Locked threads

[nashvillwill]

I'm mostly a reader here and not a big contributor, but the locked threads are bothering me. People can't act civilized, so now we have two, very active threads that are locked. Can't we start suspending people instead of locking threads that everyone uses? Transportation &a bits and pieces are two of the highest used threads here, but now they are locked. Eventually this site will be diluted down for everyone else. 

 

Just my opinion.

[bigeasy]

I asked about this as well. Just a heads up the Transportation thread should be back open.

[BnaBreaker]

Not that anyone asked, but here are my two cents.  Unless there were some posts deleted before I got there, I honestly didn't witness anyone being what I personally would call 'uncivilized' in those locked threads.  I mean, look, I agree that the political chatter can get out of hand on occasion, and I obviously realize it's not up to me and that the mods are just enforcing the forum rules as they interpret them.

However, just because one is made uncomfortable by the mere presence of political discussion, doesn't mean that those conducting the discussion are uncivilized wackos deserving of suspension, especially when there are definitely some blurred lines here concerning the interpretation of what constitutes 'political discussion.'  For example, is the mere mention of Governor Haslam considered "political discussion?" What about discussing the major transportation bill being moved through the TN state senate right now?  I mean, I'd totally get locking a thread or handing out suspensions if blatant insults were being slung about, or somebody brought up some totally unrelated hot button social issue in a discussion about light rail, but it seems to me that so long as the political conversation remains more or less about the topic at hand, that it should be allowed to continue.  

This has been mentioned before, so I'm not saying anything new here, but this is an urban planning discussion forum, after all.  How we are supposed to discuss subject matter like that in any sort of depth without ever occasionally dipping our toes in the political pool is beyond me.  Unless this forum is just supposed to be about little more than height fetishism and oohing and aaahing over photos of cranes.  

[samsonh]

If this forum is about height fetishism they are in the wrong city .

 

But I agree, bna. Urban planning issues are quite political. Avoiding those topics leaves us talking about boxes and roundabouts. That would be a pretty boring forum. 

[fieldmarshaldj]

59 minutes ago, samsonh said:

If this forum is about height fetishism they are in the wrong city .

 

But I agree, bna. Urban planning issues are quite political. Avoiding those topics leaves us talking about boxes and roundabouts. That would be a pretty boring forum. 

Your eyes don't deceive. I just upvoted Samson's post.

[Nashtitans]

3 hours ago, BnaBreaker said:

Not that anyone asked, but here are my two cents.  Unless there were some posts deleted before I got there, I honestly didn't witness anyone being what I personally would call 'uncivilized' in those locked threads.  I mean, look, I agree that the political chatter can get out of hand on occasion, and I obviously realize it's not up to me and that the mods are just enforcing the forum rules as they interpret them.

However, just because one is made uncomfortable by the mere presence of political discussion, doesn't mean that those conducting the discussion are uncivilized wackos deserving of suspension, especially when there are definitely some blurred lines here concerning the interpretation of what constitutes 'political discussion.'  For example, is the mere mention of Governor Haslam considered "political discussion?" What about discussing the major transportation bill being moved through the TN state senate right now?  I mean, I'd totally get locking a thread or handing out suspensions if blatant insults were being slung about, or somebody brought up some totally unrelated hot button social issue in a discussion about light rail, but it seems to me that so long as the political conversation remains more or less about the topic at hand, that it should be allowed to continue.  

This has been mentioned before, so I'm not saying anything new here, but this is an urban planning discussion forum, after all.  How we are supposed to discuss subject matter like that in any sort of depth without ever occasionally dipping our toes in the political pool is beyond me.  Unless this forum is just supposed to be little more than height fetishism and oohing and aaahing over photos of cranes.  

EXACTLY!!!!!! If this was like a gaming forum, I would understand why people wouldn't like political discussion. But this is an urban planning, politics are gonna be bought up sooner or later. There's a reason why liberal, progressive, blue-state Minneapolis has an amazing public transit system and we don't, and it's not because we can't afford it.

[claya91]

3 hours ago, BnaBreaker said:

Not that anyone asked, but here are my two cents.  Unless there were some posts deleted before I got there, I honestly didn't witness anyone being what I personally would call 'uncivilized' in those locked threads.  I mean, look, I agree that the political chatter can get out of hand on occasion, and I obviously realize it's not up to me and that the mods are just enforcing the forum rules as they interpret them.

However, just because one is made uncomfortable by the mere presence of political discussion, doesn't mean that those conducting the discussion are uncivilized wackos deserving of suspension, especially when there are definitely some blurred lines here concerning the interpretation of what constitutes 'political discussion.'  For example, is the mere mention of Governor Haslam considered "political discussion?" What about discussing the major transportation bill being moved through the TN state senate right now?  I mean, I'd totally get locking a thread or handing out suspensions if blatant insults were being slung about, or somebody brought up some totally unrelated hot button social issue in a discussion about light rail, but it seems to me that so long as the political conversation remains more or less about the topic at hand, that it should be allowed to continue.  

This has been mentioned before, so I'm not saying anything new here, but this is an urban planning discussion forum, after all.  How we are supposed to discuss subject matter like that in any sort of depth without ever occasionally dipping our toes in the political pool is beyond me.  Unless this forum is just supposed to be little more than height fetishism and oohing and aaahing over photos of cranes.  

You're right. My post crediting Haslam for the Improve Act in the Mass Transit Thread started everything but I prefaced that post with "I don't like getting political on here" for a reason. Even if you keep it cordial and reach across the aisle with a compliment, one snarky response sets it all off (which we saw from both sides of the aisle). I get the complaints. I'm a moderator on another board. Nobody likes scrolling through pages of back and forth arguing when you're looking for news. Fact of the matter is infrastructure is inherently political, so if you can't play nice you don't need to be involved in the debate. Period.

[fieldmarshaldj]

45 minutes ago, Nashtitans said:

EXACTLY!!!!!! If this was like a gaming forum, I would understand why people wouldn't like political discussion. But this is an urban planning, politics are gonna be bought up sooner or later. There's a reason why liberal, progressive, blue-state Minneapolis has an amazing public transit system and we don't, and it's not because we can't afford it.

There's also a reason that same place is called Little Mogadishu, and that's not a term of endearment.

[fieldmarshaldj]

36 minutes ago, claya91 said:

You're right. My post crediting Haslam for the Improve Act in the Mass Transit Thread started everything but I prefaced that post with "I don't like getting political on here" for a reason. Even if you keep it cordial and reach across the aisle with a compliment, one snarky response sets it all off (which we saw from both sides of the aisle). I get the complaints. I'm a moderator on another board. Nobody likes scrolling through pages of back and forth arguing when you're looking for news. Fact of the matter is infrastructure is inherently political, so if you can't play nice you don't need to be involved in the debate. Period.

I've tended to observe left-leaning comments rarely attract a negative attention from the mods, only when they're replied to by the opposition (however incredibly mild) and then all of a sudden, "Ugh ! Politics ! Must delete ! Must lock the thread !" nonsense ensues. Short of pretty blatant flame wars or threats of violence (and the latter have appeared here), I think we're adult enough to tolerate dissenting opinions without going full special snowflake. If the mods want a given discussion moved to coffee house, then move them. I think deleting posts is more offensive than anything else.

[samsonh]

43 minutes ago, fieldmarshaldj said:

There's also a reason that same place is called Little Mogadishu, and that's not a term of endearment.

Literally never heard it called that. It's an amazing town when it's not freezing. 

[claya91]

20 minutes ago, fieldmarshaldj said:

I've tended to observe left-leaning comments rarely attract a negative attention from the mods, only when they're replied to by the opposition (however incredibly mild) and then all of a sudden, "Ugh ! Politics ! Must delete ! Must lock the thread !" nonsense ensues. Short of pretty blatant flame wars or threats of violence (and the latter have appeared here), I think we're adult enough to tolerate dissenting opinions without going full special snowflake. If the mods want a given discussion moved to coffee house, then move them. I think deleting posts is more offensive than anything else.

But what we see again and again in these discussions, is it escalated into red vs blue/conservative vs liberal/ us vs them mumbo jumbo garbage, loosely (if at all) tying into the subject matter. I don't care if someone phrases a response tacky, if you go on offense, just understand, you're feeding the problem too. The discussion will only be further derailed.

[BnaBreaker]

1 hour ago, fieldmarshaldj said:

There's also a reason that same place is called Little Mogadishu, and that's not a term of endearment.

That's because, as it is with Nashville being known as Little Kurdistan in some circles, there are a relatively large number of Somali immigrants there, not because it looks like Mogadishu haha... I mean, come on, the home of the Juicy Lucy cheeseburger can't be all bad!  lol

[fieldmarshaldj]

48 minutes ago, claya91 said:

But what we see again and again in these discussions, is it escalated into red vs blue/conservative vs liberal/ us vs them mumbo jumbo garbage, loosely (if at all) tying into the subject matter. I don't care if someone phrases a response tacky, if you go on offense, just understand, you're feeding the problem too. The discussion will only be further derailed.

I have a nasty habit of viewing things through the prism of right vs. wrong. Now, mind you, on some things there's not really such a thing, so much as a difference of opinion or simple preferences. You like a sports team, someone doesn't. You like a tv show, someone doesn't. Restaurant, food, et al, hey, whatever. But certain things there is a right and a wrong. I blasted a certain legislative vote the other day, but it wasn't so much as the vote itself, but the people who lied to their constituents saying they wouldn't but turning around and doing so. Lying to the people that elected you is wrong, and there's no gray areas around that.

Anyway, I was in a discussion with Grilled Cheese, I didn't agree with him at all, but I'd rather have let him vent and put his opinion/position out there to be seen. It wastes my time and his if it's only going to end up being deleted (instead of moving it elsewhere). The only thing that should earn a deletion or suspension are threats to the other person (I'd say language to a degree, but I don't think this board lets you type out certain words).

[fieldmarshaldj]

30 minutes ago, BnaBreaker said:

That's because, as it is with Nashville being known as Little Kurdistan in some circles, there are a relatively large number of Somali immigrants there, not because it looks like Mogadishu haha... I mean, come on, the home of the Juicy Lucy cheeseburger can't be all bad!  lol

Given that political meeting earlier in the month, largely ignored by the usual media suspects... anywho. I'd have much preferred to visit Minneapolis back when Mary Richards tossed her hat in the air.

What's a "Juicy Lucy" ? Loose meat hamburger ?

[BnaBreaker]

9 minutes ago, fieldmarshaldj said:

What's a "Juicy Lucy" ? Loose meat hamburger ?

It's a burger with molten cheddar cheese cooked into the middle of the patty... sounds gimmicky, I know, but it's damn delicious!  Go watch some slow-mo shots of it being cut into... food porn 101!  lol

[fieldmarshaldj]

1 hour ago, BnaBreaker said:

It's a burger with molten cheddar cheese cooked into the middle of the patty... sounds gimmicky, I know, but it's damn delicious!  Go watch some slow-mo shots of it being cut into... food porn 101!  lol

Sounds delicious. Sounds even better with bacon on it.

[Will]

14 hours ago, BnaBreaker said:

 

However, just because one is made uncomfortable by the mere presence of political discussion, doesn't mean that those conducting the discussion are uncivilized wackos deserving of suspension, especially when there are definitely some blurred lines here concerning the interpretation of what constitutes 'political discussion.'

Agreed. And besides, it seems like the worst it ever gets is conversations getting sidetracked by people being rather too touchy and taking dissent personally, but if I don't want to read that, I can just scroll down. No harm done, and no need to stop the conversation. 90% of the content on this forum is pretty much on point. If it got to the level where the meaningful content was drowned out by the bickering, maybe locked threads would be warranted, but I don't think we've reached that point. 

[Rockatansky]

11 hours ago, samsonh said:

Literally never heard it called that. It's an amazing town when it's not freezing. 

I think they are amazing cities (MSP) even when it is freezing.