why so angry everybody ?

[tangman99]

Here's an idea. As the aquarium appears to have become dominated by political threads, start a political section so everyone that likes to debate can do so freely and leave the aquarium uncluttered. I personally would seldom visit that section as I have yet to gain anything of any use or value from any of the political discussions in the past. I've commented in a few but tend to ignore them these days as most are just a resurection of a beaten and dead horse.

 

[beth]

A better idea may be for those who want to talk politics, they may try finding a political forum that can accommodate them for that purpose. There are really not a lot of people that do that here to warrant giving them their own forum, but there are a handful that do it daily and often enough disparaging remarks do present themselves in those topics. This is not desirable or beneficial to SWF.com. This is a store, after all, trying to gain members to the forums, and customers to the site, not provide another outlet for political thinking or expression of personal bias.
Frankly, talking politics should not be such an issue, but because it is charged with individual's own passionate opinions, and there is significant bias about the "other side" that displays itself in acrimonious comments in this forum, maybe we should either start moderating political topics more, which I personally don't want to do, or we should ban them. If anything, I think some of the commentaries that have occurred in this forum has chased off other members of the opposite political view.
SWF.com is not here for the Aquarium, or inflammatory political discussions or snide political remarks that seem to slip in to many Aquarium discussions. Its a fish site.
If we only had one political view in this country, then we would be more akin to Communist China then the democratic nation that we are. Try to keep that in mind.

 

[crypt keeper]

Its only a hand ful of adults who belittle each other like 5 year olds in a sandbox. I will be honest. It has brought this section really down. Maybe these threads should be locked right away

 

[darthtang aw]

Originally Posted by crypt keeper
http:///forum/post/3223954
Its only a hand ful of adults who belittle each other like 5 year olds in a sandbox. I will be honest. It has brought this section really down. Maybe these threads should be locked right away
I agree....in fact, lets just shut down the aquarium, after all, compared to the rest of the forums, only a handful of people post in here regularly.I mean threads like these really bring this entire forum down...
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/vb/s...d.php?t=372648
It would be tough to ban political discussions, since almost any thread can spark one....The which gun should I purchase thread almost did...because someone had to interject there position against guns...discussions of current events and goings on in the world would need to be banned as well...since these will spark debate.
To be honest, a politics mod is probably needed...someone that can watch out for the name calling and racial overtures...amongst other things...

 

[cranberry]

We 100% banned political and religious threads/references on another forum I hang on. No questions asked. We see it. We delete it.

 

[beth]

Originally Posted by Darthtang AW
http:///forum/post/3223965
I agree....in fact, lets just shut down the aquarium, after all, compared to the rest of the forums, only a handful of people post in here regularly.I mean threads like these really bring this entire forum down...
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/vb/s...d.php?t=372648
It would be tough to ban political discussions, since almost any thread can spark one....The which gun should I purchase thread almost did...because someone had to interject there position against guns...discussions of current events and goings on in the world would need to be banned as well...since these will spark debate.
To be honest, a politics mod is probably needed...someone that can watch out for the name calling and racial overtures...amongst other things...
LOL on the link.
The problem with a political mod is--which side would they represent? How many political mods would we need to be fair to all sides? LOL
My point is that there should not be a problem discussing anything here, if people will just be courteous, and keep their personal biased, and derogatory comments to themselves. The forums are not a place where you have the right to say whatever you want...contrary to popular belief.

 

[darthtang aw]

Originally Posted by Beth
http:///forum/post/3223976
LOL on the link.
The problem with a political mod is--which side would they represent? How many political mods would we need to be fair to all sides? LOL
The mod wouldn't have to represent a side....they just watch for name calling and such...just like any other mod. It isn't a mod that supports a political view, but a mod that supports respect for others and their fellow posters. Maybe the mod could not participate in said discussions....just read them...
Originally Posted by Beth
http:///forum/post/3223976
My point is that there should not be a problem discussing anything here, if people will just be courteous, and keep their personal biased, and derogatory comments to themselves. The forums are not a place where you have the right to say whatever you want...contrary to popular belief.

I agree one hundred and fifty percent. With that said though, I know I, myself, am guilty of the occasional crossing the line...But I am usually able to bring myself back from it.....I think most of the time the problem is how joking or sarcasm is actually taken...always hard to convey those aspects in an internet forum without stating you are doing such.

 

[el guapo]

Are we still talking about closing down the Aquarium because of political threads ?

Its never going to happen . Just the same as the people throwing poo will never go to a political forum to spout the garbage . Its just the way it is .

 

[reefraff]

Originally Posted by Darthtang AW
http:///forum/post/3223983
The mod wouldn't have to represent a side....they just watch for name calling and such...just like any other mod. It isn't a mod that supports a political view, but a mod that supports respect for others and their fellow posters. Maybe the mod could not participate in said discussions....just read them...
I agree one hundred and fifty percent. With that said though, I know I, myself, am guilty of the occasional crossing the line...But I am usually able to bring myself back from it.....I think most of the time the problem is how joking or sarcasm is actually taken...always hard to convey those aspects in an internet forum without stating you are doing such.

I think one problem with forums of any nature is what is intended as a good natured jab isn't always taken that way and things blow up from there. Gotta use smileys

and remember what might sound funny as part of a conversation might not seem so when written.

 

[darthtang aw]

Originally Posted by EL GUAPO
http:///forum/post/3223989
Are we still talking about closing down the Aquarium because of political threads ?

Its never going to happen . Just the same as the people throwing poo will never go to a political forum to spout the garbage . Its just the way it is .

see....like you never left.

 

[bionicarm]

Lock any thread with the following words:
Liberal
Right-winger
Drinking Obama KoolAid
NoBama
Any reference to emphasizing Obama's middle name, since we all know the intention of that reference.
Dubya
McCaint
ultra conservative
right-wing Fundamentalist
Tea Bagger
left-wing loon
nutcases in Washington
Socialists
Dumbocrats
Republicants
And there's probably another 20 or 30 I can't think of right now, but I imagine I could go open one of the Top 10 threads in the Aquarium right now and find them.

 

[darthtang aw]

Originally Posted by bionicarm
http:///forum/post/3223997
Lock any thread with the following words:
Tea Bagger
left-wing loon
Dumbocrats
Republicants

Of your list, only 4 strike me as offensive to direct members of the forum. Pssst...and it is dummycrats, not dumbocrats. And to be honest, I would probably allow tea bagger.....mainly because it is a funny phrase.........

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by crypt keeper
http:///forum/post/3223954
Its only a hand ful of adults who belittle each other like 5 year olds in a sandbox. I will be honest. It has brought this section really down. Maybe these threads should be locked right away
PM me when you see them.

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by EL GUAPO
http:///forum/post/3223989
Are we still talking about closing down the Aquarium because of political threads ?

Its never going to happen . Just the same as the people throwing poo will never go to a political forum to spout the garbage . Its just the way it is .

It has already happened once. The off-topic forum was closed for several years because it was too time consuming to moderate.

 

[bionicarm]

Originally Posted by Darthtang AW
http:///forum/post/3224013
Of your list, only 4 strike me as offensive to direct members of the forum. Pssst...and it is dummycrats, not dumbocrats. And to be honest, I would probably allow tea bagger.....mainly because it is a funny phrase.........
Yea, but the others are what sparks controversy and turns a rational discussion into name calling and personal bashing.

 

[reefraff]

Originally Posted by bionicarm
http:///forum/post/3223997
Lock any thread with the following words:
Liberal
Right-winger
Drinking Obama KoolAid
NoBama
Any reference to emphasizing Obama's middle name, since we all know the intention of that reference.
Dubya
McCaint
ultra conservative
right-wing Fundamentalist
Tea Bagger
left-wing loon
nutcases in Washington
Socialists
Dumbocrats
Republicants
And there's probably another 20 or 30 I can't think of right now, but I imagine I could go open one of the Top 10 threads in the Aquarium right now and find them.

I would say it would depend on how any of the above was used. To call some one a ___________ is one thing but to say this political figure is a __________ is different.

 

[darthtang aw]

Originally Posted by bionicarm
http:///forum/post/3224020
Yea, but the others are what sparks controversy and turns a rational discussion into name calling and personal bashing.
One could argue the political discussion itself sparks controversy and name calling....so why not then just ban the discussion from occuring. if we are going after the catalyst, instead of holding those responsible for stooping to that level, that would solve the problem completely. It is up to us to police the threads ourselves in these discussions....case and point, you and I have crossed the line a few times with each other...looking back the discussion deteriorated quickly. As long as we hold ourselves to a high standard and help monitor each other (without getting nit picky) we can sustain the conversation.
See how we just turned this into a psuedo political debate.....

Mods, is there a way to do just an aquarium ban? out of curiosity.

 

[reefraff]

I know one of our local club forums did a forum where the politics and religion forum was restricted where you had to ask to be allowed in. Not sure that is practical on a site this size.

 

[beth]

Not that I know of.

 

[reefraff]

On other forums that appear to be running the same software you have here there is an red triangle "report post" button below the Avitars. If you could add that feature here it would be helpful.