Did we just lose Friendly Politics?

[rswyan]

I think the anti Semitic stuff eventually poisoned it, that's beyond politics. To bad though. HS

Let there be no mistake:

There was no "anti-Semitic" stuff ... there were however calls for gross violations of peoples' religious, political, civil, and human rights ... as well as statements that could easily be construed as calls for genocide ...

 

[texasjohn]

And, such calls are unacceptable, anywhere, much less on a forum for tractors and rural living. When people refuse to be civil, then summary censure is warranted. As adults, more moderators and warnings (kinda like governmental control) are not the answer. Rather termination of privileges is the best and most expedient measure.

Further, a poster has a responsibility to use real facts and speak the truth, a reader should not be forced to research sources to refute blatantly inaccurate statements.

Let there be no mistake:

There was no "anti-Semitic" stuff ... there were however calls for gross violations of peoples' religious, political, civil, and human rights ... as well as statements that could easily be construed as calls for genocide ...

 

[brin]

And, such calls are unacceptable, anywhere, much less on a forum for tractors and rural living. When people refuse to be civil, then summary censure is warranted. As adults, more moderators and warnings (kinda like governmental control) are not the answer. Rather termination of privileges is the best and most expedient measure.

I completely agree ...I read the terms of service before I signed up...there is no excuse...:thumbsup: Get rid of the trouble makers before they chase away decent folks..!

 

[TomSeller]

I was not a member of the dark side but some of the commentary in this thread indicates there must have been a serious lack of tolerance on the part of many members. I am surprised because I find TBN to be quite civil even when discussing different tractor brands. Well, most of the time.

 

[TomSeller]

Let there be no mistake:

There was no "anti-Semitic" stuff ... there were however calls for gross violations of peoples' religious, political, civil, and human rights ... as well as statements that could easily be construed as calls for genocide ...

Holy cow!!!! I see why they are cracking down.

 

[texasjohn]

Not many members....truly a small number, but they would invariably make posts containing inflammatory and intolerant statements stemming from, as Mohammad said, name calling, insults, hate, bigotry, racism, etc.

 

[rswyan]

And, such calls are unacceptable, anywhere, much less on a forum for tractors and rural living.

Wholeheartedly agree ...

When people refuse to be civil, then summary censure is warranted. As adults, more moderators and warnings (kinda like governmental control) are not the answer.

I'm afraid I disagree (with your second sentence - not the first) ... the reason why it escalates and gets out totally of hand is due to lack of moderation by moderators to nip stuff in the bud. That's not necessarily to fault the one active moderator of the forum in question however, it's simply a matter of not enough resource to adequately handle the problem.

Rather termination of privileges is the best and most expedient measure.

That would depend on one's particular view of the matter ... which, in and of itself, is a political stand.

Further, a poster has a responsibility to use real facts and speak the truth, a reader should not be forced to research sources to refute blatantly inaccurate statements.

Again, I would wholeheartedly agree ...

Of course, in a perfect world ...

Unfortunately we live in no such world ... people - I would say of dubious character - will use lies and untruths to further a political agenda ... these lies and untruths often take the form of broad generalities and stereotypes ...

It's (one of) the (worse) aspects of man's nature ...

 

[CobyRupert]

Yes, I enjoy "the dark side" friendly politics. I don't take it too seriously, nor get offended by ignorant statements. If I did this world would drive me crazy. Sometimes people have different outlooks and opinions, sometimes they have different facts, and conclusions. When it comes to name calling and insults, well, they've showed their hand and should be chastised. I'm not sure about being banned.
Politics on a tractor website is a good place to get a pulse or sampling of regular people, versus those who would specifically visit a website devoted to news or a specific topic where everybody is of the same opinion. Sometimes I wonder if my political opinions effect people's opinion of me on the tractor side of the website? I think of them as 2 very different places.

 

[rswyan]

Holy cow!!!! I see why they are cracking down.

Indeed ... and to give you a little further insight as to the problem, you have some opining in this very thread as though they themselves bore no guilt whatsoever ... and are completely guiltless ...

Of course, that's totally self-serving ... as well as a complete denial of responsibility ...

To say nothing of being totally hypocritical ...

 

[tcreeley]

I'm off. Once I tried to be pleasant, but I tired of the ridicule I received for being progressive from the conservative folks. I joined in and ridiculed them as well. Many conservative folks only see ridicule if it is directed at them, they don't recognize their own ridiculing behavior directed toward others. Likewise, there is a "gang" behavior that piles on. As long as the liberal members were few in number and outnumbered by conservatives, it was not a big deal. Once the playing field leveled some in numbers, conservative folks didn't like that, and things turned nastier.
Well it was pleasant at times. I imagined this thread may be shut down as well... or perhaps a number of members permanently X'd!
I have to laugh at some who say they were above the friendly politics section- they just didn't like to be contradicted, that's why they did not participate.

Life is life, easy come, easy go. It was fun while it lasted.