Politics. Bring it.

If it's not too late to add my two cents..?

BTW these are just points, I think the important arguments have pretty much been made.

From the perspective of a different time-zone (and different TV shows and series) it is often difficult to participate in many of the interesting and clever socio-political discussions that pop up in various places here on the board, especially if boredom, displeasure or disgruntlement has already been expressed and the thread moved on. I do understand that it happens with other topics as well, that most things come around again and that people can still pick up points hours and days later, but with the contentious nature of politics it often seems better to err on the side of caution.

As someone who seemed to provoke a couple of the earlier political skirmishes I can see the concern about conflict and unpleasantness and I have no real experience of any other boards. I also understand the rationale regarding the pop-culture context and history of the board but I can't help but wonder how many of your new TV shows we'll ever get to see. Yes there's still music and movies and books but ... it just seems a shame when there are less things to share, fewer lines of communication. Oh, and that bit that Victor said about politics and pop culture being entwined, I agree with that too.

So yeah, I'd like to see a politics thread where things can be discussed at greater depth or length without upsetting those around them, where the debate can proceed at a more thoughtful pace moving between ideology and trends, theory and reality, and where ideas and knowledge can be shared and debated.

But I really can't argue against any of the concerns.

signed, the trainee senior high school politics and international relations teacher who's wondering if her career choice was a wise idea :)

Jon, I have sent the ballot text to your profile addy.

Got it. I'm about to send you a reply.

Voting will start at 6pm PDT (board time) tonight. That's 9pm EDT. Voting runs for three days (72 hours). I'll post a link to the ballot later.

Here's the final text of the ballot, approved by Aimée:

This vote is to open a Politics Thread. This thread would be for any discussion regarding politics, ways to become involved in politics and other subjects having anything to do with and/or pertaining to politics. Domestic or foreign. Primarily focusing on the upcoming presidential election, but could also include local elections.

This thread will have a trial run of 3 months. At the end of that trial run, there will be another vote to decide if the thread should remain open. The outcome of that second vote will be subject to the usual 6 month moratorium.

Hear ye, hear ye!

PROPOSAL

I propose we open a thread for dicussion of unaired episodes of Wonderfalls. It wouldn't have to be called "spoilers," since the show is a limited run. Either you've seen it, or you haven't. At this point, enough people have seen, or will see, unaired episodes that we should provide them a place to discuss them.

Discussion opens now, through Tuesday the 14th, let's say noon board time, at which point voting will be open through Friday the 16th.

I think this is a good idea because I think people will get to see the episodes in dribs an drabs. Some of the unaired episoes are already in circulation. This is also how we dealt with the unaired (in the US) episodes of Firefly.

My only qualm is that it might generate more Wonderfalls fan interest and I'd rather the outside attention died down a bit. But since the episodes are not on a scheduled release, I think the effect will be muted.

With Kristen in a clever title without Tim's name attached.

Those are basically my pros and cons as well. It just seems that having nowhere to discuss them does our community a disservice.

I also think it's a good idea.

I further think that referencing Wonderfalls indirectly-"Who's got your Lovesick Ass now?" for example-will help mute the response.