Politics and religion are off-limits, unless you opt in

[AprilHare]

Originally Posted by kennyc

So yes, let’s hide it all away, let’s pretend it doesn’t exist. That will certainly solve the issues.

Sounds pleasant

[Graham]

What will be interesting is whether it changes the nature of the debates, in that there won't be a silent, and potentially undecided, majority looking on.

Or maybe it will just become Atheists' Corner, and occasionally people will drop by and poke us to see what happens...

Out of interest, will threads discussed in the debating group still appear in the week's hot topics if they get that lively?

Graham

[Alexander Turcic]

Originally Posted by Graham

Out of interest, will threads discussed in the debating group still appear in the week's hot topics if they get that lively?

They do if you are opt in to the section.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by Alexander Turcic

They do if you are opt in to the section.

Thanks, makes sense.

Graham

[Alexander Turcic]

Originally Posted by Graham

Thanks, makes sense.

Graham

Actually, it is how it should work. We haven't tested it yet but we'll keep an eye on it.

[ShortNCuddlyAm]

Thanks Alex! This sounds like a better compromise than the conservatory was.

I've just joined

[TadW]

Originally Posted by kennyc

So yes, let’s hide it all away, let’s pretend it doesn’t exist. That will certainly solve the issues.

Nothing is hidden. You want to discuss these issues? Opt in. You don't - don't opt in.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by TadW

Nothing is hidden. You want to discuss these issues? Opt in. You don't - don't opt in.

Kenny's point is sound as it is the user's decision not to opt in which is doing the hiding, however given that the forum's primary function is to discuss mobile reading I think it's an acceptable decision.

Graham

[TadW]

Originally Posted by Graham

Kenny's point is sound as it is the user's decision not to opt in which is doing the hiding

I don't opt in because I don't want to deal with any of this when I am visiting Mobileread. I come here to enjoy e-books and a friendly community.

This is not to say that I am hiding from these issues, which I can, and do, discuss elsewhere (preferably not online but face to face in person).

, however given that the forum's primary function is to discuss mobile reading I think it's an acceptable decision.

[AprilHare]

Originally Posted by ShortNCuddlyAm

Thanks Alex! This sounds like a better compromise than the conservatory was.

I've just joined

I never thought of you as a hardened debater before!

[FlorenceArt]

Originally Posted by Graham

Kenny's point is sound as it is the user's decision not to opt in which is doing the hiding, however given that the forum's primary function is to discuss mobile reading I think it's an acceptable decision.

Graham

True, it's a bit sad and I understand Kenny's point, but I agree with you that it's an acceptable, and probably preferable, solution.

I suppose this means the discussions will be hidden from Google also. Again, a bit sad but it will avoid drawing in trolls.

[GlenBarrington]

that might work up to a point!

Just don't expect it to work 100% of the time. The best books, of any type and genre, deal with ideas. Ideas are the core of what books are about. At some point, if you intend to discuss a book, you need to discuss the ideas behind it.

My advice would be for the moderators to get together and decide, at least in a generic sense, at what point the dialog has passed the very fine and almost invisible line from a discussion about a book into something else. If you don't, your enforcement of this will be inconsistent to say the least.

Your enforcement will be inconsistent anyway, it's impossible to police this sort of thing with absolute accuracy and fairness, but this will make you less inconsistent, and help the moderators feel better about the marginal situations.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

that might work up to a point!

Just don't expect it to work 100% of the time. The best books, of any type and genre, deal with ideas. Ideas are the core of what books are about. At some point, if you intend to discuss a book, you need to discuss the ideas behind it.

Indeed, discussing a few of the titles on this month's book list might be tricky. It would be hard to discuss "Old Man's War", "The Sparrow", "The Man in the High Castle" or indeed "Childhood's End" without dipping into politics or religion.

Graham

[twobits]

Seems with books any topic can come up since they can be on any topic, so nice that you did not ban the topics outright.

On the other hand, I do wish I could opt out of them in afk life.

[AprilHare]

Originally Posted by twobits

Seems with books any topic can come up since they can be on any topic, so nice that you did not ban the topics outright.

On the other hand, I do wish I could opt out of them in afk life.

There never seems a moment in life when we're truly away from MobileRead. For instance, carrying around a mobile phone at all times leaves one vulnerable..