Lord Dynel wrote:
I don't necessarily agree Fiff, but that's my opinion. I would actually allow such discussions, under the premise they not get out of hand - they would have to be watched closely. Not every discussion about religion or about politics is going to touch someones nerves. To me, it's about being an adult or being mature about it. I'd say ban the person, not the topic of discussion. If someone's acting like an ass in these types of discussions, then fire off a 1-week ban. I just think that if we're mature and responsible enough to handle these types of conversation (and before anyone says, "well, we're not" I've seen and participated in many across the net, personally) then we should be allowed to have them.
But that's my opinion. I, of course, will follow what rules are set forth. It just saddens me, a little, that the possibility that these types of conversations could devolve into childish and immature drivel causes them to be persona non grata. Just my two cents...thanks for listening.
What you've just said sounds really good. If any community could pull it off, it would be this one.
Having said that, all it takes is one lousy incident to push people away. That's not what we do here. And to take the risk of doing so for something so off topic seems like an awful price to pay for the luxury of allowing yet one more soapbox. 99.9% of us here *could* be mature enough to handle it. That's not enough of a guarantee for me. The two cases I posted in the policy were also in groups that everyone agreed were mature enough to handle it. Everyone would have been wrong.
We're all gamers on this site, first and foremost. We don't even allow trash talk about other games here, as tempting as that can be at times. I was among the most vocal on Dragonsfoot during the Edition Wars era. I've slung my fair share of mud. I was one of those idiots that thought my own subjective view on what made a good game was really the objective "one truth." And I fought for it. Imagine allowing that when politics and religion are the topics of discussion?
I'm tired, and hopefully more mature now. I've seen enough disrespect in gaming groups, clubs, on gaming message boards....and in our society at large. I no longer have tolerance for it. I've been tempted at times to create a special forum that's password protected and accessible only by request, where no topic is forbidden. I've never followed through with it because someone would end up requesting access without really understanding what they will experience, or having a thin skin, or just looking to sling the f*c*s.
I'll never forget the moment in one of my groups where a participant walked in carrying a political book, tried to convince us it was holy writ, and looked SHOCKED that some of us didn't agree and forcefully disliked the viewpoints of the author. The goal of a rational, civil discussion where participants can walk away and still be friendly and get along - well, that became harder and harder to do as time went on because everything ends up colored by the political stuff.
I do understand all points of view on this. I wish I could convince myself to open the floodgates, as it were. I just don't see it doing much more than alienating people.
_________________
Sir Fiffergrund, Lord Marshal of the Castle and Crusade Society.
He Who Hides Behind The Elephant's Back
