There’s a Harry & Megan thread??
Gossip? I mean, what other value do those two have?
I’ll have to find out and see what it’s all about!!!
Use the search function. Type in Harry and Meghan. There are actually several threads.
I agree…those are parent cafe threads as these folks are not in politics.
Yes, I could do that - but I’ve decided not to.
I already spend waaaaay too much time on here. My boss would get suspicious if I spent more - plus, I have zero interest. But it’s comical…but not as comical as multiple threads!!!
If it hasn’t been done yet, perhaps it is worth pinning the “How to leave the PF” insteuctions to the top of the forum. This way those who tire of the PF can opt out before they sour on CC.
Again, I am not of the PF so it may be there already. But just a thought.
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It’s already been added. It’s at the very top of the political forum.
Other suggestions from this thread have also already been implemented.
Keep the ideas coming!
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Interestingly, I have the opposite perception. Granted that I don’t spend very much time on the politics forum, but I perceive a rather noticeable right-wing bent on the threads I have participated in. And I say this as someone who determinedly avoids even entering threads when the title indicates that it’s been started from a right-wing perspective.
I do appreciate that the politics forum exists, and I’d prefer that it not go away. There are some very real political issues that deeply affect education and college students, and there needs to be somewhere to discuss those.
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Kudos to the admins for already making changes- especially the thread condensing.
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I have mixed feelings about the PF. While I have absolutely appreciated being about to read multiple thoughts on current issues, and I grew with this broadened perspective, I also think we reflect the polarization in this country right now, and that the longer any particular thread goes on, the more it tends to reflect entrenched positions.
If I had to vote, I’d probably vote to keep the PF, but I might be willing to only have political discussions related to the college world. Can you discuss the effects of New College’s change of leadership on the character of the college? Might that devolve into perspectives on Florida government leadership? Sure. Or the fact that college protests about Israel’s war with Hamas affect students? Might that bring into play people’s differing viewpoints on the war itself? Yes. But both of those feel like they are at least tangentially (or more) related to college and I’m in favor of those conversations. But I’d personally be willing to end conversations that one can’t sorta, kinda, maybe connect to colleges, especially if these conversations are affecting the relationships (even virtual ones!) of those participating on this site. I am unlikely to meet most of you in person, but there’s a generosity of spirit that keeps people on this site after their kids are through this process, and I don’t want to lose those contributors because of the PF.
I’m grateful to the mods, who have a lot of work managing this!
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Regarding students, I had a PM exchange with one student who felt hurt by responses on one of the PF threads. Posters did not realize it was a student.
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There’s one student who was posting often. I know they were a student from the chance me they did.
I loved when they posted - they had unique thoughts and perspectives and were going toe to toe with others debating them with and they provided insightful links to support their points. I don’t know if this is the one you describe.
I feel like sometimes on here people are gladhanded too much. This is less on the politics but more on chance me.
Sometimes people need to hear the truth. And when you share the truth, some get mad.
There was one today where a student made mistake after mistake in their search over months and today we learned they had no home. It all blew up.
When the mistakes were called out many months ago, the poster (yes me) was vilified for being so direct.The student was pacified over and over.
I feel like I’m some ways the world has become coddling. And it’s not real.
Politically if someone engages, some posters do get nasty. And it’s unfortunate.
But this student is, at the same time, learning this is life. They may have these same discussions in a few months in the dorm or in class.
No one wants to see anyone hurt but society today has been coddled and in many ways not been given the tools to handle such disagreement or bullying for lack of a better word.
And even as a grown adult I sometimes face similar issues which get me down and I’m not sure the best way to handle. At 50+ I too lack the tools in certain situations.
But hoping we can all learn - and look at things not through 2 lenses but a third lens as well - because when there is conflict, there’s always a third side.
If the student is who I think I’m bummed they are gone.
But like so many great posters - from bill marsh to Neela and more - they tired of constant attacks and belittling and have left us.
And we all lose because of it.
That said, I do think it’s ok to speak directly and truthfully. Others think differently. But being direct and transparent is very different than name calling if you will - and that’s what often happens on the PF - and the crazy thing is folks are attacking others (that they regularly interact with on here) in support of politicians they never have or ever will meet.
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Perhaps prohibit posters from saying that others are being gaslighted or calling them members of cults. Both are insulting the intelligence of others versus expressing a difference of opinion and are often repeated on the PF.
Please also share any other actions this discussion has prompted please.
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I enjoy discussing politics, and I enjoy learning from people on both sides.
But recently I have cut back on CC because of one user in particular who ruins the political forum experience for me. While the moderators have been responsive when an issue has been brought up, the lack of respect and “know it all” attitude have been a big turn off.
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I started having this discussion (in various forms and with various users) during the time the college protests started, so before I created the thread. Here are some of the actions we have taken since based on the feedback:
- strengthened the PF moderation by bringing in @DadOfJerseyGirl who does an amazing job alongside @sushiritto
- revised the Community Rules and added further Guidance for the PF
- provided support for folks on how to exit the PF (something we should have done from the beginning, but it’s now done and pinned in the PF)
- made an executive decision to ban political ads
- put out a statement condemning the spreading of factually inaccurate information and conspiracy theories and started taking action against users who knowingly and repeatedly do so
- consolidated all election threads into one mega thread
- will be adding ads limited to the PF to help keep the lights on on there
This is just we have done so far to improve the experience in the PF and we will continue to communicate changes or/and new things that get implemented.
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This is one reason I’m not on the PF. People feel what they say is the truth, when in fact, it’s their opinion. That’s the nature of most political discussions. People are seeing the same issue but from different POV.
And you can’t change that and still have a PF.
I just think people need to be mindful that their POV isn’t THE POV of everyone.
Your mods on the PF need to be very vigilant dealing with folks who really are bullying. That isn’t appropriate anywhere. And as with the regular forum…if someone finds themselves repeating the same thing again and again, they should be asked to…stop.
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Agree. Just the other day I went back and forth with someone who stated something and didn’t say “my opinion” so I flat out asked if this was a fact or opinion and we ended up going back and forth. It’s so annoying when you are trying to have a rational conversation about an important topic and someone starts spouting off things that aren’t even facts. The rules for PF mention posting things that aren’t factually correct. If you are going to state you opinion then it should be clear it’s your opinion. And that comment wasn’t deleted even after the poster admitted it was their opinion. If anything it has made me more consciously aware that when I post something that is my opinion that I say it is just so I am not spreading untrue things.
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But it’s a good reminder on how we talk to everyone who doesn’t share our views. Whether they are a student or not, doesn’t give anyone the right to talk down to other posters.
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Agree 100%.
Agree 100%.
Agree 100%.
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Just want to clarify some aspects below:
That is technically impossible. Once a user has a designated title, that title will reflect across the site.
Our moderators (both for the main forums and the PF) are recruited from the community based on their track record. That being the case the moderators are active contributors and we do not ask them to give that up (moreover we encourage their participation). We have rules and processes in place (see below from our Community Rules) to make sure moderation is fair. The overwhelming feedback we got (in general and specifically in this thread) is that our moderators are fair and are doing an excellent job.
The CC moderators participate in discussions but we ask them not to moderate threads they participated in. You can flag a moderator’s post when they are acting as a regular user and the flag will be reviewed by another moderator.
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You need better programmers. I can see several ways around this.