Some people just don't think over-policing and overly restrictive environments are conducive to productive discussion among reasonable adults, and that would include me.

The first time I offer my opinion in good faith on a forum and am met with "Congratulations, you've just violated forum rule 724, code 87-B. You've earned 15 infraction points, loser. Better watch your step, because 20 is an automatic two-week vacation", my subversive streak kicks in, and I stop wanting to share and learn and start wanting to make trouble for the uptight dicks in charge.

If you click on the poll section you can at least see 10 threads that are not polls but stories on polls.

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"There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag… We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language… and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”—Theodore Roosevelt

Big whoop. Some people misunderstood. I don't see anarchy occurring as a result.

MOST PEOPLE just don't think that organization is a bad thing. Organization does not require "over-policing" and "overly restrictive environments". In fact, organization facilitates productive discussion amongst reasonable adults.

1. We're not talking about your opinion, we're talking about where your opinion goes. Like any repository of information through which people shuffle to contribute, there must be some sort of reasonable filing system that is enforced. Otherwise, people will not be able to find what they're looking for and will find stuff they don't want to deal with.
2. I would kinda love to see the hyperbole you described happen. Just to see your reaction.

You invoke the mantra of reasonable adults. Well... reasonable adults have rules and organization.

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The most foolish mistake we could possibly make would be to permit the conquered Eastern peoples to have arms. History teaches that all conquerors who have allowed their subject races to carry arms have prepared their own downfall by doing so.

-- Hitler, April 11 1942

I can direct you to a website- one of several- where you will definitely see it happen, if you are truly interested. Many of us here are banned refugees from such sites.

These experiences have made me very leery of debate and discussion forums run in a militaristic, overly controlling manner, and very appreciative of the latitude granted us here, when it comes to expressing our opinions.

I don't think that organization is too much to ask. And while you may have pound puppy syndrome in relation to forums, that is not a justification for the end of organization full stop. Which is essentially what this thread is about. There is a concern that the organization is starting to break down in certain areas.

If action is not taken to prevent the breakdown of organization, this will become like other forums I could direct you to, a madhouse filled with nothing but trolling partisans who cannot manage a coherent sentence.

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The most foolish mistake we could possibly make would be to permit the conquered Eastern peoples to have arms. History teaches that all conquerors who have allowed their subject races to carry arms have prepared their own downfall by doing so.

-- Hitler, April 11 1942

I think the answer is then to find a happy medium.
In my opinion, the people who posted about political polls in the member polls section made an honest mistake, are probably embarrassed that it caused such a ruckus, and will no doubt refrain from doing that in the future now that it has been brought to their attention.
People will act decent if they are treated decently.
On the other hand, if we fly off the handle about little things that don't matter much and start accusing the accidental transgressors of deliberately trying to ruin the forum or create chaos or whatever it is you're afraid is happening here, then it might run good posters off, and/or cause them to become defensive, rebel against such treatment, and stop being good posters.

I'm not saying the situation SHOULDN'T have been brought to the mods' attention, nor that it shouldn't be rectified.
Just that it's no big deal, it's easily corrected, and I'm glad the mods here don't MAKE a big deal out of such minor issues.

I think we should shoot anybody who violates the rules.....

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Courtesy of Swissman

A gun in the hands of a free man frightens and angers the autocrat, not because he fears the power of the gun, but, rather, the spirit of the man who holds it.

ANONYMOUS

One has to admit this is so

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"There are two ways to conquer and enslave a nation... One is by sword... The other is by debt."

John Adams 1826