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Political Discussion in The Speakers Corner....

Gypsy Nirvana

Recalcitrant Reprobate -
Administrator
Veteran
Recently I had a member of ICMAG question me in regards to allowing political discussions in The Tokers Den....here is my response:

Re: Politics
Well mate, we have tried banning and binning all political posts for years, but I found that it just led to so many members getting pissed off at us and leaving or trolling the site...... A while ago I started to allow political discussion only in the Tokers Den, but of course passions fly and I need to closely monitor it to try and keep the ad hominem attacks minimal and the flow of the debate constant, basically trying to get everyone to understand that yes they can talk politics so long as they are civil about it and respectful to other members views, no matter how radical they may seem. Recently we have moved topics of this type of discussion to The Speakers Corner.

It has led to some thoroughly interesting threads/posts, so long as I keep trying to keep the members in-line and pop a post or two in their to remind them of the rules of engagement it seems to work most of the time.

I reckon that it is important for members to be able to engage on such topics in such a way that they actually start learning how to 'join the dots' and gain a more rounded view of world politics and what might really be going on outside of the main-stream-media's obviously bias views on current events....after all KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!


Regards......GN

* Whether members identify with the left or right are centrists, anarchist, socialists, liberals, democrats, republicans, labourites, conservatives, pontiffs/papists, communists or Indian chiefs etc etc etc, they are welcome to participate in these debates, so long as they adhere to these rules of engagement.

**If any of you have any comments around me allowing political discussion in the Speakers Corner, then by all means post below.
 
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Gypsy Nirvana

Recalcitrant Reprobate -
Administrator
Veteran
that seems like a very respectable attitude gypsy.

Just trying to keep it fair and somehow balanced, but those that can't keep their hate on a leash will be sanctioned, particularly if they start attacking the membership here.

*Politicians deserve to be lampooned and ridiculed anyway, bunch-a-lying scoundrels generally.
 
M

moose eater

Lying scoundrels??!! Why.. I usually bank on every word they utter, whilst barely sitting on the edge of my chair!!
 

insomniac_AU

Active member
I'll put my hand up and say it was me who contacted Gypsy. I wasn't aware of how things had played out in the past and wanted to ask his opinion. It's not the political discussion I dislike at all it's the vitriol and unnecessary personal attacks.



When something is being said the way it's said has a huge impact on which direction the conversation goes. I just wish people would play the ball and not the man. :tiphat:
 

Slim Pickens

Well-known member
Veteran
now that there is a set boundaries...

WHAT TO POST?

Most topics can be discussed so long as a certain level of"decorum" ( :) ) is followed.Many of us understand that not everyone views topics the same,and feathers sometimes get ruffled.

So,most things can be topics for discussion so long as we can conduct ourselves as adults.

Insults such as "left*** scum" doesn't lend itself to adult conversation and should be discouraged at the minimum.

Can I have the ban hammer for a week?Pleeeeeeeese?? :biggrin:

:laughing:
 
M

moose eater

I think that's been the crux of the issue here for a while, AU. And thank you for stepping up and saying what you think. You seem pretty level thus far.

When it becomes a ping pong game of put-downs and crass/crude name-calling, then the members here who engager in such antics sometimes cause the community to look like a less than articulate or mature crew.

Nearly every partisan or political thread here has taken that course, to include those that started out with something meaningful in content.

Then the piling on begins, with glad-handing and back-patting for contributing to the flow. And down she goes pretty quickly.

I'll put my hand up and say it was me who contacted Gypsy. I wasn't aware of how things had played out in the past and wanted to ask his opinion. It's not the political discussion I dislike at all it's the vitriol and unnecessary personal attacks.



When something is being said the way it's said has a huge impact on which direction the conversation goes. I just wish people would play the ball and not the man. :tiphat:
 

Gypsy Nirvana

Recalcitrant Reprobate -
Administrator
Veteran
Yes, you are all correct in your views on the matter.

....and I have already had to sanction some of the main protagonists.

Hopefully us gentlemen can have serious debates without all the childish baiting and hating into the future, as moose says so many threads end up getting sullied by these juvenile minded members, and that's gonna stop if I have my way.
 

Brother Nature

Well-known member
I really appreciate and like these particular threads as well as the fact they are allowed to travel in such interesting directions, there aren't a lot of forums on the clear net where they're allowed to go on like they do. I don't have the ability to grow and share that with the community at the moment, so they actually keep me coming back here often. Well, that and the bud porn :D. I've picked up a fair bit over the last few months as well and I appreciate that. There's even been a few posters who have helped me examine some of my own less open minded opinions and reassess them.



There does seem to be a trend where they devolve into ego and hubris, but I think that's a reflection of how we are as humans, it's unavoidable. I've even been a part of it at times myself, but at least the mods seem to be pretty on top of it. Certain people can't seem to pass that keyboard warrior phase, but there's still a lot of gems in this place, if you know where to look.



I think it's a good thing to have completely open and free discussions these days as it doesn't seem to be the accepted form of speech in our modern society (was it ever though?). In the end we're all here because of the most wonderful plant in the world and aside from all else, we've still got that in common, so bring it on. :woohoo:
 
Our world sorely lacks meaningful debate.

Both the ability to articulate one's own views, and the ability to mount an intellectual defense of the same, seems to be getting lost as people retract to their corners and throw stones across the abyss. Meanwhile, we never consider that our own viewpoints are often clouded and flawed.

What is true and good and logical usually lies somewhere in in the middle.

We would all be well served if we come together and argue passionately but never lose the ability to shake hands at the end and part as brothers despite our diferences.

Let us never lose sight of that which brings us together in the first place: our humanity... and our appreciation for Gods gift of a seed.
 

GOT_BUD?

Weed is a gateway to gardening
ICMag Donor
Veteran
Most topics can be discussed so long as a certain level of"decorum" ( :) ) is followed.Many of us understand that not everyone views topics the same,and feathers sometimes get ruffled.

So,most things can be topics for discussion so long as we can conduct ourselves as adults.

Insults such as "left*** scum" doesn't lend itself to adult conversation and should be discouraged at the minimum.

Can I have the ban hammer for a week?Pleeeeeeeese?? :biggrin:

:laughing:

I'm sure we can all conduct ourselves in a mature and respectful manner.

Right, Poopypants? :biggrin:
 

Elmer Bud

Genotype Sex Worker AKA strain whore
Veteran
G `day Gypsy

I had to look up Ad Hominem .
Didn`t know what it meant . Kinda knew by context that it was naughty . lol .
In Oz we would say playing the man , not the ball .

e5c.jpg


In a debate when someone starts with insults, mockery and abuse the debate is over . They lost .

Thanks for sharin

EB .
 
T

Teddybrae

As can be seen this is my first post in this section ... but I 've been stirring intellectual shit on-site here in all sorts of threads ... and you haven't told me off once, Gypsy! I really like the (almost) absence of censorship at this site!!!
 

Gypsy Nirvana

Recalcitrant Reprobate -
Administrator
Veteran
Stiring up people's intellect and so making them think, then post, is what this forum is all about Ted.

I detest having to censor - ban - or bin any post/thread or member, and it is only done after much thought and consultation with other Mods/Admins.

You seem to post in such a way that you concentrate on the topic/subject of the matter, and don't start attacking the members who posts something contrary to what you do. As Elmer said above...'Play the ball and not the man'......and all will be well.


As can be seen this is my first post in this section ... but I 've been stirring intellectual shit on-site here in all sorts of threads ... and you haven't told me off once, Gypsy! I really like the (almost) absence of censorship at this site!!!
 

Malato

Member
Recently I had a member of ICMAG question me in regards to allowing political discussions in The Tokers Den....here is my response:


**If any of you have any comments around me allowing political discussion in the Speakers Corner, then by all means post below.

I agree with what you said whole hearted. As long as members aren't threatening or harassing each other let them argue, seemingly very little progress and understanding is being made. But it's a true reflection of society now a days. At least we can all agree we like pot :biggrin:
 
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