noah,
You can stop posting, you can stop reading, you can point out how stupid it
is to use rec.boats to discuss politics, you can use a filter, it does not
matter. The people who enjoy using rec.boats as a mud pit will continue.

If you have not figured this out yet, you eventually will. While the name
of the group is rec.boats, that was just the reason why people started
reading the NG, the regulars are here to fight, to call names, to act like
fools. Chuck is one of the more reasonable regulars, but when he is
reasonable his posts are ignored. If he makes a post that says George Bush
is an idiot, it is guaranteed to generate a 200 plus responses.

You may not like my message, but don't shoot me, I am only the messenger.
"noah" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 03 Sep 2003 14:38:46 GMT, "Bill Cole"
wrote:

Chuck,
Your observations are accurate, while I used the word "trash" because it
was
in a post I had just read, the insults and name calling are equal on both
sides of the aisle. You would have to agree that the person who likes to
call people "trash" is one of the more rabid regulars. He may
occasionally
post a boating thread, he may contribute to a boating thread every now
and
then, but as he has admitted his real reason for posting here is to put
down
the right wing trash who come here.

There is nothing you and I can do to stop this,

Yes, there is.


there are too many people
who enjoy this blood sport. It is the reason most of the regulars read
rec.boats.

rec.boats.bloodsport?
It's not that hard to set up a group.


"Gould 0738" wrote in message
...
I am not complaining, I am making an observation. I have accepted the
fact
that the NG is a venue to discuss politics and make rabid accusations
concerning anyone who disagrees with your philosophy.

If I was moderating a NG would I would not allow the personal attacks
and
the off topic political discussion, because it does nothing towards
building
a community. It's only purpose is to divide the community. But, this
is
not a moderated NG, so all I am doing is making the observation that
the
majority of the regulars come here to argue and call each other
"trash".

Do you disagree with my observation?


I think you have a specific regular in mind when you use "trash" as the
commonly exchanged offensive moniker. My frank opinion is that you are
quicker
to criticize the left leaning OT posters than the right.
That has to be OK, since I am quicker to criticize the right leaners
than
the
left. We should all be aware that our own bias usually shows through.

I don't disagree entirely. I see redeeming value in most of the
posters,
from
both (or all) sides of most issues provided they have a genuine
interest
in
boats and boating. There have been several instances of posters who
appear
*only* to fire off anonymous flames and, when anybody calls them on
this
behavior they say "I could give a rip about boating, I'm only here
because
you
have some GD liberals (or conservatives) that require my enlightened
flaming."

You can't have a viable boating NG if a large percentage of the
participants
don't own a boat, (or own a boat but never use it), and don't care
aboat
boating one way or the other. What are these people going to talk
about?
Certainly won't be boats or boating.

Boaters have the option to post on topic or off. Non-boaters have
nothing
of
substance to contribute on topic, beyond the "I'm looking for a boat
and
need
opinions on.........." type of thread.

Anybody who feels like a helpless victim of the NG content should
consider
bringing more on-topic ideas to the forum.

One of the reasons you don't see more "pros" posting here is that the
first
time anybody in the engine business or brokerage business or accessory
and
supply business mentions a product or service that they perform and are
therefore
extremely familiar with, one of two or three "usual suspects" will get
on
that
person's case about spamming the NG. Were you around when Dave Brown
posted
here? There's a good example. Very good outboard mechanic, and a
gentleman.
Everytime he said "boo" he was subjected to a relentless onslaught of
flaming
from an individual poster who had a low opinion of a brand of outboard
motors
he sold in his shop and who had a differing opinion of the
technology associated with those engines.
The flaming went well beyond the engine technology, with Dave's
personal
morals
and ethics being challenged because he would dare sell such a
"defective"
product.
He must have been called "spammer" a thousand times. One poster
announced
an
intention to drive Dave Brown from the NG, and crowed about "victory"
when
it
was finally accomplished.

Even Peggie Hall has had to endure some
harsh, mean spirited, criticism for offering advise on her areas of
expertise.
Has always been an odd double standard: If you work as a truck driver,
radio
repairman, shoe salesman, plant manager, or accountant, your opinion on
some
technical aspect of boating is welcomed by all. If you actually make a
living
in the field and dare to post anything based on your professional
experience,
expect to be
loudly criticized for "spamming."


"Gould 0738" wrote in message
...
Most of the on topic posts are done by newbie's stumbling in. They
have
no
idea rec.boats is all about politics. The regulars are the ones
who
turn
the on topic posts into off topic posts and start the majority of
the
off
topic threads.

How many of the 45 on-topic threads did you originate?

The regulars can't complain about a lack of on-topic threads if they
don't
start any.