Why Are Some Posts Inadmissible?

eskbanker

It does seem a shame that it doesn't prove possible to have a cordial discussion about certain topical news stories without them swiftly escalating into divisive rhetoric and being closed/deleted, perhaps there should be some sort of sticky or pinned thread that clarifies the forum admin's position on this in a bit more detail than the generic 'political debate' proviso?

Brie

Likely in part because they generate a lot of "that's what you get when you vote for XXX" or "serves them right to be kicked in the teeth" type comments.  A civil discussion would be great, particularly when in relationship to a topical news story about the financial situation some have - for whatever reason.  

MattMattMattUK

There seems to be a collection of issues. The first is the no political debate rule, but in reality many things are political, so really they take a point of not too political. The second is is that MSE regularly post threads on subjects that are very political, if there is a no political debate rule then surely it makes no sense for the admin team to start threads which are political. The third is the idea that both sides of a debate will stay rational and objective, even more so when one side of a campaign only exists because those involved have chosen not to be rational or objective. 

westv

Why can't posts be deleted rather than threads?

MallyGirl

westv said:

Why can't posts be deleted rather than threads?

MSE HQ can deleted individual posts but it is time consuming, especially when the posts get quoted by other people. Best to just stick to the rules and avoid political comment.

westv

MallyGirl said:

westv said:

Why can't posts be deleted rather than threads?

MSE HQ can deleted individual posts but it is time consuming, especially when the posts get quoted by other people. Best to just stick to the rules and avoid political comment.

Which (as has already been mentioned) is difficult when pensions and pensions subjects can, by their very nature, be political.

MallyGirl

People can comment on, and ask questions about, the impact of government changes - once every comment is preceded by 'that money grabbing Ms Reeves' and such then it soon descends into deletion territory. 

In the words of Dragnet - Just the facts ma'am, just the facts.

Linton

westv said:

MallyGirl said:

westv said:

Why can't posts be deleted rather than threads?

MSE HQ can deleted individual posts but it is time consuming, especially when the posts get quoted by other people. Best to just stick to the rules and avoid political comment.

Which (as has already been mentioned) is difficult when pensions and pensions subjects can, by their very nature, be political.

I dont see why.  The questions that can best be answered in a forum like this are factual or an opinion on how the facts can best be managed to achieve some objective.  Political questions are about what should be the case degenerating into whose fault is it that what should be the case isn't.

Brie

Linton said:

westv said:

MallyGirl said:

westv said:

Why can't posts be deleted rather than threads?

MSE HQ can deleted individual posts but it is time consuming, especially when the posts get quoted by other people. Best to just stick to the rules and avoid political comment.

Which (as has already been mentioned) is difficult when pensions and pensions subjects can, by their very nature, be political.

I dont see why.  The questions that can best be answered in a forum like this are factual or an opinion on how the facts can best be managed to achieve some objective.  Political questions are about what should be the case degenerating into whose fault is it that what should be the case isn't.

This is the same thing I dispair about on a number of forums.  The sort where someone's plea for  assistance is met by something like "well don't be a dummy and try reading the stickies!!"   First time I came across one of those I thought it both rude and confusing as I had no idea what a sticky was!  And since I've wondered how many people come to MSE for help and go skittering back somewhere because someone has made them feel foolish.  

double_dutchy

You might even ask "Why Are Some Posts Excluded"

hyubh

eskbanker said:

It does seem a shame that it doesn't prove possible to have a cordial discussion about certain topical news stories without them swiftly escalating into divisive rhetoric and being closed/deleted, perhaps there should be some sort of sticky or pinned thread that clarifies the forum admin's position on this in a bit more detail than the generic 'political debate' proviso?

It's not too hard to divine. The particular issue in question attracts irregular and new posters, and the latter especially assume the MSE pensions board will be sympathetic. Au contraire though, board regulars are deeply unsympathetic. Hence what ensues is a heated 'debate' that just radicalises each side.

Having a 'sticky' on the topic won't change the dynamic. Who bothers reading instructions when there's no obvious ambiguity in how to get stuck in...?