What do you think?

[walk the walk]

It appears SoWal's politics section has become a cesspool for a few that enjoy playing in the sewer.The name calling,slurs,and crude insults has become the norm.Many here try to act civil towards one another but all that does is soil the utopia of a few that want the politics section to be their own little sandbox.
I,for one would like to see the politics section go bye bye OR if members want to continue down the wrong path be banned for a certain amount of time( a 3 strikes rule and you are done-banned) from politics.This practice works for other boards.
I think this would be healthy for SoWal and Kurt.If everyone can behave as adults,this section could be a good place for civil discussion of politics.Can it be done?

 

[30ashopper]

Emotions always seem to heighten close to a national election. I for one am bowing out of any thread where personal jabs start getting thrown. It's just not worth the aggravation.

 

[Rita]

It appears SoWal's politics section has become a cesspool for a few that enjoy playing in the sewer.The name calling,slurs,and crude insults has become the norm.Many here try to act civil towards one another but all that does is soil the utopia of a few that want the politics section to be their own little sandbox.
I,for one would like to see the politics section go bye bye OR if members want to continue down the wrong path be banned for a certain amount of time( a 3 strikes rule and you are done-banned) from politics.This practice works for other boards.
I think this would be healthy for SoWal and Kurt.If everyone can behave as adults,this section could be a good place for civil discussion of politics.Can it be done?

.
From SoWal forum rules & general info:

If you are reading this and post in this forum (Political):

Too bad there are sides because we have much more in common than not, but such is life. It's OK to mix it up here and debate as long as you are respectful. If the phrase, "let us agree to disagree" has never entered your mind, then this is not the place for you.

Trolls will be banned. If you get off on making others mad, this is not the place for you.

How to know if I am speaking to you:
You post only in the political forum. If politics is all you are interested in posting about then you should go to one of thousands of political forums on the internet.
You do not contribute anything of value to our online community. Ever posted a photo, written about a restaurant, welcomed a new member, sent a nice note to someone, googled and provided an answer for someone?
You are too aggressive or too defensive. If this is you then you are sticking out like a sore thumb.
You have complained that you are outnumbered, or that the "forum" is against you. A forum is a collection of people, not an entity out to get you. A forum is simply software which people use to express themselves. Software is not partisan, and I am a robot. Besides, we all are outnumbered in one way or another.
There are one or more posters that get under your skin but you find yourself reading most of their posts.
You have an avatar or signature which is offensive.
You have sent a PM because you are "too nice" to post it in public. If your message in not nice enough to post in public then you shouldn't send it privately. Personal attacks are not allowed on this forum - public or private.

Let us know if you are interested in becoming a moderator. The only qualification is that you are helpful and not reactionary, gentle and polite. Mostly our forum is self moderating - thanks to so many good people here. Most of the moderators of this forum have no title, nor do they need or want one.

This forum was not built as a place to validate your 1st amendment rights. The purpose of this site is to help people, groups, and businesses, and to help build a strong sense of community and support system for lovers of the South Walton area. Thanks for reading and thanks for keeping it polite, yet real.


() and bolded = mine



.

 

[Jdarg]

It's easy. Don't post or read the political forum if it bothers you. This has been discussed to death.

If you want to feel better about it, read any public comments on the NWF Daily online, or the spout off section. Makes the SoWal political forum look like a collection of rocket scientists.

 

[walk the walk]

.
From SoWal forum rules & general info:

If you are reading this and post in this forum (Political):

Too bad there are sides because we have much more in common than not, but such is life. It's OK to mix it up here and debate as long as you are respectful. If the phrase, "let us agree to disagree" has never entered your mind, then this is not the place for you.

Trolls will be banned. If you get off on making others mad, this is not the place for you.

How to know if I am speaking to you:
You post only in the political forum. If politics is all you are interested in posting about then you should go to one of thousands of political forums on the internet.
You do not contribute anything of value to our online community. Ever posted a photo, written about a restaurant, welcomed a new member, sent a nice note to someone, googled and provided an answer for someone?
You are too aggressive or too defensive. If this is you then you are sticking out like a sore thumb.
You have complained that you are outnumbered, or that the "forum" is against you. A forum is a collection of people, not an entity out to get you. A forum is simply software which people use to express themselves. Software is not partisan, and I am a robot. Besides, we all are outnumbered in one way or another.
There are one or more posters that get under your skin but you find yourself reading most of their posts.
You have an avatar or signature which is offensive.
You have sent a PM because you are "too nice" to post it in public. If your message in not nice enough to post in public then you shouldn't send it privately. Personal attacks are not allowed on this forum - public or private.

Let us know if you are interested in becoming a moderator. The only qualification is that you are helpful and not reactionary, gentle and polite. Mostly our forum is self moderating - thanks to so many good people here. Most of the moderators of this forum have no title, nor do they need or want one.

This forum was not built as a place to validate your 1st amendment rights. The purpose of this site is to help people, groups, and businesses, and to help build a strong sense of community and support system for lovers of the South Walton area. Thanks for reading and thanks for keeping it polite, yet real.


() and bolded = mine



.

If I really expressed my 1st Amendment rights here,I would be banned for sure.

I think most here just want some civility or politeness.
Before you post,ask yourself,"would I say this to this persons face?" This really works,some just need to try it.

 

[Andy A]

It appears SoWal's politics section has become a cesspool for a few that enjoy playing in the sewer.The name calling,slurs,and crude insults has become the norm.Many here try to act civil towards one another but all that does is soil the utopia of a few that want the politics section to be their own little sandbox.
I,for one would like to see the politics section go bye bye OR if members want to continue down the wrong path be banned for a certain amount of time( a 3 strikes rule and you are done-banned) from politics.This practice works for other boards.
I think this would be healthy for SoWal and Kurt.If everyone can behave as adults,this section could be a good place for civil discussion of politics.Can it be done?

In a word, No. That said, it is unruly at times but it could be more civil. I, for one, abhor the "banning" of posters. I have said it before and I will continue to say it until I am banned, the playing field does not appear to be level but that, admittedly, is just my opinion. I say that because I see posters on the left continually get away with posts that are as nauseating and nasty as anything that has been posted by some on the right who have been summarily banned. I will readily admit the snarky posts go both ways. One other perspective is that on occasion, it makes a thread more interesting.
One thing more. Until I found SoWal, I had never posted on a message board. I still have found no othe message board where I would enjoy participating. The political forum is but one forum on SoWal and definitely the most controversial one. The website itself is a boon to the area and of utmost use in many areas. I recommend it as a source for many things to people all the time. As far as the political forum is concerned, leave it alone. I quit posting for awhile and found I did not enjoy just reading what others had to say. If you don't like it, don't participate. And lastly, walkthewalk, while I fully understand where you are coming from and agree with you, I truly hope you will hang in there with the rest of us few Conservatives. On this board, we are few and far between.

 

[walk the walk]

In a word, No. That said, it is unruly at times but it could be more civil. I, for one, abhor the "banning" of posters. I have said it before and I will continue to say it until I am banned, the playing field does not appear to be level but that, admittedly, is just my opinion. I say that because I see posters on the left continually get away with posts that are as nauseating and nasty as anything that has been posted by some on the right who have been summarily banned. I will readily admit the snarky posts go both ways. One other perspective is that on occasion, it makes a thread more interesting.
One thing more. Until I found SoWal, I had never posted on a message board. I still have found no othe message board where I would enjoy participating. The political forum is but one forum on SoWal and definitely the most controversial one. The website itself is a boon to the area and of utmost use in many areas. I recommend it as a source for many things to people all the time. As far as the political forum is concerned, leave it alone. I quit posting for awhile and found I did not enjoy just reading what others had to say. If you don't like it, don't participate. And lastly, walkthewalk, while I fully understand where you are coming from and agree with you, I truly hope you will hang in there with the rest of us few Conservatives. On this board, we are few and far between.

Thank you Andy for the insightful post.I will not be going anywhere as this section needs a little "fair and balanced" posts,checks and balances if you will.Most conservatives can get our point across without juvenile insults and name calling but it does make it quite difficult at times.
Remember,before you post,ask yourself this question,"would I say this to this persons face or while your family was present?" It truly works for me.I hope a few will try this sometime for the benefit of all here and the forum.
Everyone have a nice day!

 

[Lynnie]

From I understand walk the walk, it was pretty wild during the 2008 Presidential campaign. I agree with 30ashopper, which is why I haven't been around much lately as is also such sage advice from Jenny Dargavell.

 

[Kurt]

In a word, No. That said, it is unruly at times but it could be more civil. I, for one, abhor the "banning" of posters. I have said it before and I will continue to say it until I am banned, the playing field does not appear to be level but that, admittedly, is just my opinion.

Some leniency may be given to members who help out the community and post in various subforums. But they don't have a free ride.

They are generally reasonable people with a sense of humor and perspective who can laugh at themselves and will admit when they are wrong.

They are "beach people".

When they step over the line and are warned they apologize and back off. They might also poke you in the ribs if you have no sense of humor.

If you are here only to post about politics then this is not the forum for you.

The political forum attracts a few extremists (on both sides) who only post in the political forum and most of them are trolls looking for conflict. These people don't last long here.

Walk the Walk you are a noob. You need to chill. You reported a post this Am and it was taken care of. That is the best way to handle real issues.

As for your "cohorts" and your "opposition" - the same applies. Be kind and respectful with a real desire to discuss issues instead of posting schoolyard insults and troll posts.

The best way to change what you consider a problem here is to do the right thing and set a good example. 30Ashopper and Glenda Wood are two excellent examples you should aspire to.

 

[Andy A]

Kurt, thank you for the clarification. BTW, what is a noob?