I'm notoriously anti-proliferation, so...

Yet, these days, I don't care whether or not there is a Politics thread. I think it's probably a bad idea. I think it will probably lead to more ill will rather than less. Plus I think ghettoizing the political discussion is a bad idea. Those are my board-related reasons for my disinclination.

My selfish reason is that I really enjoy reading about politics even if I don't usually participate in the discussion. But I'd avoid a politics thread like the plague.

I am undecided about how I'd vote on this one. I mean, if lots of people want it, who am I to deny the wrong-headed crackpots?

I mean, if lots of people want it, who am I to deny the wrong-headed crackpots?

Just because the wrong-headed crackpots want something does not mean it's in their best interests to get it.

I don't know, even though I seconded the idea, I don't plan on voting for it.

I think it will probably lead to more ill will rather than less.

Me too. But if it's ill will among those that wanted it ... that's not my bed, although I'm sure the aftershock will be wider than just the one thread.

I see no honest upside, except for people that wanting it, getting it.

I get the sense that maybe what happened with Jen K was the exception there?

I don't know. I am still, even now, too close to this issue to be an accurate judge. It didn't feel like a political debate to me.

I'm inclined to vote for it, and if I see baggage from heated discourse there clearly affecting the tone negatively in unrelated threads, calling the involved parties on it in those threads. I hope that ALL of us will still be open to a "dude, chill" comment if we forget ourselves and let things get out of hand?

I would hope so, Matt.

While things around here do get tense, I'm rather relying on Buffistas staying, inherently, Buffista, even when discussing politics. Yes, politics can get loud and messy and divisive, but, foolish me, I keep thinking it doesn't have to. I'd rather not avoid doing something because, ooh, bad things might happen. Something good might happen, too.

And, yes, I've been on other boards, even stuck my nose into the infamous TT Politics boards. Giving ourselves a place to discuss important things is not necessarily putting out the welcome mat to Freepers and wild-eyed fringers off all sorts.

Right now, I'm leaning against a Politics thread, but I'm persuadable. Except for one thing -- there's gotta be camouflage. I don't care what it is (though Las Vegas has a certain appeal). I don't want people seeking us out just to talk politics -- for my reasons, well, what Tina said.

It's another issue, but I doubt that I'd post, or even subscribe. But conflict avoidance is one of my faults.

I'm against it for the reasons stated by most everyone: anti-proliferation, spillover effect.

Also, I think it feels weird to me to build a thread where we can ghettoize a topic that makes people uncomfortable or unhappy. My discomfort comes because it seems like a group way of saying, "Keep away from us with your nasty talk we don't like." Or as Sean succinctly put it, "Get offa my lawn."

Quick suggestionfor the initial proposal before I get on big silver plane and go where it's cold.

How about we open the politics thread for a trial period, say 3 months. See how it goes, what the interest level is, etc. At that point, a discussion could be had as to whether or not it's of interest to keep around, or if it was not a popular as once thought, it gets closed.