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.

I'm really, really, really strongly against a politics thread for the reasons I already articulated. I don't care how girded people think their loins are, it's just asking for trouble and hurt feelings. Also, I'm really strongly against extra threads, even if I did give in on Music. At some point, it becomes re-cock-u-lous.

Also, I'm really strongly against extra threads, even if I did give in on Music. At some point, it becomes re-cock-u-lous.

Ditto.

OK, then my question is: Does anyone know of a political forum, liberal-leaning or otherwise, where one can get in some actual discussion and venting? i.e., one that hasn't been taken over by longwinded opinionated trolls who never engage in actual discussion but just recycle the same harangues over and over again?

Because that's why I prefer talking politics here than on places like Table Talk or The Perfect World. Even when it gets heated, it still feels like actual human interaction rather than canned rants.

I'm kind of anti-thread creep in general, but I seem to remember (but can't specifically cite or find any, so I may be wrong) times when people have been politely discussing politics, and those who didn't want to discuss it made comments expressing their desire that it would stop. Sometimes, those posts seem sort of passive-aggressive. That doesn't feel right either. I can see telling people to Doblerize when the conversation is getting too hot. In a perfect world, no one would need that reminder. But it feels wrong when I read the posts asking people to drop a topic just because it might get hot.

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.

Hypothetically, if we did, so what? I don't see the tragedy there -- To me, it's easier to find and participate in conversations in 83 threads that get 10 posts a day each than in 1 thread that gets 830.

The argument that I think is more cogent is that we came together over a TV show, and that discussing movies and books and music is a logical outgrowth of discussing television (and Natter is a logical outgrowth of talking with people everyday), whereas politics or cooking-specific threads don't have that connection.

But I may just not grok natter.

But it feels wrong when I read the posts asking people to drop a topic just because it might get hot.

Chances are those posts arise from the fact that the hot topic has probably come up before, and probably gotten ugly. Not always, but chances are. Bitter experience and all that.

That's true, Dana.