What the heck is going on

[Doug]

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.

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

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 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 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.

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.

[Slick Fork]

Part of the trouble as I see it, is politics and religion are two topics that get really personal really fast. Then you get bad feelings spilling over into the regular topics, it becomes a viscious circle.

[Der_Iron_Chef]

I've seen some DSB vs. BB debates that could rival political and religious debate

[Doug]

Originally Posted by Der_Iron_Chef

I've seen some DSB vs. BB debates that could rival political and religious debate

Now thats a fact. But they almost always end up in being closed and someone getting banned. Or in a certain case, many of the "pro,s" leaving completely and long time members or staff leaving.

Which I guess is part of the reason many boards just keep it from even starting up and by that I mean also the political/relgious debates, which as Slick Fork said get personal real fast.

[Moogled]

There is irony attached to this thread, isn't there?

Personally, I don't find a discussion thread about "threads on war and politics" constructive because you get people that justify their actions and the fire is just fueled.

It's not worth repeating something that's being repeated constantly as of late.

I really like how Ruth put it though; I'm sick of all the political issues (here) as well, but I understand where they're coming from.

[Zylumn]

Thank you Ruth I was myself trying to find a "correct" way of bringing this topic up. I joined this group to talk about my hobby and its related discussions. I find myself misled into threads thinking it to be aqua related only to be "preached to or rallied behind a non-aquadic cause". This "what the heck" thread is one step to getting us back on topic. Thanks
Kevin

[danny zubot]

I've seen some DSB vs. BB debates that could rival political and religious debate

Don't you know, DSB and BB are rival religions.

[geobee]

we all have our opinions on politics, religion, and reefkeeping,,,when i come to canreef i'm here to hear & share opinions about REEFKEEPING!

[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.