I do remember from the TT that politics was the most flame-baity acrimonious, troll-filled section of the board.

I don't know that we would automatically replicate that here. Whatever complaints people may have Buffistaville.

I don't have an opinion on whether to have a new thread or not, and will probably end up voting "present" or whatever we call it to help make up the quorum, but not affect the outcome.

Iif there is a politics thread, I think the culture would quickly evolve. I'm pretty sure anyone posted anything other than a real quick passing comment on politics someone would tell them to take it to the politics thread. Maybe an exception would be made if really related directly to the thread topic (such as Tim making Moon is a Harsh Mistress). Maybe it woulldn't.

That in fact is a good question; clearly Iraq War discussions would be moved to politics. What about discussions about libertarinism and Ayne Rand in Minearverse since Tim is making MIAHM? Would those wanting the politics thread want that moved to politics as well? I'm not asking what would be required. I'm asking what would be the hoped for result?

If there was a politics thread I would post there. Am I the only one?

I might, depending.

But for me, that goes for any and all threads. If the mood strikes, I go. If not, I don't.

Susan would. If she has time, that is.

And if it is divisive and flamebaity there, it'll be divisive and flamebaity anywhere. Better to have a concrete bunker for such things than an unsuspecting front parlor.

I don't totally agree with this. Not every political discussion here has turned acrimonious. I can remember quite a few that haven't, and I think that the ones we remember as flamey are the exceptions, rather than the rule. But I think that one thing that's kept some discussions from turning into flame wars is that they're in the natter thread or other threads, mixed in with other stuff.

To go with your "front parlor" metaphor, a debate in the front parlor will be kept more civil than one in a boxing ring, because the people are aware of all the nice breakable things around, and there are people walking through to use the door, and maybe someone coming around with tea. All this stuff keeps it from exploding. My fear is that an all-politics, all-the-time thread will turn much more firey very quickly, because there is no cooling-off period where talk shifts to other things and the people involved can have time to cool off and then come back when they're a bit calmer.

I like discussing politics. I like debating things. I would almost definitely avoid a politics thread.

And also, I think that tensions in one thread do spill over to the rest of the board. I don't see how they couldn't. I know that, for me, if I'm reading a thread where people are saying things that are pissing me off, then I go over to another thread, I'll still be pissed off and much more likely to get annoyed at somethiing that I otherwise would have let slide.

I don't know if I would post there. I worry that it would detract too much from my Buffista experience.

Moreso than discussing politics in Natter, Minearverse....?

Heh, the Monty Python Argument sketch just ran through my mind as a potential source of titles.

I'd like to have an argument, please...

I have no idea which way I'd vote on this yet. I really wonder how likely it is that trolls would even find it. As mentioned above, the big influxes of people we've had were due to someone already reading our board linking to VIP posts on other boards. I'm not sure that would be a factor for a politics (or any other non-show) thread.

If trolls do show up, we can stomp them.

Yes, moreso than the same discussions in Natter or Minearverse, because I worry that the discussion in a Politics thread would be different from the discussion in Natter or Minearverse.

The discussions never bother me now, but I worry about what a Politics thread would be like.

I don't totally agree with this. Not every political discussion here has turned acrimonious. I can remember quite a few that haven't, and I think that the ones we remember as flamey are the exceptions, rather than the rule. But I think that one thing that's kept some discussions from turning into flame wars is that they're in the natter thread or other threads, mixed in with other stuff.

See, I would expect the denizens of the politics thread to adhere to the same level of conduct that we expect in every other thread.