Should political discussions be banned on AoS?

[YNWaN]

The fact is, you find out much more about what makes people 'tick', out with of hi-fi discussions, when talking about real life issues, and that adds to the 'human' aspect of the site and builds the forum community.

Yes, well put. Unfortunately, I don’t personally feel drawn in by such ‘banter’; in fact rather the opposite.

[Marco]

Well, each to his or her own. You participate in the areas of the forum that interest you, and ignore the bits that don't. As you know, I enjoy your contributions very much on the hi-fi threads

One thing I've learned (among many things) in over 10 years of running this place, along with the mods, is that an on-line forum can only be successful if it has established a community [together with a USP], because *that* is what keeps folks 'tuned in' and coming back for more (to chat with their friends and other like-minded people), not endless, often repetitive, discussions on 'what speakers should I buy?', or whatever.

That's why anyone with intentions of running a successful forum, with longevity, would only ignore the 'human' element at their peril. If a forum contains no such element, and is devoid of diverse and interesting personalities, to chivvy things along, it will almost certainly eventually die.

Marco.

[Pigmy Pony]

Looks like I'm safe for now...

Not everyone on this forum will have the money to buy stuff, or the time and skills needed to make/fix stuff, but still love music and the kit they play it on.

My days are spent working with all kinds of people, none of whom have any interest in hifi. My leisure time is spent with people who also have no interest. I suppose this makes me the oddball, not everyone around me. So to be able to view and participate in all kinds of discussions with other oddballs has become a little corner of my life I can't imagine giving up. And that's thanks to the friendly and inclusive nature of AOS.

Long may it continue!

[YNWaN]

“Each to their own” - indeed.

[Pete The Cat]

It's that lack of consideration and sheer selfishness that I think has escalated in recent times.

I agree with your view that the anonymity of the internet has made bad behaviour easier and fostered it. I view trolls a little like extremist political actors and just ignore them. But I can see that others might not find that easy.

I’ve always imagined that forum moderation is bit like having a pub landlord, ie someone setting the tone, having a subtle or less subtle word and ultimately barring someone. However I can see that you and the team might have reached a point where it’s time-consuming and frustrating to be keeping peace in the playground on some day-to-day issues (NB - thanks for taking the time to reply).

My 12 year old likes telling me how out of date I am and by implication my knowledge and experience are of less value than hers. I enjoyed studying history and so I like telling her that human behaviour is always the same, just that the technology has changed from time to time, and so I feel I’m well-equipped. But maybe the current revolution is changing all that…

Pete

[Pieoftheday]

No to a ban

[Ninanina]

It's very close indeed

[Marco]

So how did you vote Bev, that is if you have voted?

Marco.

[Ninanina]

So how did you vote Bev, that is if you have voted?

Marco.

I voted No Marco

I guess it is only a small group on this matter, and probably others, that cannot control themselves and have a discussion without being rude etc...

I'm all for having wide and very varied topics to participate in and if I'm not interested in a particular topic then I just ignore it..

[Marco]

Hi Pete,

I agree with your view that the anonymity of the internet has made bad behaviour easier and fostered it. I view trolls a little like extremist political actors and just ignore them. But I can see that others might not find that easy.

Absolutely. As you say, the best thing you can do is ignore them, which is most often what happens here. We treat them as an insignificance, thus with the contempt they deserve. Being ignored like that is the ultimate weapon to defeat an insatiable attention-seeker, which is what breeds a troll - and trolls HATE being ignored!

They feed off the energy of being given the recognition they so dearly crave, which they're deprived of at home or in work, and where they're downtrodden by their partners or employers, or in some other area of life, where they've continually underachieved. Therefore, robbing them of any recognition, deprives them of the escapism they seek from their feelings of inadequacy and failure.

Continually raging against the world, and anything or anyone who shows them up for what they are, keeps them from focussing on their own miserable existence, but in the process makes them more enemies than friends....Pathetic bastards. And unfortunately that's how they're also destined to die: sad and lonely, with very little to show for their time spent on this earth.

Like I said, they need robbed of their anonymity and forced, by law, to reveal their true identity and geographical location, before being allowed online. Folks with nothing to hide (count me in) would have no qualms about that. It's the secretive and cowardly 'hiders', who cause all the problems, and who need flushed out and exposed.

I’ve always imagined that forum moderation is bit like having a pub landlord, ie someone setting the tone, having a subtle or less subtle word and ultimately barring someone. However I can see that you and the team might have reached a point where it’s time-consuming and frustrating to be keeping peace in the playground on some day-to-day issues (NB - thanks for taking the time to reply).

A pub landlord has always been the perfect analogy for a forum owner, running an on-line community, such as an Internet forum. Therefore, it's *their* name above the door, they pay the bills, and so ultimately they call the shots and decide who's allowed in and gets 'served' or not, or barred.

Some folks could do with remembering that, and considering how far they'd get in real life, squealing to a pub landlord about being 'unfairly' barred from their premises, for repeatedly aggressive and unacceptable behaviour, and refusing to comply with the 'house rules', then ridiculously demanding to have their bans rescinded from where they're justifiably no longer welcome...

Marco.