Subj : Re: Politics To : Avon From : McDoob Date : Fri Mar 18 2022 11:51 am Av> Golly what a business eh, this politics stuff :) Av> Av> I recall I asked we didn't cover that and religion because at the time Av> it seemed some echomail areas were getting taken over by heated Av> arguments between folks, often about USA politics and who was left and Av> who was right and which leader was good or not etc. etc. Av> Av> For me I'm not against political discussion per say but I am against any Av> hurtful or unkind or extreme discord that can unfortunately arise when Av> something in that political or religious space comes up and people feel Av> they must defend their point of view tooth and nail but do so in a way Av> that descends into acrimony. Av> Av> So I'm not against political chatter per say but against the poor Av> behaviour that seems to accompany it when some go off the deep end Av> trying to convey their point of view. Av> Av> I wonder if an echo that had a geo-political or just political focus to Av> it would be a starter? If it was set up it could be a place for Av> discussions about global politics and peoples thoughts, fears, hopes Av> etc. the come with it. Av> Av> I enjoy news and I do follow local and national political events here in Av> New Zealand. I am also following closely what is happing in Europe (with Av> dismay and sadness) and keeping an eye on the South Pacific region (closer Av> to my country) with interest too. Av> Av> So for me to chat about any of that stuff I'd likely need to adjust Av> things in fsx to create such an echo for that kind of chatter and focus. Av> Av> But it occurs to me that where the bulk of any such chatter has landed Av> in the past (as I mentioned earlier) was in the USA political space. And Av> I guess that's also understandable as many nodes in fsx are USA based Av> and it's been a busy/changable time in USA politics for some years now Av> with several high profile people generating engagement in folks for and Av> against their espoused views. Av> Av> Another thought would be to also create a USA specific politics echo but Av> the it Av> seems a bit unfair to the rest of the globe :) And I do worry it could Av> turn sour in content posted if people forgot about the values of the Av> network and started chucking metaphorical barbs at each other :( Never Av> good nor fun, nor kind. Av> Av> These are some of my thoughts :) Not in any order nor intent to act in Av> any time soon (given my travels) Av> Av> But if we could find a way to continue to agree to conduct ourselves in Av> a way that is civil if such an echo(s) were created I'd be open to Av> looking at it / giving it a try. Av> Av> I will x-post this to FSX_NET ... can you please reply to that echo as Av> this is essentially a network admin etc. topic so let's plonk that Av> chatter there. Av> Av> Best, Paul I have waited to give my opinion on this. I am fully aware of the amount of negativity that can arise when talking about these subjects, as I am somewhat active in the POLITICS echo over on Fidonet. And this is why I've decided that I agree with the popular opinion that you've heard from many others. This is a bad idea, Paul... The very least problem of endorsing these conversations would be a sharp increase in your moderator work load. A potential worst-case scenario would be having members abandon this 'net, the way it has happened on Fidonet. I think you should stick to what you're doing right now, with the Ukraine discussion: specifically allowing a certain amount of friendly conversation, but discouraging politics and religion as a general rule. Perhaps an echo for 'world events', as a place to discuss these things. But certainly *not* a politics echo! Just my opinion, of course. (^_^) McDoob SysOp, PiBBS pibbs.sytes.net --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Raspberry Pi/32) * Origin: PiBBS (21:4/135) .