Watercooler v political forum (1 Viewer)

[ColinEssex]

May I ask why, when there is a dedicated political forum, why is it that almost every thread in the watercooler turns into a political thread and therefore spoiling it for those not the slightest interested in USA politics? I would have thought the so called moderators here should ensure that posts or threads are in the right section. Oh no, wait a minute, it's certain moderators obsessed with politics who transgress the rules the most.
We can only hope the dopey posts will die down after the stupid election is over and maybe just maybe the watercooler can be used properly.
Col

 

[The_Doc_Man]

May I ask why, when there is a dedicated political forum, why is it that almost every thread in the watercooler turns into a political thread and therefore spoiling it for those not the slightest interested in USA politics? I would have thought the so called moderators here should ensure that posts or threads are in the right section. Oh no, wait a minute, it's certain moderators obsessed with politics who transgress the rules the most.
We can only hope the dopey posts will die down after the stupid election is over and maybe just maybe the watercooler can be used properly.
Col

You know what, Col? Your question is valid. And I admit to being at least a contributor to the problem.

I will try to restrain myself and ask folks to move their political discourse to the political section. However, I cannot promise the cooperation of others since Jon tends to want the forum to be open to nearly anything. The exceptions are personal abuse and things that would get the forum noticed for vulgarity, sexuality, or scatological dialog. Turns out that the net "popularity" algorithms would avoid us if we got really nasty. That is something we don't want.

 

[MarkK]

I cannot promise the cooperation of others

But you can move threads to appropriate forums.

 

[AccessBlaster]

May I ask why, when there is a dedicated political forum, why is it that almost every thread in the watercooler turns into a political thread and therefore spoiling it for those not the slightest interested in USA politics? I would have thought the so called moderators here should ensure that posts or threads are in the right section. Oh no, wait a minute, it's certain moderators obsessed with politics who transgress the rules the most.
We can only hope the dopey posts will die down after the stupid election is over and maybe just maybe the watercooler can be used properly.
Col

And yet you used the "watercooler" to vent about politics oh the irony.

 

[ColinEssex]

And yet you used the "watercooler" to vent about politics oh the irony.

Yes I have, very true. But not by starting a thread, it's usually in response to an already corrupted thread. If you don't think politics should be in the political forum then fine. I thought having things tidy in the right place would help us all.
Col

 

[AccessBlaster]

Yes I have, very true. But not by starting a thread, it's usually in response to an already corrupted thread. If you don't think politics should be in the political forum then fine. I thought having things tidy in the right place would help us all.
Col

Try it, I hope you're successful.

 

[ColinEssex]

Ha ha, I doubt it. Once certain people here get the red mist descending they'll post on a wall to get their opinion across.
Col

 

[NauticalGent]

Yes I have, very true. But not by starting a thread, it's usually in response to an already corrupted thread.

This one must be an exception then...

Thread 'Is Mr Trump crazy?' https://www.access-programmers.co.uk/forums/threads/is-mr-trump-crazy.294544/

 

[AccessBlaster]

Too funny

 

[NauticalGent]

To his credit, it was the only one I could find, but I HAD to take the shot!

 

[ColinEssex]

You know what, Col? Your question is valid. And I admit to being at least a contributor to the problem.

I will try to restrain myself and ask folks to move their political discourse to the political section. However, I cannot promise the cooperation of others since Jon tends to want the forum to be open to nearly anything. The exceptions are personal abuse and things that would get the forum noticed for vulgarity, sexuality, or scatological dialog. Turns out that the net "popularity" algorithms would avoid us if we got really nasty. That is something we don't want.

To his credit, it was the only one I could find, but I HAD to take the shot!

Very good. That's dated 2017. It had slipped my memory.
Col

 

[Jon]

This has been discussed behind the scenes before. One potential solution I came up with a while ago is after the topic has be discussed for a while, if it goes quiet, then move those threads to the Politics forum. They will no longer clutter up The Watercooler.

 

[ColinEssex]

This has been discussed behind the scenes before. One potential solution I came up with a while ago is after the topic has be discussed for a while, if it goes quiet, then move those threads to the Politics forum. They will no longer clutter up The Watercooler.

That's a fair idea but I've noticed that a non political thread can be started and discussion ensues normally, then someone (usually an American) will post something like (for example) 'that's the Democrats policy, lies and more lies'. Then of course the thread collapses into a political tennis match with posters sniping and trying to show off. The initial topic is lost, even if one tries to reset it, it fails because the posters have the political bit between their teeth and they seem obsessed by it.
Interestingly, we had an election here in July and I don't think (I may be wrong) there was much if any reference to it.
Col

 

[The_Doc_Man]

I'm going to move a few threads that qualify as "Idle Political but started in the Watercooler." It will be harder to identify the cases of "Started in the Watercooler but then became political in the middle" so I might not hit those right away, and I hope some of the other moderators will take a shot at moving things to the political thread. If a thread started in a tech section and then diverted, I think we need to leave it for now.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

I have moved several threads from Watercooler to Politics & Current Events. I'm not finished, but my wife reminded me that it is approaching lunch time in my time zone. You folks can call me a lot of things, but don't EVER call me late for lunch.

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

I would have thought the so called moderators here should ensure that posts or threads are in the right section.

I nominate Colin Essex to be a moderator. Then he can move posts around to his liking… and it’d be quite funny to see him ban himself!

 

[NauticalGent]

Sea

I nominate Colin Essex to be a moderator. Then he can move posts around to his liking… and it’d be quite funny to see him ban himself!

Are we voting??

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Now, now, gang... Col complained about a specific - and factually correct - situation that probably COULD use a little more attention. As hard a time as we give him, we still should recognize that when he's right, he's right.

 

[AccessBlaster]

It will be interesting to see if anyone takes advantage of it. These subforums are usually occupied by political types.

 

[Isaac]

Now, now, gang... Col complained about a specific - and factually correct - situation that probably COULD use a little more attention. As hard a time as we give him, we still should recognize that when he's right, he's right.

I have absolutely no opinion either way, but I'll just throw out there to play devil's advocate, and perhaps be the first to state the obvious: That the Watercooler is supposed to be for anything.
"Anything" includes politics.