THSCC Forums

Karl,

I am with you. I usually come here to escape this type of talk elsewhere, but unfortunatly we don't have a rule against political/religous discussions. There has been a bit of an informal aggrement in which this type of discussion doesn't belong here, so historically we have not had many of these topics. However recently that has changed.

So until the rules change I only lock these once they break other forum rules (generally when people stop playing nice with each other). I feel comfortable making minor forum rule changes (such as some recent changes to the swap and sell rules), but am less comfortable with an outright ban on political/religious discussions without some type of mandate from the THSCC leadership or membership. I personally feel that there is a silent majority who wants this type of discussion to be banned. That there is a very small minority who participate (including myself at times).

Maybe we should put it a vote at a meeting or something.

Let the arguments and claims of "censorship" begin.

Richard

IBTL

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Richard Casto
1972 Porsche 914
2013 Honda Fit Sport
2015 Honda Fit EX
http://motorsport.zyyz.com
Money can't buy happiness, but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than a Kia.

I still think that it is the LOUNGE. It is the place for off-topic conversation. I'm sorry, but if you don't want to be involved, don't click on the link. (Karl, you really don't have to - no one on a forum importunes into your group). I may disagree with some or all of your political/economic views, but I will still talk to most of you. The biggest problem nowadays is that yelling passes for debate. You have Fox "News" and Rush on one side spouting their BS and not trying to contribute any real understanding just trying to build market share, and MSNBC and Al Franken (Oh wait he is somewhere else now) on the other doing the same thing from the left. We as forum members can choose to be part of the discussion or not. If I am sitting at an event and someone comes over and starts engaging in a discussion I don't want I will change the subject or leave.

BTW Steve the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand was only the trigger/excuse. WWI was started by a confluence of mutual defense treaties and Germany's desire to inhabit France.

I'd have to have I agree with Karl, in the sense that some of the opinions about our new leader perturb me but then again, that goes with the territory. Furthermore, we aren't forced to read everything included in these forums. Ultimately, it's impossible to make everyone happy.

It's great for a select few to get onto the forums and display how much they do or don't know about the history of our leaders' decisions regarding foreign policies and our current economic state and the bills that accompany it, but keep in mind that it's only going to lead to square one: the agreement to disagree.

Seems a little counterproductive to me... Cohesion leads to synergy and that's what puts able-bodied people back to work, grant them family health care (which every tax paying family should have- my humble humanitarian opinion), and food on the table.

WOW, its not explicitly in the rules.

It really should be. This isn't Tarheel Debate Club (although I fell victim last week in the Green thread) this is Tarheel Sportscar Club.

Lets remember the RULES
b. Members should post in a way that is respectful of other users.

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02 Focus SVT
STF 9

My 2 cents is that rule is too vague for me to feel comfortable with shutting down Political/Religous discussion. If we feel they don't belong here, then we need to say that in the rules.

"Yes", we have a "Lounge" for off topic discussions. But that doesn't mean anything goes. Some things already are prohibited via the existing rules.

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Richard Casto
1972 Porsche 914
2013 Honda Fit Sport
2015 Honda Fit EX
http://motorsport.zyyz.com
Money can't buy happiness, but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than a Kia.

I agree with Karl. It seems to me that the THSCC forum has really gotten away from much to do about auto sports, the club, events and more into gibberish, political discussions, environmental discussions, etc.

Yes, we don't have to click the link. Quite frankly over the past 4-6 months I have been using "mark all topics as read" more than the past 5 years. The trouble is, the people that start the blatant rants carry them over into relevant topics and pollute those.

I remember something about subjects to avoid...most if not all of those pertained to auto sports or the club. I would rather see discussions about the TIR class than see rants about politics. Far more engaging, insightful and relevant.

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Jim Pastorius
2008 Silverado VortecMax
1992 Camaro CMC#92
2002 BMW R1150R

2009 3rd Place CMC Mid-Atlantic Championship
2009 CMC Hyperfest Winner

Richard,

You can always go for the old rule of act first and, if required, beg for forgiveness later. Some people have a big issue with "censorship" and all, but personally, I would give a volunteer moderator a LOT of leeway. If something I ever post gets deleted, so what...it's just an internet forum, and I would hope to learn something from that outcome. One of the better car forums on the net, m5board.com, has been at times heavily moderated to maintain a mature environment, and if people don't like it, they are encouraged (perhaps involuntarily) to leave.

I guess I read the tenor of this thread wrong. It didn't appear to me that this was a disrespectful discourse that I contributed to (other than Steve's thread title was likely meant to jab at some). I have great respect for all of the THSCC members and would never intentionally cause issue with someone. Feel free to ditch my post as I'm not the least bit "attached" to it...there's no post delete button for users.

Chuck

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Current stable:
2019 BMW M2 Competition slicktop 6MT
2011 BMW M3 sedan slicktop 6MT
2007 BMW 328i wagon (slushbox for now)
1975 CanAm 125MX2

I guess I could do that and in the past you can probably find times when I have. But the problem ends up that I feel that I am making up the rules as I go and that's not fair to those who get chopped of at the knees by me if I do lock or delete a thread. Especially if those involved are following the letter of the law.

My personal opinion is we should work it from the other direction. That we should pretty much not allow political/religous talk as a general rule, but at the same time not enforce it with an iron hand. It wouldn't be a case of enforce it based upon what topics make me mad or whatever, but more of a case that a small comment here or there is not going to get someone in trouble assuming it's not a pervasive thing. Or that a thread that is auto related, but has political content (such as discussion of potential new laws that may affect our hobby, etc.) are allowed because they are much more in line with what this forum is about.

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Richard Casto
1972 Porsche 914
2013 Honda Fit Sport
2015 Honda Fit EX
http://motorsport.zyyz.com
Money can't buy happiness, but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than a Kia.

I believe you and I feel the same way. However, I do think that there are those who do really enjoy stirring up trouble.

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Richard Casto
1972 Porsche 914
2013 Honda Fit Sport
2015 Honda Fit EX
http://motorsport.zyyz.com
Money can't buy happiness, but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than a Kia.

IBTL?

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Not spectacular just decent.
I'm not sure what I'm driving.
Maybe an ITR in DS.
Or half-assed STX prepped 330.

I just don't understand. The lounge is for off topic stuff. Why do we now have to limit *what* off topic stuff? Sure, I understand the "don't be mean" rule, but I have yet to see any of that here. So what's the big deal? Sure, slap some hands (or worse if necessary) if people are derailing threads, ESPECIALLY if it happens in other forums. But the lounge is the lounge. The only reason to have it is to keep people from posting crud in the real forums. And if you don't want to read off topic stuff, it IS as simple as "don't click the thread." Really, it is.

I don't get Karl's example at all of people starting a conversation about that stuff in person. It DOES happen. It's not taboo. I certainly wasn't raised that there's some rule that thou shalt not bring up political or religious topics at a motorsports event. I don't generally, but I can recall having conversations about such topics around those events, too. It's no different than people that don't want to hear people talking about child raising issues when they have no children or people talking about losing weight when they've had trouble doing it or a whole host of things. Get a grip and stop trying to control what other people say and do just because you don't want to read it. I mean if you don't want to read it, what are you doing in this thread in the first place? Was it really easier to start this new debate than to just "Mark all topics read"?

FWIW, I do the "Mark all topics read" thing a LOT on these forums. Heck, I don't even visit the Rallycross forum to bother, but it's not uncommon for me to do it in other forums at all. You didn't hear anybody smacking Nicholson around for starting a thread in the track forum about his new baby, did you? I mean, I'm happy for him, but I don't *really* know him that well so once I saw what it was I just "Mark all topics read" when that's all there is to see in there. Probably should have been a lounge thing, but whatever...he was rightfully excited and wanted to share it with the closest group to him. No harm, no foul. Lighten up, people.


--Donnie

I think these conversations are mostly full of crap, and for the most part pointless. With that said, I don't see the issue? Just don't click the link, if you can't handle the conversation without getting bent out of shape. No one is making you click it.

I do feel that some attempt should be made (by the posters) to not bring this crap into more relavent threads.

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In need of car.

So yeah.

Thread hijacking? Bad.
Being mean to people? Bad.
Posting things with inappropriate subject lines? Bad.

Didn't see any of that in this thread. We've had a few threads here or there go a bit rogue, but nothing terrible.

Thank you to the Track people who put "time trials" in their subject line, too. Since I don't do those, it makes me happy to know I can "Mark all topics read." Just like those of you who see "republicans" in the title.


--Donnie

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My Blog

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George Bright Member # 141
One of the youngest of the old farts.
Yes I voted against you joining the club.

[/quote]

(other than Steve's thread title was likely meant to jab at some)[/quote]


moi? never. gasoline poured on cold coals will not ignite ya'll.

Karl, while i think you may have overreacted slightly, your right to voice your opinion in these forums about these forums is not about to be disputed by me.

unfortunately the availability of timeless classic threads such as Year long Novice & We Need an Awning and who can forget Corvettes shouldn't be tracked by Green Students just isn't happening as in years past.

i am bored, broke and sitting at home rather than going to the track.

in the future i will try to avoid stirring up the more vocal Right-Wingers among us, obviously as the token Left-Winger i am mostly out-numbered. just in case no one has noticed, i illicit more disagreement than controversy.

and if you can't go online and piss off the people you hang out with, why then go online at all. alright that may not be such a good idea.

in the future being after the end of this thread of course.

the past eight years have been filled with people voicing objections that opinions held in variance of their own opinions are offensive. prime examples would be (against the war / against the troops), against Bush ? you're against national security. as Ryan is prone to remind us, Don't Drink the Kool-Aid. if i offend because of my opinions then i am doing my part for freedom.

if in fact i offend because my rhetoric has no place in these forums, then i should stop.

Karl, you would be missed. Triad doesn't deserve you.

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BenchWarmer Motorsports

another one of those damn LeMons heads

just another Chump

we are an Autocross Club Dammit............