Politics thread please vote!

[temi]

Badcat (http://www.ozami.net/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=2580) proposed that we have a Politics thread, I second the proposal, I think having a politics thread will show this forum is not just about lust but about other aspect of life and living too.
We need a minimum of 10 votes to start the thread, please vote, only votes where the voter also post to support his/her vote will be counted

[kinglouie]

I voted No - as I guess Politics are about the only thing, well, no religion falls into the same category I do not like to discuss. I have seen many 'innocent and fun' conversations turn damn ugly when they turn to one of these two subjects.

Anyway, thats my two cents

[melkior]

IMHO Ozami doesn't need such a thread or a board. Things have always been nice here and without problems.
Politics includes ethnicity, religion an personal beliefs.
And Ozami has a vast differential in its users - they're from all around the world.
A thread like this one would be like opening Pandora's box.
Not to say it would be hell to moderate it and keep things peaceful. And I'm saying that from my personal experience. I haven't been an Ozami mod for long but I have moderated and administered a few boards. And even on Ozami I had to remove a lot of posts or edit them to keep things like they were.
Just my thoughts.

melkior

[temi]

I voted yes, taking the point of those who are againt this because political discussion can turn ugly some times but it can also be intellectually stimulting when its discussed in a mature way

[temi]

IMHO Ozami doesn't need such a thread or a board. Things have always been nice here and without problems.
Politics includes ethnicity, religion an personal beliefs.
And Ozami has a vast differential in its users - they're from all around the world.
A thread like this one would be like opening Pandora's box.
Not to say it would be hell to moderate it and keep things peaceful. And I'm saying that from my personal experience. I haven't been an Ozami mod for long but I have moderated and administered a few boards. And even on Ozami I had to remove a lot of posts or edit them to keep things like they were.
Just my thoughts.

melkior

Thanks for you contibution melkior

[temi]

I voted No - as I guess Politics are about the only thing, well, no religion falls into the same category I do not like to discuss. I have seen many 'innocent and fun' conversations turn damn ugly when they turn to one of these two subjects.

Anyway, thats my two cents

Thanks kinglouie, 3 again it so far as oppose to two, its not looking good for the politics thread

[badcat]

we already discuss some things in the bar that would fit in an opinion/political type forum. I am proposing having a place specifically for those entries. I would also think that any type of opinion/political forum would come with some ground rules to keep the peace.

[temi]

I quite agree with you badcat, perhaps other members think having a dedicated politics thread will make thing in that particular forum heated because its labelled "politics" I wonder if some people come to Ozami because its and entertainment forum without politics. Lets see how the voting goes in the next few days.

[MarcusMaximus]

I agree with Melky - - Never discuss Politics, sex or religion with friends and family - unless you don't care if you lose those relationships.

In the past we have had some politically charged threads. These didn't go well - and for the most part our members have stayed away from such topics - on there own. Whether intellectually stimulating and/or discussed in a mature way - - there is always somebody who will take offense to comments made or even implied.

I don't think Ozami is a place for that. There are tons of places on the net where you can go and speak your mind on politics - -

Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.
Taking a break from all your worries sure would help a lot.

Wouldn't you like to get away?

Sometimes you want to go

Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
Our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name.

As corny as that song may sound -This is what Ozami is: A place to go to escape, have a laugh or two, and look at naked women. To leave the world and the worries behind you and be at peace with things - even if it's just for a little while. Dragging a political thread into the mix of things will only rock the boat.

It may not be a big deal at all - we may be able to handle a political thread - But Ozami is a great place and hasn't ever needed a political thread before - - so - do we want to take that chance and may be ruin a good thing??

Do we??

[st4lk3r b0y]

I would support it - but I prefer the idea of an "opinions" board. An opinion is just that, it isn't fact, it's just thoughts.
I look at it this way, if you don't want to discuss your thoughts about any given topic, you won't go to that board. The simple act of creating the board does not take away anybody's free will...you still have a choice to look or not look, to state an opinion or remain silent...or just hang out in the bar where everybody knows your name...
but that's just my opinion...which I am posting here....'cause there isn't anywhere else to post it... ;) :P ;)

[Natchai]

I'm not for a political thread. Lots of different kind of people here with different views visit here and have a good time joking around. Politics tends to divide people. People from different countries, continents, religions, etc. tend to have radically opposing ideas, not to mention men & women! So, I tend to agree with Max. This should be a bar where everyone can just relax and have fun. The world is screwed up enough as it is...this is a nice place to leave the real world behind and just have fun in the land of make-believe...

[netcom]

I think it would be a bad fragging idea...

I would rather pull the pin on a hand grenade and shove it where the sun doesn't shine...

[durgdul]

I voted no, I think there are plenty of other venues in which politics can be discussed. Ozami is international, we all get along well, a subject as volital as politics could cause hard feelings and jeapordize these friendships we are building.

[Deredeo]

hmmm....
guess i am in the minority with a 'yes' vote, but i think the forum would be good idea. true this is a place for relaxing and having fun, but it is also agood place to share views and ideas and expose ourselves to what others have to say from around the world from a perspective other than the media or a politians views.
we have access here to friends from every corner of the globe - where else would it be better to find out what views people have about events and the state of our world than here. creating such a forum would give a venue to share news and events worth talking about from a serious angle and as it would be called a 'political forum' (or something along those lines) those browsing it would now what they where in for before entering so they should be prepared for opposing viewpoints and disagreements.

then again, people are to different to really predict what would happen...i thik if it was created, it would die or fly on its own - you dont have to go there if you dont want....

[Chris]

I voted no, as to be honest it will most likely result in such a heated discussion it will turn into an argument.

Keep Ozami fun! Although posting a thread wil not hurt, seeing it fall of the main page straight away might.

[El Pirata]

I wanted to vote HELL NO but there was not an option for that so I voted NO instead. Politics and religious discussions are one sure fire way to start the members flaming each other.

[yellpractice]

Hm. Kinda got me thinking with this one.

Sunny and cool this morning Baghdad. Nothing political about that. But we had a couple of explosions around 7:05 this morning... dunno if that's political. (???) It's not for me.

But I gotta say no to a big generic Thing called a Political Thread.

As much as the situation over here in the Mideast cries out for dialogue rather than posturing and caricaturing... and much as I would like to add some depth and be a splash of cold water upon the alternate reality that is called reportage on the war, I think the complexity of the times in which we lives would just not be adequately addressed by a thread. I'm thinking here of the average post size, attention span, actually dealing with a *whole* issue rather than taking pot shots and Arm Chair Quarterbacking.

Ozami is admirably, intelligently cheery by design and a big part of that derives from limiting the site's scope. I think the sheer size of the discussions involved would be staggering. Maybe there are some simpler domestic or regional issues around the globe, many of which are very worthy, but so little of what is happening internationally is simple and straighforward that the amount of work and writing involved would be a deterent for me even to step foot in such a forum.

Maaaaybe one option would be to open a "Causes" thread for things people can actually *do* something about. This might curb the tendency toward mere bitching and moaning that typifies some sites that specialize only in opinionated jabber. Maybe have a rule that you can't get onto a cause thread and start telling people how their cause is stupid or evil. And set boundaries on how polar a thread can be on the political spectrum... (e.g. maybe not NAMBLA). Maybe a rule that you have to be *doing something* about the cause -- say, professionally or volunteering time -- before you can CREATE a thread. Once it's created, anybody can kick in, but never to disparage the thread itself or its other participants.

Another way to preempt personal attacks is to rule that posts can only deal with a thread's arguments in its own behalf; if somebody wants to pick a bone, they start a thread for an opposing cause and then make their *pro-* case on their own thread. Of course, from these threads, links could be followed to other opinion-sites where fuller discussions could be followed. And they'd already have to be doing something about their cause in real life. Such a thread could act as a clearinghouse for the best ideas of our many thinking members.

Feel free to shoot this down. The idea may just suck, it may make moderators' live hell... unless you can find a moderator who *wants* to manage this kind of thing. If that person can be found, this might be a way to ease Ozami into social issues while maintaining a high standard and encourage a supportive environment and an articulate, loyal opposition, without becoming a bunch of I'll-say-it-if-I-damn-well-please style Free Speech Poster Children. Preservation of Ozami's overall friendly and encouraging tone is extremely important.

[Teabags]

Preservation of Ozami's overall friendly and encouraging tone is extremely important.

[temi]

Looks like bad cat and my motion for a politics thread has been defeated. Okay, the message is loud and clear.
We will keep Politics out of Ozami

Thanks for participating in this vote

[MarcusMaximus]

Hoooorrrrayyyyyyy!!!

Politics - and politicians - just piss me off in general.