Heavily Moderated Political Discussion Forum

[Malebrignon]

I have started and moderate the Intelligent Political Discussion group. We already find ourselves with a desire for threads instead of just a long string. I will volunteer to moderate said forum very heavily and will write a fairly exacting "no-bullshit" set of rules for it.

I feel very strongly that folks do not discuss politics enough and that the taboo upon it is part of what helps governments like the U.S. keep power out of the hands of the people. There are a lot of strong minds here with strong opinions. I may not agree with them, but I feel we're all friends for the most part and should be able to express our views rationally without personal attacks and provide reasons for them. Hopefully, we could help each other gain insights into each others' points of view and thus reach a better understanding of why "the other side" feels the way they do.

Right now my group is invite only, but I'd be willing to open it up to everyone provided they follow the rules that will be laid out.

I'm asking for this here to make sure there's a good level of interest in it as there's no need to add an extra forum segment if it won't be much more than me and Lasc screaming "hippie" and "curmudgeon" at each other. *grin*

Edit for clarity: I'm petitioning Mort to create an extra sub-forum for this so we can have individual topics instead of guided discussion.

[Taknar]

I am interested in joining this group, if for no other reason than to get a more informed opinion on the matter.

[Tirralys]

I too would like into this group, just to be more informed when I want to be. I get really heated about politics (mostly Bush) but I just argue the facts I hear/know. But then, Abric makes me feel dumb when he refutes everything I say. I just want to see if I'm right or he is :P

[Abric]

I'm usually right, or at least close enough to the answer where people can take what I say, then roll with it. At least in my own field of expertise - I may think myself politically savvy... but I'm not. I know my own little slice of the pie, and that's about it.

Be careful what you wish for, Brig. There is a difference between people having an opinion; and people regurgitating what they saw on the news or what their mommy/daddy/professor/friend/significant other told them to say. You can have a good conversation, regardless of opinion... you cannot have a good conversation with somebody who is a dummy with a hand up their butt.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to wash my hands.

[Regnanetah]

I would be interested.

[Villayna]

Only if it's a private forum. That means you have to sign up before you see it, like Horde/Alliance boards. You want a PM box full of "let me join this group?" and I'll make it happen :) If you find other people you trust to moderate, we can add them too.

[Malebrignon]

Fair enough. I rarely get PMs anyways. It might be a nice treat!

[Emmons]

I'll bite for this.

I don't personally know a whole ton about politics, like Abric, I know my little slice of the pie about issues I care about. Also, again, like Abric (get out of my head Charles!) I absolutely abhor it when people regurgitate what they saw on the news, and what their mommies and daddies told them to say, people that form an "opinion" based on hearsay and not actually getting informed.

We should make a superhero club and fight ignorance with our mighty right fist of truth, and our gimpy left wrist of knowledge.

[opalexian]

*floods Brig's box*

[Villayna]

If you want in you need to go to UserCP->Under Networking click Group Memberships or http://wow-tng.org/profile.php?do=editusergroups

Don't PM him until after you click the join request button! I don't think he can add you to the group if you don't clicky.

and don't PM me.. I have nothing to do with it.

[Nadea]

pshhh, I ALREADY PMed him, before I realized I could do it this way!

Ah well, more mail for Brig! :P

[Villayna]

if you could see the forum before, but can't now.. see the above post for how to see it again :)

oh, and don't ask me.. this is Malebrignon's baby. I won't give anyone access.

[Moknim]

Dang, I had access to it just long enough to write a nice response on the economy, when I hit submit I had lost access and it is gone forever.

So...invite plz?

[Nazshakul]

Yeah, I was writing a response too, gladly I Copied it before I hit submit. XD Me too please!

[Naheal]

Greatest sin of this country: not discussing current politics and events..

(count me in)

[Swerto]

Even if I would rarely participate in said forum (because most my posts would get removed cuz my heavily opinionated arguments)

I would love for this forum to exist simply to look in and read what other people have written. I love reading about politics, I love seeing what other people's views are. It lets me get a broader view of the world.

However, I do not want to read people making stupid arguments that lack any basis other than "lol I dun like what's goin on!"

[Villayna]

These are the rules he posted (as of now, they may change, and I probably won't update this):


1. All posts should be at least three complete sentences long. If you have less than that to contribute to the topic, you're really not showing a proper interest or respect for the other members.

2. Keep it civil. No name calling. No "people who don't agree with *insert agenda* should be shot/punched in the face/kicked in the nuts/etc."

3. Intelligent discussion. Be prepared to support your opinions with facts when called out. Some things are very difficult to support with facts, if your support is mainly opinion, be careful not to word it as fact. Phrases like "from what I've seen" and "in my experience" go a long way in helping to avoid these problems.

4. Stay on topic. No off-site links unless it is relevant to the discussion at hand. This means no Rick-rolls, Emmons.

5. One thread per topic, please. If the thread is closed before you've finished saying your piece, petition me to re-open it for you. I check in here several times a day.

6. Three Strikes. If I have to mod you more than three times, you're disrespecting the forum. I will let you know when you have a strike, there will be no surprises. I may mod your posting to clean up grammar or make it friendlier. This does not constitute a strike unless you actually get a strike warning from me. No surprises.

7. Pet Peeve Because I Can: When starting a new thread, please give it a title that clearly indicates the topic at hand. For example, a thread entitled "LOL" will be deleted without being opened.

8. Please do not use the threads for things that are better accomplished via PM. Basically, anything that's not contributing to the actual discussion at hand should be sent via PM. Example: "I agree with you, Lasc. Where'd you get that avatar pic?"

I think as long as you are willing to follow these rules, I don't think Mal has a problem with having you join.

I wish I could just make it visible to everyone, but what will inevitably happen (repeatedly) is someone will see someone post something they disagree with, they'll try to hit post, but won't because they aren't a member, and then they'll post it somewhere else on the site and a dozen or so other people will respond and it'll cycle out of control before some mod wanders by and has to clean up the mess.

[Izrail]

These are the rules he posted (as of now, they may change, and I probably won't update this):

Those rules are the hottest thing I've read on this site in a long time. Signing up now. I won't have much to contribute for a while, but I look forward to some interesting discussion. :)

[Chikt]

I'd very much like to get into this group, if only because I find American politics fascinating. And I like to give my opinion about it wherever possible as an outside party.

[Grayslin]

Making this sticky, as I did not realize it wasn't.

Edit: Whoops, can't. I'll settle for the bump. Villy, can we get a link to this post in the private forums post in the important info section?