A REQUEST TO THE SITE ADMINISTRATORS

[RENDERMAN]

I would like to ask the site administrators to create a Politics/Current Events sub-forums in order to organize the political threads in one place since it sometimes clutters the other thread. Please people chime in, maybe you guys have a better idea. Thank you in advance.

P.S. Please don't shoot..

[RacyTracy]

How about getting rid of them altogether??

[ivan1]

Really there should be an "ignore thread" function just as there is an ignore user function so you don have to see the threads you dont want to see....

[Aedo]

moved to correct forum

[Cardinal]

Originally Posted by ivan1

Really there should be an "ignore thread" function just as there is an ignore user function so you don have to see the threads you dont want to see....

Is this possible with the current software? That's a pretty good idea.

[Seb]

When I was posting about adding a couple rules, I got told to GTFO because nobody likes regulation.

If you don't want to read politics posts, don't read them.

I thought this was an auto forum anyway? What place does a politics section have on here anyways?

[ivan1]

Originally Posted by Seb

I thought this was an auto forum anyway? What place does a politics section have on here anyways?

why do we have threads on "stabbing monkeys" or "what should I do with my life? " on a car forum????? oops ...those were started by you

[Green Hornet]

Originally Posted by RacyTracy

How about getting rid of them altogether??

+1

Dare I Dream

[mopho]

Originally Posted by ivan1

Really there should be an "ignore thread" function just as there is an ignore user function so you don have to see the threads you dont want to see....

One of the forums I used to be on has a "read new" and a "read new w/o Off Topic" feature, so I am sure there could be a "read new w/o political section" button

I've suggested this many times now, but it always seems to get shot down


And yeah, you can just not read them, but it's like driving by a car wreck, you sort of can't help but look.
They are also constantly getting bumped and there 3-4 going at the same time, so it is impossible to avoid them

[khamai]

So, the idea of a separate area for political threads is not a new one for the mods & admins. Why not?

For one, the political threads are typically the threads that foster the emotions of the participants. This would be fine except I think we'd all agree also get the most "Reported Posts" from the members and Mod intervention.

On the other hand, there are those valid points that have been raised in this very thread.

IMHO -
Ultimately this is the "LotusTalk" forum, it is not the political/religion debate forum. Members are welcome to discuss topics unrelated to Lotus, which is why "Other" is available. By adding a special category for Politics/Religion/News we are in fact moving away from this being "LotusTalk" and toward becoming something else.

Please understand that I am not saying "no" to politics/religion/news... It's just that I like this small oasis in my daily life where I can go and read/talk about these fantastic cars and get to some pretty cool folks and occassionally talk about other stuff.

Cheers,
Kiyoshi

[JoshS]

Originally Posted by Seb

What place does a politics section have on here anyways?

About the same place as someone posting about being stuck on an Elevator. ANd some people actually posting that they believed it was for real. Oh, I'm sorry that was you. My bad.

[JoshS]

Originally Posted by khamai

It's just that I like this small oasis in my daily life where I can go and read/talk about these fantastic cars and get to some pretty cool folks and occassionally talk about other stuff.

Cheers,
Kiyoshi

I couldn't agree with you more, in fact there's a real lunatic with 945 pages of thread starters, CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT. And, on the first page alone I found these three. "San Diego Real Estate" "Gun Recommendations" "Test please Ignor". Silly stupid posts that have nothing to do with cars. Can we have this nut case banned. Who wants to read these silly non Lotus related post. His name is Randy... Randy...Something. The last name is not quite coming to me can someone help me out here.

[RENDERMAN]

Although I've personally made a conscious decision not to discuss religion or politics I think it should be allowed, there are some days and even weeks where nothing exiting is really happening in the Auto world and a subject like politics or a current major event captures our attention and keeps the forum active. I just think there should be a separate space for it. BTW after all this time I'm still confused about what goes on OTHER or GENERAL DISCUSSION

[mopho]

Sorry Kiyoshi, I don't really agree with your reasons against it:

For one, the political threads are typically the threads that foster the emotions of the participants. This would be fine except I think we'd all agree also get the most "Reported Posts" from the members and Mod intervention.

Either way, you have a moderation issue, so I don't see how it makes a difference. As a matter of fact, it could make it easier for you, for example, you can make it an "enter at own risk" i.e. no moderation (I believe this is what Ferrari chat does) or you can assign one person to specifically moderate such a forum.

IMHO -
Ultimately this is the "LotusTalk" forum, it is not the political/religion debate forum. Members are welcome to discuss topics unrelated to Lotus, which is why "Other" is available. By adding a special category for Politics/Religion/News we are in fact moving away from this being "LotusTalk" and toward becoming something else.

I don't agree, I think by segregating those kinds of discussions is in fact moving more towards being "Lotus Talk" again.
I fail to see how having a special section for religion and politics is going to make LT into something else because these discussions are going to happen anyway (unless you ban them)

Please understand that I am not saying "no" to politics/religion/news... It's just that I like this small oasis in my daily life where I can go and read/talk about these fantastic cars and get to some pretty cool folks and occassionally talk about other stuff.

Having a separate section for politics and religion isn't going to change that, as a matter of fact, it would be better for most because they won't have to see those kinds of threads unless they really want to. Right now it is sort of "forced" on people and I think it sort of tarnishes the "oasis"


Of course, having a separate section doesn't help a whole lot unless there is a way to eliminate the threads from the "read new " feature

[fishguy]

get rid of them all together. this is a car forum.
if people need to post about politics, there are politcal forums to post in, this is not one of those, its a car forum.


I just find them entertaining to bust the chops of extremeists i would never want to be around in person for more than a minute, if that.


this forum would be a much nicer place w/o them, and what do they add to a car website anyway?

[azac]

Originally Posted by fishguy

get rid of them all together. this is a car forum.
if people need to post about politics, there are politcal forums to post in, this is not one of those, its a car forum.


I just find them entertaining to bust the chops of extremeists i would never want to be around in person for more than a minute, if that.


this forum would be a much nicer place w/o them, and what do they add to a car website anyway?

Actually these extremists are generally very informative, helpful, entertaining when not posting about politics/religion. Being around them in person should be just fine as long as we do not need to bring up those hot button issues.

[Aedo]

I'm with khamai on just leaving it in "Other"

Originally Posted by mopho

...As a matter of fact, it could make it easier for you, for example, you can make it an "enter at own risk" i.e. no moderation (I believe this is what Ferrari chat does) or you can assign one person to specifically moderate such a forum.

fchat has a P&R section that is "enter at own risk" - it is only accessible to subscribed members and it still has rules and moderation (specifically no personal attacks).

Originally Posted by fishguy

...
I just find them entertaining to bust the chops of extremeists i would never want to be around in person for more than a minute, if that.

Strange as it may seem Lotus enthusiasts don't all have the same political views - but you may agree with them on some issues

Originally Posted by fishguy

...
this forum would be a much nicer place w/o them, and what do they add to a car website anyway?

Diversity makes LT interesting - would you want a forum full of fishguy's? Who would you talk to and throw ideas around with?

[mopho]

Originally Posted by Aedo

I'm with khamai on just leaving it in "Other"

Why?

fchat has a P&R section that is "enter at own risk" - it is only accessible to subscribed members and it still has rules and moderation (specifically no personal attacks).

doesn't change my point

[Seb]

Originally Posted by JoshS

About the same place as someone posting about being stuck on an Elevator. ANd some people actually posting that they believed it was for real. Oh, I'm sorry that was you. My bad.

Perhaps you should read that thread again. HELP! Trapped in an Elevator!

While you're at it, look up the definition of sarcasm.

Originally Posted by ivan1

why do we have threads on "stabbing monkeys" or "what should I do with my life? " on a car forum????? oops ...those were started by you

That's why there is an off topic section, and that's where political threads belong.

[Aedo]

Originally Posted by mopho

Why?

It fits in "Other"

Originally Posted by mopho

doesn't change my point

You suggested that it was not moderated which is not correct. Removing moderation would reduce the impact but IMHO that is not ever going to be a good thing.