The perrenial question: Should OPP Forum open the floodgates

[Daryle Lamont Jenkins]

Every now and then I post this question, so here goes: Do folks currently posting here have any problem with this forum being open to all? We are more out in the open these days, so it might be time to allow for everyone to chime in on things. Of course those who get a little too stupid will be jettisoned. If all who vote are down and I do this, I will have to configure this to ban certain words. This poll will run for ten days, after which the forum will stay the way it is, or we will start off 2010 with a bang.

[Laurie]

It's kinda like I feel about the death penalty for me....pro and con.
I am skeptical because what real good does it serve?, what harm does it do except to expose thought process?
Might save a few, might give a few a chance to change, but then it gives yet another forum to them and some really hot tempers (on our side) that might be used against us.
I can argue and get hot and weepy with the best but do I want to publically "show" my personality to "them" on what I have come to find a safe haven?, or do I want my privacy on here?.....questions but will willingly "take" what opp gives
Laurie

[Blind B4]

I feel it's not really a straight forward answer. In a sense, why change what's been working? If you do this, you open yourself and the mods to more work, and do you really have the time? Or are you looking for more help?

It's been super slow around here, I noticed even more people have left or stopped posting?

Opening the flood gates may be what it takes to rock this place a little more. But what type of fruitcakes do you think will flock here?

[Daryle Lamont Jenkins]

I post on MootStormfront all the time and it tends to result in rather interesting discussions with some...rather interesting people. Sometimes you have your assholes, but overall it has been pretty respectable. Still, I know people like to have a place where there is just discussion amongst ourselves, and I like that too. So far it looks like the majority prefer that.

[Y_I_Otter]

You're all most welcome to participate on MSF, of course. Traffic's a bit slow there right now-- in fact it's never really torn up the bandwidth. MSF is unashamedly anti-racist by design; but as far as I'm aware, it's the only place on the net people from either side of the right/left, racist/anti-racist divide can mix it up without fear of being banned, edited or having threads closed based purely on having voiced opinions that run contrary to the positions of the board's owners.

The very reason it exists is because several years ago a number of people who posted on SF and VNN were pissed off at the biased over-moderation on their 'Opposing Views' forums (which are really just thinly-disguised recruitment/fund-raising venues).

[Daryle Lamont Jenkins]

Ah, yes the "yeah, right" section of VNN and SF. I would go on those opposeing views sections and it's like watching a liberal on Fox News. All the anti-racists there will be the same ones I talk to in the field who throw others under the bus, concede more than a shitload of positions, and get mad at me when I see them because I am just sooooo mean to the Nazis.

And I make sure that when we do bounce people that the discussion they are looking for can be found over at MSF. I think what I am going to do is give the comments section on the site a little play for like the first ten days of 2010. Approved comments of course. I don't think the groups would be cool with some clown being allowed to post the 14/88 spam shit.

[AuntieFa]

I have no problem with opening up the group, though it will require more active moderation. We've been lucky in that most of the noodleheads arent in our forum......

If we're going to open up the forums, we should keep the FB group closed because I cant find a way to hide the member's list. And that has people's real names on it. Not a problem for the nuttier of us......

[Daryle Lamont Jenkins]

That's a given. There's a lot of forums that will not be seen by some folks.

[Daryle Lamont Jenkins]

The Nays have it. Carry on people!

[The American]

I know I haven't posted a lot lately either here or MSF.  I guess I needed a break, because I felt that I needed some time off to develop my debating skills, lol.  I vote no, because I think it is important that we have a place where we can sit back and relax.  I think it would bring more headaches than it is worth.

As someone else pointed out, I am not sure how many would be saved and have their minds changed.  MSF is good because it allows all sides to interact and discuss the issues with each other.  If White Nationalists are really interested in posting with Anti's than MSF is the ticket for that.  It would be nice to see that site more active. 

I will try to be more active in the future.

Best Wishes to all

Chrisy

[Y_I_Otter]

MSF is good because it allows all sides to interact and discuss the issues with each other.  If White Nationalists are really interested in posting with Anti's than MSF is the ticket for that.  It would be nice to see that site more active. 

The reason they don't post at MSF is because they're stuck in a bunker mentality of their own making. They don't leave the safety of their echo chambers like SF and VNN because they expect MSF will be as ideologically-biased and as full of unfair moderation as they know their own forums to be. It used to be policy at SF, for example, that members would be banned if they also posted at MSF, or were censored at SF if they even mentioned MSFs existence. So, if they venture outside their sandboxes at all it will be to troll the comments sections of mainstream media sites, where they can post vapid one-liners without the inconvenience of having to defend their opinions, which would most certainly be demanded of them in a forum setting. Most people calling themselves WN haven't got the balls for that.

[Dave the ABC NO RIO guy.]

I vote no. i feel we should keep this open only to anti-fa and anti-far supporters. it just feels right that way. besides if i wanna argue with fascist wing nuts i'll go on their open forums.

[The American]

MSF is good because it allows all sides to interact and discuss the issues with each other.  If White Nationalists are really interested in posting with Anti's than MSF is the ticket for that.  It would be nice to see that site more active.  

The reason they don't post at MSF is because they're stuck in a bunker mentality of their own making. They don't leave the safety of their echo chambers like SF and VNN because they expect MSF will be as ideologically-biased and as full of unfair moderation as they know their own forums to be. It used to be policy at SF, for example, that members would be banned if they also posted at MSF, or were censored at SF if they even mentioned MSFs existence. So, if they venture outside their sandboxes at all it will be to troll the comments sections of mainstream media sites, where they can post vapid one-liners without the inconvenience of having to defend their opinions, which would most certainly be demanded of them in a forum setting. Most people calling themselves WN haven't got the balls for that.

Thanks for your reply.  I actually logged on and posted a hello thread.  I will try and post more there as well.  I think the break has been good for me.    I do understand what you are saying about WN and them not wanting to leave their safety net of SF or VNN or any of the other forums they post on.  I have a blog and very few seem willing to have a real discussion about topics with me.    I am sure they find reasons to justify their lack of discussion.  There is very little real discussion and just a lot of attacking so maybe that is one reason why they find it so hard to leave their protected forums.  

[Daryle Lamont Jenkins]

I vote no. i feel we should keep this open only to anti-fa and anti-far supporters. it just feels right that way. besides if i wanna argue with fascist wing nuts i'll go on their open forums.

I had the reverse thing: If they want to post somewhere, they have their own forums. This forum is staying the way it is.

[historymike]

If the issue ever comes up again, I would acquiesce to an open forum if I had advance notice to make my profile less public.  I don't mind antifa emailing me or knowing about my real-world work, but when Nazis are involved, I prefer a degree or two of separation (most of them aren't bright or diligent enough to make more than a cursory effort to locate and harass you, but why make it easy for them?).

[Daryle Lamont Jenkins]

Yeah, but I think there is this thing about not having to deal with those assholes that make this forum appealing. It is good to know that in some areas of the internet you can actually talk about something without the obligatory troll bringing up some racist doctrine or something.

[ARAcismDC]

Haven't been on in a long ass time. Anyway I would be opposed to opening up the forum any more. Anyone can get an account for the most part and it allows people too be screened so we don't get a bunch of asshats and racists and if we do we can put a stop too them quickly. I think we can promote MSF more and that could be a place for folks too debate others but I like this the way it is (even though I haven't been on in while due to being busy) Then again I am just a lowly moderator don't listen too me...


Peace and as always 
Bob

[AuntieFa]

I for one am a big fan of the screening process here. I apply a similiar method to the facebook group, and have had good results. In fact, I havent even had a bonehead apply to the group for months now. Perhaps they figured out that they were dealing with smarter cookies...