Debates and Questions in General Chat

[Motokid]

Do you want more discussions, debates, and questions not related to any specific book or books?
Considering the response on smoking it appears many are willing to participate, and at the same time keep the level of the debate within acceptable parameters. Maybe the debates could hinge on a selected news event, which would require people to read the specific article? This might go a long way towards keeping the discussion focused. What’s the general feeling among forum members regarding these types of topics?
If they stay in the General Chat area, and remain civil, are they welcome, or is enough enough?

I love these discussions. No matter how poorly I might try to get my point across, I love the challenge, and the thoughts other people’s comments inspire.

 

[Stewart]

No point. Somebody's too scared of offending someone and losing one anonymous member - political correctness gone mad, to use a cliche.

 

[magemanda]

I like discussions as much as the next person, but having a debate about news items will often lead to political perspectives, or nationalistic views, which I believe is discouraged here.

 

[jenn]

yes i love them and think so far they have been very civil. i find that i may not know very much about a topic, but someone invariable does, and so have learned alot. it seems that some people are a little confused or put off by having these discussions on a bookforum, but they are in the general chat area. while we all come from different backgrounds our one commonality is books, and so you are still debating with people who tend to be well read or eager to learn and talk.
while i do wish we could go into some taboo areas, i understand why it is not permitted. and moto i think you are doing a great job of playing devil's advocate, keeping a thread alive and people on track.

 

[Rogue]

Do you want more discussions, debates, and questions not related to any specific book or books?

So what do you think is the point of a Book Forum, when you promote non-book discussions? There are loads of other forums where you can do that.

 

[Motokid]

The purpose might be to learn more about the actual people who dwell here.
I can read what you think about a specific book, but if I know nothing about you how does your opinion help me make a decision on whether or not I would like the book?

This is the "The Book Forum > Non-Book Discussions > General Chat" area. What else would you use this area for?

It's got value for some and not others.
I'll assume you're in the others column.

 

[jenn]

The purpose might be to learn more about the actual people who dwell here.
I can read what you think about a specific book, but if I know nothing about you how does your opinion help me make a decision on whether or not I would like the book?

.

i agree with this. i know from talking to others here in this non book discussion, that while i may think someone is really interesting, what they read and what they do is not for me, and so later if they post a comment on one of my threads, i can take that comment into context with who they are.

also look at all the other fun stuff happening in this section. knowing that i am south africa and am going to the second level of hell for being lusty is funny but has nothing to do with reading. so what is the big deal if some of us want to have a friendly arguement. i say lets go there and if things get sketchy the mod's will pull the plug. no harm no foul.

if one only wants to discuss books, then why would they be answering threads inthe non book discussion general chat?
some people want to talk about the pro's and con's of banning public smoking, some want to talk about whether or not to cut their hair... to each his own i say.

 

[mr_michel]

The purpose might be to learn more about the actual people who dwell here.

funny thing you would said that, specially with this actitude

I'm taking the harder road for discussion purposes. I've never voiced how I actually feel.

so are we to understand you should to learn about us, but we arent supoused to learn about you?

 

[magemanda]

Because our opinions on the idea were sought after?

And because we are Book Forum dwellers, which includes the General Chat area?

I don't mind a General Chat area - sometimes it's nice to not discuss books, especially if you're going through a reading drought. I am amused by some of the topics and avoid others like the plague.

I just feel that discussing possibly controversial and political news items might cause otherwise perfectly reasonable people to become enflamed. I now have had experience of posting on a number of online boards, and feel that I am qualified to give my opinion on this. I have seen a number of threads that headed towards politics become slanging matches and flame wars, that had to be locked and caused immense bad feelings between board members.

 

[jenn]

I just feel that discussing possibly controversial and political news items might cause otherwise perfectly reasonable people to become enflamed. I now have had experience of posting on a number of online boards, and feel that I am qualified to give my opinion on this. I have seen a number of threads that headed towards politics become slanging matches and flame wars, that had to be locked and caused immense bad feelings between board members.

i see what you are saying. this is the only forum i belong too, so i haven't run into too much bad feelings, but aren't the moderators good at sort of stepping in and going ok, this has become inappropriate or this is off limits here? i know when moto started a thread on the states it got shut down immediatley, to no offense to anyone. i just wonder that on a bookforum, where people, i think would tend to be, well read or at least open to reading up on something, would be a great place to have some debates on current events, keeping politics and religion at bay.
i thought the smoking thread was great and was dead impressed with how much people knew and were aware of the arguement on both sides. i learned loads.

 

[novella]

Just as a practicality, most people coming to a forum like this will look at Today's Posts or New Posts first, to see what is under active discussion.

For that reason, whether posts are in General Discussion or Non-Book makes little difference when under New Posts there is an overwhelming majority of non-book-related posts.

It does make it seem that books are not discussed all that much.

That said, I've never seen a mod here say, Enough with the nonbook talk. In that sense, it is a self-regulating community within the set rules.

In short, I see no reason for this question, unless someone is planning on posting loads of new threads on Condi Rice, the Federal Deficit, and the new Ukrainian government, which I probably would not respond to and would expect to either sputter or go up in flames.

 

[Stewart]

unless someone is planning on posting loads of new threads on Condi Rice, the Federal Deficit, and the new Ukrainian government,

What about the Belarussian dictatorship? That country has gone the way that the Ukraine would have done if the ballot hadn't been overturned. Why are some, and Belarus is really the last one, countries unwilling to give up their Soviet dependency and embrace capitalism?

 

[novella]

What about the Belarussian dictatorship? That country has gone the way that the Ukraine would have done if the ballot hadn't been overturned. Why are some, and Belarus is really the last one, countries unwilling to give up their Soviet dependency and embrace capitalism?

Maybe George Soros hasn't opened his pocketbook to buy some democracy there yet.

Truly, there are signs that change will happen this year or next. Lukashenko is hanging on by his little iron fingernails. Every indication is that his base of support is unsure and that the younger generation will want to chuck him out in 2006.

 

[Motokid]

derailing back to original post....

If everybody’s fine with the members policing themselves then the question is pointless.

A post that nobody cares about, or likes will die a quick death.
(My 5-sentence collective forum story thread is a perfect example)

I don’t see the statement that this is a book forum, and only books should be discussed, as a view that many agree with here. It appears plenty of members enjoy a lively discussion outside the realm of a specific book or author.

Here’s one avenue for those that don’t like it to speak up. Probably a better avenue than in the middle of a thread that others find fascinating.

 

[Wabbit]

I agree with Novella.... See, we can agree sometimes? ( sorry about the smile ) ahem...

Anyway, what's the damn point in asking your question? Who cares? Just start a thread up if you want to. You are free. Nobody is stopping you. If people are interested they will reply and if they arn't they won't.

 

[novella]

I agree with Novella.... See, we can agree sometimes? ( sorry about the smile ) ahem...

Anyway, what's the damn point in asking your question? Who cares? Just start a thread up if you want to. You are free. Nobody is stopping you. If people are interested they will reply and if they arn't they won't.

Yay!! We can be buds.

You like the way I swallowed Stewie's political bait? That was a little laugh for me.

 

[Motokid]

"Anyway, what's the damn point in asking your question? Who cares? Just start a thread up if you want to. You are free. Nobody is stopping you. If people are interested they will reply and if they arn't they won't."


ahhh...but isn't that what I did when I started this thread?

 

[Wabbit]

lol indded you did!

Exactly! Keep on going, you are doing very well

 

[RitalinKid]

The thing that brought us here is reading, but books aren't everything, so we all have more to discuss than just books. If we didn't start misc/general threads, they'd probably end up in book review threads.

I love to discuss tough issues, but I hate name calling and people flying off the handle because someone else has a different opinion. C'mon, we're people. We're going to have different opinions, so debate them and respect them. If you don't respect someone's ideas and you just write them off as stupid or ridiculous, you lose the oppurtunity to rationally discuss the ideas and possibly learn something either about human nature or your own ideas.

...or something.

 

[Wabbit]

Yay!! We can be buds.

You like the way I swallowed Stewie's political bait? That was a little laugh for me.

You can swallow the bait just as long as you don't eat the hook!