Is the politics, religion and society section an asset or a liability?

[The Gorn]

I think it's time to have this discussion.

Please immediately stuff the Janet Ruhl comparisons. The difference is that I am asking you guys what you want to do.

I favor the second alternative. I've never, ever seen any positive effect of the discussions that happen on it.

Having said that, I have a lot of control. I can just remove the section from everyone's view and access, but leave the messages intact. I can freeze it for posting but leave it accessible for reading. I can completely delete it. I can just hide it and bring it back when there is an outcry for more political arguments.

I have a point to make in this regard: there are a few members here that (in a very obvious and demonstrable way) derive their respect-granted from the politics of their fellow discussion board members. In general, I believe that the political forum gives people on this board a lot of reasons to dislike and have disrespect for each other and almost no opportunities to create positive interaction.

My view is that as a computer professional's board, we don't have to care so much what the other guy thinks about politics.

The counter-point is - for whatever reason, you guys may derive a ton of personal satisfaction from the opportunity to make highly personalized jabs based upon political views. Or you may just like to be able to vent.

I'll honor whatever the concensus is.

[I D Shukhov]

• It's completely voluntary.  Nobody has to visit the section if they so choose.
• If you do choose to visit it, you will get to see how differently and passionately people think about some of these things.  I remember it was a good   preparation for a Christmas party a couple of years ago.  I was sitting at a table with about 4 other people. A woman asked me where I lived (this was in   Virginia) and I answered, "Montgomery County" (which is in Maryland).  She said with a half-sneer, "Montgomery County is pretty liberal   isn't it?".  I immediately thought of the Politics Section and replied, "Yeah, probably." and said nothing else.
• You can't blame the politics section for wasting time that should be better spent on something positive.  Perhaps some alternative sections with a   positive emphasis might be a counterbalance.  How about a Sexual Health section?      (just kidding!)  I can't think of anything right now, but there might be something we could agree on that needs fixing and which among the couple of   dozen of us we could mount a low-level effort that might amount to something.  
  

[The Gorn]

#2 is a REALLY good point. Normally I steer clear of all partisan discussion boards and web sites, so I don't have much contact with people who are asphyxiating their own brains with their politics.

Maybe what we should do is just be brutal about axing threads that wind up being troll fests.

[Origisaurus]

It's like a cesspool - if you don't have one, the nasty stuff flows everywhere.  

[John Masterson]

Voicing your opinion in the politics section feels like walking into a bar that is the hangout for fans of the opposing team.

Just try to convince anyone of something negative about their team.

The spit starts flying immediately, and all you hear are insults and brickbats about YOUR team.

It's not a debate.

[The Gorn]

I can *block* the political section for anyone who asks. Let me know.

I just had one member (one of our best) ask for this, specifically because the place is such a sh*thole and he didn't even want to see the crap there.

[DG9]

I don't bother reading it much, if at all any more, but O-sarus has a good point.  If you remove it the cr@p will just pollute the entire board...

May as well leave it if moderating it is not too much of a hassle.

P.S. added in edit

I do the same thing with postings by a small handful (maybe thumbful) of members here, don't even read what they post.  Kind of like TV, can always turn it off or change the channel.

[Origisaurus]

Voicing your opinion in the politics section feels like walking into a bar that is the hangout for fans of the opposing team.  
 
  Just try to convince anyone of something negative about their team.  
 
  The spit starts flying immediately, and all you hear are insults and brickbats about YOUR team.  
 
  It's not a debate.

I read that you're saying it's a cesspool.  Please refer to my earlier comment.

[DarkHumour]

I wouldn't axe it.  I figure/assume its written versions of the usual regurgitations/talking points already echoing throughout the media (in between MJ coverage) that refuse to die.

If someday there is something I'm outraged enough to write something then I might look again.  

It is there if I want to use it.

Of course I would have to brace myself to take the verbal equivalent of a rifle butt to the head.   "Take your facts elsewhere LIBERAL!"

(Assuming it is still the same way  the last time I bothered to post something in there)


DarkHumour