Discussion about UK politics forum

[TeeJay]

OK here's the thing - on the first page of the forum I have just counted:

11 threads about miscellaneous topics including voting, asylum, Lord Coe and a strike.
2 threads about the BNP
1 thread about the UKIP
1 thread about the IWCA

...and 17 threads about the SWP/Respect/Galloway of which:
3 are pro-
3 are neutral
11 are anti-

Does anyone else feel that the UK P&P forum is a pointless ghetto which seems to serve no purpose apart from endless bickering, mainly about the SWP.

Does anyone else feel that this kind of "takeover" of a forum that is presumably there for discussing kills off any real hope of decent debate?

What kinds of issues would I expect to be discussed on an urban75 "Uk politics and current affairs" forum?

Well what about employment, health, crime, education, environment, transport, consumer rights, animal rights, the economy, development, housing, benefits, drugs, sexuality, racism, immigration and asylum, privatisation, minimum wage, gm food, agriculture, climate change, new airports, waste and recycling, europe and the euro, reform of the house of lords and the new supreme court, electoral reform, taxation, pensions, tuition fees, the police, road-building, congestion charging, public participation in government, access to information, identity cards, child care, parental leave, corporate governance, local facilities, gender equality, gay marriage, cannabis cafes, heroine treatment...

And what do we get? Endless threads about a group which will probably get about 1% of the vote at most and which everyone who isn't actually a member hates with a passion. Why not have a serous purge with some heavy duty moderating and get rid of this shitty spam? Ration the topic to one thread a week or a single sticky - along with the 9-11/doohickey/lizard threads.

 

[butchersapron]

Start other threads. Folks might reply.

 

[oisleep]

Fine - you let everyone else know what it's ok to talk about

 

[General Ludd]

Ignore the SWP threads then. 15 other ones should be enough to keep you going.

 

[TeeJay]

I'm interested in hearing what urban75 people (other than the small handful of UK politics posters who all belong to various rival groups and who make about 90% of the posts over there) think about this. Are people happy that the UK politics forum has become what it is now? Do people find it a useful and interesting place to go to to discuss UK politics and current affairs? Or do people take one look and decide it simply isn't worth it - a bit like getting to the doorway of a pub and seeing a bunch of people having a drunken fight and wallowing around in their own vomit?

My experience has been that the level of debate, the quality of the threads started and the general level of relevance and interest is far higher on almost every other single forum on urban75.

 

[silentNate]

Well what about employment, health, crime, education, environment, transport, consumer rights, animal rights, the economy, development, housing, benefits, drugs, sexuality, racism, immigration and asylum, privatisation, minimum wage, gm food, agriculture, climate change, new airports, waste and recycling, europe and the euro, reform of the house of lords and the new supreme court, electoral reform, taxation, pensions, tuition fees, the police, road-building, congestion charging, public participation in government, access to information, identity cards, child care, parental leave, corporate governance, local facilities, gender equality, gay marriage, cannabis cafes, heroine treatment...

Heroin- there that feels better
I agree with Teejay- the level of debate has diminished into SWP versus anti-SWP and to tell the truth the longer it continues the more I find myself convinced to join the SWP

 

[butchersapron]

..but you offer nothing beyond calling people tories anyway. You make it better by making better informed and interesting posts...then we'll talk.

 

[silentNate]

..but you offer nothing beyond calling people tories anyway. You make it better by making better informed and interesting posts...then we'll talk.

Then there are the posters there that just attempt to start fights

 

[butchersapron]

..and those that shouldn't try and take part when they do so...

 

[the B]

..and those that shouldn't try and take part when they do so...

And just why shouldn't they?

 

[silentNate]

And just why shouldn't they?

Because butchersapron is soooooooo smart and cool that despite it being a public bulletin board some of aren't worthy of an opinion

 

[butchersapron]

Because you're both crappy posters - one a fucking fantasist about the matrix, obsessed with postcounts and the other a 26 year old that dreams of being either a chav or having a proper political persepective from which to argue...

 

[Lock&Light]

Because you're both crappy posters - one a fucking fantasist about the matrix, obsessed with postcounts and the other a 26 year old that dreams of being either a chav or having a proper political persepective from which to argue...

I assume that you didn't intend this posting to be a portrayal of your own expertise as a poster.

 

[the B]

BA - you don't know that much about myself or silentNate...

 

[General Ludd]

And just why shouldn't they?

Cause it'll all end in tears.

 

[butchersapron]

BA - you don't know that much about myself or silentNate...

...but just enough mate, just enough.

 

[flimsier]

Bit harsh, BA.

The UK politics forum has several poster obsessed with criticising the minutiae of left politics to wind a few people up.

It made me flounce about a week or so ago.

There are too many SWP/ RESPECT threads and they seem more prevalent than ever, but if you are coming up to elections, this inevitably happens.

Sadly, there are greater problems with some regular posters in P&P. You can tell what they are going to say, before they say it. I'd argue that TJ is as bad as any other: 'Here's what the Green Party say: (insert C&P/ link) - by the way I'm not a Green Party member'

This does not make many discussions workable.

More discussions like the type around multi-culturalism required (I basically read that, and didn't post).

Posting complaints doesn't help.

Oh, and Teej, either don't go in there - like I didn't - don't click on those threads, or start more interesting ones.

 

[silentNate]

...but just enough mate, just enough.

You make it better by making better informed and interesting posts...then we'll talk.

Very intelligent I'm sure
Why don't you make some interesting points yourself and stop picking fights with those of us unconvinced by the ICWA's agenda

 

[the B]

BA - you really don't know enough, you're being just a bit arrogant to assume you do.

Maybe you're on a wind up, some kind of Ernie version 0.1 or something...do you actually like UK P&P as it is? Do you like the fairly large number of SWP/Respect themed threads?

 

[butchersapron]

Nah, not harsh mate - had grief off this child since i dared disagree with Epona. It doesn't take me but a minute to knock him back down, but christ it's boring,

 

[TeeJay]

Well I am glad that at least *some* people are prepared to address the issue of "what kinds of issues ... be discussed on an urban75 "UK politics and current affairs" forum" rather than come onto this thread to carry on their insults and fights.

I think it is worth noting that wrecking and take-over/swamping tactics are employed in real life by various groups. Would it be fair to say that these techniques are also used online as well as off?

 

[butchersapron]

UK P&P is uk P&P - nothings changed since i've been here other than the forum names, and that's longer than nate or trenchcoat mafia kid.

 

[emanymton]

To be honest I think part of the problem (if you want to call it that) is that many of the regulars actually agree on quite a lot so the discussion centres around stuff we can argue about.

 

[butchersapron]

Well I am glad that at least *some* people are prepared to address the issue of "what kinds of issues ... be discussed on an urban75 "UK politics and current affairs" forum" rather than come onto this thread to carry on their insults and fights.

I think it is worth noting that wrecking and take-over/swamping tactics are employed in real life by various groups. Would it be fair to say that these techniques are also used online as well as off?

Post some threads! Or are we going to be forced to write ones on what you find interesting?

 

[silentNate]

Nah, not harsh mate - had grief off this child since i dared disagree with Epona. It doesn't take me but a minute to knock him back down, but christ it's boring,

Ummmmmmmmmmm.... I'm baffled by that last comment

I'm not Epona, no offense to her but I'd say our views differ somewhat

I also don't get what point your trying to make

 

[General Ludd]

Well I am glad that at least *some* people are prepared to address the issue of "what kinds of issues ... be discussed on an urban75 "UK politics and current affairs" forum" rather than come onto this thread to carry on their insults and fights.

The issues that'll be discussed and are discussed are those people post threads about and post interesting things on.

 

[butchersapron]

Ummmmmmmmmmm.... I'm baffled by that last comment

I'm not Epona, no offense to her but I'd say our views differ somewhat

I also don't get what point your trying to make

That you're a a liddle lap dog who come rushing to defend, but now you've bit off more than you can chew. And are now doing crappy posts all over the boards pursuing your petty dispute.

 

[Lock&Light]

Nah, not harsh mate - had grief off this child since i dared disagree with Epona. It doesn't take me but a minute to knock him back down, but christ it's boring,

What an appallingly egocentric, arrogant and patronising comment.

 

[flimsier]

To be honest I think part of the problem (if you want to call it that) is that many of the regulars actually agree on quite a lot so the discussion centres around stuff we can argue about.

I actually think this is the heart of the problem, along with the fact that people who don't agree (liampreston or Teej) actually seem to present their positions in such a dull way!

 

[flimsier]

What an appallingly egocentric, arrogant and patronising comment.

BA: I have to agree with this. I think you are being out of order.