Politicising a hobbyist forum - Good or bad?

[synsei]

Says it all in the title really...

[synsei]

I don't mind the odd political debate from time to time as I find it keeps the old brain cells in good fettle and I have been known to instigate a couple of these myself. However, since the results of the Scottish referendum were announced there has been more than a slight whiff of bitterness and hypocrisy in the air. It's done and dusted, the people have spoken and therefore that is the end of it. What I object to is AoS being used as a springboard for pseudo-political activism of any persuasion, this is not the place for it

[walpurgis]

I'm not voting either way. Any topic is fair game in the right place, but I do feel threads not related to Hi-Fi or music or sound reproduction in general, should be confined to the 'Abstract Chat' area. Just my view.

[synsei]

Any topic is fair game in the right place

Except that it has gone beyond this point now Geoff as Marco has stated that he intends to use AoS and its membership to help promote a political agenda. It is this aspect where I feel the line has been crossed. Political debate is all well and good and can in fact be rather enjoyable as long as all parties involved behave themselves accordingly, this is taking things way too far though IMO

Incidentally, this is nothing personal it's just that I disagree with the methods employed, such as spamming the forum with political comment. Keep it in a single thread by all means and debate the issue, don't beat members over the head with it. In this way members will know which thread to visit/avoid...

[The Black Adder]

I see it this way, a forum and people can start a discussion or a debate about practically anything so long as it's posted in the correct section and that it's kept friendly, open, honest and fair with your cards placed firmly on the table.

I guess it's all about self discipline in to whether you join in on the debate or not. But fear not, Marco (or anyone else) won't black ball you if you don't take part or even vote against.

Personally, I don't get in to politics on forums very much... in the pub, yes... The written word can be misconstrued and with politics having a low melt down threshold for me those two ingredients are a bit of a Molotov. By starting a thread in defense of another thread can also cause just as much bad feeling so let's not go to war.

[synsei]

I see it this way, a forum and people can start a discussion or a debate about practically anything so long as it's posted in the correct section and that it's kept friendly, open, honest and fair with your cards placed firmly on the table.

I guess it's all about self discipline in to whether you join in on the debate or not. But fear not, Marco (or anyone else) won't black ball you if you don't take part or even vote against.

Personally, I don't get in to politics on forums very much... in the pub, yes... The written word can be misconstrued and with politics having a low melt down threshold for me those two ingredients are a bit of a Molotov. By starting a thread in defense of another thread can also cause just as much bad feeling so let's not go to war.

There is a lot of wisdom contained in your post Joe and like you I've no wish to see members go to war over this, that would be totally daft and unacceptable. I do think that a poll such as I have posted can highlight what the membership thinks about this current 'hiccup' however, which at the end of the day is what is important.

[The Black Adder]

Thanks matey... polls are always interesting.

[Marco]

Dave, you don’t half get on your high horse unnecessarily sometimes and exaggerate things!

Anyway, the fact is, there is ONE thread in Blank Canvas about the matter, and the remainder of it in the off-topic section, where such discussions belong, so I’d suggest that’s hardly “spamming the forum” with politics. Furthermore, that’s where the discussions will remain. The subject will not be raised anywhere else. You have my word on that.

The problem is (as has been evidenced by your contributions on the Scottish independence threads), you’d appear to rather just move on, brush any potential fraud/corruption under the carpet, and kid on it doesn’t exist, than ruffle any feathers by exposing it. In that respect, you appear to have your own agenda, as well as being a bit of a drama queen. Sorry, I have to be honest. “Members going to war”, FFS, mate, get a grip….

I’m afraid that (because I strongly believe that fraud has been committed, and that the referendum vote was rigged), I’m the exact opposite: I want to make as much NOISE AND FUSS as possible, and expose it as far as I’m able to, using my influence as a forum owner to draw people’s attention to the matter, in an effort to try and have the issue properly investigated by the relevant authorities.

Quite simply, if my efforts here add more names to the petition (and the numbers of people signing it are growing by the minute), and something good/constructive comes from that, then it’ll all have been worthwhile.

Simples!

Marco.

[Marco]

Keep refreshing this page and watch the numbers of those who’ve signed the petition rising!!

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitio...dum-vote-count



Marco.

[prestonchipfryer]

There is no provision in the vote for those of us (like me) who like, as it were, to sit on the fence.