Locking political posts?

Read the sticky and the closing post in the two threads you mention.

I support Stardock on this. Here's why:

a.) It's their forum, and they're in charge.

b.) Historically, political/religious/etc debates have a much higher potential to turn into flame wars than, say a post such as "Why isn't the AI bringing me coffee?".

c.) I come here for GalCiv stuff... not political stuff. And I suspect many others do too. There are better forums for political discussions (i.e., those formed for the express purpose of political and world-event debate).

d.) And finally, I was (and still am) a member of a game forum where inflamatory issues like politics were frowned upon. Everyone tended to talk about the game, with only an occasional post about some space-based news. In six years that site has experienced no flame wars... not a single one. That is almost unheard of, and it's because the volitile issues were avoided.

These forums are for the benefit and aid of the Galactic Civilizations community. While Im very sure that many off topic subjects abound, and there are even forums designated for other things, in the end, it is all for a community of gamers, game devs etc. Overty political, and/or inflamitory posts are bound to be delt with quickly, and with good reason.

Ask yourself, does this post add anything to the community?

Does this post, and or its subject line contain inflmatory buzz words designed for little more than shock value?

Not to put too fine a point on things, but the post you are refering too was way out of line for the purpose of these forums, and no matter if you agree or disagree with the post, or its Geraldo like subject line, this just aint the place.

Who cares ? Don't like it, don't read it. As long it's clear from the title what it is.

Kryo, I followed the link you showed us, and I am sorry to report that.. *ahem*, the kind of arguments that are talked over there are WAY, WAY below what I expect from the GalCiv2's forum. This forum is about the only one I actively read political arguments (even if it doesn'T concern GC2) because we aren't here mainly to argument about politic, but because we all love the game.

Peoples should not gather because they want to talk politics, it leads to the kind of stupidity you often see on the forum you pointed us. However, talking about politics as an off-topic discussion among a specific apolitic community can be interesting. Much, much more interesting than going in a place where deaf dialogue are shared everyday.

I have read the post about Hugo Chavez, and it's by far not the worst post I've seen on this forum. I remember this summer, there was a greatly heated argument about the Korean Test missile.. Wow, that one was spicy! Or even the one about Pluto (I have to confess that I have shamely put too much pepper meself in that one).

Political forums are boring. GalCiv2's forum is great. Talking political in GalCiv2 forum is 100x better than in any political forum I've ever seen.

I dunno, personally I'd be happy if the OT forum went away completely. Call me lazy, but I generally use the "Recent Posts" summary to see what's going on around here. Too often that list is dominated by discussions like "What did Hugo say today?!" and "What have the Democrats/Republicans done now?!"

I come here for GalCiv2 talk. I could watch any one of 500 talking heads on cable news if I wanted that other nonsense.

I dunno, personally I'd be happy if the OT forum went away completely... I come here for GalCiv2 talk.

I concur with Cauldyth. There are, after all, dedicated forums elsewhere to handle any of a variety of non-GalCiv2 topics. OT posts just create "noise" that has to be sifted through to get game-related information.

A'right. I agree there are other places to discuss politics. Sure. But it's sort of refreshing to actually see it crop up somewhere other then the political blogs.

Kryo, I did read the stickies. It might seem like an issue of semantics, but I don't see whats objectionable about a political post in an off-topic (ahem... off-topic) forum.

I realize that, considering it's the GalCiv2 forums, I'm probably getting a little over-worked up about political posts. But consider the context. We're a democracy yet discussing politics is considered impolite. Not just here but near everywhere. Think about it.

Anyways, I do agree with some of the other posters about one thing. I don't see why off-topic posts are automatically added to the main page. I can see where its disconcerting, for a user to come on to the front page and read something about pedophile Republicans.

One last point though, republicans aren't pedophiles: they're cannibals. They eat children. (Ha ha ha. Funny.)

Addendum.

A'right. I can see where political discussion in the game specific forums would be severly frowned upon. That's not the place. I'll definately give you that.

A'right. I can see where political discussion in the game specific forums would be severly frowned upon. That's not the place. I'll definately give you that

All right. No more politics on GalCiv2 forum. These last line finally convinced me. Saddly, but rightly.

Except, off course, if we are speaking of the manigances of the Drengin Empire, who after conquering half of the[/size] torian core worlds, will convince everybody that the altarians did it...[size="1"]

This is a games forum. Offtopic is really for other games/sci-fi stuff etc...

Politics is another ball game, there r plenty of other sites that allow u to discuss politics, go talk there.

'm just sort of curious why the GalCiv moderators are locking political posts?

I'm very grateful that they are. There are a zillion and one internet forums where we can waste our time and energy blathering on about politics, but only a very few where we can discuss GalCiv2, and only one where we can do that with the guys that create it.

Internet political 'debates' are almost neer productive, and generally cause massive flamewars and ill-feeling. I'm as anti-censorship as anyone, but I really think political debates have no place in this forum. Do you really think that anyone on this forum hasn't head of Mark Foley or Hugo Chavez or whoever is is the talking point du jour and discussed them as much as they want to?

Who cares ? Don't like it, don't read it. As long it's clear from the title what it is.

The problem is that the ill-feelings tend to spill over into other threads.

The problem is that the ill-feelings tend to spill over into other threads.

That's pretty much the heart of the matter right there.

Politics and religion are pretty much the most divisive topics you can discuss. Pretty much everyone feels strongly about them one way or another, nothing can ever really be proved, logic doesn’t really apply in either topic and you’re never going to change the opinion of someone that disagrees with you. In fact the more you discuss it the more likely you start to offend people that at the beginning pretty much agreed with you.

If your goal is to cause upset and grief there’s no better topic. If your goal is to play, discuss, understand and improve a game that’s common to a community, then not so much. Just because a section of these forums is titled Off Topic doesn’t mean that posts there shouldn’t have at least some vague relationship to the game that we all love. When I surf the forums I just click on the Everything link, most people probably do the same. I’d prefer not to have to wade through a minefield of topics to find the ones that interest me. Plus what possible good can come from these types of topics, certainly the problem’s they highlight won’t be solved by discussion in these forums.

Politics suck. This is a game board.

If you want to talk about his go to

Democratic Underground if your A Democrat (USA)
Or FreeRepublic if your a Rebulican (USA)

They won't delete your post thier (well of course unless your of the Opposite Party)

I agree with the locking posts. Especially if there just Republican propaganda.

We don't need people using GalCiv2 as a recruiting tool for the Republican party.
(But hey its ok as a recruiting tool for Libertarians or Democrats. Sorry couldn't resist.)

That's pretty much the heart of the matter right there.

I'm mad at you now that I read that post.

If you don't like it in the US then move. One less idiots freedom of speech I have to protect.

Its ok for him to tell me to move to Canada but I can't indirectly call him a Nazi huh?

Since this thread seems to be unable to do anything but continue to roll further and further towards bashing Bush and the US in general (including at least one US military member, who was indirectly called a Nazi), rather than holding a civil discourse on the original topic, I think it's time to let it go.

Thats talking about me. I've got news for you Republicans have bashed every minority there is in this country. Gays, Mexicans, Women, who are pro-choice. I call that "hate speech" there is a direct link to confederate and nazi beliefes in the Republican party and I have the right to link them together and defend myself.

ALSO You had better not use one of my threads against me again. I took personal offence to the Dark Avatar opinions post.

This will be my last political post to prove my minority point.

S1 is right, everyone should have an opinion and be allowed to live free, and anyone who disagrees can STFU AND GTFO

The above post is a TRUE REAL LIFE PHOTOGRAPHINGS of EVIL REPUBLICANAZI HATE METHODS, anything you say otherwise is BS PROPAGANDA AND HATRED

Stop hating America and do what S1 tells you to!

You. Freaking. Moron. Do us all a favour and make that your last damn post on the forums, ever.

EDIT:

ALSO You had better not use one of my threads against me again. I took personal offence to the Dark Avatar opinions post.

Boo bloody hoo. You don't like it when people argue against you? Then seriously, shut the hell up or get off these forums. People arguing with you is a part of politics, or any form of debate. If you're that thin skinned, then you have no right to ever make an inflamatory post.

S1 is right, everyone should have an opinion and be allowed to live free, and anyone who disagrees can STFU AND GTFO The above post is a TRUE REAL LIFE PHOTOGRAPHINGS of EVIL REPUBLICANAZI HATE METHODS, anything you say otherwise is BS PROPAGANDA AND HATRED Stop hating America and do what S1 tells you to! You. Freaking. Moron. Do us all a favour and make that your last damn post on the forums, ever.

Wow touched a nerve. Never cursed at anyone and in any other forum you would be banned for such a post.

And yes in an off topic forum you should be able to talk politics its "off topic"

It was posted in the modding forum I would understand. But since I see you can't talk like a mature adult... Anyways lock this last political thread and do what you want Stardock its your forum. I wonder If I should bring up the Human Factions Mod?

Nah just let you think you actaully know what your talking about.

See where this post is already going and understand why they get locked.

See where this post is already going and understand why they get locked.

Yep.

You. Freaking. Moron. Do us all a favour and make that your last damn post on the forums, ever.

Prime example why these threads mustn't be allowed here.

Never called him a "Moron" he just got mad because he can't prove me wrong about Republicans bashing Minoritys.

Wow touched a nerve. Never cursed at anyone and in any other forum you would be banned for such a post.

Wrong, you've been talking about nazi's here. See how long you last.

But since I see you can't talk like a mature adult... Anyways lock this last political thread and do what you want Stardock its your forum. I wonder If I should bring up the Human Factions Mod?

Let's not talk about mature adults here, shall we? Since you're certainly not one. Do I need to add hypocrisy to your faults?

Let's get this straight. I despise the Bush administration. I really, really do. But firstly, you don't get to use cartoons to prove a point after your tenth birthday. Secondly, you REALLY don't have a clue what you're talking about. I'm sorry, but I'm surprised you even know how to write without someone typing for you.

The American government do a lot of bad things, yeah. Do they kill millions of people due to race?

You sir, have no right to discuss politics.

Its ok for him to tell me to move to Canada but I can't indirectly call him a Nazi huh?

That excuse may work if you were 5, but civil adults don't respond to such statements in kind and then some. Particualrly when doing so involves calling an honorable US serviceman a Nazi. The mature response to such a statement would be that we live in a democracy and that you plan on exercising your rights to improve things here rather than leave.

I'm mad at you now that I read that post.

Everyone else seems to agree that politics are just too divisive a topic to allow here, regardless of their own affiliations or views. You continued cheap shots and troll posts against 1/3 of the general populace (yay for generalizations and stereotypes) show that you've just completely missed the point. Keep it up and you'll be taking a time-out from the forums in no time.

And no, I am not a republican. But I'm not about to let you or anyone else run amok and destroy the community here with divisive, inflammatory posts that could just as easily be made in a far more appropriate place.

Come on guys- I personaly thank Kyro. He made the right choice, and deserves credit. I have to check myself since talking about politics has often gotten me into fist fights, and I have yet to met a judge who understands the "So you knocked his teeth out because you disagreed about the 2000 Flordia mess?" This isn't something we should encourage here. Lets not get this post locked.