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To separate News from Politics

(282 Posts)

GNHQ have commented on this thread. Read here.

Josianne Thu 09-Dec-21 13:29:28

Urmstongran today made a suggestion to GNHQ that the above two subjects should have their own threads. Apparently we have to register our approval or interest here.
So yes, please please, please.

MichaelGransnet (GNHQ) Tue 21-Dec-21 11:33:44

Hi all, and apologies for the delay.
We've read the thread and discussed this in the virtual office - we'll keep the News and Politics section as a single area for now.

We think the single section does a good job of covering current events and ​can see that Gransnetters are discussing a range of stories and issues in there.

We note that some threads already have 'News: title' or 'Politics: title' as an indication of their intent - so feel free to keep testing that format and see if it works for you.

varian Sun 12-Dec-21 13:29:15

Politics may be "the art of the possible" but it is also the means of addressing and, hopefully, righting wrongs.

I cannot see how a "news without politics" forum could appeal to many, OK it might be nice to hear a good news story - fireman rescues cat stuck up a tree - awww!

But so what?

Bad news stories inevitably have a political dimension.

nanna8 Sun 12-Dec-21 11:39:21

Not sure about that. Look at the riots and strikes by the poor and dispossessed over the centuries. Massacres, oppression and general ill treatment of the ordinary working poor throughout British history.

Josianne Sun 12-Dec-21 08:31:30

Politics in many ways is a luxury.
Interesting thought Galaxy and yes, you're right that it isnt top priority when people have larger issues or problems, even if only in their minds.

Galaxy Sun 12-Dec-21 08:26:59

Many of her issues are impacted greatly be politics of course but in a sense that doesnt matter.

Galaxy Sun 12-Dec-21 08:25:54

A colleague of mine is very similar but she is dealing with such a range of complex long term problems that if I were her I would be lucky to get dressed every day never mind give politics a thought. Politics in many ways is a luxury.

Josianne Sun 12-Dec-21 08:18:34

Dickens

^My OH heard a nurse on the radio ( I am assuming a reasonable education here) asking who Keir Starmer is.^

One of the nurses who visits us at home - early 30s I would say - asked me after some casual conversation about locdowns, "is Boris Johnson Labour or Conservative, I can never remember?". I asked her if she was serious, and she said she didn't really understand politics.

Face-Palm...

My youngest daughter is like that. Unless it's a Save the World party or politician, she wouldn't have a clue. (a private education was a waste of money in that respect!)

Dickens Sat 11-Dec-21 23:14:59

My OH heard a nurse on the radio ( I am assuming a reasonable education here) asking who Keir Starmer is.

One of the nurses who visits us at home - early 30s I would say - asked me after some casual conversation about locdowns, "is Boris Johnson Labour or Conservative, I can never remember?". I asked her if she was serious, and she said she didn't really understand politics.

Face-Palm...

Calistemon Sat 11-Dec-21 22:17:12

Doesn't everyone do that - ignore things they're not bothered about?

If only, Dinahmo!

Dinahmo Sat 11-Dec-21 22:16:02

I always go to the News and Politics forum first, unless there's something in the Trending list that catches my eye. I don't look at all topics since it is immediately obvious to me if there's something that I'm not interested - eg Royals and Carrie's baby. Doesn't everyone do that - ignore things they're not bothered about?

I sometimes look at Chat and one or two other forums but i just don't get the people who complain about too much politics. I'm afraid that's the main reason that we have the current govt. My OH heard a nurse on the radio ( I am assuming a reasonable education here) asking who Keir Starmer is. To me that shows a remarkable lack of awareness in a member of the public.

Kali2 Sat 11-Dec-21 22:14:06

Kandinsky

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.

Personally I have no objection to the two being separated, if this is what people want. No, not all news is political, but as said before, political does NOT mean party political. The choices we make about so many things are 'political' - so how do you separate the two. How do you decide which goes where- and how the discussion develops- and perhapy, yes, even turn 'political' if people feel, perceive understand - that the the news items is, indeed, 'political'. How would you stop that? Will posters be admonished or banned if they perceive a news item as being 'political' and post accordingly?

I am not 'annoyed' - it just does not make sense to me.

Calistemon Sat 11-Dec-21 21:59:17

dont should be don't
nevermentuon - never mention.

Join me on the keebord skils corse afy0ter Chridtmas ???

Calistemon Sat 11-Dec-21 21:55:35

Galaxy

I am quite happy for someone to report my spelling nonsense though.

You spelt good wrong and it should probably have a capital G as should M for morning

tchwink

trisher Sat 11-Dec-21 21:10:59

I was just wondering as I seldom look at the section a thread is in before I post something how will I know which is a political thread and which is a news thread? And if I consider a news item has a political link am I just supposed to keep quiet about it?

Galaxy Sat 11-Dec-21 18:35:57

It is if you beg for help with it grin

Dickens Sat 11-Dec-21 14:02:15

Galaxy

I am quite happy for someone to report my spelling nonsense though.

... that's a no-no!

Picking people up on their spelling or grammar is just not nice! grin

Dickens Sat 11-Dec-21 13:59:40

Galaxy

It is of course about control. Because someone on the news thread will have to decide if something is political and I am afraid I dont want other people making decisions in that way. The news is political and I am not talking party political. It's a bit like someone saying I think the goid morning thread should nevermentuon anything that happens in the afternoon grin

If there are two separate forums, one for 'news only' with no political comment and the current News & Politics... would you even bother going to the 'news only' forum?

I wouldn't - I'd just stick with the original where, presumably, we could just carry on as normal. And if anyone complains that we are (when discussing a news item) "making it Political", we can just direct them to the other platform - no?

They can 'police' it themselves. Isn't that how all the forums are moderated anyway?

Galaxy Sat 11-Dec-21 13:41:07

I am quite happy for someone to report my spelling nonsense though.

Galaxy Sat 11-Dec-21 13:39:31

It is of course about control. Because someone on the news thread will have to decide if something is political and I am afraid I dont want other people making decisions in that way. The news is political and I am not talking party political. It's a bit like someone saying I think the goid morning thread should nevermentuon anything that happens in the afternoon grin

Dickens Sat 11-Dec-21 13:39:23

lemongrove

Nobody is being denied anything Dickens
Anybody can post if they are interested in the item of news, what’s stopping them?
They still have the right to post their comments.
I bet there are many posters that we rarely hear from that would be happy to comment on news threads, either because they are sick of politics or don’t want to be constantly taken to task by very political posters.Whitewave says on this thread,
She sees it as a win win situation, only those who are really interested in politics will go onto those threads.Well, exactly so.
There is nothing to be afraid of in separating two subjects.
Nobody will be controlling what you say, or reporting, the most that will happen is if a poster has a political rant on a news thread then other posters may choose to ignore it.
I guess we have all made our views clear to HQ by now.

... I'm not arguing against the creation of a 'news only' forum - I thought that I'd made it clear!

Josianne Sat 11-Dec-21 13:33:09

Or else there could be an agreed escape plea when the going gets tough, like, "I'm a political lightweight, get me out of here!"

Josianne Sat 11-Dec-21 13:29:42

Enter at your peril!

Alegrias1 Sat 11-Dec-21 13:28:31

Come on if you think you're hard enough

grin

Casdon Sat 11-Dec-21 13:23:18

Perhaps we should rename the Politics Thread then?
‘Not for the faint hearted’ or something similar - maybe ‘Say what you think and expect others to disagree’, or even ‘Expect to be challenged’. Or a punchy ‘Have a go here’
That way people can’t moan if their views aren’t supported.

Calistemon Sat 11-Dec-21 13:13:57

?