Discuss What's Right And Wrong With Governing Rules And Laws

[flytyer57]

If it was me, I'd also ban any overtly political statement in your signature line as well.

I'd be all for that.

[FishinCricket]

I'd be all for that.

Agreed..

[kevthebassman]

If you can't argue politics with somebody, then enjoy a discussion in a different part of the board on the virtues of rebel craw over wiggle wart without dragging the politics into that section, YOU (not directed at anyone in particular) may be the problem.

Shutting down a thread or two every now and then is going to happen on any board. Discussion leads to disagreement, disagreement leads to debate, and so on. Lock 'em down and pull the dogs apart. If people make a pattern of it, there are ways to solve that problem.

I don't know how this forum's software works, but on other boards I've moderated, it is possible to lock certain people out of certain sections of the board. Some people just can't handle debate, and need their pee-pee slapped every now and then.

[drew03cmc]

I'll find my own dictionary, thank you, Drew.

I didn't offer to edit anything and posts already get trimmed here sometimes, simmer down. That's common practice all across the internet.

If there's no one here the forum or administrators trust to do that equitably then I guess that won't fly and it's a bad idea and I retract it. I know Al was just itching to get at all your spotted bass posts (although, seriously, I'm sure he'd rather put his head through a wall than take on another adminstrator's job, but he did a great job at Riversmallies and one solution to frustrated administrators is to add more hands).

You want things to be trimmed down, and posts are not commonly edited here. I am not going to simmer down because someone new thinks they know how THIS forum should be run. You assume that people would want to edit someone else's posts just because they have a different opinion. Is being gentlemanly too much to ask?

Who said that Phil and the admin team is frustrated? This forum has a way of taking care of itself. If you think you know better, start your own forum. Now, I know you have to have the last word, go ahead.

Kev, of course threads get axed...no big deal there.

[Outside Bend]

This thread is about as engaging as "What shade of chartreuse is best for the James River Arm in August?"

Most conservation issues are interwoven with politics, and so it's not surprising a forum titled "Conservation Issues," is going to stir up some political debate. The personal attacks and mudslinging do nothing to win allies or further the discussion. That said, I think a lot of the personal digs are in the offended parties' head- I'm sure there have been times when I've written things that come off as condescending or personal, although I'm simply trying to further the discussion and/or trying to see the issue from someone else's perspective.

And to be honest, acting like an adult goes both ways. If you're genuinely upset about someone's attitude or behavior, or feel like you're being unfairly attacked, address it directly- shoot 'em a PM, figure it out between the two of you, as opposed to the nebulous musings about the "general tone of the board," which seem to appear every few weeks. Work it out yourselves, I genuinely don't care for the drama.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: a good forum is about user-generated content, and this forum will be about whatever its members are interested in. I'd love to see the board be a bit more civil, and if that's what folks are interested in, that's what will happen. That said, a lot of more interesting and thoughtful posts on this board come from folks who occasionally go off the deep end, and I'd hate to see the monotony that would result if those folks left for greener pastures.

[bigredbirdfan]

I wish there was one fishing report for every 10 posts on these lousy topics.

[drew03cmc]

I wish there was one fishing report for every 10 posts on these lousy topics.

Just wait a month or two...

[bigredbirdfan]

Just wait a month or two...

I know, not complaining. Would much rather read those than this this stuff which only our vote really changes and even that is debatable.

[Stoneroller]

wait, some people are saying this is not a public forum, yet one of the reasons i've seen for threads being shut down is because this is a 'public forum' so which is it? I wandered in here on my own, registered without being invited, was granted access with no special procedure required beforehand. seems pretty public to me. a private forum would be one in which you could only be invited.

[Tim Smith]

You want things to be trimmed down, and posts are not commonly edited here. I am not going to simmer down because someone new thinks they know how THIS forum should be run.

Drew, "new" posters aren't generally going to check in with you before they make suggestions or express opinions. I'll try to respond to whatever content is in your post, but there's not much anyone can do with that particular expectation of yours.

It's your right to make this personal if that's how you roll, but the administrators just made the point that their goal is to keep the threads respectful, on topic and out of personal squabbles. That's what I intend to do.

You assume that people would want to edit someone else's posts just because they have a different opinion.

That misrepresents my views.

The point isn't to edit out differing opinions, it's to allow opinions on the topics to be heard before they get drowned in personal squabbles that are off point. I doubt anyone wants to do that, but they might be willing to put up with the hassle of doing it if it made the discussions less predictably pissy.

Your opinion seems to be that approach won't work here. You have the advantage of a longer history and more experience here. You may well be right.

If that's the case then my opinion is that if tigher editorial control won't work, then something else is needed to make it possible to discuss complex or controversial issues without descending into middle school bickering.

Is being gentlemanly too much to ask?

So it seems. Count the "x"s.

Who said that Phil and the admin team is frustrated?

He did. Read the thread. He was so frustrated he banned politics as a topic on a board about government policy. He's probably frusrated reading this exchange too.

This forum has a way of taking care of itself...

...by spiraling topics into personal squabbles so they can't be discussed? That helps who?

You're welcome to any last word you want.