Political and social discussions shouldn't be segregated

[renard_ruse]

While I don't know what precipitated the apparent recent decision to ban most "political" or "socio-political' threads from the General Board and force them onto a segregated and ghettoized "Politics" sub-board, I would like to say I think this was/is a bad decision.

A General Board is supposed to be a place where any general topic can be discussed. The GB on Literotica was oddly enough one of the most truly free speech places on the entire internet. The idea that anyone could post about pretty much anything (other than illegal subject matter) is what made it worth coming to. That included posting on subjects that might also have their own dedicated boards elsewhere on Lit.

Why is that latter point important you ask? Because some people want to see discussion of random subjects rather than seek out specific subject matter. They are curious about a wide range of subjects and like to be both intellectually challenged and surprised at the same time. Having a board that is truly "about everything" provides this sort of unique experience. To say that can't include politics or vigorous and even obnoxious or offensive discussion of socio-political issues, or any other subject "elsewhere covered" on a separate board defeats that purpose entirely.

Having discussion of the "issues of the day" on a general interest board also allows for a wider range of views, including input from people who are less strident or less partisan, or who don't care enough to go to a segregated "politics board." A segregated "politics board" will only attract people who already have strongly formed views who just end up arguing and bickering with each other. Even if a less partisan individual on a general interest forum never joins a political or socio-political discssion he or she will still benefit from seeing freewheeling discussions of such subject matter, which they would not be exposed to on a separate board.

If people don't want to see political discussion, they can simply not click on those threads or even block posters who talk about those subjects. The reality is we are bombarded by "politics" in the "news" and media everyday so why is it taboo on so many internet discussion forums, sadly now including the once freewheeling General Board? Again, why can't people just skip those titles that don't interest them?

True unrestricted free speech is dying in today's world. This General Board had been an amazing oasis of freedom. That is worth preserving.

 

[silver gurl]

No general topics were discussed.
You would open the GB, scroll down and every thread was political. With the same posters arguing.
Thus the move

 

[hobbit.]

While I don't know what precipitated the apparent recent decision to ban most "political" or "socio-political' threads

someone saw their arse.

 

[jaF0]

I would like to say I think this was/is a bad decision.

That is worth preserving.

Buy a domain name and a web hosting account. Install forum software. Make your own rules.

 

[IrezumiKiss]

While I don't know what precipitated the apparent recent decision to ban most "political" or "socio-political' threads from the General Board and force them onto a segregated and ghettoized "Politics" sub-board, I would like to say I think this was/is a bad decision.

A General Board is supposed to be a place where any general topic can be discussed. The GB on Literotica was oddly enough one of the most truly free speech places on the entire internet. The idea that anyone could post about pretty much anything (other than illegal subject matter) is what made it worth coming to. That included posting on subjects that might also have their own dedicated boards elsewhere on Lit.

Why is that latter point important you ask? Because some people want to see discussion of random subjects rather than seek out specific subject matter. They are curious about a wide range of subjects and like to be both intellectually challenged and surprised at the same time. Having a board that is truly "about everything" provides this sort of unique experience. To say that can't include politics or vigorous and even obnoxious or offensive discussion of socio-political issues, or any other subject "elsewhere covered" on a separate board defeats that purpose entirely.

Having discussion of the "issues of the day" on a general interest board also allows for a wider range of views, including input from people who are less strident or less partisan, or who don't care enough to go to a segregated "politics board." A segregated "politics board" will only attract people who already have strongly formed views who just end up arguing and bickering with each other. Even if a less partisan individual on a general interest forum never joins a political or socio-political discssion he or she will still benefit from seeing freewheeling discussions of such subject matter, which they would not be exposed to on a separate board.

If people don't want to see political discussion, they can simply not click on those threads or even block posters who talk about those subjects. The reality is we are bombarded by "politics" in the "news" and media everyday so why is it taboo on so many internet discussion forums, sadly now including the once freewheeling General Board? Again, why can't people just skip those titles that don't interest them?

True unrestricted free speech is dying in today's world. This General Board had been an amazing oasis of freedom. That is worth preserving.

Or you could just go to a forum site dedicated to political discussion instead of coming to one dedicated to prurient interests. Since you don't come here for the sex but for the politics, that would solve all of your issues, to be honest.

Stop being lazy. Stop complaining.

 

[Fuzzy1975]

While I don't know what precipitated the apparent recent decision to ban most "political" or "socio-political' threads from the General Board and force them onto a segregated and ghettoized "Politics" sub-board, I would like to say I think this was/is a bad decision.

A General Board is supposed to be a place where any general topic can be discussed. The GB on Literotica was oddly enough one of the most truly free speech places on the entire internet. The idea that anyone could post about pretty much anything (other than illegal subject matter) is what made it worth coming to. That included posting on subjects that might also have their own dedicated boards elsewhere on Lit.

Why is that latter point important you ask? Because some people want to see discussion of random subjects rather than seek out specific subject matter. They are curious about a wide range of subjects and like to be both intellectually challenged and surprised at the same time. Having a board that is truly "about everything" provides this sort of unique experience. To say that can't include politics or vigorous and even obnoxious or offensive discussion of socio-political issues, or any other subject "elsewhere covered" on a separate board defeats that purpose entirely.

Having discussion of the "issues of the day" on a general interest board also allows for a wider range of views, including input from people who are less strident or less partisan, or who don't care enough to go to a segregated "politics board." A segregated "politics board" will only attract people who already have strongly formed views who just end up arguing and bickering with each other. Even if a less partisan individual on a general interest forum never joins a political or socio-political discssion he or she will still benefit from seeing freewheeling discussions of such subject matter, which they would not be exposed to on a separate board.

If people don't want to see political discussion, they can simply not click on those threads or even block posters who talk about those subjects. The reality is we are bombarded by "politics" in the "news" and media everyday so why is it taboo on so many internet discussion forums, sadly now including the once freewheeling General Board? Again, why can't people just skip those titles that don't interest them?

True unrestricted free speech is dying in today's world. This General Board had been an amazing oasis of freedom. That is worth preserving.

WTF, you to stupid to find the "political" form?

Trust me, your posts were shit anyhow, things are better now than the "before" time.

 

[Saint_Ann]

No general topics were discussed.
You would open the GB, scroll down and every thread was political. With the same posters arguing.
Thus the move

Look what's left.

 

[oggbashan]

Current statistics:

General Board 92 viewing

Politics Board 15 viewing.

 

[Saint_Ann]

Current statistics:

General Board 92 viewing

Politics Board 15 viewing.

Viewing ain't posting.

 

[PaxNurgle]

There was too much alt-right trolling going on and it wont be missed.

And speaking of alt-right trolls...I better just stop now.

 

[magicalmoments]

No general topics were discussed.
You would open the GB, scroll down and every thread was political. With the same posters arguing.
Thus the move

And definitely an improvement.

 

[Lazaran]

There was too much alt-right trolling going on and it wont be missed.

And speaking of alt-right trolls...I better just stop now.

Trolling AND spamming.

 

[Conager]

As you can see from topics still under discussion, politics are still very much discussed on the General Board. Enforcement is, as it always was, on a selective basis: dependent entirely on point if view and which "team" does the whinging.

 

[Saint Peter]

The same cleaning happened and is happening on all social media. Add the GB to the list. Inappropriate guests were once tolerated and now they are not.

I like what Laurel has done with the place.

 

[Worm]

Cunt!

 

[Saint Peter]

Holy moldy oldie!

 

[phrodeau]

The GB was turning into a 4chan clone. The number of unsavory characters hanging around the Politics Board is much fewer than those on the GB.

 

[Aglaopheme]

The GB was turning into a 4chan clone. The number of unsavory characters hanging around the Politics Board is much fewer than those on the GB.

True, but there seems to be a whole crop of new solely political alts on both sides.

 

[Saint_Ann]

True, but there seems to be a whole crop of new solely political alts on both sides.

The only posting youve been doing on the GB is political.

 

[Conager]

The same cleaning happened and is happening on all social media. Add the GB to the list. Inappropriate guests were once tolerated and now they are not.

I like what Laurel has done with the place.

Of course- because social media platforms that all loved gloating political fodder don't want the ignominious shame again, they realize now that actual progressive ideology openly expressed repulsed independents, and progressives have zero to be enthused about, much less gloat about this time.

Shunning political discourse this late in a presidential election cycle by progressives tells you what they really think their chances are. If they had a candidate that they were proud of and were assured victory it would be non-stop politics exactly like 2016 from all of the people who are now claiming that thet find the politics free General Board's so much more palatable that couldn't shut there mouths in 2016. Endless supply of threads about how there will never be a white male, much less a conservative one, as president ever again.

 

[rae121452]

While I don't know what precipitated the apparent recent decision to ban most "political" or "socio-political' threads from the General Board and force them onto a segregated and ghettoized "Politics" sub-board, I would like to say I think this was/is a bad decision.

A General Board is supposed to be a place where any general topic can be discussed. The GB on Literotica was oddly enough one of the most truly free speech places on the entire internet. The idea that anyone could post about pretty much anything (other than illegal subject matter) is what made it worth coming to. That included posting on subjects that might also have their own dedicated boards elsewhere on Lit.

Why is that latter point important you ask? Because some people want to see discussion of random subjects rather than seek out specific subject matter. They are curious about a wide range of subjects and like to be both intellectually challenged and surprised at the same time. Having a board that is truly "about everything" provides this sort of unique experience. To say that can't include politics or vigorous and even obnoxious or offensive discussion of socio-political issues, or any other subject "elsewhere covered" on a separate board defeats that purpose entirely.

Having discussion of the "issues of the day" on a general interest board also allows for a wider range of views, including input from people who are less strident or less partisan, or who don't care enough to go to a segregated "politics board." A segregated "politics board" will only attract people who already have strongly formed views who just end up arguing and bickering with each other. Even if a less partisan individual on a general interest forum never joins a political or socio-political discssion he or she will still benefit from seeing freewheeling discussions of such subject matter, which they would not be exposed to on a separate board.

If people don't want to see political discussion, they can simply not click on those threads or even block posters who talk about those subjects. The reality is we are bombarded by "politics" in the "news" and media everyday so why is it taboo on so many internet discussion forums, sadly now including the once freewheeling General Board? Again, why can't people just skip those titles that don't interest them?

True unrestricted free speech is dying in today's world. This General Board had been an amazing oasis of freedom. That is worth preserving.

demand that your membership fee be refunded!

 

[cjh]

Viewing ain't posting.

Regular posters interested in a variety of topics, you know, general topics, fled when this board became nothing but a wall of Busybody, AJ, and acolyte screeds. The board turned into a fucking toxic dump.

Maybe it will flourish again. Maybe not. Hopefully. This place was great when politics did not domimnate its content.

 

[thør]

Regular posters interested in a variety of topics, you know, general topics, fled when this board became nothing but a wall of Busybody, AJ, and acolyte screeds. The board turned into a fucking toxic dump.

Maybe it will flourish again. Maybe not. Hopefully. This place was great when politics did not domimnate its content.

Good to read you and your opinion.

 

[PaxNurgle]

While I don't know what precipitated the apparent recent decision to ban most "political" or "socio-political' threads from the General Board and force them onto a segregated and ghettoized "Politics" sub-board, I would like to say I think this was/is a bad decision.

.... To say that can't include politics or vigorous and even obnoxious or offensive discussion of socio-political issues, or any other subject "elsewhere covered" on a separate board defeats that purpose entirely.

Having discussion of the "issues of the day" on a general interest board also allows for a wider range of views, including input from people who are less strident or less partisan, or who don't care enough to go to a segregated "politics board." A segregated "politics board" will only attract people who already have strongly formed views who just end up arguing and bickering with each other. Even if a less partisan individual on a general interest forum never joins a political or socio-political discssion he or she will still benefit from seeing freewheeling discussions of such subject matter, which they would not be exposed to on a separate board.

If people don't want to see political discussion, they can simply not click on those threads or even block posters who talk about those subjects. The reality is we are bombarded by "politics" in the "news" and media everyday so why is it taboo on so many internet discussion forums, sadly now including the once freewheeling General Board? Again, why can't people just skip those titles that don't interest them?

True unrestricted free speech is dying in today's world. This General Board had been an amazing oasis of freedom. That is worth preserving.

Here are some of the problems. First of all, several people, including (in particular) you yourself, posted under multiple usernames which made it pointless to block, or even ban, individual users who got out of line- they would just pop back up with another username, or post under one of the other accounts.
Secondly, many of your posts, like those of busybody and botany boy/fescue fan/whatever he calls himself these days, crossed the line by blatatnly trolling, posting inflammatory and incendiary stuff, trying to rile people up with extremist and controversial alt-right viewpoints. I mean, lets be honest, your views are about as far from mainstream as you can get, and not only are you not shy about expressing those views, but you get antagonistic and deliberately confrontational when you express those alt-right, extremist views. In short, you were not the only one who tried to be offensive and obnoxious- which is where people crossed the line.
I think most people respect intelligent discussion, but most people also get annoyed when it turns to emotional venting, trolling, provoking, and edge-lording. I saw too much of the latter, and not enough of the former, on the old GB.

 

[hobbit.]

As you can see from topics still under discussion, politics are still very much discussed on the General Board. Enforcement is, as it always was, on a selective basis: dependent entirely on point if view and which "team" does the whinging.

Up to a point, you are bang on with your analysis - certain self appointed 'power' groups do seem to have the 'right' to get stuff they dont like deleted.

BUT the almost non stop targeting of one long term British poster was getting to sinister depths - posting photos of graves - WTF was that about? the constant reinvention of a couple of posters who got banned - then returned posting similar stuff, did get repetitive. BUT again the board is supposed to be about free speech - as some people say ''use the iggy function'?