Deerkiller wrote:
Only problem banning off topic talk is that things get pretty boring. There are no off topic bans when I sit around and talk with friends or even strangers (for the most part-I don’t usually go asking total strangers about their STD’s for example).

...

I have never felt the need to leave this place because someone with lefty viewpoints is here also. Not sure why some feel that way. I suppose everyone is wired differently. Why not just have an off topic area and if you feel uncomfortable about it, just don’t click on it?

That works in theory. I once participated in a forum that had such an area. I had posted some stuff with with my typical sense of humor in the correct private area. Someone complained that it wasn't appropriate and the post was removed. When I was told about it being removed and the reason behind it, I replied that it was their loss and I never went back.

In fact, this is a fine line that our moderators have to walk and I can't praise them enough for the restraint used and resolution displayed when the line is crossed. When a discussion is closed there is always (that I've seen anyway) an explanation given and the thread is closed for further posting. That has been enough in the past to remind everyone to play nice. Again, a testament to the community that participates here.

Moderating is a tough job and sketchy stuff gets posted and definitely has on this forum that should or needed to be shut down. Purposeful jabs and incendiary remarks simply to elicit a response should be something that we try to reign in moving forward. So off topic verses "has no place on this forum" is something that we all should agree on. However, since this is an existing forum and not a new one it is going to be difficult to make people shift how and what they have been communicating as well as the style of communication that have come to use here. That being said it would be nice to stay away from things that lead to insults and fights. We are all o bunch of bikers who love to ride but we all can be d heads about somethings sometimes. But there is a limit and so that would maybe be something that can be more aggressively moderated moving forward. Warnings and notifications to violators is good and loss of participation is something that may stop the nasty stuff from being thrown out on the forum pages here.

txulrich wrote:


In fact, this is a fine line that our moderators have to walk and I can't praise them enough for the restraint used and resolution displayed when the line is crossed. When a discussion is closed there is always (that I've seen anyway) an explanation given and the thread is closed for further posting. That has been enough in the past to remind everyone to play nice. Again, a testament to the community that participates here.

I think the mods do a great job here.

I'm on another forum where so many threads gets locked down or removed for such minor reasons. Sometimes it is one person that does some name calling, and now you lose the value of the thread because that one person, and the mods reaction.

I bet we would all agree that we have covered all types of topics without issues,
it's people, not topics that cause a problem.

If you object to CNN or FOX news, do you cancel your entire cable TV subscription? No! Be responsible for your own emotions, don't blame others. Turn the channel or don't read the post if you don't like it. Very simple.

Gram and all our past and present moderators have done an incredible job! Thank you all!

+ 1 to what Shores said as a Blue lodge member there is one thing that we don't discuss in Lodge that is politics and religion and like Bubba was leading to is it creates a lot of disharmony, outside those two topics it was pretty much open. If you open a post you don't like or get offended by that post then back out and go the the next one. sounds like we are making progess and i like it.

+2

Frankly I can see both sides of this discussion.

There was a time when I found certain threads and members to be counter productive to the site; even to the point I PM'd Gram my concerns about it. However, it's Gram's site, and he made it clear he's OK with that. So I learned to just ignore it all.

That said, I do believe it's driven a number of members away, both long term and new, and at a time when the continued existence of this site will be somewhat dependent on obtaining and maintaining new members, we may want to consider adopting a policy similar to most other sites. i.e. R&P are for elsewhere. Or at the very least, maybe the new site can contain a subsection where members can discuss such things, but it doesn't show up on the main "latest topics" bar... If we even have that feature going forward.

Just my two cents.

How about this?
Approved Topics - Motorcycles, sex, drugs, rock & roll (and maybe cooking tips)
Disapproved Topics - religion, politics, parenting, sexual orientation, bestiality

Shores wrote:
How about this?
Approved Topics - Motorcycles, sex, drugs, rock & roll (and maybe cooking tips)
Disapproved Topics - religion, politics, parenting, sexual orientation, bestiality




Steve, We should ride to the strip club, fire up a fatty and discuss it!

Thin skinned gals & guys need to learn how to put protective gear on if they can,t fend for themselves in a public forum setting, its called scroll on by or don the PPE and come back swinging, Telling the teacher is a cop out.