Should we have "controversial" discussions?

There have been very different reactions to "hot topics" in the past. I wonder what the consensus is?

I voted 'nothing should be taboo', but I also think that different opinions should be respected and not turned into personal attacks...

If a discussion can be kept 'in-check', I think it would be a good addition to the General Banter board.

Ditto. I think they make it worth coming here, to tell you the truth. There are several people here who at least know how to argue points somewhat logically, so the conversation doesn't always degrade into a "OMFG UR TEH SCUK?!? I H8 U!" kind of thing. And if they do, they are usually brought out of that stage rather effectively.

Mabye make a new icon for them or something, too- like a snark on fire. That'd be neat-o keen.

On fire, as a 'flamewar' warning?

i voted #3

there must always be taboo subjects, i do not want to discuss sex, concentual or hetero or otherwise.. i do not want to discuss racism, or politics or religion and i damned sure don't want to discuss abortion.. but i am mature enuff to know some do and should be able too if they like..

as long as people realize, "whats one mans trash is another mans treasure" we should have no porblems.

/nuff said

i put No.2 because this is a mapping site, u can put other stuff in the general banter forum, but otherwise lets just stick to what this site [ i think ] is really about..
getting some kick ass maps!

As long as people learn not to take things too personally, and take an objective view of things, I say go ahead. Although eventually, "controversial" topics are going to get out of hand (especially religion, which is something a lot of people always take personally). But if we have the discussion in the first place, and people have a deeper knowledge of certain subjects by the end of it all, then the means justify the ends for me.

On fire, as a 'flamewar' warning?

I was thinking in a more "2 HOT 2 HANDEL (AND NOT AS IN THE MUSICAL COMPOSER, AS IN THE INTENTIONALLY OBNOXIOUS MISPELLED 'HANDLE' SINCE THIS STYLE OF WRITING OBVIOUSLY SPEAKS TO THE DROVES OF TEENAGERS OUT THERE)!" kind of sense.

I voted for some things should be taboo - but I'm only talking about extremes, for example I don't really want there to be discussions of deviant sexual practices or something like that. I think the idea of an 'on fire' snark to represent a flamewar topic is a good one.

Kage_Prototype said:
As long as people learn not to take things too personally, and take an objective view of things, I say go ahead. Although eventually, "controversial" topics are going to get out of hand (especially religion, which is something a lot of people always take personally). But if we have the discussion in the first place, and people have a deeper knowledge of certain subjects by the end of it all, then the means justify the ends for me.

yea i understand what u mean, my view on religion is that if i aint seen it then i dont believe it [unless someone who i can trust tells me]

the again others would say otherwise

No more threads about video game consoles.

#1 all the way. people who take these topics too personaly tend to deop out fairly quickly, so they normaly remain quite civilized.

Monqui said:
Mabye make a new icon for them or something, too- like a snark on fire. That'd be neat-o keen.

I nicked Pepper's avatar :biggrin: for 'popular threads', but I can't be arsed to have different thread icons, like some other boards have. Yet.

scary_jeff said:
I voted for some things should be taboo - but I'm only talking about extremes, for example I don't really want there to be discussions of deviant sexual practices or something like that. I think the idea of an 'on fire' snark to represent a flamewar topic is a good one.

Sounds like someone's got something to hide!

Discussions that degenerate into flamewars are a waste of time. Nobody wins and someone invariably gets hurt. A good discussion that presents each side and arguments for and against each are always nice, but what are the odds of that ever happening? I rarely get into good discussions with my college friends because they all resort to name calling and cries of "you're too close-minded" when if they'd just listen and analyze they'd realize I'm more receptive to new ideas then they are. I can't imagine a great exchange of ideas occurring via text only, considering how easy it is to misunderstand and misconstrue people's points.

And in spite of all that, I voted for bringing on any and all discussions.

Well, you could set it up kinda like how you have the polls set up now, I suppose. I mean, if you know you're going to post a topic to initiate a debate/intense conversation, just throw another button up there. Or something, I don't know. I'm on a major coffee buzz, so don't think too hard into anything right now.

Leperous said:
I nicked Pepper's avatar :biggrin: for 'popular threads', but I can't be arsed to have different thread icons, like some other boards have. Yet.

Rather like the old locked topic icon, eh? :wink:

[/in-joke]

OmGz you guys tihs topack is liek soe ctnrovershal!!!1

ONOS!

you know, its funny, at this moment we have 18 people willing to discuss any topic, but snarkpit has never had 18 people discuss anything all at once..

i think, either someone is lying, or we have not talked about the right "anything" yet :/

in fact, if we tally up the totals of the polls individually so far, the number seem to exceed our active members .. or it could be my imagination again :sad:

I expect it is mostly a matter of differing intrests Orph. I for example almost never participate in political discussions because I have no intrest in politics.

Gollum said:
Rather like the old locked topic icon, eh? :wink:

[/in-joke]

Ah yes, the locked topic icon, which I made myself and you stole. Yes. :razz:

Your latest icon-theft gives the lie to that! Old habits die hard :razz:

What would really make this funny would be if the locked topic icon suddenly changed to a dusty rolling boulder.

Skeletor said:
OmGz you guys tihs topack is liek soe ctnrovershal!!!1

OH EM EFF GEE CAN NOAT TOLEeraTE teh THreaD ONMG CONTROLFBEADFKGJDFGJD