Do we need a politics thread...

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by Thymeclock

Could you please make your responses about me a bit more ad-hominem?

You might try looking up the definition of the term ad hominem. (I'll even save you the trouble: Ad hominem - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ) Briefly, an ad hominem argument really isn't directed against a person, but against positions or works associated with or expressed by a person. Thus if I say "Joe is an idiot", that is merely a statement of my opinion (supported by evidence or not, as the case may be). If I say "Joe is a liberal, therefore his opinions on food are worthless", that is an ad hominem attack against Joe's opinions on food - even though many non-liberals may hold the same opinion.

So now, if we look back at prior posts, who uses ad hominem attacks the most? Or maybe I should coin a new term, the argument "ad sinistram", by which the arguer claims that a position can be associated with the left, by whatever tenuous thread of logic, and is therefore false and invalid.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by Arragonis

I wish I hadn't started this now, although it stops other threads being affected - maybe.

I don't hold out much hope!

Yet for some reason I still find myself wishing that people would respect the admins' & mods' request that political discussion be avoided.

Originally Posted by Kodak

This is a private forum, so the users may be held to certain rules that would elsewhere be too restrictive. This is a pretty useful place, and I like it here, so I'll deal with that.

You got it! It'd be nice if the politically vocal membership shared that view (and exercised some more restraint)!

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by cfg83

Arragonis -

I think I asked you this before. Is it any less caustic in Europe? I mean, can a healthy debate be maintained without everything going to heck in a handbasket?

CarloSW2

I think you did ask and this answer will probably be different from that one. Yes, they can get quite fierce and one site's response is to create somewhere where those fights can be moved to. I thought that might be useful. Maybe not.

EDIT - I have been involved in these in the past so I am no saint...

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

I don't hold out much hope!

Yet for some reason I still find myself wishing that people would respect the admins' & mods' request that political discussion be avoided.

Er...

For the way off-topic topics (lighter stuff). Political discussion? ONLY topics directly related to efficiency are allowed. And keep it civil!

I'm not sure if this means "do it here", or "don't do it here" ? Maybe I'm misunderstanding the description ? If "Political discussion?" read "No Political discussion" that would be more clear ?

Like I tapped, it was just a suggestion.

[MetroMPG]

Unfortunately, the problem seems to be that people have been incapable of restricting political discussion to just efficiency related themes.

And also as demonstrated, incabable of keeping things civil.

Thanks for the reminder - removing that line now!

[Piwoslaw]

Originally Posted by cfg83

I think I asked you this before. Is it any less caustic in Europe? I mean, can a healthy debate be maintained without everything going to heck in a handbasket?

A healthy debate? What's that?

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Unfortunately, the problem seems to be that people have been incapable of restricting political discussion to just efficiency related themes.

Can you give examples, are you talking about things like CAFE or other legislative / government themed stuff ? Thats the bit that maybe needs to be made clear. Or excuse the Lounge from the rule.

I'm not trying to be difficult (it comes naturally ) but for the future...

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

And also as demonstrated, incabable of keeping things civil.

Eco-Montague-Modder, go stand on the naughty step this minute - me included

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Thanks for the reminder - removing that line now!

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by Piwoslaw

A healthy debate? What's that?

I thought you unsubscribed ?

[Piwoslaw]

Originally Posted by Arragonis

I thought you unsubscribed ?

Just dropping in every now and then to make sure you guys are behaving yourselves

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by Piwoslaw

Just dropping in every now and then to make sure you guys are behaving yourselves

Aw thanks mom.

You go back to your cocktails, or maybe shandys now - have a good time

[gone-ot]

...and, this is *why* all the 'good' sand boxes never allow scissors or sharp objects in them.