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Post by 3rdrockfromthefun on Aug 1, 2012 23:29:58 GMT -5
Frank,ya just gotta learn to skip over those posts.I used to read every post that was put up in the recent 50.I stopped that when a post whore joined the site.I just select the topics I want to see. snuffy I try snuffy, I really do - but thus far two or three times I've been pulled in because the subject was not listed as specific enough to tell it was politiical. And as I was just mentioning in my reply to Stu - those posts scroll rock related posts off the page. I'm not knocking people for discussing politics - don't get me wrong - I'm just wishing I had a way to filter them easily. That'd satisfy everyone I'd think. But it just doesn't seem to be - so, I'll deal with it.
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Post by 3rdrockfromthefun on Aug 1, 2012 23:36:16 GMT -5
BTW - thanks Stu!
And to clarify - what I AM knocking is that politics mix with rocks when on the same new topics page like that - and they hinder. On a rock forum people discussing non-rock-related issues should be the ones that have to go out of their way - not the people discussing rocks. I think that's a fair point. People are always going to talk politics, I'd be a fool to think it a valid argument to stop that, but we have an area for that sort of thing (which does get used) and it would be nice to have the same one click update I get with a filter to make that section invisible to me. I figured their would be one, which was why I asked - to see if anyone knew or knew how to access it. Apparently there is not. I'll get over it.
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snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Aug 1, 2012 23:41:33 GMT -5
Frank,theres lots of folks on here that feel the same way,you arent alone.They just wont say anything other than in PM's.
snuffy
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Post by helens on Aug 1, 2012 23:45:43 GMT -5
Well, if the admin said " NO MORE POLITICAL TALK HERE", I'm pretty sure no one would talk politics here. But if people post note after note expressing one side, you can't expect the other viewpoint not to get expressed.
If NO ONE could do it, NO ONE would do it.
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Post by 3rdrockfromthefun on Aug 1, 2012 23:51:01 GMT -5
Frank,theres lots of folks on here that feel the same way,you arent alone.They just wont say anything other than in PM's. snuffy Yah, I know - I even know at least one who bailed this forum because of the political ferver.
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Post by parfive on Aug 2, 2012 1:22:15 GMT -5
50 most recent posts – current status Political posts …………….…………………..… 4 Posts talking about political posts …... 7 …... oops, make that 8 ;D
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grayfingers
Cave Dweller
Member since November 2007
Posts: 4,575
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Post by grayfingers on Aug 2, 2012 7:32:03 GMT -5
lol Rich, on this we agree.
It is somewhat interesting that those most vocal against this are relatively new members who are comfortable criticizing folks that have been on this forum and discussing politics here long before those feeling inconvenienced even knew of it's existence. Mark set up this forum, and put in the topic sections as he desired. At this time four years ago, it was as hot and heavy in 'Life" as it is now due to the upcoming election.
I am all for this being a site where all feel comfortable, and I can empathize with those who do not care for participating in political discussions. However, I see this as similar to the way a small town changes over the years as folks move in who are offended by 'ol Pete who insists on flying a flag in his yard, or decides there needs to be an ordinance that regulates what color one paints their house.
The name of this forum is Rock TUMBLING Hobby. Perhaps the tumblers should mount a protest that their site has been hijacked by other interests. (Illustrating absurdity with absurdity)
I agree it would be nice if those who are offended by political discussions could omit threads from their new topic or recent posts buttons. There are Twenty One other sections that are not political, and I feel for those who wish to silence 'Life' because they have to click a couple more buttons to check the topics of interest to them. I would suggest that part of what makes this the best rock related site is the non-rock related areas which impart that home town coffee shop feeling.
But, if enough desire exists to sanitize the site, perhaps Mark could be asked to put up a poll to see if the majority wishes to do away with all non rock related topics. Of course, to be fair the member photographs should go as well. And, no more personal stories that have brought us all more closely into a virtual community. Then, this site would be much like the other rock sites, and we all know conformity is best for the collective.
My apologies to those here I like and respect that may take umbrage concerning my take on this. But, for what it is worth, my :2cents:
Bill
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unclestu
Cave Dweller
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
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Post by unclestu on Aug 2, 2012 8:15:42 GMT -5
Bill I don't think Frank is saying that he wants the forum sanitized or that he wants the ability to debate politics removed from the forum. All I think he is saying is that he was hoping that there were a way in which when he clicks "new topics" he could be able to filter out those threads from "life in the universe" without having to open a thread to determine its content.. I have belonged to other forums that had great diversity in the board. They had gun boards, cigar boards, wine boards and all of these specialty sections had nothing to do with the main theme of the forum which was watches. When you clicked on the new topics section it only displayed the new topics pertaining to "watches". Those who wanted to talk cigars and wanted to see if any new cigar posts were made would simply go to the board called" the humidor" or the gun folks went to the "gun locker". This set up assured that a new post about lets say a Mickey Moise watch didn't cause that cuban cigar thread that you might have been following to fall off the board and visa versa. Everyone should be free to enjoy the forum as they see fit however Franks thoughts are not unreasonable as this is a rock forum. Yes this forum has many different categories to choose from however the new topics category presents a true table of contents for what is going on in this forum at any given time. I must say as I am sure you will agree there have been times when looking at the titles in "new topics" one would think this was anything but a rock forum. All you would need is say 10 members to post three new threads each non rock related and you would have 30 non rock related topics when you click "new topics" You would have to wonder how a new member looking at that would think. Just my .02 Stu
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grayfingers
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Member since November 2007
Posts: 4,575
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Post by grayfingers on Aug 2, 2012 8:27:58 GMT -5
Valid point, Stu. I should add that discretion and self-moderation would go a long ways to alleviate the problem you describe. Even for us pol. addicts it is tiresome when the discussions degenerate from thoughtful debate into a mud-slinging fest of ridiculous extremes based on nothing more than a desire to be argumentative. We all need to bear in mind that "Brevity is the soul of wit" I think Rich wins that trophy. . .
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Post by 3rdrockfromthefun on Aug 2, 2012 9:35:51 GMT -5
You nailed it Stu - I am not criticizing the political discussion necessarily - simply wishing for a way to filter it. If we had a huge lot of people talking about trains I'd feel the same way.
Also, parfive - that's an interesting snapshot - but that's all it is. I have hit the place sometimes and seen no political discussions. Other times they constitute a significant portion of the new posts.
Additionally, and this is critical of the politics - necessarily - it is offensive at times to see topics that rub against my political grain right in their subject lines (as said, I do not click them intentionally). The feeling is that of hounding for geodes and having wailers at the side of the pit hurling political insults in your general direction. And you ignore and you ignore - because you just came to hunt geodes, but in the end you feel kind of assaulted. And you wonder... okay, they have a right to their opinion but is there nobody nearby I can buy a pair of earplugs from so I at least don't have to listen? If not then fine, I'll deal with it. But (and this thread is proof) just having asked for the earplugs I am being made to feel like I am doing something wrong? That's a seriously messed up thing right there.
This is listed as a rock forum. It is named for the sake of rocks. If you want to talk politics - fine - I have no problem with that. I simply do not want to participate. When your words show up in the easy entry point 'new topics' and they contain either subjects that are non-specific (which sometimes lead me to click them) or outright attacks that offend my politic senses (not a lot of these but it DOES happen) it becomes a distraction to the very heart of what this forum, by all accounts of my reading, is about.
:nono:
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grayfingers
Cave Dweller
Member since November 2007
Posts: 4,575
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Post by grayfingers on Aug 2, 2012 9:48:00 GMT -5
Seems to me that the group does need clarification on this matter, you know, if you don't like the law, change it! I would like to know if the majority concur with :nono: if so, I for one will happily comply. Bill Sorry, couldn't resist.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Aug 2, 2012 10:19:32 GMT -5
Moderators, is there no way this can be accomplished? My first thought was to have a specific icon for "Life, the Universe and Everything", but there are other posts that belong there that are not inciteful antagonistic. So flagging the entire topic would omit some threads that are "family friendly." So maybe we could ask that persons starting threads with controversial subjects could put a specific Message Icon, in front of it, like an exclamation point or Angry face? I'd think there would be some kind of easy solution. I agree with Frank, most people just don't want to get sucked up into these arguments discussions. It's not good for the blood pressure, and, let's be real, no one of this forum is going to change the mind of anybody else on this forum. Jean
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Post by 3rdrockfromthefun on Aug 2, 2012 10:24:33 GMT -5
Well put Jean.
To Mods: It would be nice to be able to filter them if there is a way? That way when 15 posts are political on a given day there would be 15 more rock related posts I could be viewing easily instead of political headers. If not, as said - I'll deal with it / I'll get over it. Thanks.
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Post by rockjunquie on Aug 2, 2012 10:44:10 GMT -5
I agree. For those who love to argue politics- it would be nice to mark your thread in some way to warn us all.
If the non political thread becomes political, like this one has and others have done, then the poster should rename it and add a mark or the mod should close it.
Most of us here at RTH, from what I can tell, are of a certain age range where our politics are pretty set. I sincerely doubt that the back and forth that goes on is going to influence anyone.
This isn't to say that you don't have a right to argue. Just give us some heads up.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Aug 2, 2012 10:57:42 GMT -5
I just checked, and this would be so simple to do... Like Tela said, if the thread turns volatile, it would be very simple for the original poster to edit the first post, and put an angry face. I think that would certainly help a lot! Who would like to be the first to try it??
And from now on, when you first post a new thread that is sure to be controversial, put the angry face as the message icon from the start! You will be saving a lot of people unnecessary grief, and possibly attracting others that live for that kind of stuff. Jean
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Post by parfive on Aug 2, 2012 13:26:43 GMT -5
"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." (Okay, so it hasn't been proven (yet) that Jefferson said this, but it's something he would have said!) Like Asian carp, it can pop up anywhere, even outside the electric fence.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2012 14:28:23 GMT -5
(Angry face) This board has survived a long time just the way it is. Now there are three or four who have barely 1000 posts between them who want to change things up. Krystee has been on here for a long time and she never gets into the politics but seems pretty happy with the way it is. Many many others on here do not get into the politics and they seem to be good with the way it is. Maybe if you stick around a while and get to know the people you will learn to deal with it also. When I was in China there were some expats that hated the way the Chinese live and drive and bitched about it all the time. My advice was for them to make the choices that are necessary to make their lives happy and quit bitching. You are not going to change several billion people to live the way you want them to especially since they were the new guy. It was totally laughable. One of them punched three taxi drivers in one day for driving like they always do and cut him off. My two cents worth is to learn to deal with it. I get into the politics once in a while but at times I decide not to and find it quite easy to stay out of it. I am not saying that you should not have your own opinion. Actually you are being political by bringing it up. Jim
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2012 14:45:37 GMT -5
I just went down the list of new topics and could tell from the wording if it was rock related on every title except for one. BUT I looked to see who it was from and it was KK. He ALMOST never gets into the politics and certainly never starts one so I knew right off that it was not political.
Like I said above, if you stick around for a while you will learn what to click on and what not to click on. I will say that I am not happy when someone turns a rock issue into a political one right in the middle. There are not too many that do it and it does not happen very often so I for one will step in right then and there to remind people to take the argument somewhere else. Can't say that I have not been guilty of it at least once but I will watch my pees and quuus from this day forward. (said with a real deep voice like the wizard in OZ) I have spoken and that is how it will be. (flames shoot up now) Jim
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Post by rockpickerforever on Aug 2, 2012 17:30:46 GMT -5
wut? My guess is somebody sent a pm and put a bug in your ear. Jim, just for the record, the ranting and raving that goes on here does not bother me. In fact, sometimes I occasionally join in! You have to admit that the title "Obscure Olympic News" does not quite look like a thread that would be controversial or degenerating into a free for all. The titles do not always give one an idea of what the thread is about, as by now, you well know.
I just happen to respect other people's right to enjoy coming on to RTH for some information, sharing and socializing, especially when just a small gesture would solve the problem. I didn't mean to turn your entire world upside down!
Carry on, makes no matter to me! Jean
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Post by parfive on Aug 2, 2012 19:19:52 GMT -5
Detailed forensic analysis reveals Obscure Olympic News derailed @ Reply #4. Oh well, like somebody’s mama somewhere surely once said . . . shit happens.
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