Looking for opinions

[Moe M.]

 I'm looking for opinions from the general membership on whether we would all be better served if we had a section set aside for specific political discussion,  back about 2013 (it must be coincidence because it coincided with the Obama years) some topics (including politics, religion, and Bigfoot) seemed to rile some members here to the point of distraction and sparking arguments among some members,  so the administration after some hard thinking came up with the idea of a private section which had looser rules about discussions, to be a member one had to apply and was granted permission,  and it worked fairly well.
 Well that was then and this is now, it appears that the interest in actual Blades & Bushcraft has changed as has our forum of active members (it's gotten considerably smaller since 2013), today's membership while still outdoorsmen are getting older and are more inclined to discuss current events, personal hikes as well as some group adventures, but mostly we discuss the weather, some gear talk, and often the state of the nation, which is starting to be causing some antagonistic exchanges that seem to be escalating.
 I could be wrong and wouldn't mind being corrected if I am, but I believe that the majority of the active members on this forum are of a conservative bent, and we have a couple or three that seem to lean pretty far in the other direction and that's ok,  differences of ideas and opinions are what makes the world more balanced.
 But when the discussions get heated to the point where they disrupt the forum maybe it's time to re address the problem and try to find a remedy that works for everyone,  In don't think there are so many of us that these sometimes heated discussions go overlooked by most regulars here.
 There's been a running off and on again antagonistic rumbling between two different factions of our membership for quite a while and for some reason it seems to be escalating past the usual barbs and Ad Hominem, just this past week I've received several PM's from two members from the minority group expressing concern that I may have some deep seated mental issues that I should discuss with my family and friends or to seek professional help to deal with,  one also suggested that my problem may be a birth defect, both were very careful not to be openly insulting, but their bottom line was that I'm either nuts, or I'm well on my way to full blown bat crap crazy.
 Their reasoning seems to be from a few of my last posts pointing out that there seems to be a political Coup being waged in this country against our individual freedoms and our Constitutional form of self government, all I have basically suggested is that of the last three administrations this country thrived under conservative leadership, and almost destroyed under progressive leadership, and evidently that makes me nuts.
 Anyhow,  I'm wondering if maybe we should create a section just for those of us who subscribe to the progressive agenda and the rest of us who are loyal to the Constitution and like our country the way it's been in the past (the old normal) can continue to converse as usual,  I really don't see anything wrong with a "Commies only" section,  what say you ?
 And BTW, if any of you other old and regular member think that maybe I am becoming mentally challenged or that I have long standing issues in that direction please let me know, they say we're always the last ones to know.          

[Pete Bog]

Well Moe. If I thought you were Coo-coo I'd tell you right out. Shoot, I probably already have. Several times. No PM from me.
But you have a point. There is a section called "Top Secret" that is mostly unused and only available to members. For those times when a rant seems appropriate, maybe a notation to "See my opinion in 'Top Secret'" Or, "Let's move this to "Top Secret". Just a thought.
PW, what do you think?
It might even be good for the forum. Those lurkers that won't become members will have to sign up to see the fireworks show. Yee-Haw! Let 'er rip!

[Icepick15]

You say "full blown bat crap crazy" like it's a bad thing.

[boomer]

There are only a few regular Contributors on the site The the post seems a bit disingenuous. Is the suggestion  for a a "separate but equal" policy?

As a general observation - When long angry diatribes present obvious  fallacies as fact and delusional concepts  as reality (in any venue) are repeatedly offered then folks will correctly question the situation. Noy just here but anywhere. One of the fundamental ideas in mental health is not to reinforce delusional thinking

It is not simply the opinion that may be offered but accompanying anger and hate that raises red flags. This situation when unchecked often supports very dangerous outcomes. We have seen how dismissive labeling of individuals and groups has shifted to identifying them as "vermin" with violent consequences including genocidal policies. Societies as well as individuals can and have become unsane.

Again, a general observation with broad applications.

Here it is routine to label any opinion, expressed or suspected, that does, could or might deviate from a very narrow regressive conservative perspective as "commie, socialist etc". Well, that happens. Both sides do it. Its wrong regardless.

It is the dismissive labeling combined with delusional claims and over the top anger that creates concern. In our post fact society today promoting delusional thinking is business as usual. Unfortunately, a large segment of the population is drawn into it for a variety of reasons. That does not make it healthy  Just the opposite. It makes it dangerous.

People with training in mental health (not my area) have a Duty To Act Obligation. All health care providers do.  In some cases that requires reporting but mostly it is a matter of advice and persuasion which is done in a confidential manner. People not in health care can also call out aberrant behavior.

Heated arguments about the best HRc heat treat goals for certain steel or asking for opinions on kit are one thing. Promoting conspiracy fantasies and vitriol laden diatribes is something else.  There are plenty of places where Q folks and other disturbed types flock. It's not healthy, it's not good but rest assured somebody is making money on their vulnerability.

Conservatives and Liberals often disagree. Thats healthy. What we are doing these days is not healthy.

[crashdive123]

There already is a section for civil, political discussion. It?s the ?private? section. To gain access you need to send PW a private message. As to the point that there aren?t that many members participating??maybe more would participate if there were less political discussion.    PW has asked that we keep the political discussion off the main forum. I would hope that we could all respect that. I would suggest that that includes posts that are intentionally made to get a ?rise? out of others and ?start an argument?.

[Mannlicher]

we have so little traffic that starting another dedicated sub forum seems senseless to me.  As most of us are adults with years of experience with each other, and with no one being consumed by tender sensibilities,  just leave things as they are.    I have zero interest in visiting a special secret sub forum that takes an extra level of clearance to visit or participate in.
As long as no one is being nasty, dirty, mean or whatever, just leave it be.  Geez.

[wsdstan]

The most effective step this forum could take is to invite a couple of people to stay away.

[crashdive123]

The most effective step this forum could take is to invite a couple of people to stay away.

Agreed.

[crashdive123]

we have so little traffic that starting another dedicated sub forum seems senseless to me.  As most of us are adults with years of experience with each other, and with no one being consumed by tender sensibilities,  just leave things as they are.    I have zero interest in visiting a special secret sub forum that takes an extra level of clearance to visit or participate in.
As long as no one is being nasty, dirty, mean or whatever, just leave it be.  Geez.

Sam ?- that section already exists and has for years.

[Mannlicher]

Dave?  I know that, and am not a participant

[Moe M.]

There already is a section for civil, political discussion. It?s the ?private? section. To gain access you need to send PW a private message. As to the point that there aren?t that many members participating??maybe more would participate if there were less political discussion.    PW has asked that we keep the political discussion off the main forum. I would hope that we could all respect that. I would suggest that that includes posts that are intentionally made to get a ?rise? out of others and ?start an argument?.

  I know that there is already a "Private Section" that exists, it was me who suggested it in the first place to keep this sought of bickering to a manageable level, and Ron acted on it, I never expected another separate section be created nor would I support the idea,  my intent was simply to bring attention to the fact that most of us left here are of the same mind politically and that there are indeed a couple of members who clearly have a totally different political  ideology, and that they do not miss any opportunity to express it in a most aggressive manner intentionally to "get a rise out of or cause an argument" that disrupts the flow of conversation.
  Normally I don't let it bother me,  I believe in our first amendment freedom of free political speech (which doesn't apply to private forums) but this last exchange of being PM'ed and told that I was mentally ill and needed to seek professional help or that my family should intervein takes their trolling to another level and makes it personal, my OP meant to bring those antics into view for everyone to see.
 Whether or not it's right to be able to mention what's going on in this country today or not, or to take a stand politically in view of what's going on around us is kind of a moot issue in my opinion as there are damned few places where that freedom exists anywhere in the public forum,  since we lack the number of Green Dragon Inns in which like minded and concerned people could gather and share those concerns without the cancel culture trying to stop them from speaking out, we are left to take advantage of other types of venues such as this to occasionally state an opinion, share some news, or just vent a little, without the threat of being talked down to or being made to look stupid or "mentally defective".
 Why these couple of political agitators continue to haunt this small forum is a mystery to me unless it's because they feel they can't cut it in a "bigger pond", but in any event I guess we are stuck with them until they find a bigger barrel to try to spoil and move on.

 I'm done.   

[wsdstan]

When a person sent you a PM regarding what you just stated my thought is that they crossed a line into the territory that allows them to be banned.  I would hope you request that and send the moderator copies of the PM's that they sent.

 

[crashdive123]

Moe, forward me the PM and I'll handle it.

[Moe M.]

When a person sent you a PM regarding what you just stated my thought is that they crossed a line into the territory that allows them to be banned.  I would hope you request that and send the moderator copies of the PM's that they sent.

 Thanks Stan, I've given it allot of thought, the moderator has reached out to me and I've talked with him about it and we may have agreed on a way to calm things down in a way that might work out better all the way around.
   

[wsdstan]

   Glad to hear that Moe

[boomer]

There already is a section for civil, political discussion. It?s the ?private? section. To gain access you need to send PW a private message. As to the point that there aren?t that many members participating??maybe more would participate if there were less political discussion.    PW has asked that we keep the political discussion off the main forum. I would hope that we could all respect that. I would suggest that that includes posts that are intentionally made to get a ?rise? out of others and ?start an argument?.

Thank you for pointing that out. After reading through the entire available section i noticed there was only a single entry for 2016. That was about smasjing non functional electronic equipment.

I recall therewas a great deal of discussion in the top secret area during that year. Did i miss something?

[crashdive123]

There already is a section for civil, political discussion. It?s the ?private? section. To gain access you need to send PW a private message. As to the point that there aren?t that many members participating??maybe more would participate if there were less political discussion.    PW has asked that we keep the political discussion off the main forum. I would hope that we could all respect that. I would suggest that that includes posts that are intentionally made to get a ?rise? out of others and ?start an argument?.

Thank you for pointing that out. After reading through the entire available section i noticed there was only a single entry for 2016. That was about smasjing non functional electronic equipment.

I recall therewas a great deal of discussion in the top secret area during that year. Did i miss something?

Not sure, but you may have.  I may not have been clear (hate the IPad while on the road).  Unless you have requested access to the "Private Discussion" section, you cannot see it.  If you do have access, or for any others that do...that is where PW has asked that political discussions take place.  I would like to think that we could all respect that. 

A while back I moved a discussion to that section and seemed to cause some consternation among members since they thought I deleted it (they apparently have not requested access to that section).

[windy]

I just erased my rant--twice!  I'm going to bed.  It ain't broke; DON'T FIX IT before tomorrow morning!
windy