I think we can say that politics is outside the mission of the board (plus, there really is no way to discuss it politely). But I'd vote pro-2003 foamies thread.

I think we are at a point where there are sooo many people and so much nattering that we see less of people we like either way. Or have less meaningful or in-depth natter conversations.

I do believe it's possible to discuss politics politely, as I have on many occasions and will likely continue to do in the future.

That said, the last time a politics thread came up Gar and I were the only people in support of it, so it was tabled. Unless something has changed, the objections to the thread were vociferous and should be respected.

My main problem with it is that political arguments don't seem to get dropped, and those differences aren't just chalked down to differing opinions. Things get ugly, and they basically stay ugly.

I see that, really, but political issues and how I feel about them have become such a central part of who I am the past few years that I hate having to bite my tongue. And, I really hate to see whole topic areas be forbidden--that's why I suggested a separate thread.

I can't quite put my finger on why, but I'm a little bit annoyed at the categorizing of natter into threads. We can't really ever stop nattering, we do it everywhere til a stompy foot comes down to steer the conversation back to the thread topic.

Like the rape convo that evolved in the Buffy thread, it began as a discussion involving BtVS events, but as it evolved, it moved away from show discussion and more into political and personal debate. I like that sort of loose adherence to thread topic.

Maybe I'm concerned that we'll have 83 different threads, Cooking, Job Bitching, Birdwatching, Hairdos, My God I'm Fat and Depressed and No One Likes Me Please Stroke My Ego, and Various Styles of Clog Dancing.

I understand that threads evolve when a specific topic consistently comes up in Natter, until it becomes a subject all its own, but the natter that evolves from it then has to move back to natter, and it seems to squash the conversation that was evolving naturally.

I have no solutions, and could be imagining shit.

Maybe I'm concerned that we'll have 83 different threads, Cooking, Job Bitching, Birdwatching, Hairdos, My God I'm Fat and Depressed and No One Likes Me Please Stroke My Ego, and Various Styles of Clog Dancing.

Heh. Once, we were one thread. Just Buffy. I can barely remember what it was like.

Politics, like Religion, is often based on faith and passion. While it is possible to discuss such things politely, it is extremely difficult to actually make "progress" in such discussions with strangers. The urge to be "right" and to win people over to your way of thinking dominates the wary and unwary alike.

Myself, I love talking politics (and religion, actually). I'm a non-crazy non-rabid Libertarian.

If political discussions are a problem on Natter, it could be handy to have a place to shunt such discussions off to. People that join that thread would then have the advantage of getting to mentally prepare themselves for discussions that can be passionate, and will be better equipped to not take opposing opinions personally.

Nah, that's as good a reason for not making new threads as any.

I see the same problem, Allyson, and don't have a solution either: other than to debate each case individually, be aware of the problem, and see where that takes us.

I do believe it's possible to discuss politics politely, as I have on many occasions and will likely continue to do in the future.

I'm sure you can. I guess I should rephrase what I said -- while individuals can respectfully discuss politics, I've never seen an online political discussion where someone's feelings didn't get hurt eventually. There are just SO many strong feelings -- witness the discussion Caroma linked to. I don't think we need to always stay away from controversy, but I also don't think a political forum is needed on this site at this time.