General Discussion "allowable" topics

[johnrobholmes]

While this is a privately held forum and our opinions on the matter don't hold weight compared to the owners, I figured I would start a poll on the matter. Why not, right?


The topic at hand is whether we should allow any off topic discussion in General discus, defined by "Talk about anything and everything here within reason". The key term really is "within reason", as it allows for talks that get too heated and personal to be moved elsewhere. I have always felt that General should be left for mostly electric or other power system development talks and we should have a normal chit chat section down by the cesspool for all other off-topic, but the current way of using General as a chit chat forum works well too.


So have your vote, and make your comments.

 

[johnrobholmes]

vote isn't working for me, another mod check and see why it isn't working?

 

[TylerDurden]

Voted other, to test... seems to be working.

 

[johnrobholmes]

Maybe I can't vote on it since I started it? You can change your vote if you want, I made the poll allow that.

 

[Ypedal]

works for me.. i voted ! 8)

 

[Ypedal]

I voted " other "

General discussion imo should be used for anything non-offensive, religious, or political. Talk about your dog, food, or dog food, anything generally not " E " related, personal interest, etc etc etc....

there are already categories below for Ebike, E-car, e-scooter, alt energy, etc..

 

[TylerDurden]

I'll stick with "other"...

I'd say at keep topics EV tech related, if not, at least tech related. Topics that begin or degrade into religious, political or personal rants should be moved into OTD.

Deletion of topics entirely should be avoided. (The HTB_Terry thread that disappeared shed light on a vendor/member... light that could have stayed for others to make their own judgement. )

Their will always be some ambiguity requiring judgement by mods, but leaving posts locked or in OTD preserves valuable information on the personalities and behavior of members, open to peer review.

 

[Ariane]

Hi John,

For me the title of the forum is clear :

Endless-sphere.com
Electric Vehicle Technology Forums

I don't care about politics, religions, sterile discussions which lead nowhere (like toxic discussion section), users on pills or who they need them, kitchen recipe, who make the best sugar pie on this forum all of thoses discussions can be else where (on another forum) and i will not miss them!.

Good day!
Black Arrow

 

[Jeremy Harris]

I've voted other, but would very much like to see subjects that are pretty much guaranteed to cause a flame war, like politics, religion etc remain down in the cesspit (I always thought that's what it was therefore, anyway).

Jeremy

 

[HAL9000v2.0]

I voted other.
I think general discusion is general Electric Vehicle Technology discusion. I never looked at cesspool as dumpjard for posts just a place where you can post anything not electric at all related.

 

[gestalt]

As far as separation of church and state....I don't believe in it. Keep em both in the cesspool as people tend to get so riled up and emotional. If that happened in say, the post your pets thread I would vote for them to be thrown in the cesspool as well...but they don't.

 

[oatnet]

It seems that we have sections for all areas of our focus topic, ebikes and EV's. The Mods have been adding new sections - large EV's for example - as they come up.

I believe every forum should have a section where the community, which has come together around the focus topic, can continue to grow together beyond the limitations of the focus topic. It is natural to want to expand beyond the single dimension of EV's. I think this freindly place should not be mingled with the bile and anger of the cesspool. To me, general is where I'd expect it to be.

So I voted for everything within reason. To me, "within reason" excludes discussion about politics, religion, and any other organized hate-groups.

-JD

 

[John in CR]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. ES works incredibly well, and making changes risks unintended consequences, especially when there's a balance better than elsewhere that isn't easily explained. Maybe that balance is a delicate one. I say address problems as they arise.

 

[x88x]

There are already pretty well defined boards for any technical discussions, imo. 'General', to me, would be any topic that doesn't fit anywhere else as long as the posters can keep a civil tongue. If they can't, down into the cesspool it goes. So basically, like John said..if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[spinningmagnets]

I like things the way they are now. There are frequently lots of interesting and unusual posts in the general section that are not related at all to E-vehicles. Occasionally, a very opinionated member makes some vigorous statements about a given subject, but the modereators have been consistently deferential until debates turn personal and ugly. Moving a personal attack to the cesspool is "free-er speech" than locking it...

I LIKE hearing the opinion of somebody who has a very strong opinion on any subject. Even when I disagree with them, the best possible argument for any position is a true believer. IMHO, that is the heart of debate and free speech.

This is one of the most diverse and interesting forums around, even if someone was not interested in E-bikes. The diverse and intelligent members here are not boring worker ants with no opinions, by any means.

I noticed a while back that the "cesspool" and "toxic discussions" does NOT show up on the index unless you are logged in as a member. Probably some good reasons for that. As soon as it was created, I immediately understood what those titles meant, and I was not offended in any way. If you're looking for a forum title that is inoffensive to everyone....well...you can't please EVERYone, but, perhaps "open chat room, anything goes" enter at your own risk, management takes no responsibility for the opinions expressed in there. If you are easily offended, do not enter, etc.

As soon as we start making changes to a good thing because one poster expresses annoyance, where does it stop?

 

[bigmoose]

Voted : Other and got this:

The submitted form was invalid. Try submitting again.

 

[johnrobholmes]

thats what I got too, so maybe the forum doesn't like axial flux floor scrubber motors.

 

[bigmoose]

John, you have me worried now... did the software come with a label on the CD that said "HAL?"

 

[Ypedal]

http://www.phpbb.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=585738

I use " subsilver2 " as a preference.. i know there is an update needed to the forum.. will get a msg out to knightmb about it. 8)

 

[TylerDurden]

I use subsilver too, and it works for me; so it may be client related (os/browser/proxy/ISP/FBI).

 

[flip_normal]

I voted other.

The problem is partly one of structure. Placing 'General Discussion' near the top of the forum list gives it too much prominence. I enjoy reading off topic (ie. non EV) stuff and agree that it helps build the community. I can fully understand Bob taking offence to his thread being moved to 'The Cesspool'. The name clearly implies that those who post there are just talking shite, which in itself is deeply offensive. I propose that the threads from 'General Discussion' and 'The Cesspool' (OTD) forums be merged into a forum called 'Everything Else' with the sub-script 'WARNING. Some may find posts in this forum offensive.' This forum should exist at the bottom of the forum list and replace 'The Cesspool'. As for "allowable topics", as long as no one makes direct insults or threats to other members then all topics should be allowed (as per usual forum guidelines). Free speech is the foundation upon which all other freedoms are built, those who oppose it or attempt to limit it are a greater threat to us all than any idea which may upset someone.

 

[flip_normal]

EDIT: Refined proposal:
1. Rename 'The Cesspool' to 'Everything Else'.
2. Move 'General Discussion' into this section.
3. Rename 'Other Toxic Discussions' to 'Potentially Offensive Topics' and keep the caveat 'WARNING: This area may contain offensive posts or controversial topics.'
4. Make this a public section (ie. no need to log in to read it.)

 

[Gordo]

EDIT: Refined proposal:
1. Rename 'The Cesspool' to 'Everything Else'.
2. Move 'General Discussion' into this section.
3. Rename 'Other Toxic Discussions' to 'Potentially Offensive Topics' and keep the caveat 'WARNING: This area may contain offensive posts or controversial topics.'
4. Make this a public section (ie. no need to log in to read it.)

I agree. The Cesspool may be a great fun spot to hang out, but I did not go there for months thinking I would just find a bunch more foul mouthed, out of control perverts like AJ, :lol: :lol: :lol: REALLY getting off on sadistic porn. As I have only spent a few minutes there reading, I still don't know what I'll find. I vote to change the name.

 

[johnrobholmes]

http://www.phpbb.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=585738

I use " subsilver2 " as a preference.. i know there is an update needed to the forum.. will get a msg out to knightmb about it. 8)

Bingo, it is the skin.

 

[dingoEsride]

I'm with John in CR, there is nothing wrong with the way it works atm, there is enough other e related and off topic area's, GD should stay clean in case some kid googles in and we all need an area none or not so ebike related as we all have lives outside of them, and thanks to all at ES for this great forum, sometimes its better than reading a good book

mark