Staff No conspiracy theories or fringe content on the Politics board

[EviLore]

Hi everyone. We've had a relaxed moderation style for a while now on Politics, but in light of recent events at the Capitol, we'll no longer be tolerating fringe content or conspiracy theories on the Politics forum. It could previously be looked at as fun and games, but now there's no way to justify its presence here in any quantity. Keep it to mainstream sources and positions. That also goes for "sacred landslide" stolen election conspiracies.

Thanks.

 

[Newly Vacant]

EviLore I appreciate the difficult position you’re in. I also am sad for all the accounts that will be banned in the coming days and weeks.

For those who are about to die, I salute you. I also may unwittingly join you.

 

[Robot Carnival]

a tough decision but it has to be done.

 

[Aarbron]

Well, we are ultimately guests in the boss's house, and understandable in the current climate.

 

[J-Roderton]

Fair enough. I usually enjoy lurking the politics board, but shit has gone pretty cuckoo lately.

 

[Calcium]

Are incel conspiracy theories at all in the political umbrella? Asking for someone who has me on ignore.

 

[Durask]

Understandable, however what is "fringe content"? Some guidance would be useful.

 

[The Pleasure]

EviLore I understand the need for this, but I feel that this kind of hampers the board in the sense that looking at someone who might post something a bit off kilter or out there is a look into the human psyche. The extremist views only fester if they aren't out there in the open. Though I do understand the need to curtail it.

 

[BarringGaffner]

Good call.

 

[DaleinCalgary]

Had to be done, the crazy is strong in here.

 

[Amiga]

is social media considered mainstream? a lot of popular discussion, opinions and breaking news happen there. politicians may discus controversial topics.

 

[haxan7]

Small price to pay to keep neogaf alive and healthy through tumultuous times

 

[EviLore]

Understandable, however what is "fringe content"? Some guidance would be useful.

Alternate realities, psyops, Some Guy Speaking Into a Camera on Bitchute, the_donald revolution/insurrection/whatever stuff, qanon, whatever crazy shit Lin Wood is saying, Covid denial, etc.

 

[Playmasterizer]

Alternate realities, psyops, Some Guy Speaking Into a Camera on Bitchute, the_donald revolution/insurrection/whatever stuff, qanon, whatever crazy shit Lin Wood is saying, Covid denial, etc.

Russiagate?

 

[O-N-E]

Small price to pay to keep neogaf alive and healthy through tumultuous times

Which conspiracies do you think this about?

 

[EviLore]

Russiagate?

Not relevant to the current concerns.

 

[Vicetrailia]

It’s not that hard to stay away from conspiracy theories craziness.

People seek it because they want it, rather than it actually being real.

But it might help to have some examples listed of what is and isn’t acceptable.

 

[Robot Carnival]

Alternate realities, psyops, Some Guy Speaking Into a Camera on Bitchute, the_donald revolution/insurrection/whatever stuff, qanon, whatever crazy shit Lin Wood is saying, Covid denial, etc.

good outline. also, might want to sticky this too.

 

[EviLore]

good outline. also, might want to sticky this too.

Stickies have lower visibility. Will be floated on the main thread list first.

 

[mid83]

I hope there isn’t behind the scenes pressure to get this place closed.

 

[12Goblins]

Rudy guiliani, Sydney powell, anything that involves people blatantly lying to yourself to another reality

 

[DaleinCalgary]

Hi mom

 

[Calcium]

Rudy guiliani, Sydney powell, anything that involves people blatantly lying to yourself to another reality

No MSM talk either?

 

[sw0mp_d0nk3y]

Alternate realities, psyops, Some Guy Speaking Into a Camera on Bitchute, the_donald revolution/insurrection/whatever stuff, qanon, whatever crazy shit Lin Wood is saying, Covid denial, etc.

Any distinction between talking about this shit as if it is real, or talking about it in the context of what is going on in the country? Trump world is inescapably entwined with Q, Lin Wood, Sydney Powell, and a lot of crazy stuff. What happened on the 6th is obviously linked to all of that, and is mentioned in the mainstream stories as well.

 

[Playmasterizer]

Not relevant to the current concerns.

Oh its only election conspiracies. I think it should be more clear in the OP and title though

 

[Piku_Ringo]

I hope there isn’t behind the scenes pressure to get this place closed.

Best to take preventative measures, before such a thing happens.

 

[Meicyn]

EviLore I understand the need for this, but I feel that this kind of hampers the board in the sense that looking at someone who might post something a bit off kilter or out there is a look into the human psyche. The extremist views only fester if they aren't out there in the open. Though I do understand the need to curtail it.

Extremist views festered out in the open. That’s what brought us to this point.

 

[EviLore]

Any distinction between talking about this shit as if it is real, or talking about it in the context of what is going on in the country? Trump world is inescapably entwined with Q, Lin Wood, Sydney Powell, and a lot of crazy stuff. What happened on the 6th is obviously linked to all of that, and is mentioned in the mainstream stories as well.

Alright.

 

[Zefah]

But what about my favorite daily briefs from Patriot Newsman of the West?

His avatar checks out.

 

[ADS]

Absolutely necessary and I'm glad to see it. Will make this place palatable for the non-crazies again.

We can finally have political discussions between people of differing views without completely insane "the election was stolen!" conspiracy nonsense.

 

[showernota]

Any distinction between talking about this shit as if it is real, or talking about it in the context of what is going on in the country? Trump world is inescapably entwined with Q, Lin Wood, Sydney Powell, and a lot of crazy stuff. What happened on the 6th is obviously linked to all of that, and is mentioned in the mainstream stories as well.

In the future you want, the answer to this will eventually be ‘no.’ lol

 

[The Pleasure]

Extremist views festered out in the open. That’s what brought us to this point.

Extremist views in hiding are better where the echo chamber is far stronger and insular?

 

[Zefah]

In the future you want, the answer to this will eventually be ‘no.’ lol

No, it will be "that doesn't actually exist."

 

[TKOFromTokyo]

Alternate realities, psyops, Some Guy Speaking Into a Camera on Bitchute, the_donald revolution/insurrection/whatever stuff, qanon, whatever crazy shit Lin Wood is saying, Covid denial, etc.

Can we still question how deadly COVID is, the efficacy and safety of vaccines, and government handling of lockdowns and how they are affecting the livelihoods of people and their families? These all seem like reasonable COVID concerns.

 

[ExpandKong]

Dang I guess I’ll have to take my “COVID is not a virus but rather just the aftereffects of a Chinese time travel experiment to do 9/11 for real since it was actually bankers with thermite and an insurance fraud scam” thesis elsewhere.

el psy kongroo

 

[MrMephistoX]

EviLore Are aliens and JFK at least still okay?

Appreciate the position you’re in that would fucking suck if AWS started cracking down on a few bad apples.

 

[ExpandKong]

Can’t they just get dedicated threads like the flat earth and moon landing conspiracy thread, or is that still a bad look to advertisers.

 

[Thaedolus]

This is really throwing a wrench into my draft post arguing that I really won the 2020 presidential election via the 2028 election transdimensionally adhering to the 2016 election but being delayed for 4 years due to my age and because I’m actually Tim Apple in disguise.

-Sent from my iPhone 21S Pro

 

[Meicyn]

Extremist views in hiding are better where the echo chamber is far stronger and insular?

I don’t know, what do you think?

Exhibit A: Invasion of the United States Capital on 6 January 2021

 

[HE1NZ]

The definition for what is a conspiracy theory or fringe content is expanding daily though. According to mainstream sources anyway.

 

[EviLore]

Can we still question how deadly COVID is, the efficacy and safety of vaccines, and government handling of lockdowns and how they are affecting ether livelihoods of people and their families? These all seem like reasonable COVID concerns.

Yeah, that's reasonable. Conspiracy-level denial and "guy from Bitchute says xyz" are what I'm referring to.

 

[TheKillerStove]

I get it, and I will abide by it, but I'm gonna be honest and say I don't respect you near as much in light of this. NY Post's Hunter Biden story is STILL claimed to be a conspiracy theory by the people setting these standards. The existence of Antifa as anything but "an idea" is considered a conspiracy theory. Anything that makes the Democrats look bad is always a "conspiracy theory". Even if this stops the lunatics at Era from being able to shut down this site via contacting your web hosts, open and honest discussion of politics will be dead here anyway, so what's the point? Might as well just shut down the politics board outright.

 

[EviLore]

I get it, and I will abide by it, but I'm gonna be honest and say I don't respect you near as much in light of this. NY Post's Hunter Biden story is STILL claimed to be a conspiracy theory by the people setting these standards. The existence of Antifa as anything but "an idea" is considered a conspiracy theory. Anything that makes the Democrats look bad is always a "conspiracy theory". Even if this stops the lunatics at Era from being able to shut down this site via contacting your web hosts, open and honest discussion of politics will be dead here anyway, so what's the point? Might as well just shut down the politics board outright.

Who you extend respect to is your prerogative. How I run GAF is mine.

 

[AfricanKing]

I'd stick to this guide if your unsure about how batshit a conspiracy theory is

 

[StateofMajora]

So we can't discuss whether or not the election was stolen? Or is it just unconfirmed sources from randoms that are banned?

 

[JSoup]

EviLore Are aliens and JFK at least still okay?

Unironically second this question. Alien conspiracy threads fun, intentional nonsense.

 

[Aarbron]

I'd stick to this guide if your unsure about how batshit a conspiracy theory is

Cool graphic, but why is Area 51 in blue? Shouldn't it be in green (anyway I'm getting OT )

edit: (never mind, they probably mean the speculative aspects).

 

[Ten_Fold]

Good call, best come with some hard facts. Conspiracy is interesting, but this is probably for the better.

 

[GreyHorace]

Personally I'd prefer it if Politics stayed out of NeoGAF and we stuck to talking about videogames and other stuff.

But in light of recent events, I think it's important that people keep the political conversation alive. Especially since Big Tech decided to silence all right wing dissent and is now actively hunting down dissenters.

But EviLore is right in keeping a tight rein on what should be acceptable as news or not.

 

[JORMBO]

Not a bad change. I stopped mostly reading here for a few weeks after the election because it got insane.

But your thread about not posting conspiracy theories has a conspiracy theory ad embedded in it