WoWoWoWoWo...Whoa!!! "This Website is "For Sale"!!!! (SALE PENDING)

I always thought a working points system, combined with php poker, and chess would be nice, pay to play of course. I could work something out in a few weeks for the right price.

originally posted by: SmikeS
I always thought a working points system, combined with php poker, and chess would be nice, pay to play of course. I could work something out in a few weeks for the right price.

What?! This place is already plenty screwed up with the politics.

I'd advise any new owner to dump politics, and stick to the weird stuff. Politics are so divisive and we're flooded with that crap pretty much everywhere else.

I REALLY hope the site will remain friends with folks like George Knapp and other notables who have a lot to share, and honestly lend more credibility to the forums.

One approach used by some sites is to have a website along with the forums. Better visibility overall, and the stories on the website could link to discussions in the forums, and vice versa. I've been an admin or mod for several forums like that and it seemed to work well

originally posted by: vlawde
I'd advise any new owner to dump politics, and stick to the weird stuff. Politics are so divisive and we're flooded with that crap pretty much everywhere else.

Having tried it myself in the distant past, I don't think it is possible to discuss most of what we discuss in a venue of this kind without politics being involved to some extent -- and usually a large extent.

However, I very much believe that it is possible to discuss any subject productively, including politics, as long as reasonable standards of courtesy and topical relevance are observed, because doing so cuts down on noise and improves the quality of content.

For whatever it may be worth, my passion for courtesy is pragmatic and has absolutely nothing to do with being "nice", wanting everyone to link arms and sing "Kumbaya" or suggesting anyone "go along to get along". Rather, it's based on the fact that insults, flame wars and off-topic digressions tend to be repetitive, tedious and ultimately unsatisfying for everyone.

The best ATS has to offer can be found in threads whose titles match their contents and discussions in which people with different opinions can share and debate them in an atmosphere of mutual respect.

That is, of course, an ideal which is rarely achieved, but will always be worth working toward, and I am hopeful it is a goal that any prospective owner of ATS will share.


tl;dr: The problem isn't politics, but how politics are discussed, and maintaining courtesy and topical relevance in discussions is the solution.

Of course you can't put a blanket block on politics, at least on a site like this (although I'm in multiple FB groups that do have that rule. But there are too many political forums here, and what can you expect when one is name the Mudpit?

a reply to: vlawde

I think we all know what to expect from the Mud-Pit at this point.

a reply to: vlawde

You do realize, of course, that many conspiracies' come fully equipped with a **gasp** political component?

Or are completely political in nature??

You can not separate without gutting the whole idea.