Are there any topics that shouldn't be discussed on a public forum?

Just had a conversation with someone which made me wonder if threads about controversial subjects should get cazzed. I don't mean personal arguments here but topics that people may have very different views or misunderstanding of.

One off those seems to have vanished recently.

What would you feel personally shouldn't be aired in public?

Anything?

I think that if things can be discussed in a manner that is not purposely designed to give offense, then why can we not have adult conversations about things?  How can we learn about things if we don't discuss them?

If you don't want to learn about some things, then don't read the arguments for and against....

Personally, I feel I am quite open-minded, but am always willing to learn more about things I know little about.  The only exception I make to anything is if someone is trying to force an opinion upon me.

Vixx76 wrote (see)

I think that if things can be discussed in a manner that is not purposely designed to give offense, then why can we not have adult conversations about things.  How can we learn about things if we don't discuss them?

If you don't want to learn about some things, then don't read the arguments for and against....

Personally, I feel I am quite open-minded, but am always willing to learn more about things I know little about.  The only exception I make to anything is if someone is trying to force an opinion upon me.

I agree, I personally don't think anything should be off limits and I'm happy with differences of opinion and those willing to be in a minority if that's what it takes to aid discussion and tackle some hefty subjects.

I think what happens on a forum though is that it's so easy to take things as they weren't intended if you have an emotional perspective on something. I know I'm very guilty of that in the past but I don't think it should halt discussion.

I think it is because forum discussions tend to be so faceless and emotion can't be read into things easily, so you read the words and decide for yourself the emotion that was intended by the person whose post you are reading, which could be completely different to the emotion that was actually intended.....

Vixx76 wrote (see)

I think it is because forum discussions tend to be so faceless and emotion can't be read into things easily, so you read the words and decide for yourself the emotion that was intended by the person whose post you are reading, which could be completely different to the emotion that was actually intended.....

Yes true, ditto the motivation for posting at times. We've had some really meaty discussions on here in past years but they don't seem to happen now. I like to see my thoughts challenged and really have to think about my perspective on a topic. There are some very articulate people on here.

I do like to debate things. I prefer to listen when I have no experience of things, but will discuss things I know a bit more about.

No-one seems to like to debate any more  - for fear of causing offence maybe?

Vixx76 wrote (see)

 

No-one seems to like to debate any more  - for fear of causing offence maybe?

I dunno, that's the bit I'm trying to work out. I think it's ok to disagree about stuff even with your best mates, that's actually what maybe makes them your mates, you can be honest with each other and respect different points of view.

I will try and respect anyone's point of view as long as their opinion is not rude or offensive.  But at the end of the day it is their opinion to which they are entitled and sometimes it's a case of 'agree to disagree'.

Ok, I'll come clean, I was wondering why the transgender thread got cazzed, I thought it was a good discussion and sometimes cazzing that is more offensive, like saying that a topic has to go underground because it's controversial and emotional.

(Disclaimer: If it hasn't been cazzed I'm talking out of my arse. I haven't looked personally but others have)

You're talking out of you arse

http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/forum/clubhouse/what-do-they-call-him/her-now/202324-3.html

Everything can be controversial and/or emotional with the right people.....

I couldn't find that thread the other day. I was finding it interesting though.

Everyone is different - that is what makes us all individual, but it seems to me these days that everyone is being encouraged NOT to think for themselves, and yet we can debate things here, such as running styles and how best to train for certain events and that's OK. When we venture out to try other things, people start getting funny (and not in a ha-ha kind of way).

Gertie wrote (see)

You're talking out of you arse

http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/forum/clubhouse/what-do-they-call-him/her-now/202324-3.html

I can multi task, the sun is shining

Cheers Gertie! I did a search for it and nothing came up. Obviously search engine is watching the tennis....

I suppose there is also the "children might be reading RW" point -- I don't think there should be limits in principle, but maybe on here ....

Edited to add: I don't think that applies to the specific thread you mentioned. No problem with that being on here as far as I'm concerned.

Was gonna ppost what Gertie did - post is still there.

As for topics that shouldn't be discussed - maybe something clearly illegal, like tips on how to murder someone, or where to find child porn. But I can't really see these sort of things beign discussed on runners world really!

Vixx76 wrote (see)

Everything can be controversial and/or emotional with the right people.....

I couldn't find that thread the other day. I was finding it interesting though.

Everyone is different - that is what makes us all individual, but it seems to me these days that everyone is being encouraged NOT to think for themselves, and yet we can debate things here, such as running styles and how best to train for certain events and that's OK. When we venture out to try other things, people start getting funny (and not in a ha-ha kind of way).

Unfortunately I think that some things boil down to friendship groups rather than individual perspective. It's a shame because it's perfectly possible (and more desirable) to have friendships which aren't dependant on feeling internal pressure to agree with the people you want to remain friends with.

However, I think most people on here are pretty much good at expressing their perspective, which is what used to make the good discussions.

Catalin Bond wrote (see)

Was gonna ppost what Gertie did - post is still there.

As for topics that shouldn't be discussed - maybe something clearly illegal, like tips on how to murder someone, or where to find child porn. But I can't really see these sort of things beign discussed on runners world really!

 

If you want to murder someone and get away with it you have to...

..........................become a metropolitan police officer

or a Muslim preacher of hate.

MikeFrog wrote (see)

I suppose there is also the "children might be reading RW" point -- I don't think there should be limits in principle, but maybe on here ....

 

But should you have an individual conscience about that Mike or should it be up to parents to know what their kids are looking at on the web?