The forum and the Big Muddy

omphaloskepsis wrote:   If you don't want to discuss politics...ignore the thread.

And again, the issue is not those who don't want to discuss politics and therefore should ignore threads, the issue is those who do choose to discuss and not to ignore.   The "Just ignore it" tenet is increasingly tiring, irrelevant, ignorant, and unrealistic.

wiz_d_kidd wrote: People of PA -- this is a music forum! Keep it that way.

Yeah well, you are currently posting a comment in the Topics not related to music department on PA. A section where I rarely participate, so rarely do I notice discussions getting out of hand. Yep, it really is that easy. The few times when I do notice, it's really no different from the rest of the internet. I don't mind. Aggression, weird takes or whatever make me think differently about some active members here, but so what? PA's forum section is already dying and...

omphaloskepsis wrote: Should PA have political discussions? It's up to the mods.   That said, if you don't want to discuss or read political discussions... don't respond or read the political thread.  Just ignore it.  It's that simple.

The problem is that threads often stray off topic. Someone might open a Pink Floyd thread, then someone starts talking about Roger Waters and his strong political views and BAM! -- the thread disintegrates into political diatribe, verbal assaults and insults, and generally immature behavior.

Someone else might start a thread about a news event, say an assassination attempt. It's about what happened and who did it and what is currently known, but it will inevitably be hijacked by some hater saying they're sorry the bullet missed, or someone else who claims it was a massive conspiracy by the political opposition.

I think PA should have a zero tolerance policy and ban (at least temporarily) anyone who starts a political thread, or hijacks an otherwise music-related thread to inject their venom -- whether it's politics, conspiracy theories, COVID misinformation, etc.

People of PA -- this is a music forum! Keep it that way.

Ancient Rome's colonial policy was invasive but quite effective for its time. There was no mass media, no telephones, no quick ways of communication etc. back then. Romans had no other option but to use force against ignorance a lot of times.

The nations Romans conquered weren't some innocent pacifist liberal cutie pie babies. They were aggressive, they were full of political fanatics, they were willing to fight back not with diplomacy, but with rage and fire. It was a different time.

Still, their colonization policy was quite smart. It wasn't quite the mindless destructive "destory old bad - replace with good nu" method. It was more complex. An evidene of it would be how they approached conquering the Greek culture. They didn't wreck it. They modified it and embraced it. Zeus became Jupiter, Poseidon became Neptune and so on.

Edited by Hrychu - July 24 2024 at 05:15

Nogbad_The_Bad wrote: As long as you guys are talking about music I will leave this thread open. If it becomes a political discussion I'm closing it.

omphaloskepsis wrote: David_D wrote: ^ Romantic Warrior wasn't either quite apolitical, which can be seen in this excerpt from a poem entitled "The Romantic Warrior",  written by Neville Potter and included as a part of the album's artwork : Pick up the gauntlet warriors sheath your swords put up your trusty lance channel the power used to crush every foe into giving the future a chance Believe in yourselves old warriors bold create a path so firm and sure fight for the birth of the freedom of man the end of this medieval overture. What an inspiring poem!  It addresses my main concern.  I'm anti-war.

Edited by David_D - July 24 2024 at 00:43

As long as you guys are talking about music I will leave this thread open. If it becomes a political discussion I'm closing it.

Atavachron wrote: 'Building' can be almost as fraught with hazards and peril as destroying is [America has often been accused of spreading their commercial culture throughout the world even though other countries have an actual history of imperialism and domination: Britain, Spain, Germany, Japan, ancient Greece and Rome, all far more invasive and plundering than the U.S. has ever been].   What will be built and why are the questions, not some vague, idealistic notion of being productive.   The poem quoted is nothing if not militaristic, full of warriors and creating firm paths.   It smacks of Crusaders old & new, and seems rather naive.   One must be careful, sensitive, and abstain from action if it will cause more harm than good.

Edited by omphaloskepsis - July 23 2024 at 18:45

omphaloskepsis wrote: I'm anti-war.  Let's build and not destroy.

Edited by David_D - July 23 2024 at 16:28