So political discussions that grow naturally out of personal or show related issues will continue in Natter. There will be some natural draining, but not a ton of pressure to "take it to politics" at the first sign of political discussion?

Okay I'm confused.

Let's say a Buffista is trying to decide whether to have an abortion, and wants to bounce things off fellow Buffistas. Natter/Bitches/Unamerican, or Politics?

To my way of thinking, there's a big difference between "I want to discuss the issue of marriage/abortion/etc." and "I am getting married/considering having an abortion/etc." In the first instance, it's a political discussion where you're talking about an issue in a general sense. In the second, it's a personal matter that is happening in your life.

I mean, if I got a job on Angel tomorrow, I don't feel that I would have to limit my posting about that new job to only the Angel thread. I'd want to talk about it in Natter because that's where we talk about what's happening in our lives.

Um, Lyra Jane has withdrawn the idea. Though based on the comments above, I'm more comfortable that personal-life matters that coincidentally involve political issues could be discussed outside Politics.

Okay now I'm even more confused. I think I missed Lyra Jane's post.

So political discussions that grow naturally out of personal or show related issues will continue in Natter. There will be some natural draining, but not a ton of pressure to "take it to politics" at the first sign of political discussion?

There's rarely ever any pressure in Natter to take any discussion anywhere. I think I've seen movie discussions occassionally get the cough*moviethread*cough treatment, but for the most part politics that flow out of other issues will probably stay in Natter unless they get really involved at which point probably one of the conversants would suggest taking it to Politics.

To my way of thinking, there's a big difference between "I want to discuss the issue of marriage/abortion/etc." and "I am getting married/considering having an abortion/etc." In the first instance, it's a political discussion where you're talking about an issue in a general sense. In the second, it's a personal matter that is happening in your life.

Wrod. If I was considering an abortion, I'd want chocolate and hugs, not a debate. And if I was to marry my same-sex partner, I'd want congratulations and celebrations, not a debate.

The personal implications of politics would most definitely fit in other threads. I'm seeing a dedicated Politics thread as being primarily theoretical. In fact, personal implications would probably be best discussed elsewhere--hey, I can dream--unless they clearly inform the person's political stand.

So far the arguments against the thread seem to boil down to
bad people may come, and
we can't be trusted to have a civil discussion about politics

What am I missing?

Kristen, Lyra made some suggestions here: Lyra Jane "Voting Discussion: We're Screwing In Light Bulbs AIFG!" Apr 2, 2004 8:32:24 am PST

Her third caveat was:

We become huge thread nannies and all political discussion goes there.

Fred Pete responded here: Fred Pete "Voting Discussion: We're Screwing In Light Bulbs AIFG!" Apr 2, 2004 8:55:06 am PST

And the how do we differentiate between life+a-dash-of-politics from politics conversation started from there.

Then LJ withdrew her 'net nanny' suggestion/request.

So far the arguments against the thread seem to boil down to bad people may come, and we can't be trusted to have a civil discussion about politics

thread proliferation/board capacity; outside the buffista scope; appropriate forums already exist for political discussion (Bitches, Natter, UnAm); first sign of the apocalypse

"bad people may come" is somewhat disingenous considering what happens when they do. And that having good people here is kind of the point.

So far the arguments against the thread seem to boil down to bad people may come, and we can't be trusted to have a civil discussion about politics

What am I missing?

Concentrating political discussion, even if civil, will lead to much higher collective board blood pressure, which could affect other threads.

Uncomfortable with ghettoizing a topic that's so closely intertwined with personal lives.