Member Poll on "News, Current Events & Politics" at DW

Tell us how you think the forum can be improved. We will listen.

In relation to "News, Current Events & Politics", I believe such discussion...

Should continue to be allowed at Dhamma Wheel, as is, because the Dhamma can influence how we see the world, and vice versa.
8
23%
Should go back to being in the Lounge, because having a dedicated section seems to give it too much prominence.
8
23%
Is fine in theory, but has become too difficult to manage in 2018, given people's attachment to views and widespread political polarization.
3
9%
Is fine in theory, but staff need to clamp down harder on serial offenders who cannot abide by the rules of that section.
1
3%
Is fine in theory, but staff unfairly oppress me and don't let me express my views.
1
3%
Should be prohibited at Dhamma Wheel altogether, because the topics and potential disputes tend to detract from the true purpose of the forum.
12
34%
Should be prohibited at Dhamma Wheel, altogether because worldly matters and religious matters should be kept separate.
1
3%
Is... (something else altogether, please explain below)
1
3%
 
Total votes: 35

binocular
Posts: 8292
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Re: Member Poll on "News, Current Events & Politics" at DW

Post by binocular »

DNS wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 6:47 pmWe are simply trying to figure out what to do about the heated debates and conflicts, some of which are not violations of terms of service, but simply different political views where opposing sides sometimes get nasty, but just below the point of violating any rules.
There has to be a cause as to why people engage in political debates on a Buddhist forum. As long as this cause is active (at the forum), people will continue to engage in political debates here (even if the news section wouldn't exist).
So the only real solution seems to be to do something about this cause.
Hic Rhodus, hic salta!
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Pseudobabble
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Re: Member Poll on "News, Current Events & Politics" at DW

Post by Pseudobabble »

Mr Man wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 8:51 pm
Pseudobabble wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 8:47 pm
Mr Man wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 8:43 pm

Hi David

Look at this post David. Look at the meme. This is from your admin. Do you think this kind of post helps? Does it set a good tone?

viewtopic.php?f=54&t=29216&start=540#p472905
Whats a good tone?
Not that for a Dhamma website.
Would it be ok to profess appreciation for Stalin or Che Guevara? For their industrial advances, say, in Stalin's case, and for revolutionary chic in Guevara's..
"Does Master Gotama have any position at all?"

"A 'position,' Vaccha, is something that a Tathagata has done away with. What a Tathagata sees is this: 'Such is form, such its origination, such its disappearance; such is feeling, such its origination, such its disappearance; such is perception...such are fabrications...such is consciousness, such its origination, such its disappearance.'" - Aggi-Vacchagotta Sutta


'Dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return.' - Genesis 3:19

'Some fart freely, some try to hide and silence it. Which one is correct?' - Saegnapha
binocular
Posts: 8292
Joined: Sat Jan 17, 2009 11:13 pm

Re: Member Poll on "News, Current Events & Politics" at DW

Post by binocular »

Pseudobabble wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 8:47 pmWhats a good tone?
I think the actual problem is either a lack of (good) leadership, or the conviction that the Dhamma doesn't require or can do without (good) leadership.
Hic Rhodus, hic salta!
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Pseudobabble
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Re: Member Poll on "News, Current Events & Politics" at DW

Post by Pseudobabble »

binocular wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 8:54 pm
DNS wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 6:47 pmWe are simply trying to figure out what to do about the heated debates and conflicts, some of which are not violations of terms of service, but simply different political views where opposing sides sometimes get nasty, but just below the point of violating any rules.
There has to be a cause as to why people engage in political debates on a Buddhist forum. As long as this cause is active (at the forum), people will continue to engage in political debates here (even if the news section wouldn't exist).
So the only real solution seems to be to do something about this cause.
Yeah, the cause is that this is one of the few places on the web where leftists and rightists actually encounter each other! Most people just live in their algorithm generated topic wells.

If you try to profess left politics on Breitbart, you wont last long. Samewise right politics on the Guardian. Here you can say what you want pretty much as long as its within the TOS.
"Does Master Gotama have any position at all?"

"A 'position,' Vaccha, is something that a Tathagata has done away with. What a Tathagata sees is this: 'Such is form, such its origination, such its disappearance; such is feeling, such its origination, such its disappearance; such is perception...such are fabrications...such is consciousness, such its origination, such its disappearance.'" - Aggi-Vacchagotta Sutta


'Dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return.' - Genesis 3:19

'Some fart freely, some try to hide and silence it. Which one is correct?' - Saegnapha
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Pseudobabble
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Re: Member Poll on "News, Current Events & Politics" at DW

Post by Pseudobabble »

binocular wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 8:56 pm
Pseudobabble wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 8:47 pmWhats a good tone?
I think the actual problem is either a lack of (good) leadership, or the conviction that the Dhamma doesn't require or can do without (good) leadership.
Who are the leaders? I don't see the mods or admins doing a bad job at administrating.
"Does Master Gotama have any position at all?"

"A 'position,' Vaccha, is something that a Tathagata has done away with. What a Tathagata sees is this: 'Such is form, such its origination, such its disappearance; such is feeling, such its origination, such its disappearance; such is perception...such are fabrications...such is consciousness, such its origination, such its disappearance.'" - Aggi-Vacchagotta Sutta


'Dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return.' - Genesis 3:19

'Some fart freely, some try to hide and silence it. Which one is correct?' - Saegnapha
User avatar
DNS
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Re: Member Poll on "News, Current Events & Politics" at DW

Post by DNS »

binocular wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 8:56 pm
Pseudobabble wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 8:47 pmWhats a good tone?
I think the actual problem is either a lack of (good) leadership, or the conviction that the Dhamma doesn't require or can do without (good) leadership.
Lead with an iron-fist, people complain. Lead with laissez-faire, people complain. It's best to try and find the perfect middle; but no matter what there will always be people complaining, because there will always be people on the receiving end of moderator actions (or in-actions).
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Mr Man
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Re: Member Poll on "News, Current Events & Politics" at DW

Post by Mr Man »

Pseudobabble wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 8:55 pm
Mr Man wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 8:51 pm
Pseudobabble wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 8:47 pm

Whats a good tone?
Not that for a Dhamma website.
Would it be ok to profess appreciation for Stalin or Che Guevara? For their industrial advances, say, in Stalin's case, and for revolutionary chic in Guevara's..
Why would anyone post that here? And as a meme I don't think it would be appropriate.
binocular
Posts: 8292
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Re: Member Poll on "News, Current Events & Politics" at DW

Post by binocular »

Pseudobabble wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 8:59 pm
binocular wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 8:56 pmI think the actual problem is either a lack of (good) leadership, or the conviction that the Dhamma doesn't require or can do without (good) leadership.
Who are the leaders? I don't see the mods or admins doing a bad job at administrating.
It looks like nobody here really wants to be a leader.

Perhaps it's possible to make progress in the Dhamma even without (good) leadership.

But it doesn't seem to be possible to have a good forum atmosphere without good leadership.
Hic Rhodus, hic salta!
binocular
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Re: Member Poll on "News, Current Events & Politics" at DW

Post by binocular »

DNS wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 9:03 pmLead with an iron-fist, people complain. Lead with laissez-faire, people complain. It's best to try and find the perfect middle; but no matter what there will always be people complaining, because there will always be people on the receiving end of moderator actions (or in-actions).
That can be avoided by raising the criteria for becoming and staying a member.
Hic Rhodus, hic salta!
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Pseudobabble
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Re: Member Poll on "News, Current Events & Politics" at DW

Post by Pseudobabble »

Mr Man wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 9:04 pm
Pseudobabble wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 8:55 pm
Mr Man wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 8:51 pm

Not that for a Dhamma website.
Would it be ok to profess appreciation for Stalin or Che Guevara? For their industrial advances, say, in Stalin's case, and for revolutionary chic in Guevara's..
Why would anyone post that here? And as a meme I don't think it would be appropriate.
You mean you don't think this is funny?

Image
"Does Master Gotama have any position at all?"

"A 'position,' Vaccha, is something that a Tathagata has done away with. What a Tathagata sees is this: 'Such is form, such its origination, such its disappearance; such is feeling, such its origination, such its disappearance; such is perception...such are fabrications...such is consciousness, such its origination, such its disappearance.'" - Aggi-Vacchagotta Sutta


'Dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return.' - Genesis 3:19

'Some fart freely, some try to hide and silence it. Which one is correct?' - Saegnapha
User avatar
Pseudobabble
Posts: 938
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Location: London

Re: Member Poll on "News, Current Events & Politics" at DW

Post by Pseudobabble »

binocular wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 9:06 pm
Pseudobabble wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 8:59 pm
binocular wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 8:56 pmI think the actual problem is either a lack of (good) leadership, or the conviction that the Dhamma doesn't require or can do without (good) leadership.
Who are the leaders? I don't see the mods or admins doing a bad job at administrating.
It looks like nobody here really wants to be a leader.

Perhaps it's possible to make progress in the Dhamma even without (good) leadership.

But it doesn't seem to be possible to have a good forum atmosphere without good leadership.
Who the hell would want to be the leader? All the responsibility as David said, and you cannot avoid pissing people off. Sounds like a crap deal to me.
"Does Master Gotama have any position at all?"

"A 'position,' Vaccha, is something that a Tathagata has done away with. What a Tathagata sees is this: 'Such is form, such its origination, such its disappearance; such is feeling, such its origination, such its disappearance; such is perception...such are fabrications...such is consciousness, such its origination, such its disappearance.'" - Aggi-Vacchagotta Sutta


'Dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return.' - Genesis 3:19

'Some fart freely, some try to hide and silence it. Which one is correct?' - Saegnapha
User avatar
DNS
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Re: Member Poll on "News, Current Events & Politics" at DW

Post by DNS »

Mr Man wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 8:43 pm Look at this post David. Look at the meme. This is from your admin. Do you think this kind of post helps? Does it set a good tone?
viewtopic.php?f=54&t=29216&start=540#p472905
It's in the News section, which we're discussing what role that will have in the near future.

An admin apparently supports the Republicans and Trump. Is that illegal?

I'm an admin, I didn't vote for Trump. What am I, chopped-liver? :tongue:
binocular
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Re: Member Poll on "News, Current Events & Politics" at DW

Post by binocular »

Pseudobabble wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 9:09 pmWho the hell would want to be the leader?
Those who really want to make a difference.
All the responsibility as David said, and you cannot avoid pissing people off. Sounds like a crap deal to me.
Image
Hic Rhodus, hic salta!
binocular
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Re: Member Poll on "News, Current Events & Politics" at DW

Post by binocular »

DNS wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 9:10 pmAn admin apparently supports the Republicans and Trump. Is that illegal?
It sets the tone for the forum.
Hic Rhodus, hic salta!
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Re: Member Poll on "News, Current Events & Politics" at DW

Post by Pseudobabble »

binocular wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 9:14 pm Those who really want to make a difference.
Ehh.. to what end?

Image
"Does Master Gotama have any position at all?"

"A 'position,' Vaccha, is something that a Tathagata has done away with. What a Tathagata sees is this: 'Such is form, such its origination, such its disappearance; such is feeling, such its origination, such its disappearance; such is perception...such are fabrications...such is consciousness, such its origination, such its disappearance.'" - Aggi-Vacchagotta Sutta


'Dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return.' - Genesis 3:19

'Some fart freely, some try to hide and silence it. Which one is correct?' - Saegnapha
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