Political Discussions - Show Us What You've Really Got, Tough Guys

[Grrilla]

The first domain name thread that I ever posted in, was not a domain name forum, but a web design forum that accomodated members interest in domain names w/ a single discussion area. (Many of you are familiar w/ this forum -particularly some of the newer arrivals to NP). When I discovered NamePros and some of the other domain name forums, (obviously NP was the one for me), I felt like I had moved up into the big leagues. After a few moths at NP, I remember going back to my first domain name hangout, and wow!- did I feel like the expert! Nowdays, I rarely visit that site, because, I can't get the info I need, and, frankly, playing the role of the "guru" for newbes isn't my cup of tea. I'd rather be a monkey in the middle of a big pile, than a top monkey in a little pile. I need to feel challenged.

Continuing w/ that line of reasoning , I would like to offer some suggestions to our members who are politically inclined and are regular contributors to the threads w/ socio-political content. Why don't you move up into the big leagues where you can be challenged and maybe meet your match. Start posting your ideas and become involved in a forum where you will find some worthy adversaries and can break some new ground. Get yourself a real challenge!

NamePros can still be your big league site for domain names. As far as political debates and information are concerned, however, you are playing in the minor leagues, here at NamePros. I understand the need that people often have, to stay with what's comfortable and familiar and that for some of you that are active in threads with political and ideologic subjects, NamePros offers you this oppurtunity. Some would rather stay w/ the small pile and be one of the top monkeys. But in my eyes, and in the eye's of many, a small pile is where small monkeys live. If being a small monkey is for you, than by all means, you can continue being one of those small monkey's, (sorry all4cost), that the NP members can watch jumping around in the cages of a Hot Topic thread. We'll even probably throw you a banana or some peanuts.

Below are a couple of links to the big leagues. Maybe other members have better one's to suggest. If there are any spottings of one or more of our more vociferous NP friends at a major league political forum, I'll give you 50NP$ for the link. I wouldn't miss the fireworks, for the world! So tough guys, show us your stuff! Show us what you've really got!:

Conservatives->http://mightyrighty.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-2226.html
I Hate Everyone!->http://www.perspectives.com/forums/forum78/41681.html
Liberals->http://www.georgewbush.org/forum/lofiversion/

PS If you can't make the cut, you know you that you can always come back here, and that you will be welcomed w/ open arms, even if you come back w/ your tail curled up between your legs. NP members generally have big hearts, especially for wimps and little monkeys.

 

[True_Snake]

Thanks Grilla :tu: !

A much needed suggestion and post. It's true, politics do get out of hand, and they are really not related with issues in a domain forum, IMHO.

Thanks :] ! Positive Reputation left !


True_Snake

 

[Kenny]

WoW... Whoa... and WoW...again.

ding ding ding ding ding ding ding...

Excuse me Ladies and Gentlemen,
all cards down please, it would seem...

!!!! We have a Winner !!!!

(and the band strikes up)

dun dun dundundun dundun dun
dundundun dundundun dundun duuun dun...

*nervously wringing his hands*
Everywhere I looked, I was being B8ed...
it was a conspiracy I tell ya... trying
to reel me in, make me say just awful
things, tryin to awaken the ugly
beast within...

But then a tall quiet stranger rode in.

!!!! Dissenters Beware !!!!
Theres a new Sheriff in Town.

Seriously, thanks Grrilla
I am as guilty as anyone letting
emotions over-ride judgment.

As the King of Smooth reminds
us as well, it all about....
Cool Polite Professional
dot com
We are here to learn and earn
dot com
And make friends.
dot com

Peace, Kenny

 

[Grrilla]

Hey, I've got as many hang-ups as the next guy and may be a little more off-center than the norm, myself. Neither the conservatives or the liberals know where the hell I'm coming from. I was the football player who was on the debate squad, the hippie who kicked the rednecks ass for messing w/ my friends, the biker who wrote poetry. Yes, I too have had issues to deal with and that I am still dealing with.

I just don't like to see the Varsity guys picking on the JV guys and I want to see a fair fight that is at the right stadium and on a level playing field. If people are insisting on playing hardball and the field is setup for sack races, than I'll point the way to the hardball field, for the guys who got lost. I'll even buy a seat in the bleachers to cheer them on, regardless of where they are coming from. I know who they are- I don't know who the other guys are. But I'm not going to stand by and let the hardball players screw up the sack race and bean a few people, for good measure, in the process.

 

[mws]

Many people are "tough guys" when behind a computer monitor. I think what has happened here recently will curve political threads for a while. At least until someone named after a beer trips over his shoe laces or a certain female senator decides she is running for Miss America or a southern governor wants to walk in his brothers footsteps or a former northern governor opens his mouth and yells. I don't necessarily think the Varisty is picking on the JV. Sometimes maybe the Varsity forgets that not everyone on the field is playing the same game. Or maybe they are just having too much fun. :?

 

[webworksfirst]

being tough doesn't mean that you have to show it to the people that you are "tough", you should be "tough" in a way that you need to be "tough" in facing such struggles in life, such problems in life, such challenges in life.

any reactions is very much appreciated because i know in any forums that you can say things that will not hurt other members.

 

[Grrilla]

I don't necessarily think the Varisty is picking on the JV.

That's only one of many metaphors that could be used to describe what happens when the seasoned, experienced individual, who has had the time that is necessary to refine and hone his/her views and presentation skills, takes on the neophyte or less experienced individual who is still formulating a viewpoint. Another appropriate metaphor would be a shark in a goldfish bowl. The sharks belong w/ other sharks in a shark tank or out on the open seas.

Sometimes maybe the Varsity forgets that not everyone on the field is playing the same game.

That's why the varsity players need to be reminded of what field they are playing on, what game they are playing and who they are playing it with. If the reminders, requests and suggestions are chronically being disregarded, than the coaches and other players become frustrated and the unattentive players get suspended from the team or kicked off, altogether.

Or maybe they are just having too much fun.

At who's expense? Idi Amin used to laugh and have fun at the dinner parties he threw while dining on various body parts of his opposition. I'm all for fun! I would like to be having some fun right now, rather than dealing with this issue, the creation of which, I had nothing to do with. But, the intensity and the sheer volume of the complaints have indicated that this is a real problem that needs to be capped, so that other members can have their fun also, when they wish to discuss an issue or a topical current event, w/o the threat of being flamed in a crude and often vulgar manner or overwhelmed by other members who have an agenda or an axe to grind.

I think there are better and more appropriate venues, for those individuals, regardless of their persuasion, who have an overwhelming need to create ideological debates for the purpose of espousing opinions about their world view and who, than feel compelled to continue nurturing them by luring in others w/ inflamatory remarks. If their beliefs are truly strong, the feelings are really as intense as they appear to be, and the message is that important, than why waste the time and energy espousing the message in a community that is not designed for the topic, or where it is so obvious that a large segment of the community is being upset by the activity? Could it be antagonism? Seems like that to me.

In an active and vibrant forum, there will inevitably be differences of opinion, conflicting interests, competing agendas, anger, hurt feelings, jealousy, resentments, flames, and other difficulties that arise that are a natural element of any large and diverse group dynamic. Everyone knows that politics, religion and other ideological subjects that involve personal beliefs are volatile subjects that prone to cause divisiveness. Although, topical discussions in these areas will arrise, are acceptable and even encouraged, to a degree, here at NP, if the discussion is truly *significant* and is deserving of an in depth analysis, than there are discussion forums available where specialists and knowledgeable experts are having discussions over these topics as you are reading this.

The primary topic and central focus here is domain names. So, let's attempt, for the most part, to keep our "Hot Topic" discussions involved w/ the multitude of possibilities that are in and around the scope of what our forum specializes in, and discontinue using NamePros as a platform or soap box for espousing, ideology that is most often unrelated and not connected to the forums primary purpose.

In other words, if you have a need to argue and flame, do so within limits, try not to get too personal, keep it close to topics related to domain names and the internet, and keep the hard core *sword play* away from personal beliefs.

 

[dgridley]

I agree topics need to be discussed with moderation but I thought The Break Room was the area for "off topic" conversations and debate...

Does this mean we need to limit our discussions to "on topic" only? If so, it'd severely curtail the amount of time I personally spend here as domains have gradually become secondary to my interests here.

The primary topic and central focus here is domain names. So, let's attempt, for the most part, to keep our "Hot Topic" discussions involved w/ the multitude of possibilities that are in and around the scope of what our forum specializes in, and discontinue using NamePros as a platform or soap box for espousing, ideology that is most often unrelated and not connected to the forums primary purpose.

 

[Jammer]

loud and clear....

 

[Rob]

Wheres ma boy Lee!

 

[LeeRyder]

You don't want to know what I think.

 

[mws]

I agree with much you say grrilla. I think both sides need to cool down a little bit. JV were as big part of it as Varsity. No matter how you see it.We both know about who and what we are really saying here. If you can't play hard and fair then don't play. I respect your opinions. I do however find them one sided. Believe me no hard feelings. That is just the way I see it. I just wanted to state my opinion. Thanks.

 

[Grrilla]

I agree topics need to be discussed with moderation but I thought The Break Room was the area for "off topic" conversations and debate.

I can't lay it out any more clearly or in any more detail for you, than what I already have done. If you think that general "off topic" conversations in the BreakRoom was the subject of my post and you can't grasp the distinctions that have been made, than you probably would be best off, following your own personal interpretatation. But for everybody else, I was commenting about a specific issue.

Does this mean we need to limit our discussions to "on topic" only?

No.

If so, it'd severely curtail the amount of time I personally spend here as domains have gradually become secondary to my interests here.

Wow! Somebody, please tell me that I am not actually reading this. Am I still at NamePros- Buy, Sell, Discuss Domain Names, or have I drifted off into some parallel universe? :tri:

 

[Lyte]

EDIT..

Okay, after reading Grrilla's posts a second (okay, a third time :red: ) time I understand your point more clearly. :tu:

I will say though, regardless of who's playing (Varsity or Junior) and/or the game that's being played, the Code of Conduct for the Break Room is pretty clear...

http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=55444&page=1

Which states, among other things...

"Be Polite! - Do not post any messages that are obscene, vulgar, sexually-orientated, hateful, threatening, or otherwise violative of any laws. Be polite! Debate and heated discussions are okay, however posting rude, attacking, insulting, profane and uncalled for comments are not allowed and may result in the permanent termination of your account."

If all of us could all just follow the same set of rules, I think things would be better.

Lyte

 

[Rob]

When I see some of the utter nonsense that is posted in Political discussions, alot of those rules go out of the window. And it is usually brought about through somebody INTENTIONALLY hoping to wind people up and provide themselves an outlet for jibberish.

Are these people just trying to stand out? Perhaps they were unpopular in school or work and come home to be the big man behind their PC?

Who knows... I try to avoid discussions now though, because they all end up with the same result and because certain members who are responsible are on the whole good assets to the community in terms of knowledge and advice, they will always avoid any punishment from NamePros.

Thats how I see things so far, anyhow.

 

[Lyte]

When I see some of the utter nonsense that is posted in Political discussions, alot of those rules go out of the window.

And that's a pity because discussions that would be interesting end up being detrimental to members and NamePros as a whole.

... they will always avoid any punishment from NamePros.

See my previous response.

Lyte

 

[Grrilla]

I will say though, regardless of who's playing (Varsity or Junior) and/or the game that's being played, the Code of Conduct for the Break Room is pretty clear...

Lyte and Rob I agree with both of you and your points are both well taken. The Code of Conduct for the BreakRoom, (and for NP), has been stated very clearly. Disciplinary procedures, in the form of Warning Points, have also been stated very clearly and frequently. Maybe I'm the one who's wimp, but I have rarely issued any warning points, and have relied on reasoning and communication as a means of reconciling differences. That is why I put a good deal of analytical thought into this thread and have spent the extra time in carefully choosing the right words to illucidate the problem and to drill down it's parameters.

I have avoided political discussions, here at NP, because becoming intermeshed with them is a real time drain and because, generally, there is very little, if anything, to be gained from them. Although, several discussion threads and a volume of complaints in Private Messages to the Staff have made me aware that there has been an ongoing problem, there is nothing like first hand experience to drive the message home. I got a real eye opener in a recent BreakRoom thread, (my first participation in a political thread, in several months), when, from out of the blue, an obscene, vulgar, sexually-orientated, hateful, and threatening message was posted on the heels of some "peace keeping" or moderation that I thought I had performed. Not only had the member broken every code of conduct in the book, he than ignored my follow up conduct related message with a response, in the form of a challenge, that was tailored to embroil me in a political argument. "Ahh... so that's what's been going on and where the complaints have been coming from!"

So, I put on the thinking cap, and created this thread, which is my last appeal to reason before going into additional, controversial threads and issuing warnings persuant to, (obvious), NP rules violations, the result of which, would be the immediate suspension of some of our members, due to multiple infractions, past and present. I hate being put in the position of issuing threats, and having to act like a hard ass, but there is a very small, but highly visible, group of high maintenance people within our membership, that either just don't get it, or if they do get it, they feel compelled to see just how far the envelope can be pushed. These folks are very close to taking a forced vacation from NP, and I wanted to try to avoid that from happenning. I also wanted to address the issue openly and in public, so that the membership would understand what was going on, if and when they started seeing some of our members, dropping from the ranks.

 

[ZuraX]

So because one members views differ from yours youll give warning points?

 

[Grrilla]

So because one members views differ from yours youll give warning points?

No. I'll issue warning points by the book in accordance w/ the NP Code of Conduct.
If you had carefully read my post and understood what I have clearly stated more than once and in several different ways, you would realize that your question has already been answered.

 

[Lyte]

Grrilla,

Your willingness to use reasoning and communication is testimony to your patience.

However, at what point do more drastic measures come into play when reasoning and communication are ignored... time and time and time again?

Sadly, some are immune to such civil tactics.

Lyte