To separate News from Politics

Dinahmo

Dickens I would have thought it's fairly obvious which threads are political. I see no reason for anybody wading through each one.

If the topics were separated I doubt that those asking for this would keep off the politics topics. It might be good if they did because then the rest of us would not need to keep repeating the same old, same old, when statement are clearly erroneous.

I would have thought it's fairly obvious which threads are political. I see no reason for anybody wading through each one.

Well yes - quite. I agree. But some seem to want the information about the issues without the politics. I don't quite know how the discussions would evolve because clearly many items are political which, as you point out, is quite clear from the heading. It would be difficult to talk about the ongoing pandemic for example without bringing politics into it, same with the NHS, Social Care, Pensions, etc - but quite clearly there are those who believe otherwise. So let them have their thread.... a "News - No-Political Comments Allowed" thread.

I think it's not so much the fact that comments are political that bothers some, more the colour of the political opinion.

What I think Urmstongran is getting at is what she tried to achieve a few months ago by posting topics in chat, for people to have a free discussion about news items without being jumped on by the ‘pc police’, for views to be unchallenged by those with a political viewpoint (I include myself).

Exactly, Casdon. They want a nice cosy place where they can all nod in agreement with each other...

The thing is, if there is a political aspect to something in a separate 'News' forum it will invite some political comments. There's no escaping it.

If people don't like posting on political threads on 'News & Politics' they really don't have to. Same as if someone posts a News item that I have no interest in, I don't bother to post. I very often don't even bother to read it.

Separating the two won't stop political comments on News threads; it wouldn't be a safe place to post political opinions without them being challenged, I get the impression that some posters would like a cosy place like that but it won't happen.

When push comes to shove I really don't mind what Gnet do. I just think it's pointless.

What I think Urmstongran is getting at is what she tried to achieve a few months ago by posting topics in chat, for people to have a free discussion about news items without being jumped on by the ‘pc police’, for views to be unchallenged by those with a political viewpoint (I include myself).
I’m really struggling though to think of news items where this approach would work, maybe something like this:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-59502337
It’s a lovely story, it’s news, but I’m not sure it would generate much meaningful discussion - and that’s the rub for me. Gransnet would be dull without the cut and thrust.

Ok I couldn’t really care less what the sections are called. But I do have one question….if there’s a News section and somebody makes a political point about The news item having been caused in part by mistakes by a Labour council or a Tory
Policy will they be told not to comment ??

I’m another who wouldn’t bother with GN if it was all just “ooh isn’t that awful? Oh yes I agree it is awful”. “Isn’t that a lovely story? Ooh yes it is a lovely story”

Zoejory

I agree, Urmstongran

The politics threads are like Groundhog Day. The same thing said day after day, ad infinitum

You could say that about any topics, eg the royal family, same stuff repeated. Threads about paternal grandparents getting left out, that’s a common theme.

But I dont want people to talk about breeds of dog so I think I should be able to say people arent allowed to talk about that on a particular thread. There should be a rule that chat about breeds of dog is not allowed on news threads.

Josianne

Dog biting child:
supervision
provocation, threat
infection, treatment, scars
rabies cases
breeds of dog
destruction of the dog
insurance

just a few non political things to discuss if people are interested.

There is already a section for pets and all those topics have been covered within that section at different times.

Dickens I would have thought it's fairly obvious which threads are political. I see no reason for anybody wading through each one.

If the topics were separated I doubt that those asking for this would keep off the politics topics. It might be good if they did because then the rest of us would not need to keep repeating the same old, same old, when statement are clearly erroneous.

Dog biting child:
supervision
provocation, threat
infection, treatment, scars
rabies cases
breeds of dog
destruction of the dog
insurance

just a few non political things to discuss if people are interested.

Earlier this evening I counted the number of topics in the N & P section and there were 27, only 1 of which didn't really have a political element and that was Carrie's baby. Now there are 29 but, just looking at the titles, there is still just the baby that isn't political. I am aware that there are a few comments aimed at Johnson but no one can in all honesty claim that the birth of a baby is political news, rather than just news.

If enough people want their news separated completely from political comment, then why not - if GNHQ will allow it?

It will either attract views and (non-political) comments, or it won't.

But I think GNHQ will have to make it quite clear that NO political comment is allowed on that particular thread.

If individuals want to chat about the news without any political observations, I suppose it could be a useful way of finding out what's happening in the world without having to wade through all the political stuff. Each to her own. It wouldn't interest me at all - I get the news headlines every day from the 'net and TV anyway.

I say yes. Give it a try.

Oh I think a good deal of us care Dinahmo it’s just that opinions are so polarised these days it would be nice to uncouple News from Politics - even for a trial run. I do agree with the poster who said it can all get a bit Groundhog Day!

BlueBelle

Totally WRONG Vegansrock and JillyJosie
You couldn’t be more wrong I am totally anti this government the very reason I DONT want every blooming news item to end up with political undertones Tory or Labour or anything else
If I want to talk about a dog biting a child, a car crash or a tree growing to an unusually massive height I DONT. wants to be told it’s political WHATEVER BLOOMING SHADE

I genuinely don't understand what there is to talk about on a subject of a dog biting a child. Everyone would think it terrible and feel very sad for those involved but what else is there to say, apart from discussing the present law, which would be considered to be political.

Barmeyoldbat

Over the top Algeria’s.

Not at all. Perhaps some people care more than others about what is happening. I have read in the past at least one person admitting that they were only concerned with their immediate family and friends.

I find this difficult to differentiate. Our lives are entwined with both. So much of the news is political.

Not ‘gory’ at all. Apologies.

Many of us might find ‘News’ more to our liking Zoegory!
Time will tell (if it’s allowed of course).

I agree, Urmstongran

The politics threads are like Groundhog Day. The same thing said day after day, ad infinitum

I can’t help but notice that it’s the prolific posters on the politics threads who are the ones most against splitting News from Politics.
?

And yes, I do understand what you all mean when you say politics can be looped back into from news items. But not always! Chat doesn’t quite cut it either.

I just like the idea of reading a news article or seeing ‘Breaking News’ strapline on tv and being able to head straight to a News forum.

Personally I think it would be a popular decision.

Gwyneth

It probably wouldn’t make any difference separating the two as some posters on here manage to politicise just about anything. In fact they seem to make it their goal in life. Quite sad really.

Why is it sad?

Over the top Algeria’s.

Alegrias1

Philosophical thought for the evening.

Perhaps those who have been described as the political people think that almost everything does have a political dimension.

Dog bit a child – do we need more stringent child protection or animal control laws?
Car crash – what was the cause? Was the road icy? Are gritters in short supply because of cuts? Were the hospitals too full to treat the survivors? Why?
Unusually massive tree – Global warming? Arguments in the council over who is responsible for it?

I exaggerate, but you know what I mean…

Some examples of wider politics

Look at art. Perhaps say Maddox Brown or Picasso, Matisse or Bacon, they and thousands of others all have a political element to their work.

Likewise literature. Dickens or Huxley, well tbh there are thousands.

Politics is in everything.

Philosophical thought for the evening.

Perhaps those who have been described as the political people think that almost everything does have a political dimension.

Dog bit a child – do we need more stringent child protection or animal control laws?
Car crash – what was the cause? Was the road icy? Are gritters in short supply because of cuts? Were the hospitals too full to treat the survivors? Why?
Unusually massive tree – Global warming? Arguments in the council over who is responsible for it?

I exaggerate, but you know what I mean…

O I don’t see how news can be separated from politics. Eg Grenfell Tower, how can that be discussed without political/historical context?

Plus -the personal is political now