Of those of the right who used to post regularly in the Politics section, only Andrew, Dave and myself post anywhere. As of now, that section is the preserve of the political left.
What I don't understand and I've mentioned it before all the visa and Filipino sections are down the bottom!
Can I ask? Is it because it is predominantely the leftist view that you feel it is now necessary to close it?
Historical decision, when we get a chance to get together and talk about it we admins should consider a redesign.
Not sure Andrew is all that far to the right? If at all? edit: I would have said simply that he was a voice of reason
No, not entirely. You need to take a look at the section for the last two years. Prior to the run-up to the Referendum - say before January 2016 - the section was pretty well balanced. Different views were expressed but done so in a friendly manner with little or no disrespect shown for any individual (member or not). The run-up to the referendum saw the beginnings of polarisation between those who favoured remaining and those who wanted to leave. Once the results announcement was made, goodwill seemed to have flown the nest. Andrew's rather immoderate rant that he posted on "results day" caught me rather off guard; I doubt I am the only one to have been so surprised by his language and insults. I freely admit that I have posted rather a lot of pro-Brexit material (far too much in retrospect) and that did give a perceived right-wing bias that some - including Oss - commented upon unfavourably (I said "perceived" quite deliberately because those who know me personally, know that I'm only just right of centre; but I am a Brexiter). Nevertheless, in the main, discussion remained cordial and respectful. In recent weeks, all that has changed and the politics section has become hostile with some favouring insults over intelligent discussion. Very few members now post in the section and I suspect many more have been put-off regularly reading this Forum because of it. I'm not in the UK but I am aware that UK politics has become very polarised especially over the Brexit issue, resulting in families and communities almost at war with each other. Is it not possible for us to have a community which is at peace with itself? Do we really need a Politics section: what does it have to do with British-Filipino relationships? Can we not dispense with Politics here completely? But if we absolutely must have this section, can it not be buried-away somewhere and require an Admin to admit individual members -- that way, the majority of users who are disinterested in the subject won't be put-off the Forum as a whole and those of us who believe have such a section is a mistake won't be deterred from participating in other areas?
Thats the thing i hated the most in dubai. Its super hot plus its very humid! Valet parking doesnt even work- you cant even walk 5 meters from your car to that airconditioned door fast enough.
Apologies for the brainfart! Yes, most of the time, Andrew is a good, lucid and intelligent counter and most of the time, he's respectful interlocutor respected by his opponents. He suggested closing the politics section some 12 months (or more) ago and he agreed with my suggestion - of closing it now - posted last week.
At this point in time we are not doing that, there is a tendency which you have exhibited for a long time of manipulating the discussion in order to get what you want, whether that be through the politics section or via other threads, so at this point even if this were something I wanted, which I don't, then I and I think the rest of us are certainly not giving you what you are now asking for. (edit: by 'I' I mean 'we' it is not something we have talked about) There is no reason why the politics section could not be civil, you lot need to make it so, I checked tonight and grouped by member you would appear to the person starting the greatest number of threads in the politics section (an approximate survey but I can get detailed if I have to), I am referring to a period of years not weeks or months, you have an alternative available that does not truncate the freedom of others, which is moderate yourself moderate your own contribution, your arch rival whom you worked so hard to destroy has already done so. So if what you are saying this evening about agreeing with Paul and me and Dave is true, then it should not be such a big ask should it? I think you will find this place a lot more civil if you make that choice, although you might find it too boring to actually continue posting.
I'm the same Andrew my reply a few years ago reflects my current browsing almost perfectly, not really a rut
If you had confined your check to the last year or so, you would have been a little more accurate; in fact it would be a close-run thing between Keith and myself. However, you asserted that I have created more threads than anyone else over "a period of years, not weeks or months", your words. Sorry but you are completely wrong. I have checked back to approximately when I joined and over the last 5 years, I have created 86 threads in the Politics section (most within the last 18 months), Keith - who has only recently returned from a 12 month-plus sojourn - has created 34 (most in the last few months), JohnAsh created 28, Sean (about) 72 but we are all dwarfed by Aromulus who created around 122; another major thread starter was Micawber. But what is the relevance? Do you get some vicarious pleasure from watching the bickering?
Probably think the Brits are a bit strange getting so wound up about politics and talking about the weather all the time.
So because of your own innate political leanings you looked to blame someone of the "other side". You noted that my name cropped-up regularly as thread starter on the first one or two pages of the Section "Index" and thought "perfect": you had the evidence to pick on me. You went on to make a serious assertion based on limited evidence believing that if I stopped creating threads, there'd be no problem - after all, those of the left don't write anything contentious or inflammatory, do they?! Well maybe they don't in your opinion. When I challenged you and proved that you were wrong in your assumption, you couldn't bring yourself to apologise and concede that maybe I had a valid point. You simply bleated that you want it all to stop. I gave you a sensible suggestion that came not only from me but from others but you won't even consider it. Be honest: you don't really want it all to stop, what you want is any pro-right and/or pro-Brexit views silenced and that this forum reflects the views of its founder. He certainly never sought to silence anyone whose views differed from his own - why do you presume to? At 10am yesterday morning, I had 2063 positive (ie green) ratings placing me in second place behind Timmers. Exactly 24 hours later, that figure had shrunk to 1980 and I had slipped to third place behind Andrew. So what happened to the 83 positive ratings? I certainly haven't been looking for them and removing them - why would I? Therefore obviously someone else has and the system log will quite likely tell you who that was. Nevertheless, if I and my views were as unwelcome as you have said, why then are my positive ratings so high? And, if you care to check - which I'm sure you can - you'll find that quite a few of those were kindly donated by Andrew. And were you to check further, you'd find that I have given positive ratings to him and others who oppose me politically - including, believe it or not, my nemesis Keith. You may have a problem with me, others clearly don't.
