I would largely ignore the place and had largely ignored the place prior to my banning but that doesn't change the fact that I would like to see some improvement in the moderating in that forum.

Wookie shouldn't be calling anyone anything in his position. He should just give a warning or infraction and give a reason for either and move on to his next reported post.

Fair enough

Please clear something up for me. His wording and your defense of it seems to indicate that you can be banned for NOT debating? It's not simply that the thread will be locked if you don't engage ... it is that you will also be banned.

How can you not be sure? The first response to the OP was a troll remark. Then you have the guy saying they're going to run me out of the political forum. Then a guy named "Trolly McTrollston" calling me a nazi. Then someone trolling about grammar nonsense.

It starts going off the rails even worse on page 4 when people start admitting that they're now just playing word games:

https://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/s...0&postcount=76


Then the cherry on top is when Wookie essentially asserts (troll response IMO) that I'm some racist that doesn't care about black lives:

https://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/s...9&postcount=84


Somewhere around page 5 i think is when i decided to mentally exit the thread since everyone was either A) trolling B) supporting the trolls with little quips C) Avoiding the context of the thread (free speech) with disingenuous word games.

The point of all this even being rehashed is this:

How can you have multiple pages of people trolling me, calling me names, insinuating I'm a nazi, with the mod jumping in on the fun ... and then when i refuse to be part of their little game ... i get banned?

With that kind of hostile environment on the forum ... why would anyone with an opposing view stick around unless they love fighting back against ridiculous odds? That's when you get to the point of projection. You antagonize those people enough ... well of course they're going to eventually lash out like an abused dog backed into a corner. Then, bam!!! ... mod to the rescue to enforce rules on that person despite looking the other way for their team 99% of the time. The outcome was not organic... you merely set the stage for it with the hostile environment. I suspect that is the entire reason this whole politics moderation thread exists at all.

I'm mostly in the who gives a **** position when it comes to a how a particular forum should be run but I'll say this to the contenders here. If you're itching to discuss the issues that Wookie has banned or hurt your feelings in the main forum, discuss them in this thread - pretty sure Mattt will allow it. If interest grows, then maybe Well Named will see interest in opening up a new forum.

Best Wishes

Ffs don't turn ATF into the right-wing politics forum

Not right wing - the moderate forum where debate can ensue without too many restrictions. Remember you and Wellnamed are the mods here.

Wookie 2020


...and I'm saying that after he temp-banned me yesterday.

They won't even let me ban anyone, can you believe that ****

This sounds like every third thread in OOT.

A Mat, Zeno and Well Named modded thread is what you would need. The three of them could just get it done.

Clipped from an excellent post because it's such a damn good analogy for capturing the religious-level passion of the opposing sides and the situation.

Don't conservatives dominate the POG Politics thread? How's that turning out?

Do they? Certainly the thread is much more tolerant of a spectrum of views than anything that goes on in the main politics forum.

You still haven't answered what would be discussed in such a thread. You blathered something about skin thickness but not what an actual topic of conversation would be that is impossible anywhere else on the forum.

Does anyone actually get banned here where they aren't asking for one (in the temp bans thread)?

Any examples of views tolerated there that aren't in the main forum you'd like to point out?

Isn't there rules around posting in politics threads that aren't in the politics forum?

The first half of the analogy is reasonable, the second half exudes arrogance and superiority in how it relates the liberals of the twoplustwo forum to NASA. With that level of egotism it is not shocking that the forum is so hostile to dissenting opinions. It's the same level of hostility you'd find debating a group of deeply religious people. In effect, you're questioning their entire life paradigm, something most peoples ego can't take, so it lashes out to eradicate the conflict before doubt can settle in.

This is precisely why discussing religion or politics with friends / family you're not deeply familiar with can be problematic. People have usually invested so much time and energy into the belief structures surrounding these two things that they can't risk the cascade of self doubt that could occur if either was proven a sham.

We have one conservative, one communist, one conspiracy theorist, ~6 flavors of liberal, a piece of bread, and filthyvermin.

I don't think it's easy to make comparisons because everyone has a bunch of history

I could read this in a way that I don't generally disagree with, but I don't think it would be an accurate interpretation of what you're saying. For example I would have to hold your "dissenting opinions" to those analogous to flat-earth positions.

Principally, I ban for bad posting. I was letting you know how your posting was bad, and what it would take to make a good post. You elected to announce that you refused to make good posts. Yes, if you insist on making bad posts over and over, you can expect to be banned.

And just LOL @ blaming them for playing word games. Everyone can see that they plainly answered the question you asked. If you want them to answer the question you intend, try asking that one instead. Writing better = posting better.

No, i stated i was done posting. There is a big difference. I did not post anything else after that comment ... and you banned me. So in effect, I will be banned for sitting out (doing nothing)... or banned for engaging in a way that doesn't meet with your subjective opinion.

That seems like a no win situation. Hence why I've never been back in over a year.

https://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/s...7&postcount=93