Walter S

I took it as a statement that the goal of not being anti car has not been met. Personally I could be seen as anti-car. Cars take a huge footprint that is pervasive all over the city. I think we need more accommodation of the car free. Basically continue the recent trends.

That doesn't mean I favor abolishing cars. Who does? But wanting to limit them more is enough to strike a nerve with some.

Bandera

Sorry if you feel bad, it was not my intention.

On the face of it, and this thread by a moderator emphasizes the fact, "the goal was to make a forum that was about being carfree that wouldn't be "anti-car."" is simply a failure.

Nice try, but the cadre of dedicated anti-car theorists will continue with their version of an LCF party line and the pragmatic car lite will continue to call it what it is: Politics.

PS: I don't spend all of my time huddled over the BF forums, in fact I went for (wait for it) a nice bike ride to the barber. Don't feel abandoned, it's time to prepare supper.

-Bandera

cooker

Ultimately everything is "political" - it's a concept that is so broad it is almost meaningless. I tend to think we are supposed to avoid talking about Obama or Trudeau, but it seems to me trying to block people talking about their reasons for living car-free or how social policies and societal norms impact on living car-free, is applying an unecessarily strict and even censorial definition of what is politics.

The other thing I find ironic, is my impression that the complaints and the mods' interventions seem to arrive after the thread has gone on for considerable time, and there has been a lot of back and forth arguing. It's as if the complainants are perfectly happy to engage in off-topic "political" debate for a while but eventually get frustrated that people aren't seeing things their way, and only then decide to shut the thread down. So they help make the thread "political" and then complain that it is too political.

However, since the complaints are anonymous, I can't know this for sure.

RPK79

QFT - Seems some wouldn't know a politically contentious topic if it reared up and bit them on the rear.

chasm54

No, it really wasn't. It was just sloppy.

Machka 

+1



Personally, I'd like to see this forum become much more welcoming. When things calm down here for a day or two, and posts aren't instantly criticised or degraded ... we actually get a few more posters. Some from other subforums here and some new ones. But then the politics and negativity comes back ... and certain posters feel it is their duty to criticise and degrade even the most benign lifestyle-type posts. And of course, those new posters who have ventured into this forum quickly make their escape. It is a well-known fact that you need a very thick skin to post in this subforum ... it is just that unwelcoming.

But a few of us still have hope and keep coming in with more of this:

"Do you live car free or car light? Do you prefer to use alternative transportation (bicycles, walking, other human-powered or public transportation) for everyday activities whenever possible? Discuss your lifestyle here."

That looks familiar from somewhere. Oh wait ... it is supposed to be the subject matter of this forum!!


Discussing the alternative transportation options we use for our everyday activities.
Discussing aspects of our lifestyle.
Welcoming those who do not use cars ... those who use cars some of the time, but not all the time ... and those who aspire to use their cars less.

B. Carfree

Now I'm feeling left out. No one ever sends me hate mail in spite of my complete lack of tact. Maybe if I try being nice I'll get some.

kickstart

OK,

PM sent.......

jfowler85

Ah yes, the baseless insult. Tool of those who have nothing more intelligent to say.

I'm curious if you understand what figurative speech is...

RPK79

...and this is what we call the implied insult. Not quite calling someone an idiot, but implying heavily that they are.

jfowler85

That was an open thought, given the previous comment. You have derived the "heavy implication"; the person to which I replied is free to demonstrate understanding.

I-Like-To-Bike

Neither have I.

I suspect that the claims of frequent hate mail by PM are highly exaggerated or the product of overactive imaginations/sensibilities. If received, the recipient is free to and most likely would have reported it to the mods, and if the claims of "hate mail" were validated, I'm sure the mods would have taken appropriate action.

wolfchild

I think that's a good thing

Mobile 155

While there have been several accusations about who complained to the moderators I have to wonder how many have ever moderated a chat site or forum? We have been warned that the moderators are watching this sub forum and will move a thread for reasons that they see fit. I have been in their position years ago and there are times a sub forum has to be policed much like a section of highway is policed when accidents or speeding becomes rampant.

There may may be some that simply want to test the resolve of the moderators or at least the limits they will allow. We have learned from these actions that there are somethings that will get a thread moved or closed and so we should avoid then. Name calling, helmets and overt political content seems to three such examples.

That being said it would seem either the moderators themselves moved or closed the thread for the normal reasons or the threads moved should be an indication of the topics that are most likely to get moved.

Could pe that be why the warning was issued?

Walter S

Could what be the reason?? I take the reason at face value. Why don't you?

Mobile 155

The reason threads are moved. It or they may not have to be reported. When a thread starts out with, "I hope this isn't too political", it more than likely is or will be. Look what threads get moved most often before we accuse one side or the other of dropping a dime.

cooker

Certainly with one closed thread, the moderator cited "a record number of compla.

Siu Blue Wind

I could have made my announcement and closed the thread but I left this thread for you all to comment not only to see what you all feel, but to give a chance to discuss it.

Most of you see the point being made and I thank you for understanding. Those of you who don't, can participate in the moved threads no problem. If you don't have access to P and R, just ask.