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

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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 9:16 pm
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.
There's something wrong with people who support Trump?
"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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Sam Vara
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Re: Member Poll on "News, Current Events & Politics" at DW

Post by Sam Vara »

DNS wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 9:03 pm
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).
Indeed, this is an ancient practice, not one only of today: they blame those who remain silent, they blame those who speak much, they blame those who speak in moderation. There is none in the world who is not blamed.

... There never was, there never will be, nor is there now, a person who is wholly blamed or wholly praised.
Dhp, Kodhavagga.
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Sam Vara
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Re: Member Poll on "News, Current Events & Politics" at DW

Post by Sam Vara »

Pseudobabble wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 9:17 pm There's something wrong with people who support Trump?
"Deplorable", apparently.
binocular
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Re: Member Poll on "News, Current Events & Politics" at DW

Post by binocular »

Pseudobabble wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 9:16 pm
binocular wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 9:14 pm Those who really want to make a difference.
Ehh.. to what end?
See the OP.
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 »

Sam Vara wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 9:22 pm
Pseudobabble wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 9:17 pm There's something wrong with people who support Trump?
"Deplorable", apparently.
I've always enjoyed the way that it is in judging others that we make clear what we ourselves are.
"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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Mr Man
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Re: Member Poll on "News, Current Events & Politics" at DW

Post by Mr Man »

DNS wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 9:10 pm
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:
It's fine that an admin supports the Republicans and Trump but in my opinion that kind of meme is not appropriate. The constant anti-leftist bashing from the admin is also in my opinion not appropriate. It surprizes me that you don't see that.

I would hope, and maybe it does happen, that other members of the admin team would communicate this as kalyana mita and out of love for this forum and the dhamma.

Or perhaps they don't see it.
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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 9:23 pm
Pseudobabble wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 9:16 pm
binocular wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 9:14 pm Those who really want to make a difference.
Ehh.. to what end?
See the OP.
RIght, but see my point about people of different stripes meeting here. That's why there's conflict - because there's difference. We have rules for the constructive use of conflictual differences - things like 'play the man, not the ball', but people usually find it hard to follow them.
"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
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Re: Member Poll on "News, Current Events & Politics" at DW

Post by binocular »

Pseudobabble wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 9:17 pm
binocular wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 9:16 pm
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.
There's something wrong with people who support Trump?
Then the Trumpistas shouldn't complain about the competitive and combative atmosphere at the forum.

If you support someone who is competitive and combative, and then you get a competitive and combative atmosphere, whose fault is that?
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 9:25 pm
DNS wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 9:10 pm
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:
It's fine that an admin supports the Republicans and Trump but in my opinion that kind of meme is not appropriate. The constant anti-leftist bashing from the admin is also in my opinion not appropriate. It surprizes me that you don't see that.

I would hope, and maybe it does happen, that other members of the admin team would communicate this as kalyana mita and out of love for this forum and the dhamma.

Or perhaps they don't see it.
Genuinely, what specifically is wrong with the meme? Is there something wrong with the Stalin meme I posted? Is the same thing wrong with both?
"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 9:29 pm
Pseudobabble wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 9:17 pm
binocular wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 9:16 pm
It sets the tone for the forum.
There's something wrong with people who support Trump?
Then the Trumpistas shouldn't complain about the competitive and combative atmosphere at the forum.

If you support someone who is competitive and combative, and then you get a competitive and combative atmosphere, whose fault is that?
Agreed. And I think competition and combat (if we take that a little more metaphorically than physical combat) can be constructive if used rightly. There's room for healthy debate and disagreement, no?
"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
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Re: Member Poll on "News, Current Events & Politics" at DW

Post by binocular »

Pseudobabble wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 9:33 pmAgreed. And I think competition and combat (if we take that a little more metaphorically than physical combat) can be constructive if used rightly. There's room for healthy debate and disagreement, no?
Not when the odds are against one party from the onset.
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 9:36 pm
Pseudobabble wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 9:33 pmAgreed. And I think competition and combat (if we take that a little more metaphorically than physical combat) can be constructive if used rightly. There's room for healthy debate and disagreement, no?
Not when the odds are against one party from the onset.
That's true. I was assuming ceteris paribus. Which side is against the odds?
"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
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Re: Member Poll on "News, Current Events & Politics" at DW

Post by binocular »

Pseudobabble wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 9:40 pmThat's true. I was assuming ceteris paribus. Which side is against the odds?
The leadership of this forum is pro-Trump. One administrator openly supports him, and while the other isn't a supporter, his disagreement is too feeble to make a difference.

If one isn't pro-Trump, one is going to have trouble at this forum, in one way or another, in the News section or outside of it. But more likely in the privacy of one's mind.

And it all doesn't really have all that much to do with Trump per se, but with the qualities he represents, notably the competitiveness and the combativeness.

I think all that formal focus on the "spiritual and intellectual autonomy" of the members is actually just an excuse for not caring.

In line with the Theory of Evolution (and the concomitant Social Darwinism) it makes perfect sense to support Trump and the qualities he represents. But why fret then? Just get rid of the misfits and the worthless and be done with it, no polls and no threads needed.


Edited for spelling.
Last edited by binocular on Sun May 27, 2018 10:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Member Poll on "News, Current Events & Politics" at DW

Post by mikenz66 »

Pseudobabble wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 9:31 pm Genuinely, what specifically is wrong with the meme? Is there something wrong with the Stalin meme I posted? Is the same thing wrong with both?
I don't care for either, but particularly the Stalin one. The other appears to me to be just juvenile humour (and poor graphic design), so if one doesn't agree with the sentiment, at one can have at least have a laugh at the shortcomings of the presentation... However, the Stalin meme appears to be making a joke out of the suffering and deaths of millions of people.

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

Post by binocular »

mikenz66 wrote: Sun May 27, 2018 9:56 pmI don't care for either, but particularly the Stalin one. The other appears to me to be just juvenile humour (and poor graphic design), so if one doesn't agree with the sentiment, at one can have at least have a laugh at the shortcomings of
the presentation...
Not when it's posted by the administrator. That's when the fun stops.
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