey I can get through anything.

Genghis Karn

[cthippo]

It's not about the thread, it's about the people that comment in it and the behavior that is tolerated.

Every forum has an "Everything else" category with political threads. On some it's a disaster and on others it's a place for respectful disagreement. The difference is in what behavior is tolerated on the site. Boat Design allows people to call each other names, post personal attacks, and insult other members they disagree with. This takes place not only in the political threads, but also in the marine related ones. So long as this sort of thing continues to be tolerated by the moderators we're going to continue to have these sorts of problems, regardless of what the topic is.

[Boat Design Net Moderator]

Freedom of speech is one thing, but there's also the freedom to have a place which focuses on a common topic, such as this site on boats. The phrase comes to mind "your right to swing your arm ends where the other person's nose begins." There are millions of people in the world you can argue politics with at any given moment - in most places you can open your door or turn on your tv and more than likely there will be a person eager to critique obama, bush or palin or how badly the US has done xyz; how many naval architects or builders building the same boat are available to have a discussion with in comparison? With people here from all different countries and political backgrounds who share a common interest in boats, the political threads seem to have a cost in tearing people apart and offending people and thus detracting from the potential knowledge which is shared about boats. There are lapses in good behavior in other threads, but with political threads to date, I don't think that what has been learned has been worth the cost to the focus of the site since there are already such a huge number of venues for political discussion and political action in comparison.