To separate News from Politics

I definitely think that there should be separate News and Politics threads, for the obvious reason that not everything in the News is politics related.

Hear,hear!

Yes I agree.

Strikes me as splitting hairs. I mean is an abused and killed child a neutral happening? If you discuss it without history and context then it just becomes the same as gossip - ain't it awful - etc.

If news wasn't political, all the newspapers would carry the same news but they don't....because they are politically biassed!

Still, might be interesting to see what turns up under 'news' and whether the division can be maintained without policing. The last is said tongue in cheek.

We've got a thread about Boris resigning in "Chat".

I don't think separating News and Politics will make a blind bit of difference, other than giving people an opportunity to voice their opinions about threads being posted in the wrong forum.

In theory a good idea, but I am not sure where one begins and another one ends to be honest. Most 'news' is political in basis even if the subject is not politicians, for example; the dreadful case of Arthur cannot, to my mind, be separated from the serious funding cuts by years of Tory government which contributed to the lack of intervention by social services. However, I am very happy to give it a try.

Surely almost everything is political.
If people feel a need to have these categories separate, tho, I can't see why not.

It's a good idea, we've been asking for it for many years.

Much of the news is not political.

Perhaps we need a definition of political?

Can't see the need for it myself - much of Chat has news/politics/food, whatever.

If someone starts a thread in Diet & Exercise it can easily develop into 'political' as a poster can reasonably say that poor people don't have access to good quality food, or cheap gyms.

Why split hairs?

Most threads follow the general gist.

Jillyjosie

Perhaps we need a definition of political?

I would say "Should Boris resign?" is political but that "The new Johnson baby has arrived" is not even though it is about a politician.

Cheese and wine parties to be decided.

I agree with those who say that there are too many blurred lines to make this a sensible move.

I don't really care, though - I tend to use the Active Topics tab rather than go direct to particular forums. Most of the time I have no idea which one I'm in.

Jillyjosie

Perhaps we need a definition of political?

Good point.

So an air disaster isn't political, the death of a famous actor isn't political. The birth of a new baby isn't really political whether it be Meghan's or Harry's, killing whales and dolphins the same, cats to be microchipped etc. (although a few observations regarding the law may creep in). I guess we could at least start by trying to compartmentalise, and though anyone can add a comment from the other category, it would be diluted in the main flow.

sorry Meghan's or Carrie's, not Harry's
Though I assume Archie is his!

Yes please.

I don't think it's necessary.

Pointless.

No - its a potty suggestion - what happens when something is in News - such as sewage being poured into the sea illegally and killing fish and someone comments that this is down to privatisation of water companies by successive Tory governments? Would it get moved to a different section? Or would those who hate to see any criticism of the sainted Johnson complain to GNHQ and have that comment deleted?

Not necessary. Most items of interest in the news are political.
Other items are topics like Carrie's baby (or someone elses') and it's easy enough to ignore them if you chose to. Or else ignore the political subjects.

I think this is an attempt to shut down dissent, most news events are political. This would just be an excuse to tell people off for being on the "wrong" thread if they dared to give an opinion that differed from the majority.
For an example, a Republican posting on a thread about the Queen would be told to get off the thread. (Mind you, that already happens)
I know that some posters enjoy threads where everyone just agrees with each other, but others, myself included, would probably not bother posting anything at all if they were the only threads on here.

Isn’t everything political? Theres an expression to that effect.

Almost any news topic can be made political - air disaster - could be poor safety legislation, death of actor- could be political if said person made political statements or was in anyway controversial, killing of dolphins - why don't governments ban this and prosecute offenders or sanctions against offending countries etc.

The news and politics section has far more topics than any of the other sections. I've just counted up the topics from 1st December and there is only 1 (out of 29) that has nothing to do with politics, although there are a few political comments, and that is the birth of Carrie's new baby. Everything else has a political element. So I would add that it's a silly idea and that those who aren't interested in politics could find what they need elsewhere. There's enough sections on here to keep most of the happy.

Dinahmo

Not necessary. Most items of interest in the news are political.
Other items are topics like Carrie's baby (or someone elses') and it's easy enough to ignore them if you chose to. Or else ignore the political subjects.

But posters don't, do they

They post and ask why anyone would be interested in a subject etc etc.
Perhaps they're just bored.
???