Writer Sanctum

Administration => Forum Announcements [Public] => Topic started by: TimothyEllis on September 21, 2020, 11:20:18 PM

Title: Politics is now banned from the forum.
Post by: TimothyEllis on September 21, 2020, 11:20:18 PM
As of Sep 21, 2020 (Aus time), politics is now banned from the forum.

I know I opened the door for covid-19 discussions, but I'm now slamming it shut again.

I'm sick of the complaints, sick of having to figure out what is acceptable or not, and being slammed from both sides all the time.

I'm sick of discussions being hijacked to introduce a political slant, and then being slammed when I moderate them.

From now on, any mention of politics will be zombied, and the zombie section is no longer readable.

Politics includes casual mentions, links to anything containing politics, links to politically active sites or people, political videos, political quotes, or just introducing politics into any discussion.

Mentioning what governments are doing can be done as long as the politics is left out. The government said or did this is fine. But any mention of 'left' or 'right', political party names, or politicized names, will be zombied, regardless of if the rest of the post was useful or not.

So you can mention the government did something, but you can't mention if the government is left or right, or what doctrine is being followed. You can mention what an individual said where its not political, but you cant mention what party they belong to.

And while I'm at it, I'm going to be a lot more intolerant of videos which contain people being offensive. Political or not.

E2A: I don't even want to see any mention of the word politics from now on. All that does is open the door for someone who doesn't care about the ban, or isn't paying attention.
Title: Re: Politics is now banned from the forum.
Post by: Vijaya on September 21, 2020, 11:44:34 PM
Tim, you've shown the patience of a saint. Thank YOU for all you do.
Title: Re: Politics is now banned from the forum.
Post by: Wonder on September 21, 2020, 11:56:02 PM
I welcome this change. WS has been less fun with all the off-topic covid talk and political sniping. Huzzah for more writing talk. 🙂

Tim - I appreciate that you tried to be flexible.

Wonder
Title: Re: Politics is now banned from the forum.
Post by: LilyBLily on September 22, 2020, 12:38:29 AM
Sounds good to me.

Title: Re: Politics is now banned from the forum.
Post by: Lynn on September 22, 2020, 01:11:02 AM
Good. Plenty of places online to talk politics. It's nice to have a place to talk about writing instead. :)
Title: Re: Politics is now banned from the forum.
Post by: notthatamanda on September 22, 2020, 01:29:47 AM
 :tup3b
Title: Re: Politics is now banned from the forum.
Post by: TimothyEllis on September 22, 2020, 01:33:42 AM
OP edited to add:

I don't even want to see any mention of the word politics from now on. All that does is open the door for someone who doesn't care about the ban, or isn't paying attention.

Please note, Wildfires thread is locked again.
Title: Re: Politics is now banned from the forum.
Post by: Hopscotch on September 22, 2020, 03:23:38 AM
Now I can unIgnore lots of folks so I can hear what they have to say writing-wise.  :clap:
Title: Re: Politics is now banned from the forum.
Post by: Ronn Munsterman on September 22, 2020, 03:29:38 AM
Thank you, Timothy! I need a place I can escape to.
Title: Re: Politics is now banned from the forum.
Post by: Maggie Ann on September 22, 2020, 03:32:03 AM
Now I can unIgnore lots of folks so I can hear what they have to say writing-wise.  :clap:

Heck, I couldn't even figure out how to put people on ignore!

Wise decision, Tim, and thanks for all you do.
Title: Re: Politics is now banned from the forum.
Post by: ashleycapes on September 22, 2020, 11:48:54 AM
Cool, I'd love a return to focusing on writing and publishing stuff.
Title: Re: Politics is now banned from the forum.
Post by: JRTomlin on September 23, 2020, 04:05:51 AM
Works for me! I have strong *mumble mumble* opinions but am fine discussing them elsewhere. Prefer it in fact.
Title: Re: Politics is now banned from the forum.
Post by: TimothyEllis on October 03, 2020, 11:04:40 AM
First political post removed just now.

It is fine to report that Trump has the virus in a covid-19 thread, but not to make the post political. As a leader he is news.

But pointing out how politically oriented organizations are reporting it and highlighting which end of politics they're on, is not allowed.
Title: Re: Politics is now banned from the forum.
Post by: David VanDyke on October 08, 2020, 06:18:25 AM
Thumbs up. Plenty of other places on the internet for the P-word discussions.

Title: Re: Politics is now banned from the forum.
Post by: Hopscotch on October 08, 2020, 01:46:56 PM
Thumbs up. Plenty of other places on the internet for the P-word discussions.

I have a campaign sign in my front yard broadcasting my political opinion.  I don't want campaign signs here.  Thank you, Tim.
Title: Re: Politics is now banned from the forum.
Post by: Mark Gardner on October 09, 2020, 07:53:11 AM
I have a campaign sign in my front yard broadcasting my political opinion.  I don't want campaign signs here.  Thank you, Tim.
I couldn't figure out how to charge them to put a sign in my yard, so none here :)
Title: Re: Politics is now banned from the forum.
Post by: TimothyEllis on October 10, 2020, 01:17:24 PM
A political post was zombied not long ago, along with the 2 posts after it in the new thread.

The poster was also placed on pre-moderation because it looked like a blatant attempt to test the no politics rule.

I'm not joking about the politics ban.

If people want to be placed on pre-moderation, it's easier to just PM me and ask. But posting politics is asking me to do that.

Accidental goofs will be assessed on a case by case basis, but deliberate posts will get the poster placed on pre-moderation until such time as they demonstrate they won't break the rules.

Pre-moderation means posts are held unseen by the forum until I get a chance to view them. If acceptable, the post will be made public. If unacceptable, it won't.
Title: Re: Politics is now banned from the forum.
Post by: Laughing Elephant on October 18, 2020, 07:06:52 AM
{{{{Hugs}}}

I'll miss the zombie forum threads though ... but you gotta do what you gotta do.

 :ws