To separate News from Politics

So you just want a fluffy isn't that good/sweet/awful/funny/terrible forum?

Galaxy

What do you mean posters would be free to ignore political posts, they have that freedom now. You can ignore any post you dont like or report it if it breaks guidelines.

Sometimes though Galaxy the political threads can be a bear garden. Depending upon the subject matter they are not for the faint hearted. And yet some people might like to post on what they’ve seen or heard about in the news in a more generalised way without being verbally attacked!

I think News could still be interesting just a little gentler perhaps, thereby encouraging more posters to join in hopefully? N&P are presently pretty much the same cabal of posters (not denigrating anybody as I include myself in that description!).

Wouldn't it be simpler to designate Chat as where people go if they want to post pollyanna, nicey nicey posts where they expect only agreement and no widening of the subject?

Even as I say this, I think it's a nonsense but it's also a nonsense to pretend that news is separate from politics. Why do we have newspapers defined and self defined as left and right wing which is a result of who they're owned by and who buys them.

I can't believe that GNHQ think this is anything other than a hornet's nest as demonstrated by the direction of this very thread. Social media creates debate, that's why groups on, for instance, Facebook have rules and moderators and closed groups where debate can be tightly controlled. This is an open forum.

Alegrias1

So you just want a fluffy isn't that good/sweet/awful/funny/terrible forum?

Hmm. I take your point Alegrias but I prefer to think of it becoming more like a conversation about newsworthy topics as happens amongst friends in real life! Opinions listened to politely. As you would when sat round a table with people. I’m sure we’ve all done it. And perhaps bitten our tongue in company rather than get het up and rant at the table.

It can be quite pleasant just to be chatty and have a laugh too about what’s in the newspapers without enduring severe put downs!

Time will tell whether or not it’s popular. If it’s not, I’m sure GNHQ will reconsider.

Nah, I do a lot of real life ranting.

It can be quite pleasant just to be chatty and have a laugh too about what’s in the newspapers without enduring severe put downs!

Have a laugh about what's in the papers, chuckle away. But if its something that has a serious side, don't complain if you are told about it.

What about this? Is this funny? It made me laugh. To begin with.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-59592355

Tbh I thought the gransnet cafe was introduced for happy chappy chat.

Why are some people so annoyed about this?
Not all news is political so it’s great to have a separate board.
I can’t see a problem at all.

I wouldn't say I'm annoyed, but I would say I'm perplexed.

Its coming across as a way of trying to stop people posting what they want, within the rules.

I dare say it won't work.

I just think some posters do turn into keyboard warriors on here and yet I bet they do moderate their responses in real life.

As WWM2 says, there is the Gransnet Cafe if you want to discuss news. It was set up years ago but there has been no demand for it and it is rarely used.

Do you? How wrong can you be...

Some are happy to take what they're given and think everything will be fine in the end.

Some of us won't stand for injustice.

Got to pick your side.

(That for Urmstongran, obviously.)

Urmstongran

I just think some posters do turn into keyboard warriors on here and yet I bet they do moderate their responses in real life.

??? isn’t that what politics is?

And if it lies dormant for weeks, as many forums do on GN, so be it. Que será será.
I think it might already put people off using it as from this discussion they might be viewed as fluffy lightweights.

We are all different Alegrias. I respect your stance of course. But we shall have to agree to disagree on this.

When I’m sat with people around a table I’m polite. I don’t do ‘ranting in real life’ as you say you do. You are obviously a very passionate personality.

I wouldn’t be comfortable being like that (good job we’re all different) and when I interact with people I’m very mindful of their feelings. I let things go if I think it would be too confrontational. I’d rather keep a friend than point score.

The newspaper I read has the following headings, so i assume splitting the topics is quite common in the world of journalism.

News, Business, Sport, Opinion, Politics, World

Maybe all my friends just have progressive ideas...

Its impossible to please everyone. Even the so called gentle threads can turn bad in the blink of an eye if just one person misunderstands or doesnt agree with someone else. Discussion without face to face contact is so hard. you can separate subjects til the cows come home there will still be arguments.

This thread is reminding me of office politics.

So let me get this straight the "News" threads would be for people who don't want to be political and all want to post happy-clappy stuff, and the politics threads are for the rest of us? Aren't there enough nicey nicey threads for people to post on already? Is this just another way for some people to gain control of what is posted and who posts? So put any politics on my news thread and I'll report you? Otherwise why bother? What I hate most on GN are those people who pretend they are caring and non-confrontational but work in the background trying to control things. I'd far rather be told I'm a outspoken troublemaker than have someone report my post for some ridiculous reason. Shouldn't we want less authoritarian and more liberal thread headings than more restrictive?

Good point Josianne ??

And just in case anyone thinks my stance on this is in any way controlling I’m happy to disclose that I have never, ever reported a post put forward by anyone. And I’ve borne the brunt of some pretty personal comments over time.
?

Healthy debate on any subject is a good thing. Listening to opposing points of view helps us all to grow.
Debate is destroyed when it gets personal, when insults are bandied about or on the other hand when a non personal comment is taken to be personal.
I'm happy to leave news and politics under one umbrella and to take part in passionate debate but I bow out as soon as nasty personal comments start.
No point in continuing once the plot is lost.
I'm inclined to agree with Ena 'you can separate subjects until the cows come home, there'll still be arguments'.

trisher tbh if you think about it nothing has changed. Just by dropping the word news. Those of us interested in politics will just carry on as usual, but with the added major bonus of the moaners not taking part in the debate. Or we are being accused of making things political.

but I bow out as soon as nasty personal comments start same here Laura but does that now make us "the non confrontational ones who work in the background trying to control things!"
I don't want to control anything, I'm just in support of giving something different a whirl.

Is this just another way for some people to gain control of what is posted and who posts?

By the same token - and I'm trying to be really objective here, also playing Devil's Advocate - aren't you doing the same thing by denying them the 'right' to a section in the Forum that doesn't involve politics? I haven't thought it through, but that is what immediately came to my mind.

If the News & Politics section remains intact, no-one is controlling what we can or cannot say, are they?

I'm just throwing this into the mix, that's all.