I'm also curious, since there wasn't a closing statement. The team may still be composing one; they like to take their time when putting thoughts together.
Just as a reminder, let's not anyone get into an argument about the closure. Any concerns about the decision are best just sent to a moderator via PM. I used to be a member of the team and they appreciate private feedback. We just don't want a big argument about it here.
The same thing happened when it was a discussion about the unrest over the summer, and now it's happened again with the situation at the Capitol. Speaking as someone who can (I think accurately) say I've been personally called out more than anyone in the history of both threads, everyone who participates in that thread are adults who can take it and dish it out in equal measure, and it's 1000x more civil even at it's most contentious moments than nearly ANY internet comment section.
There seems to be this urge to protect people from things we don't need protection from. The thread always self-moderates itself back to civility after, at most, a page, and everyone knows where the lines are and where they aren't, and expecting a thread about politics (especially with an issue as hot button as what took place on Wednesday) to follow the absolute letter of the law for forum rules in every single paragraph is just not realistic. IF it permanently closes, it's just going to drive people back to the ideological echo chambers we all came from in the first place.
That said, this is not my platform, it's not my decision, I just use it, and this is the last I'll say on the matter.
There certainly has been much worse behaviour in that thread over the years that they've let slide. Many a heated discussion where people have been warned and even banned as well. Never has the thread been closed that I can recall...
Edit: Now that I saw jj's message I do remember it being closed in the summer. I totally agree with jj's comments.
Well, this is a forum for a company which makes video games, first and foremost. We tolerate the politics thread because it hasn't been too much of a problem usually and because it may get the site some exposure. It speaks well for the participants that we never had to close it permanently or disallow discussion of politics.
That said, we prefer to close it to prevent potential trouble when things get a little crazy in the world. This is not for anyone's "protection". Just to prevent headaches we don't need. Remember, this is a forum for a company that makes video games; we are not here to moderate political discourse or anything like that.
Well, this is a forum for a company which makes video games, first and foremost. We tolerate the politics thread because it hasn't been too much of a problem usually and because it may get the site some exposure. It speaks well for the participants that we never had to close it permanently or disallow discussion of politics.
That said, we prefer to close it to prevent potential trouble when things get a little crazy in the world. This is not for anyone's "protection". Just to prevent headaches we don't need. Remember, this is a forum for a company that makes video games; we are not here to moderate political discourse or anything like that.
That's why the discourse is better here than any other media outlets I've encountered. No agenda, good moderation and, mostly, civil participants... ?
Sure, but moderating it can be such a headache for us sometimes...
Anyway, now that this thread has served its purpose, we are going to close it as well for similar reasons. Julius plans to review the politics thread on Monday when he comes back from vacation. At that point we will try to decide whether to reopen the thread or maybe keep it closed for a while.
Comments
Just as a reminder, let's not anyone get into an argument about the closure. Any concerns about the decision are best just sent to a moderator via PM. I used to be a member of the team and they appreciate private feedback. We just don't want a big argument about it here.
There seems to be this urge to protect people from things we don't need protection from. The thread always self-moderates itself back to civility after, at most, a page, and everyone knows where the lines are and where they aren't, and expecting a thread about politics (especially with an issue as hot button as what took place on Wednesday) to follow the absolute letter of the law for forum rules in every single paragraph is just not realistic. IF it permanently closes, it's just going to drive people back to the ideological echo chambers we all came from in the first place.
That said, this is not my platform, it's not my decision, I just use it, and this is the last I'll say on the matter.
There certainly has been much worse behaviour in that thread over the years that they've let slide. Many a heated discussion where people have been warned and even banned as well. Never has the thread been closed that I can recall...
Edit: Now that I saw jj's message I do remember it being closed in the summer. I totally agree with jj's comments.
That said, we prefer to close it to prevent potential trouble when things get a little crazy in the world. This is not for anyone's "protection". Just to prevent headaches we don't need. Remember, this is a forum for a company that makes video games; we are not here to moderate political discourse or anything like that.
That's why the discourse is better here than any other media outlets I've encountered. No agenda, good moderation and, mostly, civil participants... ?
Anyway, now that this thread has served its purpose, we are going to close it as well for similar reasons. Julius plans to review the politics thread on Monday when he comes back from vacation. At that point we will try to decide whether to reopen the thread or maybe keep it closed for a while.