I like the mailing list idea too (as someone who has no intention of participating). I think it's really even safer than the board, since someone would have to work pretty hard to trip over it and start trolling. I can see how it might not work for people who don't like or really use mailing lists, though. Or who don't want the traffic in their Inbox.

While I understand wanting a safe, supportive place to discuss, my feeling that a thread about our foreign policy will not stay safe and supportive for long, despite our best intentions. IJS.

The overflowing inbox thing can be gotten past by just a notice every 25-50-100 new posts, and the receiver can set up that number. I know the interface is ugly, compared to Phoenix's elegant beauty. But I do think a list is the best solution.

I think the mailing list is an excellent idea, and does avoid the troll issue.

And YG does have a webonly option, although it is admittedly more clunky than this board.

Also, the troll issue, which others have mentioned. The political climate here is strongly left/progressive (no offense intended to the community members who aren't of that persuasion), and I think we'd be seen as a prime target for trollers who are both strongly to the right and not possessed of the kind of civility we cherish here.

Wrod, speaking as someone who is a bit right of center on a number of issues.

I like the idea of a mailing list, even though I doubt I'd sign up for one.

Sneaking in during a break in packing.

I oppose a War Thread on the grounds that there are many many many other places to discuss foreign policy and politics. We're not Table Talk.

I'm suspicious of such a thread for just this reason. I've lurked on several political-type boards. While Buffistas can be trusted to be polite and respectful, would we attract newbies who can't be?

If we want to be truly obscure, how about The Norfolk Thread, for the location of a major U.S. naval base?

Ok. We all know I'll talk politics at the drop of a hat. Indeed, I'm willing to discuss the political ramifications OF dropping the hat.

But a war and/or politics thread is just a bad idea. Don't mind a bit of political natter around the board, but I just don't want to concentrate it.

Although I'm generally in the pro thread-proliferation camp, I think that a separate War Thread would be a bad idea. I feel that the only way the thread could remain civil would be if it was populated with people who had almost the exact same agendas, in which case why have the thread to begin with?

I feel that the only way the thread could remain civil would be if it was populated with people who had almost the exact same agendas, in which case why have the thread to begin with?

Um, because sometimes you want to vent with people who share your agenda? If I want to take part in discussions that degenerate into shouting matches with right-wing trolls who call anyone anti-war a traitor, the net's full of them.

I think the reason some people want a War Thread here on the Phoenix is to discuss the war with people they know. Versus going to Peoplesforum or WX or any of a number of other message boards where it's just strangers.

Barring that, maybe the mailing list option would work.