Ban overtly "political" sigs???

Gandalf23

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen.

I was wondering if overtly political sigs (example) should be allowed. The reason I mention this is that such sigs seem to cause argument and agrivation, and can derail otherwise useful threads. I would also wonder about the accuracy and relevance of the information in the sig.

I'm not sure why anyone would want to have a sig like that other than for "advertising" or promotional/campaining purposes ... is this allowed?

Anyway, not a big issue, just wondering about this is all.

leninbenjamin

if you ban political sigs you might as well ban all sigs as almost all of them are used as some form of advertising or another. i don't see a problem with political sigs anyhow, better to be open about your affiliations on forums like the politics ones. and if you find them offensive somehow turn them off i guess...

Boston

I see no problem with the signature.

Karl Hungus

No.

Overheal

Mines political. I havent heard a bad thing about it. I dont think I've been charged with wanting to defribilate a complete muppet either, at that.

Mr. Presentable

Life is political. You'd end up with no sigs, posts or opinions if carried through to it's logical conclusion.

Ban all opinions that disagree with mine?

Maybe :rolleyes:

Hagar

Personally I think all political sigs should be banned and I have said this publicly before, but since they are allowed...

DeVore

"Everything's political" - Ms Anansie.

DeV.

Fremen

DeVore wrote: »

"Everything's political" - Ms Anansie.

Pff. That's "Skin" to you.

nesf

Ban discussion in threads, in politics, of people's sigs and let people turn off sigs if they don't automatically stop reading once they see the political banner.

Gandalf23

I realise it would be difficult to ban "political" sigs, and even more difficult to draw a line as to what to allow/disallow. So I see the practical problems this would cause on boards.

Maybe sigs relating to specific political parties should be banned?

The reason I made the original suggestion was because the poster in my example frequents the motors forum, and a good deal of his participation involves either defending his sig or making political points against someone else.

I suppose the problem is not the actual sig ... its the way the sig leads to otherwise useful threads being dragged off topic (even tho the motors moderators do an excellent job trying to prevent this happening).

Anyway, as I said this is not a biggie ...

Jack B. Badd

Gandalf23 wrote: »

I suppose the problem is not the actual sig ... its the way the sig leads to otherwise useful threads being dragged off topic (even tho the motors moderators do an excellent job trying to prevent this happening).

Sounds like an issue that the Report Post function is designed to deal with.

faceman

Overheal wrote: »

Mines political. I havent heard a bad thing about it. I dont think I've been charged with wanting to defribilate a complete muppet either, at that.

Actually ive never understood your sig and have been afraid to ask! Im not being smart, but i figured it was a slur on bush but i cant work it out!

Hagar

Gandalf23 wrote: »

Maybe sigs relating to specific political parties should be banned?

I would object most strenuously to that. Allow none or allow all.
Who is to decide what legal political parties should be supressed?
This is a free country after all.
Yes, I accept fully that there are no freedoms enshrined in the site other than those that the Admins allow at their whim but the day the site starts picking who is politically acceptable and who is not... well it would be the start of a slippery slope.

It would be better all around to ban all political sigs.

Evil Phil

We should ban religion too. At least any bad religion that isn't mine. We could have a big book bonfire while were at it ...

Evil Phil

And rock and roll too. Its the music of the devil ...


/shakes fist.

AlmightyCushion

Evil Phil wrote: »

And rock and roll too. Its the music of the devil ...


/shakes fist.

Don't forget violent films and video games.

Supercell

Its a free country, If people want to show their support for one party or another, whats the problem?
Honestly am a bit flabbergasted that someone would have a problem with it!

regi

Just ban signatures, easy.

Sangre

There is a ban on political ads on the TV/Radio. It wouldn't be that unusual to remove political sigs.

Hennessy

Sangre wrote: »

There is a ban on political ads on the TV/Radio. It wouldn't be that unusual to remove political sigs.

It probably would as the media and law are different.

oscarBravo

I don't see a problem with political signatures per se. If I saw a discussion going off on a tangent about someone's sig, infractions and bans would be handed out.

And that's in Politics.

Sangre

Hennessy wrote: »

It probably would as the media and law are different.

I'm really not sure what you're trying to say.

My point was that we don't have a culture of political ads so its not like we expect to have or see them.

Bob the Builder

Sangre wrote: »

There is a ban on political ads on the TV/Radio. It wouldn't be that unusual to remove political sigs.

yah but tv ads are reviewed and people are on big wages to review ads in the Broadcasting commission... how do you control dozens of thousands of sigs? without being biased?

Fysh

So the suggestion here is that, instead of people using the report post option and moderators infracting/banning people who persistently drag threads off-topic to start arguments about signatures, political sigs should be banned?

Given how argumentative and wheedling some people can get when complaining about things like being banned from the Politics forum, all I can see that doing is making a whole load of extra work for the SIGPO folk and possibly generating a few more threads along the lines of "But saying that Bertie Ahern is a big fibber isn't a political statement, so why was my sig removed?!".

regi

regi wrote: »

Just ban signatures, easy.

Bah!

biko

SF, FF, FG, UDP, GP etcetera are ok in my book.
If you can vote for them in a election you can have a sig.

stevenmu

IMHO if someone has a problem with someone else's sig and tackles them on a thread about it it should be dealt with the same as any other off-topic posts.

Hagar

I don't think it's an issue about discussion of the content of the sig on thread, I think it's more to do with allowing free advertising to political parties. We don't allow commercial enterprises to use sigs as promotional platforms why should we allow political parties to push their agendas for free. If they want to advertise themselves let them buy a banner ad like anyone else.

Marksie

It wouldnt bother me that there are political sigs.

Actually it would help as if they had FF affiliation, for example, i would know to ignore everthig they say and everything they do (amd check my wallet is still present lol )

Hitchhiker's Guide to...

Marksie wrote: »

It wouldnt bother me that there are political sigs.

Actually it would help as if they had FF affiliation, for example, i would know to ignore everthig they say and everything they do (amd check my wallet is still present lol )

so you'd ignore a FF supporter who had a personal issue? pretty bad form imo

FruitLover

Jesus, I'm away from boards for a couple of days, and suddenly people think we're in Stalinist Russia??

Turn off sigs if they bother you that much.

Marksie

Roundtower2 wrote: »

so you'd ignore a FF supporter who had a personal issue? pretty bad form imo

sure he would be after a digout

but cleanings and genepool come to mind lol

faceman

Hagar wrote: »

I don't think it's an issue about discussion of the content of the sig on thread, I think it's more to do with allowing free advertising to political parties. We don't allow commercial enterprises to use sigs as promotional platforms why should we allow political parties to push their agendas for free. If they want to advertise themselves let them buy a banner ad like anyone else.

Good point.

Sully

Hagar wrote: »

I don't think it's an issue about discussion of the content of the sig on thread, I think it's more to do with allowing free advertising to political parties. We don't allow commercial enterprises to use sigs as promotional platforms why should we allow political parties to push their agendas for free. If they want to advertise themselves let them buy a banner ad like anyone else.

Agreed.. its still advertising.

They should well be well able to afford a few banners and the way certain politcal parties have gone these days, a few hand outs to help wouldnt go astray.

Villain

Political Sigs relating to Bertie are banned in the Mahon Tribunal thread in Politics but allowed in all other threads

ninty9er

I am the poster Gandalf has a problem with. The problem with his argument is that many threads in Motos end up attacking VRT which is a political matter. If I wish to defend my party's record on that or put forward views tha show how other people are screwed elsewhere why shouldn't I be allowed. Gandalf and others have calimed that the Irish are being screwed with VRT, I disagree and show other people being screwed other ways.

I don't go looking for trouble, but I won't back down from an argument just because some anonymous poster with a penchant for abusing the government takes issue with the fact I'm overtly affiliated with the party that has won every general election since 1987.

Marcus.Aurelius

ninty9er wrote: »

I'm overtly affiliated with the party that has won every general election since 1987.

For God's sake man, grow up. The rest of us in the Motors forum are fed up with your posts. Gandalf's right, political sigs have no place outside the political forums.

Besides you just got banned from Motors for your nonsense.

Gandalf23

ninty9er wrote: »

I am the poster Gandalf has a problem with. The problem with his argument is that many threads in Motos end up attacking VRT which is a political matter. If I wish to defend my party's record on that or put forward views tha show how other people are screwed elsewhere why shouldn't I be allowed. Gandalf and others have calimed that the Irish are being screwed with VRT, I disagree and show other people being screwed other ways.

I don't go looking for trouble, but I won't back down from an argument just because some anonymous poster with a penchant for abusing the government takes issue with the fact I'm overtly affiliated with the party that has won every general election since 1987.

You have just been banned from motors for consistently dragging threads off topic. Thread here.

unkel stated "You started it (not the first time) and you were warned. Now you are banned." So you do start things and imho you constantly go into motors looking for a fight.

You are a muppet and you deserved to be banned.

You are also very ignorant for an educated guy, and you come accross as not really having a clue about anything you are talking about. An example being your assertion that "Gandalf and others have calimed that the Irish are being screwed with VRT". Could you show us where I claimed anything about VRT please? Or is this yet another example of your ignorance and stupidity.

And the name is Gandalf23 ... get it right.

Sherifu

Feels more like the Thunderdome in Feedback today :pac:

Nerin

this is a really interesting debate.
i can see where Gandalf23 and the others are coming from as well as those who disagree.
the problem (as i'd see it) is that if you post in loads of forums, having to delete your sig repeatedly would be fairly ridiculous.
then again it is true that some sigs could just stir up crap in certain forums.
that said, would it be fair to stop a user with a christian sig posting in the islam/buddhist/whatever forum? or indeed vice-versa.
taking the religious element as an example (apologies,but its an easy one) i've seen sigs in the christian forum that might pi$$ off christians.
its difficult to see where the line can be drawn...
just my 2c

RoundyMooney

FF supporter is yes man shocker.

The issue here is not with the sig, more that the poster can (rather, could) not turn off the spin doctor mode in an inappropriate forum (in this case, one discussing Motoring, and Motoring issues).

We had an anti FFer in here before, he got sitebanned for his trouble. He lived at home with his mammy and rattled on about his share portfolio too...

Overheal

At the bottom of each quickpost is a checkbox "Show your signature"...

And if you uncheck it: ah WOW look at me!

I dont see a problem with political signatures. There is a difference between commercial and political advertising.

In the United States ("Oh god, he went there!") theres thousands of volunteers going around the country freely supporting their candidate or political party. In fact they often buy the right to do that, through bumper stickers and the like. Some make home-made posters or flyers.

I don't see how a political signature is any different. Not everyone is going to agree with your bumper sticker but that doesnt make it illegal.

often they just go out and get their own bumper stickers and then you have a cold-bumper-war on your hands

Hagar

Overheal wrote: »

I dont see a problem with political signatures. There is a difference between commercial and political advertising.

No, pimping is pimping is pimping.

Overheal wrote: »

In the United States...they often buy the right to do that, through bumper stickers and the like.

Let the political parties or their supporters buy banner ads then. Simple really.

Overheal

And you sit there with your religious signature. Quit pimping jesus.

Their political supporters are using free space like they would anywhere else (like a home made poster or flyer) so unless boards.ie wants to sell signature space as adspace, deal with it.

Since I have put red white and blue in my sig ive seen a sharp decline in the amount of racist remarks i have to read through in AH. Having to explain my position every week was a pain in the ass.

ninty9er

Gandalf23 wrote: »

You have just been banned from motors for consistently dragging threads off topic. Thread here.

unkel stated "You started it (not the first time) and you were warned. Now you are banned." So you do start things and imho you constantly go into motors looking for a fight.

You are a muppet and you deserved to be banned.

You are also very ignorant for an educated guy, and you come accross as not really having a clue about anything you are talking about. An example being your assertion that "Gandalf and others have calimed that the Irish are being screwed with VRT". Could you show us where I claimed anything about VRT please? Or is this yet another example of your ignorance and stupidity.

And the name is Gandalf23 ... get it right.

What utter biased drivel you spout...just like me aren't you:p:p

Hagar

Overheal wrote: »

And you sit there with your religious signature. Quit pimping jesus.

Your ignorance of Irish symbolism is staggering. Unless of course you're a foreigner in which case accept my apologies.
That is an Easter Lily, a remembrance of the 1916 Easter Rising.
Nothing to do with religion at all.

Overheal

Apoplogy accepted I've never seen it before tbh.

So its political. Even better. Quit pimping your political ideals

You can't take the Low Road and claim the High Horse

Hagar

There is a difference between remembering an important national historical event and pimping for votes in the next election.
I trust you can see the distinction.

Overheal

I can but still; everyone is free at the moment to make such sigs. If someone wants to post a fiana fail sig and you support sinn fein, get a sinn fein sig.

Gandalf23

ninty9er wrote: »

What utter biased drivel you spout...just like me aren't you:p:p

I hope to God in Heaven above I'm NOTHING like you!!!

What I have said about you is the unbiased truth. You are the one unable to back up your assertions.

To recap;
1. You are banned from the motors forum for being a total muppet. Fact.
2. You have been unable to answer and/or support any of the questions I have asked you about your assertions. Fact.
3. You are obviously ignorant about economics in general, and tax law in particular. Fact (I'm a Chartered Accountant btw so I know what I'm talking about).
4. You come accross as a biased fool who has been brainwashed by the FF party machine to the extent that you cant see the bleedin' obvious anymore. Fact.
5. You live with your mammy and have a share portfolio. Fact.


Look 99er, to be honest you totally deserved your motors ban ... long overdue in my opinion. I would bet the farm that you'll be banned again (siteban anyone???) because of your complete stupidity and utter inability to see reality.

You should be very ashamed of the way you are representing FF here (and I say that as someone who voted FF & Green in the last election).

Cop the hell on ... open your eyes to REALITY, and lose the stupid inaccurate sig ... it'll only keep getting you into trouble, and showing you up for the biased ignorant blinkered brainwashed fool that you seem to be.