DANGER section

[chihiggs]

I am not tyring to be a thorn in the side but aren't there forums for just such discussions?? Rhetorical question I know, of course there are; and I can see why you might want to talk politics here, because you feel this site is a little more civil and restrained when need be. However my question remains, aren't there forums for that type of discussion (typing)?

We are on a hiking forum and the bandwidth (waaaaay out of my league here) or space needed all comes at a price. Do we have the proper funding for the extra what ever we might need to change this from a hiking forum to a forum that includes hiking and what ever else?

Again, not trying to be difficult but I for one am not mature enough to debate (almost always becomes an arguement) without getting upset; which is why I drastically cut my visits to the forum on HAZ. Not my visits to the site because the info is top notch but many people, myself included can take the things written rather personally. Example: Once we debated the decision about closing national forests for fire risk (on HAZ), I am adamantly against this and received a couple of posts for that view (from a couple of people whom moderate on this site) that seemed rather personal and have affected my opinion of those involved.

I guess the other side of the coin is: Aren't there forums for political discussion already? When I would like to discuss politics, I find it fun to discuss them with people whom live in other countries and are not exposed to the extent that we are, to our media; hence they generally have a different view which can sometimes help me see things from a different perspective. Heck that may even influence or change my opinion but I seek that out at places like the Lonely Planet website set-up for travelers which has a rather active politicval section...Politica are usually important to travelers visiting other countries.

Take this for what it is; just a WORD of caution.
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All our dreams come true if we have the courage to pursue them...Walt Disney

[samiam]

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Sam I Am

[evenstar]

[paintninaz]

I agree with Higgs. I think there are plenty of other political discussion forums out there so that the topic doesn't need to be brought to the hiking site. However, when has this site ever stuck to "topic" and focused strictly on hiking??

I also agree with Colin. I don't have to read it, and generally I just skip over any topics that have politics in the theme (this one didn't "specifiy" in the title )......AND btw, it drives me crazy to have that little new post "flag" stay red just b/c I don't look at it!!!!!
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~Tracy

“Friends make the bad times good — and the good times unforgettable.”

[evenstar]

[mike]

[paintninaz]

[Tom Treks]

Hooli, you trouble-maker...

[paintninaz]

[evenstar]

[Hikngrl]

I think what Daddee is lookin for here isnot just to talk politics and other sticky subjects but to talk them with those he knows and likes from this board. Yes he could go any where to do that but not with this set of people.

I don't see any harm in doing as he says and marking a catagorie "danger, enter at your own risk" and letting those who want to talk trash about politics and other stuff talk it. Any one who enters must agree that they are to leave that talk there where it started.

Just my opinion.
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~~~Diane~~~

I want to shine!

[Guest]

I understand the opposing thoughts on this but I think Diane has a good idea on how to go about it. I like listening to others opinions. Even if I don't agree. It puts things in a different perspective and may possibly enlighten someone (me) to something never thought of before. Then of course there is the issue of taking up space, and this is an outdoor website and ..... guess the powers that be will make the final decisions,

[mike]

It doesn't matter to me either way, I tend to stay out of political discussions, especially when they get heated. The fact that we're a hiking website has never prevented us from discussing topics unrelated to hiking and we have an area specifically for those kinds of topics. My only request would be that we remain civil and respectful of each other.

As far as space being an issue, the posts are stored in a database, and take up very little room. New pages don't get generated when you make a post or add a topic. The site uses php to fetch ("retrieve" for you yankees, "git" for GTG, "abduct" for Hunter ) the information from the database and display it inside templates. Any time you read a topic, you're looking at the same page, "viewtopic.php". Only the information displayed is different. The only area where space is an issue is the photo gallery and GTG has assured us that's not a concern.

Should we create a poll and let everyone vote on whether to add a forum specifically for discussing political topics?
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[evenstar]

Yes to the poll.
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John Richardson and Richie Rich, El Perro de Playero
http://members.tripod.com/~evenstar/index.html
http://www.arizonahikers.com
When the Man waked up he said, "What is Wild Dog doing here?" And the Woman said, "His name is not Wild Dog anymore, but the First Friend, because he will be our friend for always and always and always. Take him with you when you go hunting."
--Rudyard Kipling, from Just So Stories, 1902

[Davis2001R6]

I too don't see a problem discussing politics but I am also very laid back and don't get offended very easily. I find it very interesting to see other peoples points of views and feelings on different subjects even if I don't agree with them. I've even learned a few things through these types of discussions. I would hate to see a discussion turn bad though and have anyone on this site be mad at each other.
-TIM-