Originally Posted by efnfast (Post 150529)

Sorry Joe, I get sucked in every time. Guess I'm pretty fed up with the way the system is run, on both sides.:-x

However, we all need to stay involved, and this is part of it.

Originally Posted by ZZZZZR1 (Post 150576)

Does anyone think we should keep this negative political chatter?

Maybe we should consider that a new policy....

Keep it friendly, about us (the brotherhood) and the beast!!!

:cheers:

David

Originally Posted by scottfab (Post 150577)

I'd be ok with NO political chatter. Those that feel the need could join some group intended for it. If it's kept it should be as a "sign up" group. But either way should not show up in the "New Post" search.
That's my 2 cents.

Originally Posted by Kevin (Post 150590)

if there is it needs to be opt in only. I don't want to see them when i click on "new posts"

Originally Posted by ZZZZZR1 (Post 150597)

How about no political discussions? No opt out

We are a car club and not a political party

:flag2:

David

Originally Posted by ZZZZZR1 (Post 150597)

How about no political discussions? No opt out

We are a car club and not a political party

:flag2:

David

Originally Posted by ZZZZZR1 (Post 150597)

How about no political discussions? No opt out

We are a car club and not a political party

:flag2:

David

Originally Posted by Z Factor (Post 150672)

I cannot remember a time when so many political threads were started in such a short period of time on the forum. I suspect it is a case of presidential politics and the election being right around the corner that has spurred the flurry of opposing political threads. That, and how polarized the country is at the moment is also likely reflected in the recent rash of political threads.

Maybe a temporary moratorium on political posts for say the next 60 days until the election cycle ends is in order. After that, I suspect we will return to our primary passion, that being the love of ZR-1's.

Any and all thoughts/opinions are encouraged.

:cheers:

Originally Posted by scottfab (Post 150677)

This is a reasonable proposal but does not address root cause and that is the "New Posts" filter. A separate forum group called "Politics" would if the "New Posts" filter did not report on the "Politics" group.

Originally Posted by jcruz (Post 150686)

I'd like to see a political free board There are plenty of other boards & sites around the Internet that serve such a purpose.

There are some gray areas, however. For example, what if someone posts a negative story about GM? The problem, sadly and unfortunately, is that government has permeated our society so that everything has a political element, even our cars.

Originally Posted by Z Factor (Post 150680)

While several measures could be taken to achieve the same purpose, keep in mind that we have never had a problem with political threads in the "Off Topic" section since it's inception. As a matter of fact, the vast majority of posters have not engaged in the current tit for tat thread battle.

It would be sad to think we need to permanently restrict ourselves from our own devices. Fortunately, even with the differing political points of view, most have remained respectful and civil, which is what we should expect from mature adults.
So to that end, I have no reason to believe that a temporary moratorium of political threads until after the upcoming election will not smooth out this bump in the road.
Lets see what others who care to render an opinion think.

:cheers:

Originally Posted by Z Factor (Post 150680)

While several measures could be taken to achieve the same purpose, keep in mind that we have never had a problem with political threads in the "Off Topic" section since it's inception. As a matter of fact, the vast majority of posters have not engaged in the current tit for tat thread battle.

It would be sad to think we need to permanently restrict ourselves from our own devices. Fortunately, even with the differing political points of view, most have remained respectful and civil, which is what we should expect from mature adults.
So to that end, I have no reason to believe that a temporary moratorium of political threads until after the upcoming election will not smooth out this bump in the road.
Lets see what others who care to render an opinion think.

:cheers:

Originally Posted by scottfab (Post 150691)

I think there should be no DUII from mature adults and many other things.
I think many things we should do only takes a bad apple to push the cart over. This time the cart was repeatedly being push and I help push because I felt it the right thing to do. I was simply TIRED of seeing the one sided crap every time I logged in. You can call it tit for tat. I call it getting focus on the issue.

We have an opportunity to fix this not just shove it under the carpet and say it won't happen again. Because it WILL happen again after the election.
How many members would it take saying they don't want Politics on here? Give a number or %. To ignore what people are asking for and do "what's good for them" would be wrong. Either GET RID OF POLITICS or make it so the "New Posts" filter does not show them.

Sure even with the "guideline" of no Politics it will creep in sometimes just like a photo may not have the appropriate "G" string coverage based on someone's sensibilities. Be that as it may I submit the G string issue is let objectionable because one can see the title and know what it means without the title being upsetting.

Originally Posted by Z Factor (Post 150707)

There is certainly some irony here. You are one of the few people who engaged in thread bombing of a political nature, then ask that politics be removed from the forum. Now your attempted explanation for this is that you were getting focus on the issue, as opposed to my general comment there was a tit for tat exchange going on by several posters.

My focus is to try and keep the forum running as smoothly as possible, while still allowing everyone to express their points of view(popular or not). In most instances this has been accomplished with politics being part of the discussion over the last 7 years, since the Off Topic section was created.
So while you believe politics will return once my suggestion of a moratorium is over, I suspect things will return to normal as the history of the board has proved.
I also would proffer for your consideration the possibility of greater strife saying politics is prohibited. Keep in mind that what is political to one person, might not be to another. Sure the obvious posts of Dem this, or Rep that, are easy enough to spot.
However Jcruz gives a perfect example of where criticism of GM can be viewed from a political lens. All it would take is genuine criticism of manufacturing defects that could be blamed on union workers, for some to press the report button as a forum rules violation. Then it winds up being the digression of the first moderator who sees the report as to whether it is political or not, and what to do about it.

Still, with that said, I do not object to the notion of removing political thought from the Off Topic section if that is what the majority of forum goers want.
That is why I made a suggestion, and have asked others to give their viewpoints.

:cheers:

Originally Posted by Kevin (Post 150702)

i don't want to see political discussion, I've asked you privately and I'll ask you publicly, if you continue to allow political discussion and it comes up when I hit "new posts" revoke my access to whatever part of the forum it's in

Originally Posted by Z Factor (Post 150707)

...snip...
Now your attempted explanation for this is that you were getting focus on the issue, as opposed to my general comment there was a tit for tat exchange going on by several posters.
snip....

Originally Posted by scottfab (Post 150721)

I'm sorry my confession is met with skepticism on motive.
Sad really. But you know, I really don't care if you believe it.
Fact is it worked.
Rather than knock my motive why not focus on a solution?

Originally Posted by scottfab (Post 150721)

Sure try your temp fix of a "moratorium". Doing something would be good. But how will you enforce that? Isn't there the same "oh no what about a GM topic" issue?

Originally Posted by scottfab (Post 150721)

What I don't understand mostly is the attitude toward folks that just want to get off the notification for posts out of "OFF TOPIC". What Kevin went for would work. There is no impact but for those volunteering. Then best solution is to fix "New Posts" to just not show political to those that don't want to see it, as some have suggested.

Originally Posted by scottfab (Post 150721)

Finally, you may choose to call it thread bombing or tit for tat. I call it balancing the slams.

Originally Posted by Z Factor (Post 150732)

I will try to directly address your post, then get back to figuring out how to come up with a poll that can cover all aspects of this discussion.

I am not questioning your motive, rather your methods. If my response did not convey the latter, that was my intent. To use a hasty analogy, if you want to call attention to a fire, you do not make it bigger to draw attention to it. Your subsequent thread/poll as to how to address the issue was certainly a more productive means of accomplishing your stated goal.



From a logistical standpoint, it is much easier to deal with those determinations on a temporary basis, rather than on a permanent basis. That combined with an invertible subsiding of political angst once the election is over makes a temporary restriction more logical than a permanent prohibition in my view. However I am certainly open to other perspectives, hence the request for other points of view.



There is no problem with removing those who wish to stop seeing threads in a particular section/New Posts. As a matter of reference, there is at least one forum member that requested access to the Corvette Babes section be removed for the sake of he and his family. We were happy to accommodate his request without restricting other forum members ability to participate.
My only point when addressing Kevin was that it might be premature or hasty to make such a decision prior to seeing how this all works outs.

However if he, you, or anyone else would like us to remove your access to the OT, it can certain be accomplished upon request.



At the risk of sounding redundant, I respectfully disagree with how you went about this. If your political view is in the minority, I would think your ability to express your opposing point of view would be something your appreciated and cherished on a forum like ours.
Instead, if I understand your reasoning correctly, you purposely exacerbated a problem in an effort to draw attention to it. That seems illogical at best. Now you are asking that the forum change it's policy to restrict other forum members from exercising their ability to post their perspective on political issues. That also seems counterintuitive to your expressed posts.
Regardless, this is not a decision I intend to make on my own, and have asked for input not only from the forum members, but also members of the BOD as well. Just because the OT has been reasonably strife free from a political angst standpoint, that is no assurance it will always remain that way. The question is how we can best accommodate your request, without over moderating the forum and restricting other members. Hopefully the upcoming poll will help us to figure that out.

:cheers:

Originally Posted by jcruz (Post 150737)

Z Factor: they don't pay you enough :)

Originally Posted by Z Factor (Post 150732)

.... snip...
At the risk of sounding redundant, I respectfully disagree with how you went about this. If your political view is in the minority, I would think your ability to express your opposing point of view would be something your appreciated and cherished on a forum like ours.
Instead, if I understand your reasoning correctly, you purposely exacerbated a problem in an effort to draw attention to it. That seems illogical at best.

Originally Posted by Z Factor (Post 150732)

Now you are asking that the forum change it's policy to restrict other forum members from exercising their ability to post their perspective on political issues. That also seems counterintuitive to your expressed posts.

Originally Posted by Z Factor (Post 150732)

Regardless, this is not a decision I intend to make on my own, and have asked for input not only from the forum members, but also members of the BOD as well. Just because the OT has been reasonably strife free from a political angst standpoint, that is no assurance it will always remain that way.

Originally Posted by Z Factor (Post 150732)

The question is how we can best accommodate your request, without over moderating the forum and restricting other members. Hopefully the upcoming poll will help us to figure that out.