Petition for a Happier Kingdom

[Dr. Txec dal Nordselvă]

Bring on the politics!

[Eiric S. Börnatfiglheu]

So... are we really using a couple of threads to argue about how much we argue?

[Sir Alexandreu Davinescu]

I think that while politics has long been a big part of the Talossan experience, it's not the only part of Talossa. Citizens need not like or even follow it, either for a time or ever. Some don't. They may just like the language, the culture, or the community. And because it does bother some people to have politics in their faces, all the time, we should try to accommodate them if we can. Witt exists to serve Talossans, and so we should try to meet the needs of all Talossans whenever possible. It will not harm political debate to try to keep major discussions about politics in the relevant boards (Hopper, Ziu, Coffeehouse), and it will let some citizens engage in the things they like about Talossa without being discomfited by harsh rhetoric that they find disturbing.

There is the possibility of a downside, wherein citizens do not become involved in politics because it's not in their face, and accordingly we lose their voices and their efforts. However, politics has been and probably will remain one of the major themes of Talossa - if not the only theme, as I said above - and so it seems likely to me that anyone even slightly interested in politics will take the effort to click on the relevant boards.

[C. Carlüs Xheraltescù]

Am I the only one that thinks Thunderdome sounds like a place in which one may pass wind without being judged?

[Vitxalmour Conductour]

Jan 26, 2013 18:37:23 GMT -6 C. Carlüs Xheraltescù said:

Am I the only one that thinks Thunderdome sounds like a place in which one may pass wind without being judged?

In a way, that fits.

[Eiric S. Börnatfiglheu]

Hardly. In the Thunderdome, we judge on volume, texture, vibrato, and overall style.

Did we just wander into fart joke territory? Someone call Benedict!

[Deleted]

What is with your zero-sum attitude, Miestra? Not everyone wants to be engaged in politics. Nobody is trying to get rid of politics, just allow Talossa to develop non-political aspects. What is really so wrong with that? Just because you and I may be into politics doesn't mean we have to force everyone else to be.

[Eiric S. Börnatfiglheu]

After reading this as well as the "IMMIGRATION" thread started by out esteemed Minister of Immigration (and if this were Orwell's Oceania, I would submit that this ministry should be called Minijoin) and processing a lot of what is said, I think I'm seeing what up.

Some posit that tempestuous Talossan political debates are turning off prospective immigrants and driving away recent immigrants.

There are two ways around this, evidently. Either a.) we all watch ourselves and keep it nice or b.) we pigeonhole political debate into a speakers corner, coffee house, or what have you.

Some see no harm in this. Others see a transgression of basic rights (or even of basic discourse) in having to only say things in certain places.

Some say "lets have a forum so that those who don't want to deal with politics can avoid it." Other raise the point "if they can avoid a forum, why can't they avoid a thread?"

What I ask is, should we hide the ups and downs? As in, Talossa is a tumultuous place, and will be even if the ruckus is in a coffeehouse or on the main Witt.

My take is, at the end of the day, it's worth a shot. Do I think it will have the effect we hope it will? Not really. Nastiness is nastiness (and we seem to be equating nastiness with politics) and will turn off regardless of where it is. However, I hope I'm wrong.

We all want whats good for Talossa. Just I'm not sure any of us are certain what that is in this case.

[Sarac'h Txilvertescu]

Jan 26, 2013 19:34:32 GMT -6 Eiric S. Börnatfiglheu said:

We all want whats good for Talossa. Just I'm not sure any of us are certain what that is in this case.

Thank you so much for reading everyone's mind. OF COURSE we don't know what's good for Talossa. Only you do, with your references to Orwell and mind control. Take off the tinfoil, it is baking your brain.

The powers that be want to silence dissent. The screaming starts, the mud starts flying, when folks dissent from the governing line. If they can't shout down dissent, they'll find other ways.

"Hush yourselves, you're making Talossa look bad."
"Not everyone wants to be political. Don't make them be. The easiest way would be to shut up and stop disagreeing with us."
_{(Not actual direct quotes, before anyone wants to start calling me on that.)}

The one thing B-tard is right about is that this isn't gonna stop. We're not going to shut up. You escalate, we escalate.

[Vitxalmour Conductour]

To quote partially and out of context:

Jun 4, 2012 21:13:23 GMT -6 Sarac'h Txilvertescu said:

...[Do you] have anything to offer besides an abrasive loudmouth...?

[Capt. Sir Mick Preston]

I think it's a sad commentary that some people dismiss an idea not on it's merits, but by their perceived intentions of the person making it.

When people dismiss an idea because of the supposed political affiliation of the person making it means that the person isn't really looking at the merits of the idea, but instead the message bearer.

That's sad.

[Sarac'h Txilvertescu]

So I'm supposed to ignore the concept of vested interest?

[Capt. Sir Mick Preston]

Why do you assume there is one?

Why did you think I was making my comment to you, directly?

[Miestrâ Schivâ, UrN]

But there is a vested interest by some in shutting down political debate altogether. It's not a coincidence that the guy who said "political debates turn citizens off" is also the guy who said "the mere suggestion of republicanism turns people off". This is why I want anyone who actually does want the end of politics - an absolute monarchy, or a Privy Council elected on a purely administrative basis - to front up and say so. Because politics "within limits" isn't politics, it's theatre and playacting.

[Eiric S. Börnatfiglheu]

Hey now, be gentle... a little theatre never hurt anyone.