What the heck is going on

[hawk]

Originally Posted by Doug

So why not use the boards that are dedicated to that purpose. Why must Titus provide a platform for it on his aquarium board?



I 100% disagree. Very few boards allow political debate. I mentioned one above and I am a member of another that does but I also belong to another dozen that dont. If anything I find it drives away aquarists that wish to post on aquarium related topics.

How do you figure moderating heated political or religious discussions drives away members interested in aquarium related topics?

The largest and most popular reefing boards, have a restriction the same as us. Some boards that allow it, have pages of heated threads in their lounge everyday but less than 1/2 a page of aquarium related threads. I dont see where their large lounge membership does anything for the reef portion. If anything, as I mentioned before, it distracts from it.



I suppose if the boards owner wished a forum for just that, it could be done. Some boards have done that, where a separate registration is required. But then again, that shows how it needs removal from boards like this. I guess the big question is,
* Why does a board thats purpose is to discuss aquarium related topics, require a political discussion forum?

* Why do those that wish to do so, not use the boards designed for such a purpose?

Of course, except for this boards policy, most of this is my opinion on things.

In answer to your question regarding the amount of views, perhaps they are like me. I read to such forums, almost daily. However I seldom post, as I cannot hold my own with many of them and besides, arguing with someone online, is like banging your head on the wall.

But if I wish to read or I guess participate in those discussions, I go where they are. It has nothing to do, what so ever, with my posting on this board or any other board I post on reef related topics.

Why not use another board?.......for the same reason that when someone starts a thread on cars,jokes,computers,etc they don't just post on specific boards. For whatever reason a member finds something "non-fish" related interesting and wants to share it in the lounge with other people they have a common interest (reefing) with. As far as Titus paying the freight, I guess he does it for the same reason he allows a 40 pg. thread to go on day after day to simply allow post counts to accumulate(Worthless Thread). I don't get it, but many members seem to enjoy it. To each their own.
I don't believe anywhere in my post I said "Allow out right political/religious debate"...I understand the lounge rules don't allow it, so be it. What I actually said was, "the lounge should allow a wide latitude before a thread is locked". Which to this point I believe it does. The problem is when a thread is deemed political by some. Just about any topic from global warming to the Olympics can turn political. Don't get me wrong, this board doesn't close threads too often, all I'm saying is let's keep it that way. If you don't have an interest in a thread don't waste your time reading it, rather than asking for it to be closed.

I never said "moderating political heated debate" drives members away. To be clear I said, being "trigger happy locking threads" thereby becoming too narrow in what is allowed drives members away. The boards are only as interesting as the threads. The board I was referring to has extremely knowledgeable members but they seldom post there anymore. It has become little more than a collection of classifieds, sponsor forums and fewer and fewer daily post. something I don't want to see happen here.
I didn't think my post was critical of Canreef or any mods at all, If anything I was showing my support for the way it is done here with the limited use of locked threads and was only questioning the call to lock/ban threads before they even begin. Something that isn't normally done here. No need to fix something that is not broken. This board routinely has interesting in depth discussions with opposing views that remain civil, For me that makes an interesting board. Obviously the primary reason we are all here is a common interest in reefing but if the lounge discussion occasionally makes a "left" or "right" turn off the beaten path while remaining cordial some people find that entertaining and a reason to visit.

[andresont]

[quote=Doug;256158]
However I seldom post, as I cannot hold my own with many of them and besides, arguing with someone online, is like banging your head on the wall.

QUOTE]

Arguing, trying to change opinion of others is definitely counter productive, nevertheless, some times it is interesting to post a hot topic just to see what kind of opinion majority of people have, that is why I post my “hot” posts…

Also I am sure being informed is well worth it even if we don’t like the news.

[andresont]

Originally Posted by hawk

I don't see what the big deal is, it's pretty easy to ignore threads if you are offended or not interested. I think threads in the lounge should have a wide latitude for open, civil debate. It is interesting that many of the heated threads that some call for a lock are also the most viewed threads. When boards start to get trigger happy on locking threads the whole tone of the board changes. Fewer threads get started, fewer posters with anything meaningful to say participate, an overall "my way or the highway" attitude emerges. You'll be left with a small online clique who'll treat the board as their personal chat site. I've seen it happen on another board I use to frequent. Notice more eastern members checking out Canreef lately? I always find it amusing when people want to be protected from reading, looking, buying, clicking/scrolling through something they feel is inappropriate in some way. As if they are being forced to engage the material. Maybe Canreef needs a lounge sub forum where heated topics can be moved with a "do not enter if easily offended" warning.

Oh boy, I couldn’t have said better my self, thank you hawk !
Just FYI not sure about others but I just got a “friendly” PM from one of the moderators just proving your point.
I guess they can lock me out or even kick out of forum, well so be it..
That what is freedom of speech is all about agree or not it is out there.
If you put your head in the sand the problem will not go away, that is why we talk about it.

Now, from moderators point of view ; why would some one create an aquarium related forum and then it turns in to a hot debate that is totally out of aquarium topic?
I understand this can be frustrating. However if there is a Lounge there will be off topic discussions.

[Moogled]

hawk, you have a good point, but isn't joining a forum a PRECURSOR to having a choice whether or not to read political threads, even if they are allowed? The first set of agreement when you join the site would be the most important. Not after you join and then making a stink about how you should get to say and read whatever you want.

When you join an online community, there's a set of rules (whether be it types of discussions or exclusive status) that you need to adhere to. I need to conduct myself in an orderly manner and not use profane language because this is a family site, as I've been told before. I try to respect that decision if I want to stay here and I like it enough to do as I'm told.

I like your liberal and open-minded view that attemps to foster a community where anything could be said anywhere within mature boundaries. The important thing you need to understand is that people don't want to talk about it because it often times brings about animosity amongst people.

Why? No one's intrinsic values are going to be changed by your 2 paragraph blog about why God exists or why gay people shouldn't be married.

I admire your insight towards moderator attitudes in certain cases.

I've been there before - AlbertaAquatica banned me because supposedly saying 'bastards' in an obviously non-threatening way was enough to trigger a mod power trip. It was pathetic of them to do that, but them's the rules.

I never looked back.

If you're going to take one thing from what I just wrote (and I hope you do) - it's that it's not just about you; it's about what OTHER people want to see too.

[Der_Iron_Chef]

Can we just say, "Everyone, please read the forum rules again" and be done with it?!

[Moogled]

May the force be with you, Drew.

[Snappy]

I don't know that this board is the place for some of the items mentioned but I generally don't notice that stuff going on. If I want to see reef stuff I don't go to the lounge to find it and rarely spend time there at all. I prefer to spend my time on other threads that help me advance in the hobby. The whole lounge forum could disappear and I likely wouldn't notice it gone for months. So I guess what I'm saying is that what happens there doesn't seem to affect me

[Doug]

Hawk, I never took it as being critical of Canreef, just as my post was more in general of most boards I am on.

Please also remember, I,m stating what the rules and opinions are on most aquarium boards.

Yes Anderson, I like being informed. Thats why I read those theads, on boards where they are allowed.

Let me be clear again. Despite calls for free speach or whatever, I have yet to see an aquarium board, where allowing those topics to turn into heated exchanges, {which they most always do}, contributes anything to the board itself. In fact its the exact opposite.

I would assume thats the reason most boards dont allow it. If there was no problems would they not let it go?

[X-Treme]

Originally Posted by Snappy

I don't know that this board is the place for some of the items mentioned but I generally don't notice that stuff going on. If I want to see reef stuff I don't go to the lounge to find it and rarely spend time there at all. I prefer to spend my time on other threads that help me advance in the hobby. The whole lounge forum could disappear and I likely wouldn't notice it gone for months. So I guess what I'm saying is that what happens there doesn't seem to affect me

I couldn't have said this better myself......


If you only want to know about aquarium/fish related stuff............STAY OUT OF THE LOUNGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!