Posted by tealady on January 31, 2006, at 3:40:50
In reply to Re: Politics is a powerful subject, posted by Dr. Bob on January 29, 2006, at 9:29:29
> > Politics is a powerful subject and something which evokes VERY strong feelings in people and to ban 2 posters simply for expressing their feelings in a way which to be fair is far less hostile than these politicians face every single day is just ridiculous.
>
> I understand that politics evokes strong feelings, and that it can be therapeutic to express them. But this isn't necessarily the place. Not because Bush might be reading, which is unlikely, but because people who support Bush (or whomever) *are* reading.
>
OK Dr.BOB, do I understand this correctly? ..as it's a different concept of a political discussion to me...
How about a posting guide at the top of the board ...
"This board is NOT a place to express your strong political feelings, "because people who support Bush (or whomever) *are* reading".
If you do not agree with them, "this may make them feel uncomfortable".
You must be " respect the views of others and be sensitive to their feelings" The aim of this board is to make all readers feel good about themselves.
Of course if you do have strong evidence/facts and arguments and present them in a calm matter of fact manner it will be all the more reason to make "people who support Bush (or whomever) *are* reading"..
( ie whichever people may have supported this party/person/policy)
to feel uncomfortable.. so sound rational arguments are not an acceptable excuse for posting anything that "may make them feel uncomfortable".
....DR BOB Can you see why some people think a politics board cannot be a great concept with the above aim .. maybe even incompatible with the concept of providing a cozy place for people to feel good about themselves in.??....back to these guidelines for the top of the board
If you can find a way to disagree respectfully and sensitively about an idea or policy you may post it in a style that will make people feel cozy and reassured, good about themselves, preferably with some positive alternative suggestions.
Attacking a person is out.
(It's a bit like footy really.....'play the ball not the man'.... umm, except for codes like Rugby Leagye where you tackle the person...)
Attacking a person can be merely expressing dislike of a person, even if you feel strongly and have much evidence that their policies have caused unquestionable destruction, injury, mass murder, or destruction even everlasting destruction of another countries environment making it impossible for them for live off their land?
I assume this rule will also apply to non US citizens as well..like Saddam, Hitler? Nothing negative can ever be uttered about a politician?
Can you can express dislike of their policies or implementation of them?... or does this come under the the "'not making people feel good about themselves.. if they may have supported the person?" ..
e.g. If you want to discuss Hitler, you may only mention the positive, cozy policies that you think of , any mention of concentration camps or such has a strong likelihood of many readers feel uncomfortable or upset.
> >"Also, I think posts that aren't respectful and sensitive can be like negative campaigning:
>> On the whole, negative campaigning is seen in a negative light. It does not focus on substantive issues or policies and rather tends to focus >>on personality. "
As it says here.. negative campaigning focuses on a attacking a PERSONALITY...not a POLICY.
However in when discussing US politics the US the president does determine the policy to a large extent, so it is impossible to separate.
Rather like discussing Iraq politics , a few years ago, without Saddam.
Very difficult to say anything negative about the policies or their implementation with only positive feel-good statements about the person.
I suggest at least renaming the board to
"Cosy Compliments of US politics" board
with above posting guidelines below.. either that or delete the board.. which makes a lot more sense.
Of course that does depend on your actual motives for the board I guess. I do suggest that politics is not a topic that leads to cozy feel-good feelings on all sides, if that is the aim of board discussion.I sincerely wish posters some posters could just stay away. If it helps.. you're not going to influence anyone who counts.
Bush, I agree with Dr Bob on this one, is unlikely to read this politics board :-)
BTW Dr.Bob.. ..I'd really like you to write some new guidelines and chair question time in the Oz parliament.To sum up I agree "Politics is a powerful subject and something which evokes VERY strong feelings in people " ..and IMO is not a topic that can be discussed on ANY board without provoking some feelings which will differ, which means if a something makes a few feel good.. it makes others feel the opposite... even if they aren't vocal about it.
Confused,
Jan
poster:tealady
thread:603925
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20060111/msgs/604754.html