Mods - How to Stop Political Threads

[mverta]

I got it.


You put "No Political Threads" in the CoC. But the political types post anyway. So you asked them nicely. But they don't stop. Then you closed a bunch of threads and asked again. But still, they don't stop. Then you posted a sticky asking them yet again, to please stop. But they won't stop. Then you started issuing ban warnings. But they won't stop.


They won't stop for the very reason they shouldn't be allowed to post in the first place: they have no respect for the CoC. They have no respect for the rules; they have respect for the forum; they have no respect for anything but their own ideology. Their "discussions" consist of just shouting louder and louder over everyone else. Stone-brained, self-righteous ideologs spewing sentence fragments of the Consitution (1/4 of which they've read, 1/1000th of which they understand) and the Federalist Papers over and over and overandOhGodPleaseShutTheHellUp...

So here's what you do: issue ban warnings to everyone who posts in a political thread. Just put that out there: If you even THINK it's a political thread, don't post, or you get a ban warning. Hell, I'd go for two ban warnings if you really want to clear that up quick. The hardcore types are going to start the threads, but a lot of others will happily use the excuse as a free post to get in their own bleats. So you curb both with a few solid thunderkicks to the nutsack.

That's my solution.


_Mike

 

[Qui-Gonzalez]

Why not just use the report function and report the political posts? Sometimes, a political type will wait in the bushes like a ninja and pounce on a thread, throwing their political rants into a thread like ninja stars.

I know the irony of your post is not lost on you, Mike. Kudos for falling on that grenade though.

 

[mverta]

Not only not lost on me, I was going to volunteer to take the first hit to back my plan.


_Mike

 

[defstartrooper]

Lets have a vote on it

 

[Qui-Gonzalez]

Oh the three of us are soooooooo going down!

 

[madrobot]

I think of the RPF, like an amusement park.

Last time I checked, if you go to Disneyland, they don't have rides that make you mad at the other people riding on them with you.

We already have that. It's called Traffic.

I like politics. I genuinely do. I post on political forums, and get paid to write about politics from time to time. I like the RPF, because I don't have the urge to talk politics. I do however get the urge to spend a lot of money, which in some ways could be political.

All I know, is that since I got on this board, everyone has been so damned cool, and the last thing on my mind is politics.

Even though I've been guilty of posting some politically charged thoughts about the price of gasoline, I've tried to keep my tone civil, and go out of my way not to step on anyone's toes.

With that said, politics and props really don't mix in my mind.

 

[scarf man]

It's an election year in the U.S. What do you expect? :rolleyes
Close threads and issue warnings untill members follow the coc.
If people want to talk politics with RPFers but can't do so here, go to Dr. Strangelove's RPF-OT forum.

 

[slave1pilot]

sounds good
Can we do the same thing with any thread that mentions any kind of ....

a. pornography
b. sexism
c. racism
d. religion
e. politics
f. discussion of banned and/or deactivated members, including posts regarding products and services offered by ex-members
g. discussion/links concerning pirated media including, but not limited to, music/movies/software/games, emulators, ROM's and/or related items like labels or packaging
h. personal information of someone without their consent (email address, phone number, street address, or full name)
i. live or pending auctions unless they are for your own items and are posted in The Junkyard to promote your sale
j. links to leaked Hyperspace images/storylines/websites or offers/requests to email/pm/link images/storyline content
k. photos, files, or links to authentic or "fill-in-the-blank" government or police-style identification credentials


After all, if we are going to enforce one section of the COC
We need to enforce the whole thing.

This board is replete with
"pray for so & so" posts and "this banned member is selling stuff again" posts
Not to mention blatantly sexist "for sale" links

 

[nightrider]

I really don't see what the big deal is. In my mind "off topic" should mean just that, and enable people to talk about what interests them so long as it's legal and remains civil. If you dislike a particular subject it isn't necessary to post in or even read the thread.

I don't visit political boards, nor do I have the time or interest to do so. I am a RPF member however, and it would be nice to be able to discuss current matters of interest with my friends and other RPF members in an "off topic" section other than what Amy Wynehouse is up to or what celebrity is doing what to whom.

That said, I will certainly respect the RPF position on these issues, which is why I don't even post in those type of threads any more, even though many times the subject matter is of interest to me.

Chris

 

[wuher da brewer]

I noticed the biggest offenders are the ones that never have anything prop related to discuss, so I just added them to the ignore list.

 

[mverta]

With every closed thread and infraction warning given, my idea gains strength. :cool


_Mike

 

[Guri]

Is there a list for suspended people for political discussions?

It would be nice to know even if they aren't banned enough to get on the banned list....

 

[mverta]

There isn't a list, but I swear if you do any checking at all, you'll see who they are right away, and the most hardcore political types are idiots no matter what they're talking about. Don't take my word for it... check in on their posts in other threads. I used the term stone-brained appropriately.


_Mike

 

[Guri]

Actually I ask because I consider most of those who share my interest in current events as friends and would like to know if they aren't around for personal reasons or because they crossed a line.

Too bad there isn't a rule to suspend rude elitists for jumping at any chance to insult others.

 

[scarf man]

Actually I ask because I consider most of those who share my interest in current events as friends and would like to know if they aren't around for personal reasons or because they crossed a line.

Too bad there isn't a rule to suspend rude elitists for jumping at any chance to insult others.

Word.

 

[mverta]

Elitist is thinking you're above the rules. Elitist is thinking your ideology should be furthered no matter what. Which is, by the way, what terrorists believe. So you can basically say political types are terrorists without any balls. They will shout their team's position repeatedly, even when asked exhaustively not to; even when reminded that it's affronting and disrespectful; even when given warnings to stop. Theirs is either a quest to convert people to their way of thinking - which is ignorant and narcissistic - or to point out to non-believers how wrong they are - which is abusive and disrespectful. Neither group is someone I particularly care for, and neither does the management of the RPF, hence the CoC.

The number of intellectuals capable of adult, academic, philosophical, or sociological discussions about religion and politics is about as high on the internet as is it is life, which is somewhere right around zero, +/- 10%.

And you'll notice: threads continue to have to be closed and warnings given. The wisdom of my position will only continue to gain strength, since my argument is that people can't handle this stuff. And in showing their failures, people never fail to disappoint.


_Mike

 

[Qui-Gonzalez]

The saddest thing to watch for me is how people keep stepping in it. Too much trying to dance around the rules and not enough letting sleeping dogs lay. If the damn thing has candidate X or Y's name/face/caricature involved in it, odds are good it is forbidden. It seems so simple.

 

[mverta]

But that's exactly my point, QG - it's not that they don't understand that; it's that they don't care. As you sew, so shall you reap.


_Mike

 

[Qui-Gonzalez]

But that's exactly my point, QG - it's not that they don't understand that; it's that they don't care. As you sew, so shall you reap.


_Mike

Nah, I will stand by "momentary lapse of smart".

 

[mverta]

Once, perhaps. But the problem here isn't the occasional offenders - they get their warnings and move on. The problem is the chronic re-offenders, for whom there is no momentary lapse of judgment going on. They're deliberately breaking rules because they think they're above them; that the spewing of their ideologies trumps even basic respect for others. My proposal here just takes care of both in one move.


_Mike