politics and religion

[jjcabgou]

Lee made a comment in one of his posts about the occasional vitriol in some of the discussions and followed it up with his Rodney King impression "cant we all just get along" 
Got me to thinking about the old adage passed on to us by our grandparents: "never discuss politics and religion".  When I meet somebody in person, I do avoid both of those topics and 99 percent of the time I can find some common ground common interests to discuss with individuals I am just meeting.  The forum is a different setting all together and it allows us to heatedly discuss topics which we are all very opinionated on and further gives us the green light to dig our heals into the sand even deeper. No intention of acquiescing, must be our Male Ego's I am sure (or female egos).   Unless one is a total dickhead, meeting in person usually yields different results than banter back and forth on a forum.  not discussing politics and religion goes back a long way.  I cut and pasted the following:

A rule of etiquette --in business, at the dinner table, at the barbershop and elsewhere—is “never talk about religion or politics.” These subjects are highly contentious and usually result in heated argument instead of general agreement. “Never discuss religion or politics with those who hold opinions opposite to yours” has been cited in print since at least 1840. “Do not discuss politics or religion in general company” is from 1879.

The saying was further popularized by the Peanuts comic strip in 1961. The character Linus said, “There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people...religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin.” Linus was also given this line in the 1966 animated television special, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

[Lee2]

True Jeff, on the open forum we cannot and should not discuss either, but in the senior member plus section, it is allowed and even encouraged and only because once a member has reached that level in our group in order to qualify to ask to be moved into that group (50 posts) and has asked to be included in that group, then they should be man or woman enough to discuss those topics like adults, not like someone in a bar fight. Some people cannot control their anger or may let things upset them too much at times and thus they can ask to be removed, should they find that it upsets them more than they enjoy being in there.

As some of you may know, I did not wish to add those sections for fear of it causing arguments. I spent a lot of my own time to create the senior member plus category of membership and some more of my time creating those new sections and all because 2 moderators wanted it, then shortly after it was created, I was going to close that section down when some issues came about, I then asked the members if they wanted those hidden sections to stay, and the overwhelming answer was yes, and with not even one vote for no, thus it stayed and so far it has worked out well, maybe too well, because we get more posts daily in there than on the open forum which was another of my concerns before creating them.

It appears to me that a good group of people are enjoying that section because it allows them/us to vent, just as the regular part of the forum often allows some of us to vent about the Philippines BUT not at other members. It is my hope that we can all get along and even make friends because of this forum, I know that I have made some good friends over time because of forums that I had been on.

Also, partially because of that section, but definitely not exclusively because of it, I had myself moved down from Administrator to Forum Assistant, so that I hopefully would not have to ban or even admonish, out of control member, yet I can still do my best to help the forum and its members while in this group of membership. What members have to keep in mind is that no moderator enjoys having to moderate members, it is often forced upon us to do to keep the forum running smoothly. If it were not for moderators, then at times the forum would become a free for all.

Anyway all, enjoy the forum and if any senior plus member no longer wishes to be in that group, or if a member has at least 50 posts and wants to join that group, then please ask in the section created for it and a moderator will move you out or into that plus group.

The section to ask to be a senior plus member or ask to be removed http://www.livinginthephilippines.com/forum/index.php?topic=50503.msg77739#new

Thank you all for your membership and please all, when posting, remember to attack the post, not the member making the post.

[BudM]

You did good in setting up that section Lee.  I wasn't in it for a quite a while but when I finally to decide to get in it, I enjoyed having a place to just say what was on my mind about stuff and finding people with like views and not worry about having to hurt any feelings elsewhere.  So, I am one to say, thanks a lot.

[Lee2]

You did good in setting up that section Lee.  I wasn't in it for a quite a while but when I finally to decide to get in it, I enjoyed having a place to just say what was on my mind about stuff and finding people with like views and not worry about having to hurt any feelings elsewhere.  So, I am one to say, thanks a lot.

Thanks Bud, setting up the new sections was easy, setting up the new senior member plus group caused me a lot of issues, probably because I am not a forum software guy, but I am okay changing settings and the likes.

Another issue that came about that concerned me was that some members who had less than 50 posts who wanted to join the new sections, I believe some of them got mad when they were refused and left the forum because we would not allow them, I even tried to create a member group for members with below 50 posts to get access to the new sections while still giving them the same permissions they had under their member group but was unable to as, each member group inherits permissions from the group they came from, thus I would have had to give those members the benefits of being a senior member, in order to let them get to see the new section, that would not have been fair to the senior members.

What a lot of people who have never been an administrator of a forum do not seem to realize, is that one software change often affects other parts of the software, thus a decision was made that only senior members could access those new sections and I apologize to any member who has below 50 posts and wanted to be able to access that section, that I am not forum smart enough to be able to grant them access until they have those 50 posts.

[jjcabgou]

True Jeff, on the open forum we cannot and should not discuss either, but in the senior member plus section, it is allowed and even encouraged and only because once a member has reached that level in our group in order to qualify to ask to be moved into that group (50 posts) and has asked to be included in that group, then they should be man or woman enough to discuss those topics like adults, not like someone in a bar fight. Some people cannot control their anger or may let things upset them too much at times and thus they can ask to be removed, should they find that it upsets them more than they enjoy being in there.

As some of you may know, I did not wish to add those sections for fear of it causing arguments. I spent a lot of my own time to create the senior member plus category of membership and some more of my time creating those new sections and all because 2 moderators wanted it, then shortly after it was created, I was going to close that section down when some issues came about, I then asked the members if they wanted those hidden sections to stay, and the overwhelming answer was yes, and with not even one vote for no, thus it stayed and so far it has worked out well, maybe too well, because we get more posts daily in there than on the open forum which was another of my concerns before creating them.

It appears to me that a good group of people are enjoying that section because it allows them/us to vent, just as the regular part of the forum often allows some of us to vent about the Philippines BUT not at other members. It is my hope that we can all get along and even make friends because of this forum, I know that I have made some good friends over time because of forums that I had been on.

Also, partially because of that section, but definitely not exclusively because of it, I had myself moved down from Administrator to Forum Assistant, so that I hopefully would not have to ban or even admonish, out of control member, yet I can still do my best to help the forum and its members while in this group of membership. What members have to keep in mind is that no moderator enjoys having to moderate members, it is often forced upon us to do to keep the forum running smoothly. If it were not for moderators, then at times the forum would become a free for all.

Anyway all, enjoy the forum and if any senior plus member no longer wishes to be in that group, or if a member has at least 50 posts and wants to join that group, then please ask in the section created for it and a moderator will move you out or into that plus group.

The section to ask to be a senior plus member or ask to be removed http://www.livinginthephilippines.com/forum/index.php?topic=50503.msg77739#new

Thank you all for your membership and please all, when posting, remember to attack the post, not the member making the post.

Lee, I wasnt suggesting that the dark side section was a negative at all, we are all adults and most of us have thick skin, take and give and move on.  I was just commenting on your comment and sharing what I believe is a big difference between letting your hair down in a forum like this and meeting in person.  Politics and religion have been toxic subjects for centuries, que sera (Little drunk right now so I allow myself to quote doris day)

[Lee2]

Lee, I wasnt suggesting that the dark side section was a negative at all, we are all adults and most of us have thick skin, take and give and move on.  I was just commenting on your comment and sharing what I believe is a big difference between letting your hair down in a forum like this and meeting in person.  Politics and religion have been toxic subjects for centuries, que sera (Little drunk right now so I allow myself to quote doris day)

Jeff, I was not accusing you of that but I wanted member and readers to know that we do have a politic section. I do agree that in life or on forums that both those topics can cause arguments and hatred towards others, who are not in others political or religion group but that is life and we all need to have a thick skin to be on forums and especially nowadays in life.

Now to bring up the other issue that often causes problems on forums that you just reminded me of, some people who drink and then let themselves get out of control because of said drinking, I would bet that more people have been banned from forums for being a nasty drunk than any other reason, fortunately I am a mellow happy drunk but way back in the past I was on Lyrica which brought out the worst in me and to this day the few times that I am in a terrible amount of pain due to my health issues, I become a different person, thus I try to not post or do any moderator duties when in either of those situations, and others who are mean drunks or have other reasons for getting mean towards others, should consider doing the same.

[JoeLP]

Talking such in person is something some can do, and some cannot.  I had friends on the completely opposite side of the spectrum when it comes to politics and we could talk and debate and no one would get over emotional or worked up over it. Had one friend in particular in mind right now who would often feel his blood pressure rise and say "Let us stop talking this now.  We are friends and I don't want that to change because we are discussing this."  He knew his boundries and didn't want our friendship to be damaged talking about this or that. 

Maybe I've been blessed in my life to have such strong, or mentally aware friends.  Maybe most people have these and it's a better world than what it is being made out to be with these fragile people safe spots on campuses and such.  But, among my friends in life, I've never had issues discussing politics or religion really.  Then again, I'm not quick to make friend when it comes to talk in person.  I usually need to do more talking and feel the person out.  See if they are capable and responsible.  There are some pretty weak minded people in this world that can't handle holding conversations like and adult. 

On this site, so far(with the exception a bit back with our aussie friend) I find most of us can talk, debate topics and not let it get personal.  Just attack the ideas/words and not each other.  It's how it should be.  One of the biggest reasons I am a fan of this site.

[BudM]

I guess since sometimes I walk a thin line, then it is a good thing I am not a drinker.

[jjcabgou]

Jeff, I was not accusing you of that but I wanted member and readers to know that we do have a politic section. I do agree that in life or on forums that both those topics can cause arguments and hatred towards others, who are not in others political or religion group but that is life and we all need to have a thick skin to be on forums and especially nowadays in life.

Now to bring up the other issue that often causes problems on forums that you just reminded me of, some people who drink and then let themselves get out of control because of said drinking, I would bet that more people have been banned from forums for being a nasty drunk than any other reason, fortunately I am a mellow happy drunk but way back in the past I was on Lyrica which brought out the worst in me and to this day the few times that I am in a terrible amount of pain due to my health issues, I become a different person, thus I try to not post or do any moderator duties when in either of those situations, and others who are mean drunks or have other reasons for getting mean towards others, should consider doing the same.

I cant imagine even wanting to drink if you are going to be miserable.  I get drunk maybe 5 times a year, but only drink when I feel like "partying" and want to have a good time.  Drinking to become an asshole just seems to defeat the purpose. 

[JoeLP]

Never understood that crowd either. The drunk to get miserable crowd.  I honestly have not been drunk in over a decade.  I can drink at a party and a few beers will lighten my mood and make me more social.  But, after 3 or 4 now days, I turn the other way.  Not miserable, but anti-social. I rather to sit in a room alone and read something or watch tv.  And I'm stubborn about it. 

Crazy things is, this all started when I was about 25 or 26.  During my college days getting drunk just made the party more fun.  But a few years out, and I went to the other end.  Have a few guys here in Catarman that I swear want me drunk whenever I am with them.  One is a local business owner.  His wife's birthday was a few days ago.  He invites me over before the party and brings out a beer for each of us.  Then tells me he got 10 beers.  5 each.  I just laugh, and after the first 2 or so, I can get him out of his desire to push them all on me.  He does this about once a month.  The other guy is a provincial education board member that whenever he sees me at a bar/resto he just keeps buying me beer.  Good funny guy, but usually after 2-3 I tell him it's enough and thanks.

[Steve & Myrlita]

Dec 14th I will be 35 years sober.

[Lee2]

Congratulation Steve!!!!!

One way I enjoy beer while in the Philippines, so that I do not get drunk, whenever I did drink, which is rare nowadays because of meds, I would drink SanMig over ice like the locals do, that way I could drink a lot of beers over a evening and never get very drunk. Nowadays I prefer an occasional scotch on the rocks on a special occasion only rather than beer, I find it less fattening.

Anyway there are apparently all types of drunks, to me it is not the drinking but the person knowing if they are a mellow drunk or one who turns nasty.

[JoeLP]

That's huge Steve. Congrats on that.