[cardcrimson]

I have mixed opinions.  Some time ago when we went to the "no politics" rule I supported it.  As a political scientist you might think that strange.  But I have many opportunities to pursue my profession and I would hardly come to an anonymous sports board to do so.

However, the Ukraine thread has given me some pause.  I sense that there are some true experts on this board that I probably would not come into contact with in my professional life.  And I have enjoyed following that thread.

Furthermore, most run-of-the-mill politics sites are uncontested.  By that I mean they are run by or dominated by one particular ideological perspective.  The vast majority of what you will find on them is--truly--distorted propaganda.  Finding a site where serious people contest ideas is rare.  I've seen some serious discussion here.

So I have mellowed out on my "no politics" rule.  But there is something that bothers me.  If we are going to shoot the BS about sports, then I think the anonymous handles of this kind of website are just fine.  But if we are going to debate serious issues, then the qualifications of the people speaking begins to matter.  I'm not sure the Cardboard should expand to becoming something about politics, war, race, prejudice, religion, etc. unless we really know who is speaking--where they come from--what shaped their perspectives.  If Condi Rice is posting here, I'm going to interpret that a little differently than if I'm reading a post by a smart retired engineer who never worked in foreign policy, but has provocative ideas.  I won't dismiss the latter, but politics is too important to decontextualize.

So I guess I remain a skeptic, but one who would like to see a couple of limited threads on politics continue, carefully monitored.

Another great post.

[cardcrimson]

I have mixed opinions.  Some time ago when we went to the "no politics" rule I supported it.  As a political scientist you might think that strange.  But I have many opportunities to pursue my profession and I would hardly come to an anonymous sports board to do so.

However, the Ukraine thread has given me some pause.  I sense that there are some true experts on this board that I probably would not come into contact with in my professional life.  And I have enjoyed following that thread.

Furthermore, most run-of-the-mill politics sites are uncontested.  By that I mean they are run by or dominated by one particular ideological perspective.  The vast majority of what you will find on them is--truly--distorted propaganda.  Finding a site where serious people contest ideas is rare.  I've seen some serious discussion here.

So I have mellowed out on my "no politics" rule.  But there is something that bothers me.  If we are going to shoot the BS about sports, then I think the anonymous handles of this kind of website are just fine.  But if we are going to debate serious issues, then the qualifications of the people speaking begins to matter.  I'm not sure the Cardboard should expand to becoming something about politics, war, race, prejudice, religion, etc. unless we really know who is speaking--where they come from--what shaped their perspectives.  If Condi Rice is posting here, I'm going to interpret that a little differently than if I'm reading a post by a smart retired engineer who never worked in foreign policy, but has provocative ideas.  I won't dismiss the latter, but politics is too important to decontextualize.

So I guess I remain a skeptic, but one who would like to see a couple of limited threads on politics continue, carefully monitored.

Another great post.