Casdon
I suspect most removals are actually as a result of people making hurtful personal comments, rather than expressing their political views?
I hope that's the case - which doesn't seem a nice thing to say obviously because hurtful remarks can have an affect, but if someone is banned for their political opinion (whichever stripe it is), then that really is worrying.
Not sure either is true though - unkind remarks and hardline political views... do they really get posters banned? Or is it more the language used, the victimisation / denigration of someone?
If that is made clear by GNHQ, it might help?
I believe - and this is entirely my own POV so accept others won't necessarily agree - that politics thread, by their very nature, are going to throw up contentious posts and comments, and that we should be prepared for some heat when entering the arena; additionally, I've begun to understand that people express themselves in their own unique way and that, for example, what might sound harsh to my mind will not necessarily seem like that to another person - nor even the one who makes the comments. One of the people we've mentioned on here who is no longer able to post, had a very direct way of communicating which, to some, was offensive. However, I don't think said person ever set out to deliberately offend, rather to make her point. I think she was someone with a strict code and principles basically and, as I mentioned in an earlier post, it's possible to like someone, even if you don't share their worldview (or most of it anyway). In fact, I got to know this person a little, off-site, and found her very likeable and, in fact, quite kind. I think most will know who I'm talking about.