Thoughts on Adding a Politics Forum

[Savage]

Several people previously expressed interest in adding a forum for discussing politics. Initially I disliked the idea because I didn't feel it was really a part of personal development, but I do see some demand for it. Erin and I had a long talk about it, and she persuaded me to take another look at this. Some of the moderators also seem to support the idea.

Possible topics could include politics, government, leadership, global issues, environment, political parties, elections, candidates, domestic policy, foreign policy, healthcare, nationalism, education, war, etc. I would hope such a forum doesn't become unfairly U.S.-centric, since half the visitors to this site live outside the USA.

While not exactly personal development, it does seem like a reasonable extension of it. Politics has also been on many people's minds lately, and I doubt there would be a lack of interesting discussions. It could be a challenging forum to moderate though.

What are your thoughts pro or con for adding such a forum?

[bart]

I am pro.

First of all I despise discussion on politics, religion and some similar topics.

As you have noticed these discussions do happen in some of the forums and unless you would be inclined to stop them, they would deserve a separate place to keep the discussion in other forums from straying to these topics.

You would need some really good moderators for it and possibly a reminder that forum rules apply there too since it will at times get heated and disrespectful, it almost seems in the nature of the topic. The other result in such a forum could be seeing traffic from outside you may not have had much of before ('lamers' and spammers). It would mean more traffic but possibly at a high cost.

Just my point of view.

Bart

[frankfortpost]

Steve, you are right on the money in both respects.

I was thinking the same thing when I posted the thread about Bhutto a few minutes ago.

I was like, this is relevant, important information, but how do I inform these people?

The flip side, as you said, is moderation.

Yet, when personal attacks do occur, since this is a personal development forum, it gives the members an opportunity to guide the other person into responding in a non-reactive manner, which as all kinds of positives all across the board.

If anyone can do it correctly, I think you can Stevo.

[silicon toad2000]

I believe politics is getting off the core of personal development.
After some of the passionate discussions i have seen here I don't think a political forum would add any value to the site and opens up some risk of the aforesaid passionate discussions detracting from the maturity and professionalism which is currently apparent.

Beside all that, this website is you Steve, that's what makes it great.
Is a political forum you?

[Dharma]

No way, unless it is HEAVILY moderated and all roads lead back to Rome. ie. all discussion of politics, government, leadership, global issues, environment, political parties, elections, candidates, domestic policy, foreign policy, healthcare, nationalism, education, war lead back to a greater understanding of the self.

If people don't see that their government and world is a manifestation of themselves, why bother??????? It will just be a mental pissing contest if the discussion is not continually directed back to the individual.

[Dan.Linehan]

I'm pro, for the reasons bart mentioned. It would be good to have a place to discuss politics and the environment, and how we as individuals can impact positive change.

Political threads seem to pop up in the other sub forums anyway; I'm itching to move them all to their own spot.

I agree that all roads should lead back to personal impact, even when there are certain things that affect everyone, like global warming. I tend to see broader consequences like global warming as indications of how to live better lives as individuals.

Also, some things that deeply affect public health have no current place to reside. Take this thread for example: it hasn't sparked much of a debate in the health and fitness sub-forum because it is part of a much larger, systematic problem with plastic usage rather than something that relates to personal health and fitness.

[schola]

I'm for it.

Being involved in one's community is part of being a well rounded person. Politics is an extension of that.

[jamestl2]

Don't mean to go all-out here, but if it were up to me, I think the forums need just a "tad" bit better organization, how does this look:


Personal Development

• Health & Fitness
• Personal Effectiveness
• Emotional Mastery
• Character & Contribution
• Business & Financial
• Technology & Technical Skills
• Social & Relationships
• Spirituality, Consciousness, & Awareness
• Intention-Manifestation
• Psychic & Paranormal
• Politics (Or whatever you want to call it)

Steve & Erin Pavlina

• Steve Pavlina
• Erin Pavlina
• Forum Feedback & Suggestions

General

• Fun & Recreation
• Local Groups
• Introductions
• Miscellaneous (Anything unrelated to the Pavlina forums)

I don't know if Politics *fits* on a PD site (because you could then add many other things, like religion, history, entertainment, etc.)

However, if you do decide to add it, I'd recommend appointing some apolitical moderators (if there aren't any currently), because as mentioned before, they can get pretty heated (I still remember reading through the Terrorism & Islam thread.)

[thecubemonkey]

It is a good idea but there was another board that I use to subscribe to and they shut down the political and religious boards because the chats was getting very negative and combative. People who were "friends" on the board wound up arguing. Now they just focus on fitness.

It can't hurt to try. Open the forum, post rules about respect, etc. Watch and see what happens.

[thecubemonkey]

And Steve - I forgot to mention one other thing. You make an excellent point about this being a PD site. I'm a business guy and B school always preaches, "focus on your core competency". You'd be venturing into new territory with politics.

[Ralph]

I think such forum would definately becaue U.S centric. Like you said, 50% of people is from States. Other 50% are scattered around the world. It would be forum about politics of States and maybe some bigger European countries.
I personally find politics a topic to avoid. It's both boring and lowers my level of consciousness. Politicians lie and smart people can see through their lies. Most of the posts would just criticize I think.
Still, it can't do much harm unless you care about server space.

[Brutha]

It's both boring and lowers my level of consciousness. Politicians lie and smart people can see through their lies. Most of the posts would just criticize I think.

I don't think that any topic can lower the level of consciousness of a person. You can choose to make a conscious response or make a low conscious one but it's your responsibilty to act. The topic isn't responsible for your actions.

Someone in the state of unconditional love won't suddly change to a lower state when he meet the condition of a topic like politics.

Being conscious means to be responsible and don't let conditions determine your approach.

[Rose of Cairo]

I think there has been enough discussion about that now. Where's the point in discussing what could happen? Let's just try it!

My proposition is that "politics and worldly affairs" (or whatever you'll call it) replaces "fun and recreation", which is not really PD related. "fun and recreation" should be under "general". I also think that "general" should be separated from "introductions", cause many general threads disappear very quickly under the daily avalanche of new introductions - which is a pity.

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by Brutha

I don't think that any topic can lower the level of consciousness of a person. You can choose to make a conscious response or make a low conscious one but it's your responsibilty to act. The topic isn't responsible for your actions.

Are you saying that after you spend 12 hours straight reading about rapes, murder, torturing, that you'll feel your consciousness to be as high as if you had spent 12 hours reading love letters, gratitude statements, and all the wonderful things people are doing for each other in the world?

[Angela]

Originally Posted by seeker5

Are you saying that after you spend 12 hours straight reading about rapes, murder, torturing, that you'll feel your consciousness to be as high as if you had spent 12 hours reading love letters, gratitude statements, and all the wonderful things people are doing for each other in the world?

12 hours straight of reading any topic would lower my consciousness!

The responsibility includes choosing what you give your attention to, and allowing a space of freedom for everyone else to make their own choice, even if it's a topic that pushes your buttons. (maybe especially! )

A topic doesn't lower consciousness; a person does.

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by Angela

The responsibility includes choosing what you give your attention to, and allowing a space of freedom for everyone else to make their own choice, even if it's a topic that pushes your buttons. (maybe especially! )

I wasn't talking about topics that push your button, but talking about negative topics. These topis I mentioned in my above post do not push my buttons, but are quite negative. Brutha's post made it seem that reading such topics would not affect someone's consciousness. I get the point that you choose what to read, but that's not what Brutha was talking about (if I understand his post)

[Angela]

Originally Posted by Brutha

You can choose to make a conscious response or make a low conscious one but it's your responsibilty to act.

I think I get what you mean, seeker5, and my impression of what Brutha is saying, and I agree, is that not only do you choose what you read, but you also choose your response to what you read, regardless of the topic.

By the way, one man's "button pushing topic" is another man's "negative topic." Who's to judge what's absolutely true? You are, I guess, for yourself anyway.

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by Angela

I think I get what you mean, seeker5, and my impression of what Brutha is saying, and I agree, is that not only do you choose what you read, but you also choose your response to what you read, regardless of the topic.

Ok. So Angela, you're telling me you can read about excruciating sad details of torture and rape for 1 hour and feel as wonderful as you would after reading all of the mushy love letters from your boyfriend to you?

[Angela]

Originally Posted by seeker5

Ok. So Angela, you're telling me you can read about excruciating sad details of torture and rape for 1 hour and feel as wonderful as you would reading after reading all of the mushy love letters from your boyfriend to you?

Yup, that's exactly what I'm saying.