Forgive me, but this is too hard to agreeably pass with silence:<br><br>We're doing pretty well with topics other than politics, thank you.<br><br>I never said you should make room for politics here. Please note that I've stopped posting political threads here for some time. I'm not even whining about how I'd like to post political threads. I'm saying, to me, there's nothing more boring than listen to people pat each other on the backs for not posting politics and religion. Worse, they say this as if it's a rule here, which it isn't. Even worse, it was this freedom to do as you wish the made many leave MC in the first place, and now you're scorning it!<br><br>No need to get hostile, NTO1.. Lord knows there's enough combatants over there to oblige you!<br><br>Just because an opinion is contrary doesn't make it hostile or combative. <br><br>people should just stick to MCF if they really have the urge to duke it out with someone.<br><br>I personally never said 'no politics', and you certainly have the freedom and ability to post on anything subject that you please — but the general attitude over here is that we like to keep things light.<br><br>I never said you did, and I understand your point. Again, what I'm responding to is that some are trying to raise the notch of intolerance over here, which they don't have the right to do. Stan said quite clearly this is essentially an anything goes forum. Yes, this new clique is free to try to draw false rules over the real ones, and that's why you're hearing from me.<br><br>If you can be good natured and civilzed with your political musings, then by all means go ahead and post on it.<br><br>You see, another false rule. Why don't YOU just skip threads you don't like instead of defining exactly what parameters you would like others to post under this week?<br><br>That is what's hostile.<br><br>Just know that you're not going to be able to stir up the sauce as much over here as you might be able to on MCF...<br><br>I've already done that with this hijack, but that's not my purpose. I'm only offering a contrary position. If that's difficult to tolerate, deal with it.<br><br>

Sadly, to me, some of the folks are like two seperate people. On one hand, they are helpful and friendly, and on the other they can be hostile and confrontational.<br>I prefer to deal with the "kinder, gentler" side of them. Unfortunately, I feel uncomfortable and that is a shame because I have many friends whose politics are different than mine. Because they are friends, they respect me and don't bait me.<br>What a shame <br><br>

there is no freedom to post.. you cannot start a thread with pornographic images!<br><br>You're changing the subject. You might want to sit back and take a non-combative breath. That's not the 'freedom' I'm referring to. Stan said quite clearly this is a topic free for all in here, and that includes politics.<br><br>Recently some have been turning up the dial on the idea that this is a politics free forum by design. Sorry, it isn't. If some want to insist that there are rules and expectations on how to discuss politics, again, there are not.<br><br>You're free to try to pressure some into silence, and I'm free to remind them they can ignore you.<br><br><br><br>

Hey Lori - can you repeat what you said before?<br><br>Sure Lesh - I said ...there is no such rule. We were all playing around one day welcoming a new poster I think. Someone was just kidding around when they posted (made up rules) these rules. It was all just in fun...<br><br>[color:purple]The shortest distance between two points is how far apart they are.</font color=purple>

When I said Sean left out--<br><br>8.) they're embarrassed that their party's President Bush is not the easiest President to praise or defend in debate, and so they'd rather have debates in general silence, which is in itself, politics.<br><br>-- that may have sounded 'baiting', but it wasn't meant that way, and I'm sorry if it came off that way. <br><br>What I mean to suggest is simple. Sean wrote out a list that seemed to be missing one major reality of the situation: people who don't want political debate because of the 'liberal' climate of the forum and they are not liberal. They feel outnumbered and so would rather say 'FSCK IT' and have such talk STOP altogether, because they don't like seeing their candidate hung out to dry.<br><br>Biggerfoot, from prior discussions you have participated in, you run conservative. When you say you agree with SROSS 100 percent, that falls a little flat in lieu of this reality.<br><br>I'm not saying you're not welcome to come here and have some peace. That's cool. I'm saying that when Sean made his list, he left a reason why some wish to avoid political discussion.<br><br>That's all.<br><br><br><br><br>

AMEN!<br><br>Too Easy!<br><br>

I think we've all gotten way out of hand... and this thread is exactly what we are trying to avoid here.<br><br>There is no RULE... it was a joke. Obviously anyone can post whatever they want (within reason). We were simply trying to let the newcommer know that for the most part, we don't discuss politics here - by choice, not because we aren't allowed to.<br><br>NTO1, you shouldn't have to defend your statements in this thread, and neither should anyone else. But your "defense" is exactly what we are trying to avoid by not talking politics. <br><br>I know you have more to contribute than political discussion... I used to read your posts all the time over at MC, and until the last several months, hardly any of them were political in nature. We would love for you to visit here more often and post like a mad-man if you want to, we just prefer not to have all the political stuff enter into it because it leaves you/us with a bad taste in the mouth due to the nature of politics.<br><br>

MacGizmo...<br><br>Maybe if we let this thread fade away is the best way to illustrate what you mean?<br><br>

Good idea....<br><br>

I found it "most interesting" that you said amen to a post that advocated light-heartedness and yet included a barb aimed at a particular political segment. So which does he want, exactly? From his post it wasn't so clear.<br><br>You don't need to answer. This sort of thing is why I avoid political talk myself. When it comes to politics, everyone is a hypocrite, including myself.<br><br>