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Why the politics section?
- Thread starter nouveau_redneck
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You both are smarter than to argue that because Apple's dealings impact public policy that MacRumors should have a section where people can yell past each other about things that don't concern Apple in the least.
Yes, the iPhone forum does seem that way at times.
Apple does not exist in a vacuum. Steve and Tim have both met with Presidents in the past. Technology reps including Apple are regularly called before Congress. Apple is hugely affected by things like tariffs and taxes and trade policies. If you are going to discuss any of these things, it's going to get political.
In the current world we live in, when people talk politics the arguments often devolve into "I'm right, you're wrong" or some kind of name calling. Now it would take an awful lot of moderating to keep this kind of discussion civil enough for the "front-side" of MacRumors. So there is a PRSI section with its own set of rules and a different type of moderation. And if a topic even has a whiff of going in that direction, our Dear Moderators have done a good job of putting those threads in that section.
As for the religious discussions and endless gun control debates? If you went to the trouble to make a PRSI section, you might as well use it!
Personally, I don't wade into PRSI very often, but I do lurk on a few thread. When the discussion remains civil and open minded (which it does more often than you might think), the viewpoints are quite enlightening. After all there is a cross-section of the entire world right here for you to learn from!
As a PRSI regular, I'm always surprised by this reaction. I started coming here for information on products, but that wasn't enough to make me a frequent visitor. I wandered into PRSI. Between the back & forth, and the things I learn ( It's always a little more revealing as an American to hear about Europe, Asia, & the Middle East from people who are actually involved with things there ) from others make it for me.
I don't have to agree with people, and honestly I prefer it that way. Being challenged makes you do your own research and learn more about a topic. Along with the moderation that keeps PRSI very civil, compared to many other swamps out there, PRSI is actually a pleasant place to frequent.
When I have been shocked by posters is when an Apple post is put into the PRSI thread, and the flood of non regulars flood in. The stuff that they say makes my eyes bulge, because they are unaware of the rules, and just let it all hangout unfiltered.
Also, I've wandered into an iPhone & IOS threads, some posters there are savage with one another, and then claim their feelings might get hurt in the PRSI section. It's more likely they'd get a ban, and find themselves safely back outside of PRSI.
Sure it's frustrating, people stake out a position and remain true to themselves. You wouldn't trust anything they say if they didn't. The truth is, this is still the internet, you aren't convincing anyone of anything they don't want to hear. The challenge for me is in making my arguments, learning things about topics I normally don't encounter everyday, and refining my own positions. It isn't for everyone, some people don't want to be challenged, or want to do the work backing up their own views. That's cool, as I said, one has to willingly enter PRSI. Everyone's always welcome. It's in the rules.
I don't have to agree with people, and honestly I prefer it that way. Being challenged makes you do your own research and learn more about a topic. Along with the moderation that keeps PRSI very civil, compared to many other swamps out there, PRSI is actually a pleasant place to frequent.
When I have been shocked by posters is when an Apple post is put into the PRSI thread, and the flood of non regulars flood in. The stuff that they say makes my eyes bulge, because they are unaware of the rules, and just let it all hangout unfiltered.
Also, I've wandered into an iPhone & IOS threads, some posters there are savage with one another, and then claim their feelings might get hurt in the PRSI section. It's more likely they'd get a ban, and find themselves safely back outside of PRSI.
That's thing though, you can't really wander into PRSI by accident. Not unless you mean to click on something in the latest replies, and it refreshes on you making you click on a PRSI reply. I always imagined there was a reason PRSI was all at the bottom of the page, just above archives, so that one has to put in the effort to get to PRSI.
Sure it's frustrating, people stake out a position and remain true to themselves. You wouldn't trust anything they say if they didn't. The truth is, this is still the internet, you aren't convincing anyone of anything they don't want to hear. The challenge for me is in making my arguments, learning things about topics I normally don't encounter everyday, and refining my own positions. It isn't for everyone, some people don't want to be challenged, or want to do the work backing up their own views. That's cool, as I said, one has to willingly enter PRSI. Everyone's always welcome. It's in the rules.
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Thanks for the thoughtful response and insight. I've seen your name in the Politics and Religion section on occasion. I feel for some like you it may be a benefit, but my overall feeling is the Politics and Religion section has nothing to do with Apple and computers and serves no purpose here. Trying to associate politics with Apple is sort of like playing the game seven degrees of separation. Just because I wear Nikes doesn't mean I'm an athlete or have an interest in sports.
As far as wandering into the Politics and Religion threads, it's more of a curiosity issue for me. Like hearing a noise in the other room and you open the door to see what's going on. From what I've seen many thread titles are bait threads and I am guilty of clicking on the thread title. That's why I described it as a distraction. It is a unwanted distraction from reading about Apple and their products. That's why I come here. I have since blocked the section altogether. Problem solved.
Besides, most of what I have read while in the politics and religion section are in my opinion things people have heard or read about on their partisan news channel of choice. They then repost it here as if an affirmation of what they believe is fact. Problems arise when people have a different point of view. Thanks again for the explanation.
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