Are religious/political threads worth making?

[mrhappyface]

Due to circumstances beyond my control and the indifference of the banhammer and Moderator wrath,I've decided to never make a political/relgious thread again. Because people have very personal feelings toward certain things, and vastly opposing views, I honestly do not think they're worth making since they usually descend into forum chaos, even with the report button. What do you think?

 

[Julianking93]

Usually no.

People will get flamed, suspended, banned or just people with differing opinions will just end up arguing back and forth.

There's no point in it. You won't change someone's mind on religious or political subjects.

But on the subject of your probation, I'd say you deserved it. Sorry to say, but you could have handled that a bit better without lashing out at him.

Yes, he may have been a prick but that's no reason to stoop to his level.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Due to circumstances beyond my control and the indifference of the banhammer and Moderator wrath,I've decided to never make a political/relgious thread again. Because people have very personal feelings toward certain things, and vastly opposing views, I honestly do not think they're worth making since they usually descend into forum chaos, even with the report button. What do you think?

To be honest, I read the post that put you on probation and you deserved it.
Back to the OT, if you can express your opinion while respecting the opinions of others then there is no need to fear the banhammer.

 

[ribonuge]

You just need to be careful with what you're posting and be aware as to whether or not it is a sensitive subject. If it is you should tread lightly and use careful language to explain your point. That is as long as your point isn't offensive in itself.

 

[Space Spoons]

It pretty much goes without saying that some topics are going to be more sensitive than others, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't be discussed at all. The key is being able to keep a level head and debate without the discussion devolving into a shouting match where personal insults are being thrown on a regular basis.

This is the Escapist, we're supposed to be a cut above the other guys. We should be able to hold a discussion with several diverging viewpoints without the entire thread going down in flames.

 

[Nomad]

To be honest, I read the post that put you on probation and you deserved it.
Back to the OT, if you can express your opinion while respecting the opinions of others then there is no need to fear the banhammer.

Since Daystar Clarion already said the bulk of what I was going to say, and probably said it in a much more concise and efficient way, I will only make a small addition.

Every subject is a touchy subject to someone. Politics and religion are no different. In my eyes, the very thing that makes threads involving them extra worth making is that everyone has so widely different beliefs and thoughts about it - and most of the time, they're well-thought out and elaborate. I like sneaking a peek into other people's minds, and heavy debates are the best way of doing so.

Like Daystar Clarion said, you just have to avoid being a douche while debating. Discuss the statement, not the person that made it. And if someone else breaks that rule, then you either ignore them, report them, or try to extract valid points from their diatribe. It is entirely possible to reply respectfully to someone who attacked you personally. It's your own responsibility to keep your side of the debate civil.

 

[IrishBerserker]

I say they are worth making because they can generate some intesting & enlightening discussion. Though this all depends on the subject matter.

At any rate, the couple I made turned out alright.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

To be honest, I read the post that put you on probation and you deserved it.
Back to the OT, if you can express your opinion while respecting the opinions of others then there is no need to fear the banhammer.

Since Daystar Clarion already said the bulk of what I was going to say, and probably said it in a much more concise and efficient way, I will only make a small addition.

Every subject is a touchy subject to someone. Politics and religion are no different. In my eyes, the very thing that makes threads involving them extra worth making is that everyone has so widely different beliefs and thoughts about it - and most of the time, they're well-thought out and elaborate. I like sneaking a peek into other people's minds, and heavy debates are the best way of doing so.

Like Daystar Clarion said, you just have to avoid being a douche while debating. Discuss the statement, not the person that made it. And if someone else breaks that rule, then you either ignore them, report them, or try to extract valid points from their diatribe. It is entirely possible to reply respectfully to someone who attacked you personally. It's your own responsibility to keep your side of the debate civil.

Jolly good show old bean.

 

[Azure-Supernova]

Due to circumstances beyond my control and the indifference of the banhammer and Moderator wrath,I've decided to never make a political/relgious thread again. Because people have very personal feelings toward certain things, and vastly opposing views, I honestly do not think they're worth making since they usually descend into forum chaos, even with the report button. What do you think?

An undeserved moderation at that.

OT: I think the problem lies in the people rather than the subject of conversation. You get a group of likeminded people in a room and ask them to discuss something, it's pleasant. You get a nice variety of people and ask them to discuss something, no doubt that people will conflict.

Then of course tensions rise and just as it's getting interesting, the banhammer comes down before any reasl damage can be done.

 

[orangebandguy]

There's a section where argumental fruitcakes can argue until their keyboard breaks for Religion and Politics.

It's best they remain isolated from the rest of us.

 

[weary]

Nothing makes me happier than somewhere i can offload my pointless economic ramblings

 

[Timotei]

I personally think they are in the best interests most of the time. But then again you get the people who come here and create threads like this [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/528.171231] that exist only to stir the pot and invoke fear. Sooner or later said thread turns into a spitting match and then gets locked with at least one or two people getting the banhammer.

In my opinion, I think the Religion and Politics board was one of the worst ideas the Escapist staff has had. In my eyes the only benefit to it is that there are considerably less religious and political threads in Off-Topic, so I guess it has helped the Cancer that is killing Off-Topic a little bit. All we need now are Zombie and Relationship boards and Off-Topic will be be mostly cancer free.

 

[Good morning blues]

Depends on who's starting the discussion and who's talking through it. Just because people disagree doesn't mean that discussion doesn't serve a useful purpose; it has the potential to allow people to re-evaluate their viewpoints and opinions and to either fortify them or point out flaws and force reconsideration.

The two problems are angry ideologues who refuse to engage in a genuine discussion and people who create threads without any understanding of the topic they're discussing.

 

[oppp7]

Pretty much the only reason for controversial threads is to get badges (they normally get heavy traffic from repeat posters and you can post more because they normally quote you). But ya, they're normally just arguements hovering over becoming a huge flame war.

And it's not really hard to avoid moderator wrath. Just never say anything that could be off topic in any shape or form, try to make even your shortest posts a sentence long at least, and never, ever say anything insulting or negative.

 

[mrhappyface]

Due to circumstances beyond my control and the indifference of the banhammer and Moderator wrath,I've decided to never make a political/relgious thread again. Because people have very personal feelings toward certain things, and vastly opposing views, I honestly do not think they're worth making since they usually descend into forum chaos, even with the report button. What do you think?

To be honest, I read the post that put you on probation and you deserved it.
Back to the OT, if you can express your opinion while respecting the opinions of others then there is no need to fear the banhammer.

Thank you, but I need no reminders of the fact that I did deserve it. I've already had quite a few people say this, and I don't need it to be rubbed into my face.

 

[mrhappyface]

Usually no.

People will get flamed, suspended, banned or just people with differing opinions will just end up arguing back and forth.

There's no point in it. You won't change someone's mind on religious or political subjects.

But on the subject of your probation, I'd say you deserved it. Sorry to say, but you could have handled that a bit better without lashing out at him.

Yes, he may have been a prick but that's no reason to stoop to his level.

I did not acknowledge the existence of the Report Button. Silly me.

 

[lacktheknack]

Well, you can certainly learn a lot, even in the locked threads. Especially in the locked threads.

 

[Macgyvercas]

Three things you can not talk about without getting into an arguement: Religion, Politics, and pizza toppings. Avoid making threads about those three.