Is this a 'Insult the Conservatives people and Conservative Beliefs and Conservative Groups and Conservative Leadership only' forum? I read the AoDA and I did not see a sign that said:

"Come on in and make fun of everything Conservative and Republican and Libertarian."

"If you insult the Liberals / Democrats / Green Party Environementalists / United Nation's Worshippers / Communistic Maxist First Wives Club, you will be banned."

I'm just curious because if I can not criticize any group or any leader or any politician or any organization that doesn't fit in with the Administrator's Ideology I could be banned. So far I got a warning for criticizing liberals in a thread that criticized our American President, Conservative Republican George W. Bush.

Liberals get to dish it out but they can't take it? Would I get banned for calling Ralph Nader an Enviro-Wack that can't stomache a war?

Your post was very aggressive which is probably why you got a warning no?

AO -- You seem to be missing the boat here. If you were warned or cautioned on your post, it was most likely for a forum guideline violation or coming very close to such. Views from all sides are encouraged here....what is not, are personal attacks of any kind.

And as far as having to conform to the personal ideologies of our Administrator -- if you had been here for any length of time, you would see that's not the case. This forum was created for the debate of edgy issues, with all different viewpoints encouraged. We all love a vigorous and lively debate -- the key is to do this without insulting someone in the process, which, if you're an emotional person and stand strong for what you believe in, can be difficult at times. That's why we have the moderators and the administrator -- to keep things from getting out of hand.

Now, is this forum intentionally more liberal or republican?? nah - I believe it's a randomly functional makeup of the people here and fluctuates as people come and go -- there is no conspiracy. ;)

Would I get banned for calling Ralph Nader an Enviro-Wack that can't stomache a war? Ralph is probably the best friend the Bushies have right now.

Personal attacks on fellow members are not considered very cool here. But political figures are pretty much fair game, regardless of ideology (at least that's been my experience).

Edit: Sorry to repeat you, Spelly. But we posted at the same time. ;)

As, I guess, one of the "Libertarians" here, I don't feel overburdened by oppression or anything like that. I posted a Dennis Prager quote that drew a lot of heat after posting a Michael Moore quote that drew none (and not much response either).

I considered both quotes to be twisting of the truth and sweeping over-generalizations and part of my purpose for posting them was to invite people to examine their prejudices and make sure that they filter what they read, especially when they agree with it, but then I got stuck in a deposition and couldn't follow through well enough (thanks to BTA for trying, though).

My point is that I haven't been warned, banned, threatened or otherwise attacked, and, to the best of my knowledge, conservatives like Grey Magistrate and Hacken Slash have not suffered either. The problems come when people get personal with their attacks and violate forum rules.

The only time I remember seeing a complaint about banning and ideology was Shralp, but I don't know what was going on behind the scenes there, so I have no comment.

AO - As long as you stick to arguing the points and not blasting your fellow board members, you'll be fine. Invite your conservative friends to participate too, as the boards are getting a little too homogenous in my viewpoint.

I can't wait: Chandos, Ragusa, meet the Republican club. Whew -- good times to come.

@American Optimist

We, the administrators and moderators of SP, do not play favorites or take sides here. I won't give specific examples here, but for my own part I've been quite willing to deliver warnings, both privately and publicly, to posters with liberal or socialist beliefs, and to posters who are opposed to the Iraq war. The reason, they violated rules that have been set for the Alley of Dangerous Angles and for the Boards of Magic generally. Pure and simple. Tal, same thing. Maybe you haven't noticed it yet, but Blackthorne TA has his conservative sympathies, and has argued in favour of the war on these boards. He doesn't come under sanction. Actually, he's enough of an authority on our rules that he's an administrator alongside Taluntain. Poof! Your accusation has gone up in smoke.

If it isn't clear to you why Tal gave you a warning, here's the rules sticky for the AoDA for your benefit:

http://www.sorcerers.net/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=20;t=000171

Furthermore, if you had an issue with an action taken against you by an administrator, you should have taken it up in PM instead of publicly on the message boards. That has me wondering if you've bothered to read the BoM rules at all. Again, for your benefit:

http://www.sorcerers.net/ubb/rules.htm

If you value your posting privileges here, you will abide by those rules. And you will most certainly NOT start another thread taking issue with how the Boards of Magic are moderated.

[ April 30, 2004, 05:10: Message edited by: Beren ]