The merging of Off Topic and P&N

[Nick5324]

Recently I have noticed numerous Off Topic threads becoming P&N threads. Sometimes there is a just a comment here and there, but sometimes the thread is hijacked and becomes a political debate.

We have separate forums for Off Topic and P&N. I've been around here for awhile, and I've only recently noticed numerous off topic threads becoming very political. Today, the first two off topic threads I went into had first replies that should be kept in P&N.

I'm not trying to call anyone out, nor am I suggesting any specific user(s) should be punished in any way. AT is fairly strict about having on topic threads/discussions in all of the other forums, yet Off Topic and P&N seem to be merging without resistance.

Here are the two examples from today:
One

Two

The second one isn't an "extreme" example, but again, I post these two only b/c they were the ones from today. These two threads aren't specifically what concern me; it is the growing trend of the Off Topic forum becoming P&N(2).

 

[TBone48]

There are posters who feel a need to insert their political beliefs/agenda into the conversation at every opportunity regardless of the original subject matter. I don't think there's any way to stop it. Unless the mods move the threads to P&N- that might scare them straight!

 

[KarenMarie]

i would like to see P&N become politics and religion ... and allow news in OT.

But TBone48 is correct. Those that intend on hijacking with with their own agenda will do so, no matter what the topic.

 

[Nick5324]

Originally posted by: TBone48
There are posters who feel a need to insert their political beliefs/agenda into the conversation at every opportunity regardless of the original subject matter. I don't think there's any way to stop it. Unless the mods move the threads to P&N- that might scare them straight!

I agree. I guess my point it is that I've noticed a big jump. I read these forums fairly regularly, and have done so for years. I have noticed a big increase in not only the number of political comments in off topic threads, but also the severity (i.e. they incite heated debate) over the past couple of months.

I won't argue that it is impossible to prevent any politics from coming into conversations, rather they be face to face, on the phone, or over the internet. However, I feel there is a trend in off topic to hijack threads and turn them into heated political debate, which does not belong in those threads.

Edit: KarenMarie, I think changing P&N to polotics and religion and moving "news" to off topic is a great idea. :thumbsup:

 

[FoBoT]

its only going to get worse as the Nov. election approaches

 

[DrPizza]

I agree with Karen's idea as well... mods??

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
I agree with Karen's idea as well... mods??

Personally i think the idea sucks donkey balls. P&N keeps the trolls out of OT in the main.

You can still post about news in OT, it just means you can usually have a relatively civil, non-partisan discussion about it thankfully...

 

[imported_Phil]

Hell no. I for one really don't want OT threads becoming political trainwrecks.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
i would like to see P&N become politics and religion ... and allow news in OT.

Agreed

 

[Nick5324]

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: DrPizza
I agree with Karen's idea as well... mods??

Personally i think the idea sucks donkey balls. P&N keeps the trolls out of OT in the main.

You can still post about news in OT, it just means you can usually have a relatively civil, non-partisan discussion about it thankfully...

This is what my original post is about. What I have bolded above is what OT should be, and what it traditionally has been. However, I started this thread b/c I think this is changing. I'm noticing a growing number of "news" threads in OT that are not civil, filled with partisan discussion.

Phil, I don't want OT threads becoming political train wrecks either! That is exactly why I posted this in forum issues, b/c that is what is happening.

The off topic forum you guys are describing/want is the same one that I want..... one where we don't have to weed through political flame wars.

 

[fitzov]

Too hard to moderate. Besides, this is supposed to be a tech site. One forum for anything besides tech is plenty.

 

[Votingisanillusion]

"Politics isn't everything, but everything is political."

 

[erikistired]

Originally posted by: fitzov
Too hard to moderate. Besides, this is supposed to be a tech site. One forum for anything besides tech is plenty.

this hasn't been a tech site in quite a few years. hehe.

 

[Dualist]

i would like to see P&N become politics and religion ... and allow news in OT.

I have to agree there.

 

[Sunrise089]

ALL politics, ALL religion, ALL news in P&R&N forum, therefore helping make OT a much friendlier place.

 

[So]

Agree with the general sentiment, but I called for this years ago. P&N needs to become P&N&R (and all evolution / ID threads need to go in there)!

 

[SampSon]

It's impossible to totally segregate the discussion of an internet forum like AT.

 

[Nick5324]

Originally posted by: SampSon
It's impossible to totally segregate the discussion of an internet forum like AT.

I agree. Judging by most of the replies to this thread, I think most people think this is what I am suggesting.... it is not. I have been here 4+ years (SampSon, you have been here even longer), and I have noticed a change in the last few months. There has always been a political element present in ATOT, but lately it has been much more prevalent and aggressive. I seem to notice comments that are not how you feel about the topic of the thread and inherently show your political stance on the issue, but are border line on topic and are worded in a way to attack the opposite view; knowing they will incite a flame war or will hijack the thread into a "yeah, everyone who disagrees with us politically is a moron?.

Bottom line, everything is political, but more ATers are going out of their way to make everything a heated political debate, and for years, this wasn't common in ATOT.

 

[Greenman]

Please don't. I went into P&N once when I first found Anandtech, and never again. I can't understand why anyone bothers to post there, it's not like you're going to change anyones mind. Lets just keep things the way they are.

 

[JEDIYoda]

You wouldn`t need to merge OT and P&N if you just made a seperate forum for the 9/11 peeps to post....lol

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: fitzov
Too hard to moderate. Besides, this is supposed to be a tech site. One forum for anything besides tech is plenty.

Religion trumps Tech

/thread

 

[imported_Mike]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: fitzov
Too hard to moderate. Besides, this is supposed to be a tech site. One forum for anything besides tech is plenty.

Religion trumps Tech

/thread

only for some

Either way, P&N & OT pay the bills....and then some. I expect them to stay the same for quite some time.

 

[compuwiz1]

Originally posted by: Mike

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: fitzov
Too hard to moderate. Besides, this is supposed to be a tech site. One forum for anything besides tech is plenty.

Religion trumps Tech

/thread

only for some

Either way, P&N & OT pay the bills....and then some. I expect them to stay the same for quite some time.

What kind of nut-crackery is that? You really think AnandTech has any financial benefit from people posting on forums? How much money do you spend in the forums, on average, on a daily basis?

 

[jalaram]

Originally posted by: compuwiz1

Originally posted by: Mike

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: fitzov
Too hard to moderate. Besides, this is supposed to be a tech site. One forum for anything besides tech is plenty.

Religion trumps Tech

/thread

only for some

Either way, P&N & OT pay the bills....and then some. I expect them to stay the same for quite some time.

What kind of nut-crackery is that? You really think AnandTech has any financial benefit from people posting on forums? How much money do you spend in the forums, on average, on a daily basis?

What? Don't you get a monthly bill from Anand? Then, what have I been paying.

Seriously, P&N will always creep into OT and those who don't like it will try to beat it back. It'll then ebb and flow until it gets really bad. Then, it seems that the mods will crack down.

Although I have long supported the idea that KarenMarie suggested, it has consistently been shot down by the mods.

 

[Votingisanillusion]

Impeach Bush and peace will be in all hearts.