Reggie Smithers wrote:
snip...
My question to you is do you enjoy using rec.boats.cruising as a boating
forum? Don't you think it would lose something if it the group suddenly
started responding to cut and paste political articles or inflammatory
trolls?


Yes...
yes

Don White wrote:
Reggie Smithers wrote:
snip...

My question to you is do you enjoy using rec.boats.cruising as a
boating forum? Don't you think it would lose something if it the
group suddenly started responding to cut and paste political articles
or inflammatory trolls?


Yes...
yes
Don,
I guess that is why we really should hope we can use rec.boats as a
boating forum and if there are members of the group that would like to
discuss politics they find an acceptable group to subscribe to where
they can discuss politics.

They could even do what JohnH suggested and use a.politics to kick
around any other ideas, politics, get into some heated debates about
whatever. This way rec.boats regulars who enjoy politics can still
debate issues, and if they want to participate in some great flame fest.

It really makes sense.

--
Reggie
************************************************** *********************
If you would like to make rec.boats an enjoyable place to discuss
boating, please do not respond to the political and inflammatory
off- topic posts and flames.
************************************************** *********************

"Reggie Smithers" wrote in message
. ..
Don White wrote:
Reggie Smithers wrote:
snip...

My question to you is do you enjoy using rec.boats.cruising as a boating
forum? Don't you think it would lose something if it the group suddenly
started responding to cut and paste political articles or inflammatory
trolls?


Yes...
yes
Don,
I guess that is why we really should hope we can use rec.boats as a
boating forum and if there are members of the group that would like to
discuss politics they find an acceptable group to subscribe to where they
can discuss politics.

They could even do what JohnH suggested and use a.politics to kick around
any other ideas, politics, get into some heated debates about whatever.
This way rec.boats regulars who enjoy politics can still debate issues,
and if they want to participate in some great flame fest.

It really makes sense.

--
Reggie
************************************************** *********************
If you would like to make rec.boats an enjoyable place to discuss
boating, please do not respond to the political and inflammatory
off- topic posts and flames.
************************************************** *********************



I just hope we did not lose Chuck and other key contributors because of all
this crap.

JimH wrote:
"Reggie Smithers" wrote in message
. ..

Don White wrote:

Reggie Smithers wrote:
snip...


My question to you is do you enjoy using rec.boats.cruising as a boating
forum? Don't you think it would lose something if it the group suddenly
started responding to cut and paste political articles or inflammatory
trolls?


Yes...
yes

Don,
I guess that is why we really should hope we can use rec.boats as a
boating forum and if there are members of the group that would like to
discuss politics they find an acceptable group to subscribe to where they
can discuss politics.

They could even do what JohnH suggested and use a.politics to kick around
any other ideas, politics, get into some heated debates about whatever.
This way rec.boats regulars who enjoy politics can still debate issues,
and if they want to participate in some great flame fest.

It really makes sense.

--
Reggie
************************************************ ***********************
If you would like to make rec.boats an enjoyable place to discuss
boating, please do not respond to the political and inflammatory
off- topic posts and flames.
************************************************ ***********************




I just hope we did not lose Chuck and other key contributors because of all
this crap.


JimH,
Hopefully a more user friendly rec.boats will not only attract some of
the old regulars we lost, but also attract some new users.

Remember, we can only control our own actions, but "if you build it they
will come". ; )



--
Reggie
************************************************** *********************
If you would like to make rec.boats an enjoyable place to discuss
boating, please do not respond to the political and inflammatory
off- topic posts and flames.
************************************************** *********************

"DSK" wrote in message
...
NOYB wrote:
I think it's possible to limit the name-calling to the OT political
threads...and at the same time maintain civil dialogue in the on-topic
boating threads.


Agreed.

It's definitely possible, it's what's been happening here (in varying
degrees) for years. But I think it's desirable to ratchet down the ugly
name-calling in general.


There are a few folks here who are unable to control themselves, and let the
ugly stuff leak into the boating discussions. They lack self-control, and
need to sign on to artificial "pacts" or "agreements" to help them control
themselves.

If I'm in a boating discussion thread, I keep the conversation limited to
boating. If I'm in an OT discussion, there are no boundaries. Although I
personally try to refrain from name-calling and swearing, I believe it is an
important form of discussion. When I see my "opponent" go off on a
foul-mouthed, name-calling tirade, I know that I've accomplished my
goal...and "won" the argument. ;-)

This is an unmoderated newsgroup. With the filters available in most news
readers today, it's a very simple thing to filter out the off-topic
stuff...particularly if it's marked with "OT".

On Sat, 07 Jan 2006 20:27:28 GMT, "NOYB" wrote:

When I see my "opponent" go off on a
foul-mouthed, name-calling tirade, I know that I've accomplished my
goal...and "won" the argument. ;-)

================================

I believe that's called inflammatory speach.

Who needs it? That's where most of the BS starts.

There are better places to discuss politics than in a boating group.
The only exception that I'd make would be for boating related issues
like manatee madness, boat taxation, etc.