Rant, rant, rant, rant...

[IDB1]

Thank PeeWee for that *phew*

 

[FMJ]

That in itself is a political post. That is the problem with a ban. It prevents sensible people having reasonable discussions, or even arguments about things that matter to them.

There are no dedicated forums on the internet for you to argue politics/religion on?

/sarcasm

 

[one-eyed_jim]

I've ignored it all as best as I can but it's noticable there has been a lot more cr*p and nonsense on the forum in the last few months. It's spoiling it for those of us interested in old bikes.

Does it really spill out into the bike-specific parts of the site all that often?

I'm interested in old bikes, and I read a fair proportion of the threads in both the road and mtb sections. The only recent thread that I really remember being spoilt was Dr S's "Ultimate '80s" thread, that "sinnerman" seemed determined to derail in a fit of pique:

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=118985

The "Off Topic" section seems to be full of lively off-topic chit-chat. I don't read as much here as I do in the bike-specific sections though. Is there something in particular going on in here that's affecting the rest of the site?

 

[IDB1]

Is there something in particular going on in here that's affecting the rest of the site?

Not that I've seen...

 

[dbmtb]

Beyond having a guideline "no postings about politics", I don't see how it can be any different.

That in itself is a political post. That is the problem with a ban.

I know - well spotted.

 

[sgw]

There are no dedicated forums on the internet for you to argue politics/religion on?

Yes and I use a few of them. Thats not the point though is it.

I don't come here to argue politics/religion. I doubt if I will start a specifically political topic on here myself, as you suggest, there are better places for that. However if I read a post (for example) suggesting that all (or even the majority of) people on benefits are lazy scroungers deserving of contempt and to be treat like criminals, I think as one of the people being insulted (or even if I wasn't), I am entitled to respond.

I am sure there are also forums for people to talk about their favourite colour, the flu or fitting gas cookers but as this is a general & off topic forum they end up here. The problem is not in the topics, it's in some of the responses.

Banning politics altogether would be restrictive and create as much work for the mods defining what exactly constitutes a political comment. You have just contributed yourself to a political discussion. You didn't have to get abusive about it and you got a reasonable and honest answer. No problem.

 

[IDB1]

Politics, religion and war are very high risk subjects and things run smoother when such matters are not being discussed

Banning them altogether would be somewhat impractical though.

 

[one-eyed_jim]

Politics, religion and war are very high risk subjects

True, but they're also interesting and important subjects.

In any case, where's the problem here? There only seem to be two active threads that are overtly political ("Dole scum should work for their pittance and like it", and "Self-indulgent student oiks should pay up and save the national economy by studying engineering") and the discussion is pretty civil for the most part.

Why should we be uncomfortable with civil debate about important subjects?

 

[KeepItSteel]

I've ignored it all as best as I can but it's noticable there has been a lot more cr*p and nonsense on the forum in the last few months. It's spoiling it for those of us interested in old bikes.

but its in the general/off topic thread.
there are load of bike specific threads, do you still want to talk bikes in the only non-bike section?


anyways, i want to rant about winter. Its so cold and muddy out there! damn it!

 

[al]

Repop Detailed Chrome Fuchs, og Detailed RO80 Fuchs or Repop Cosmic MK II's for my k70 LS?

This is the kind of thing that keeps me awake at nights!!

I know It's not a rant, I'm all ranted out.


al.