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Politics thread closed

Started by Walter Long7 · · 👁 4 views · 23 replies

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Participants Walter Long7hiddenmarlin14Nicholas NguyenBradley White73lonebadger6frozenranger52Kate Harris50Paul Kern12Morgan Rodriguez57wanderingbadger77Susan Leebriskbison55Michelle EvansWilliam Bennett53
Walter Long7 Walter Long7 Active MemberOP
60 messages
joined Jul 2017
#1 ·
This is getting ridiculous. Everything posted under politics—especially lately regarding terrorism—that doesn't align with the moderators' specific worldview gets nuked, and then the whole thread just gets shut down.
What’s even the point of having a forum if we’re forced into this echo chamber? Why bother with any kind of debate at all? I honestly don't see how people calling for closing the borders can be labeled as xenophobic or racist in any meaningful sense—after all, that’s exactly what Austria, Canada, and Canada did, essentially seeing the European Union distance itself from us. By that logic, the EU is being quite racist toward you lot...
The whole reason for having different viewpoints is so we can actually hash them out. A huge chunk of the people here are currently living abroad or have family overseas, so naturally, they aren't going to cheerlead for policies that make life harder for them.
Look, I’m not a fan of insults, but here, any sensible argument is branded as "racist" or "unacceptable," and the topic gets locked every five minutes. At this point, I really don't see the value in participating.
Things have clearly spiraled out of control—though perhaps not as much for the general users as they have for those actually moderating this forum.
hiddenmarlin14 hiddenmarlin14 Active Member
55 messages
joined Feb 2018
#2 ·
moderator lonebadger6 posted a warning along with some links. Out of those four links, only one actually works, at least for me 🤷
Nicholas Nguyen Nicholas Nguyen Active Member
80 messages
joined Oct 2016
#3 ·
Moderator lonebadger6 clearly lacks the competence to handle threads regarding terrorism. He just locks everything down, wipes out almost every post, and hands out warnings like he’s throwing candy. Users end up banned because they get handed cards for trolling or hate speech, sometimes even in a chain reaction just to hit a penalty threshold and kick someone off the forum for a few days.
Threads about terrorist attacks turn into nothing more than news tickers after his little stunts; you can post a link to a new attack with a death toll, and that’s it. Any actual discussion is strictly forbidden.
Not to mention how he threatens to punish posts calling to close the border(!) or those criticizing the obvious failure of the multiculturalism project by labeling them as hate speech(!!!).

The supermoderators need to sit down, coordinate, and appoint someone else—someone actually capable—to moderate these topics. lonebadger6 is clearly unfit for the role due to his personal biases and rose-colored glasses.

If you want to start an informative thread about terrorism—stating an attack happened here or there, with this many dead or wounded—go ahead. But you shouldn't be locking threads or punishing users based on personal views regarding terrorism, especially if someone suggests we should close the borders to newcomers or argues that the project of coexistence with people living completely different lifestyles has failed.

I am certain many more users will show up here to express their dissatisfaction with lonebadger6's catastrophic moderation on these controversial subjects.
Bradley White73 Bradley White73 Active Member
78 messages
joined Sep 2020
#4 ·
I'm just copying this over from my own thread:

Linda King Asks:
Well, I just saw that he released a manifesto, basically acting like a set of guidelines on what we’re allowed to say from now on. It’s almost funny—as if we hadn't already figured all that out ourselves.

Well, I guess he just went ahead and planted that right there, and even made sure to bold it too:
Quote:
I honestly think we need to be careful about how we handle this moving forward. I guess any future attempts to push those kinds of racial or xenophobic theories—you know, the ones centered around ideas like "White Europeans" or "European Christians"—should probably be addressed directly. It feels like we should stay mindful of that kind of rhetoric as we continue these discussions. "Close the borders," "ban entry," and all that nonsense about how "multi-culturalism is the way to go"—it’s just more of the same. I mean, at the end of the day, they basically boil down to the exact same thing, don't they? I guess you could say they're essentially identical. I suppose there's a chance this might be flagged as hate speech.Maybe it’s not quite $500, depending on how you look at it, but I’d say it’s definitely worth $100. Honestly, if someone can't grasp the fact that terrorist attacks and crimes are committed by a tiny minority within the Muslim community, then they really need to figure that out on their own time—because it isn't going to be discussed here. Trying to fight Islamic terrorism by spreading hatred or contempt toward all Muslims is just not welcome on this forum, and it won't be tolerated.
It seems like saying "close the borders" or "ban entry" will be flagged as hate speech. Apparently, they’re going to lump those phrases right in with terms like "White European" or "European Christian," because, I guess, to lonebadger6, they all basically mean the exact same thing.
Regarding this third point, I wonder if we'll be allowed to quote Angela Merkel, where she mentioned that the whole multiculturalism concept is essentially dead?
lonebadger6 lonebadger6 Active Member
165 messages
joined Oct 2018
#5 ·
Walter Long7 said:This is getting ridiculous... everything regarding politics, especially now with all this terrorism talk, that doesn't align with how the moderators think just gets wiped out until they finally shut the whole thread down.

If you look at the Germany thread, there’s an explanation right there as to why it’s temporarily locked. As for the terrorism discussion, it’ll reopen once the moderators and super-mods iron out a few specifics... maybe it'll be the old thread, maybe it'll be a new one, but it's coming back eventually.

And regarding the deletions and warnings—just a heads up, you can get flagged for trolling on the main subforums too. We aren't punishing people just because they disagree with a moderator's take; we're flagging those who fail to maintain a civilized tone or disregard basic human values. Honestly, I don't even feel like arguing with anyone who can't grasp that on their own. The rules are posted, the warnings are clear... if someone can't follow them, that's on them...

Just as a side note for those who clearly haven't bothered to learn how this forum works, or for those whose egos won't let them actually go look for information—it wasn't the same moderator who closed these two threads, nor are they acting against the consensus of the rest of the mod team.
Walter Long7 Walter Long7 Active MemberOP
60 messages
joined Jul 2017
#6 ·
lonebadger6 said:If you want to know why the Germany thread is temporarily closed, go check the explanation there. As for the terrorism discussion, that will reopen once the moderators and supermoderators hash out the specific details—which is their job, after all. It might be the old thread, or perhaps we'll just start a new one, but it’s coming.

As for deletions and bans—I’d suggest keeping in mind that you can get flagged for trolling on any major US forum. We aren't punishing anyone just because they disagree with a moderator's opinion; we’re targeting those who fail to maintain civilized discourse and basic human decency. Honestly, I don't see much point in arguing with people who can't grasp that concept on their own. The rules are laid out, the warnings are issued—if you can't follow them, that's on you.

It seems to me like you're the one deciding which "universal values" apply here. From where I'm sitting, freedom of speech and the right to express opinions—even ones labeled as hate speech by this group—is one of those core values.
frozenranger52 frozenranger52 Member
40 messages
joined Dec 2012
#7 ·
I find myself agreeing with the criticisms regarding the mediocre moderation by lonebadger6 in the threads concerning terrorism. When someone offers a critique comparing different types of terrorism, their comment gets wiped out. If you try to use a bit of sarcasm—which, despite the tone, actually serves the discussion by pinpointing the hypocrisy within certain segments of the public—you get handed a digital warning and a deletion... Then there's the matter of posting a link about a knife attack by a radical extremist in the Alps within the discussion about the Nice attack, only to have those comments scrubbed too, even though it’s arguably the most relevant news to share in that context. It just keeps going on and on like that...
Kate Harris50 Kate Harris50 Member
28 messages
joined Feb 2018
#8 ·
lonebadger6, wouldn't it be more effective to just scrub those inflammatory posts instead of nuking the entire thread? It’s been locked since yesterday, which is a damn shame because this is easily the most relevant topic in politics right now.

Even back when that incredibly volatile discussion about Hasanbegović was going on, they used to lock it overnight only to reopen it by morning. But this one? This one has been sitting dead for almost an entire day.
lonebadger6 lonebadger6 Active Member
165 messages
joined Oct 2018
#9 ·
Just a quick note, I have zero intention of dragging out arguments with people who just can't handle the fact that racism and xenophobia aren't going to fly on this forum... they won't. So, that's that.

Kate Harris50 — I didn't personally shut it down, but of course, I fully support closing it, just like all my other colleagues, mostly for the reasons already laid out regarding Germany (which, by the way, is open now). A few things just spiraled out of control and had to be reined in; deleting posts or handing out light warnings wasn't doing the trick, so we ended up closing it—which, let's face it, mainly bothers those who would have probably been banned anyway if we hadn't provided an explanation (and I don't mean you). Germany is back open exactly as announced, and as for the terrorism topic, we're deciding how to structure it moving forward, whether we stick with this thread or start a new one with a more concrete introduction. I agree it feels a bit awkward to have it closed right now, especially with that new attack in Germany last night, but I believe we'll wrap this part up quickly and then reopen a discussion on terrorism, whether it's the old thread or a brand new one...
Paul Kern12 Paul Kern12 Active Member
106 messages
joined Feb 2018
#10 ·
I believe it is quite difficult to moderate threads this explosive—personally, I wouldn't want to take that on, as it seems like an incredibly thankless task.
I agree that the thread should remain open, if only to facilitate the sharing of information and the expression of various viewpoints—perhaps even splitting it into two sections: one dedicated strictly to facts and another for commentary.
That said, we as forum members also have a responsibility to ensure we aren't unnecessarily escalating tensions or fueling panic.
Kate Harris50 Kate Harris50 Member
28 messages
joined Feb 2018
#11 ·
lonebadger6 said:I didn't personally close it, but naturally, I am fully in favor of closing it—just like all my colleagues here. For the most part, we're doing it for the exact reasons already laid out in the thread about Germany (by the way, Germany is wide open now).

Fine. This is the first time I'm hearing from you that the discussion has been moved to the topic regarding Germany (it didn't occur to me to go look for that specific thread 😵) or that you've gone ahead and drafted some sort of rules.

It’s a shame those same rules weren't applied to the terrorism thread, because otherwise, I'm left hunting through various other topics just to figure out what the guidelines are for this one. Well, at least now I know.
lonebadger6 lonebadger6 Active Member
165 messages
joined Oct 2018
#12 ·
It’s just because we aren't quite sure if we’re going to reopen the old one or just build something entirely new with much clearer rules... It’s a bit of an awkward timing, I’ll give you that.
Morgan Rodriguez57 Morgan Rodriguez57 Active Member
216 messages
joined Oct 2011
#13 ·
Nicholas Nguyen said:I’m pretty sure we’re going to see a whole crowd of folks popping up here to vent about how terrible the moderation has been regarding those controversial threads...

Honestly, because of how things have been handled, I actually went ahead and asked for a formal review from the higher-ups over at the main site—just to get things squared away... It definitely makes things feel a bit more relaxed when you aren't constantly worried about getting slapped with a warning after every single thing you post. ☕
wanderingbadger77 wanderingbadger77 Active Member
100 messages
joined Oct 2018
#14 ·
The thread starts out great—totally culture-driven, zero fighting, just good vibes. Then some moderator drops a post that nobody agrees with, and suddenly everything goes south with all the trolling and hate speech.
We’ve been put on ice for reasons I can’t even wrap my head around. There wasn't even any real heat in the thread, other than the fact that the mod felt unloved because his posts didn't get a standing ovation from everyone.
It feels like once again, anyone who doesn't align with the mod's specific political, globalist, or intellectual worldview gets slapped with the "trolling" or "hate speech" label.

So let me say this loud and clear: I feel insulted. Being labeled a racist or a purveyor of hate when I have absolutely nothing to do with that is ridiculous.

When are we actually going to see moderators held accountable for throwing around insults like that?
Susan Lee Susan Lee Active Member
125 messages
joined Jul 2017
#15 ·
wanderingbadger77 said:When are the mods actually gonna start handing out sanctions for people throwing around insults that easily?

Never.
Bradley White73 Bradley White73 Active Member
78 messages
joined Sep 2020
#16 ·
wanderingbadger77 said:The vibe here is usually pretty chill—culturally driven, no fighting, just good energy. But then some moderator drops a post that doesn't sit right with everyone, and suddenly everything falls apart with trolling and hate speech accusations.
It feels like we’re being sidelined, though I’m honestly not sure why. There wasn't even any real tension in the thread, except maybe because the mod felt a bit stung when his posts didn't get an immediate round of applause.
It seems like we’ve reached this point where, once again, any comment that doesn't align with the mod's specific political, global, or intellectual views gets labeled as trolling or hate speech.

So, I’ll say it clearly: I feel pretty insulted. Being labeled a racist or a purveyor of hate when that isn't the case at all... it just feels wrong.

When will moderators actually face consequences for throwing around insults like that so easily?

And that post of yours that got flagged and then deleted... 🤣

Here it is:

wanderingbadger77 said:Look at this post
I just can't accept fear becoming a normalized part of life in America. If some people on this forum think that's okay, well, it isn't for me, and
nothing matters more than the safety of people across the US.

I don't care if we're talking about Islamic terrorism or anything else; those recent events in Germany were acts of terror against its citizens, and no one can convince me otherwise.

The whole thing feels like a farce. They claim they wouldn't let a Syrian man into a festival because he supposedly didn't have a ticket, yet millions have entered the US without any documentation at all.

That "lover" wasn't "just" a terrorist who killed a pregnant woman before moving on to unknown targets... if he hadn't been stopped and there weren't more victims, how would we even describe him?

The same goes for that depressed guy in Munich—a sick individual who spent a year planning a massacre. Depression isn't aggression, and there's simply no excuse for it.

Then there's this latest incident, where the initial reports claimed it was just a gas leak.

Lies and deception... refusing to call an event by its real name is just running away from reality and provoking a reaction from the other side.
I don't know who benefits from that, but if American politicians don't show some real will to solve this crisis, the people might just take matters into their own hands... I guess that's what happens leading up to elections in Germany in 2017.

🙏
Bradley White73 Bradley White73 Active Member
78 messages
joined Sep 2020
#17 ·
Nicholas Nguyen said:...
I won't even get started on how he’s threatening to flag anyone who suggests we should close the border(!) or criticizes what looks like a failed multiculturalism project as hate speech(!!!).

Well, those are the new rules, I guess! The guy is basically a fanatic ideologue. Luckily, he’s just a moderator here on this forum. But honestly, I don't see myself leaving this site anytime soon, and there's no way I'm staying quiet about my views—even if they happen to be perfectly summarized and then labeled as "forbidden speech." No chance. I'm not leaving this place without my diploma.
wanderingbadger77 wanderingbadger77 Active Member
100 messages
joined Oct 2018
#18 ·
Since you decided to make this a featured post, I might as well weigh in.
Honestly, there’s already been plenty said and I’m not looking to beat a dead horse here. I couldn't care less about sanctions, but I am seriously insulted by being labeled some kind of hate-monger or troll just because of a post like this—and it’s definitely not the first time.

I’m far from being an isolated case; what we’re seeing is "democratic censorship" in full swing. They just want to weed out anyone who thinks differently by branding them as villains based on whatever their personal leanings happen to be.

It isn't easy to talk about stuff like this, especially when people get worked up. I might go quiet for a bit when things get heated, but don't think for a second I'm backing down... we're all thinking the exact same thing.
briskbison55 briskbison55 Active Member
135 messages
joined Jun 2009
#19 ·
It’s not just happening here on this forum, either. Honestly, you see the exact same thing playing out across message boards and news outlets all over Europe. Like, in Germany, they’ll actually scrub posts if someone points out that there were four attacks carried out by Muslims in just seven days right there in Germany—it’s wild. I mean, you aren't even saying anything besides the actual facts, but still, nothing is allowed to be written.
lonebadger6 lonebadger6 Active Member
165 messages
joined Oct 2018
#20 ·
wanderingbadger77 said:Since you went through the trouble of making a formal post just to get my take on this...
A lot has already been said, and I’m not going to waste breath repeating myself; I couldn't care less about sanctions, but I am genuinely insulted that I'm being branded as some kind of hate-monger or troll because of posts like this—and it’s not even the first time...

Since we're talking about a ban, and unlike most people here, you actually possess the bare minimum requirements for civilized communication—specifically, providing a clarification—you should know that two or three of your previous posts in this exact style were already deleted, though apparently, that wasn't enough of a hint for you. Nobody is calling you a hate-monger, but the ban for trolling was actually pretty well-deserved...

The reason you got hit is because you keep stubbornly insisting that every single action taken by a Muslim is "Islamic terrorism." That specific obsession is exactly why the terrorism thread was shut down (which, by the way, wasn't my call, but rather a decision made by the entire site moderation team)...

In your last paragraph, you crossed the line of decent debate, so I won't even dignify that part with a response, but since you went with the "you get what you give" approach, it's hardly surprising you let the heat of the moment get to you, which is why you received the rest of this reply. If you have more questions regarding your ban, please head over to the Appeals section, because this isn't the place for it... Regards.

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