Homeland "Security" on NICO?

[VimyJ]

I find it somewhat troubling when threads are shut down for no apparent reason. The locked down threads generally have to do with the most important event of the last 20 years. An event that will and is directly affecting our lives and is a major turning point in the history of the USA and, by extension, the Western world.

NICO is a car forum primarily or at least that is what gathered us here in the first place. However, the anagram stands for "Nissan Infiniti Car Owners". The enthusiasts here have views about their world and as members are entitiled to discuss them on the "General Forum". If members do not like the tone or ideas contained in a given thread, they can simply ignore it. No one forces anybody to read. It's not mandatory. Short of death threats or obvious pointless flame wars, the threads should be left to live or fade based upon their merits. In fact, the current events threads are among the most popular topics lately even surpassing Q45 chain guide issues.

The directive to not discuss the Iraq situation until the war is over is an abuse of moderator authority. This war and its ramifications could last 10 or 20 years. Yes, there will be topics discussed that make some members uncomfortable but to not have the ability to discuss a MAJOR world event amongst one's piers smacks of censorship especially when most of the censored threads have to with arguments against war. I certainly hope that the folks who have the power to lock threads or walk in and out of them regardless of their locked/unlocked status are not also censoring them to advance their own political views or, more importantly, quashing opposing ones. Do we have political commissars watching our activities? Is "Big Brother" participating? I shudder at the thought.

Given precedent, I fear that this thread could be deleted or locked and this is why I haven't opened any new ones on this forum in a while. I do not mean to offend anyone with my comments but only want describe how certain content "managment" decisions can be viewed as less than an even application of members' first ammendment rights under the constitution.

[Mayhem_J30]

Quote »Is "Big Brother" participating? I shudder at the thought.[/quote] LOL Vimy, you can always be counted on for the conspiracy theory of NICO.

I wouldn't worry about mods locking threads to get in a last word. The admins and mods ARE worried about a breakdown of the NICO family caused by lines being drawn due to anti/pro war and unfortunately anti/pro US opinions. Obviously NICO does encourage off topic conversations and threads via the General section. But we don't want to see something involving international politics shake the ground of a community based on Nissan CARS. I know right now there is just poking fun between Canadians and the USA, but once a war begins I feel the threads and posts WILL escalate into something more devastating. I would rather endure the minor annoyance of boycotting Iraq threads versus risking a breakdown of our humble community.

I hope everyone can understand and respect what the admins/mods intentions are. We only wish to preserve what have built here and continue it's growth. You can call it NICO intent 1441 if you wish. :pface

[deesolballs]

Well said Mayhem. We have a casualty of war already in Ninjak84. These are very sensitive times and it is good to discuss these issues but we are not "entitled" to discuss them. We are members of a privately owned forum/club (and many of us don't contribute anything finacially) so entitlements can be and are dictated by the owner. You are entitled or have the right to discuss these things via e-mail with your peers if you feel the need. NICO is not a political podium any longer and I am overjoyed.

Kudos to NICO for shutting down the political threads :ylsuper

[AZhitman]

Be advised that I have not closed/locked a thread in many moons. I trust our membership far more than that and while I disagree with the closing of a thread based upon its potential for divisiveness, I stand united with my fellow mods and support their decisions, just as they have always respected mine.

Dees is right - This is a privately-owned site, set up out of the goodness of one man's heart, administrated and moderated by volunteers who receive nothing for their time - There are no "entitlement" or "free speech" issues at hand.

To imply that the purpose of locking a thread would be to "have the last word" or to "further one's own views" is offensive and I take issue with it on behalf of my fellow mods/admins. Every locked thread contained both point and counterpoint, so to argue that closing it would favor one viewpoint over another is ignorant.

[Rockenreno]

I sort of have to agree with the mods, sometimes those threads get out of hand. I know I don't care what people say, it won't make me leave the boards here if you have different political views. I strongly disagree with most everything VimyJ says, doesn't mean I don't respect his opinion or right to say it. I like that he makes me think about what I support... but you're still wrong Vimy:icesangel

[deesolballs]

but you're still wrong Vimy

always:icesangel

[Mayhem_J30]

I like that he makes me think about what I support

this is what i like most about the threads...people thinking and knowing enough information of current events (despite the source) to form an educated opinion.

[MaineExport]

Lock 'em down if you have to.. we may not agree with the reasoning behind it, but we have no choice but to respect the decision. Like I have protested for in the past... please just give a reason for the lock down so as to diffuse any potential griping. Also.. a little more consistancy would be appreciated. There is a pile of trash for a thread in the 240 general section as we speak.

I would like to point out though, that with the exception of one disgruntled (former)member, none of the discussions have led to any lines being drawn between members. I think THIS thread is evidence of that. My opinion of Vimy's politics is pretty clear... but I respect him as an individual and agree, in content, with a good portion of what he has to say in this thread. Then again... some of it is your usual rubbish, Vimy:D !

[Mayhem_J30]

Quote »I would like to point out though, that with the exception of one disgruntled (former)member, none of the discussions have led to any lines being drawn between members. [/quote]

i hope no lines have been drawn yet either, but I predict eventually they will. That is my fear.

[deesolballs]

i hope no lines have been drawn yet either, but I predict eventually they will. That is my fear.

And we will be at war in a matter of hours...tension will probably only rise if these threads continue. By me saying "war" this thread has turned political. Lock it down.

[VimyJ]

Then again... some of it is your usual rubbish, Vimy:D !

I could be offended by the characterization of my informed opinion as "rubbish" but I choose not to be. After another war related thread got locked down due to some inane flaming, I have attempted to not sink to the level of the overmatched who resort to personal insults fired as a last gasp effort to score a point.

Nice try, Poop Smith.

(Jeeze that remark must be due to deeso's presence on this thread. Dear me! )

Who cares if a wimp from Alberta (must be Edmonton) with a fragile ego takes his bits and bytes and goes home. Crap, you US guys have such delicate sensibilities. There are at least three major opposition parties to the gov't in Canada so perhaps we are used to hearing full debate on a subject. I don't know what the heck is wrong with Ninja but he's not Canadian if he can't take it like a man. He was probably one of those guys who cried like a little girl after outdoor hockey practice as his feet thawed. (Man, if you want to experience some very healthy pain, try it yourself)

[deesolballs]

He was probably one of those guys who cried like a little girl after outdoor hockey practice as his feet thawed. (Man, if you want to experience some very healthy pain, try it yourself)

You just reminded me of my first time on an iceboat (or are they called sail boats even though they are on the ice?). I went out on the frozen lake with no gloves on not knowing the extent of the chill in my youth. I'll never forget the feeling of my hands defrosting.

Anyway... back to cars and s***.

You will survive Vim! There are ways around these edicts unfortunately.

[AZhitman]

Yet another dramatic installment of the "Informed" vs. the "overmatched." Mike, with brains like that it's a wonder you're not rich, famous and influencing public policy somewhere...

How is it that ninjak's bailing results in us being accused of having "delicate sensibilities"? He left, not us. As we've discussed before (and you dismiss as "trite cliche"), we're all about self-reliance, determination and individualism. No room for whiners and ninnies in this squadron, brothas!

Anyway, I loved your analogy about freezing feet - The 2 years I lived on Cape Cod (near the canal), I had to put out and retrieve our lobster/crab traps - The water in CCBay runs from 38-45 degrees nearly year-round. After a few minutes of wading about, the pain is excruciating. Then trudging through the snow back to the house... Makes a man outta you. Wouldn't eat lobster now if you paid me. Yuk.

[Tino]

year round, really I go to the beach (and the ocean) during the summer not a complaint must be your just too pampered in the nice weather year round. Hell its 37 out right now, last month that would have been a huge heatwave.

[AZhitman]

Water temperature, retard. Not ambient air temperature. Read it again.

[Tino]

Oh, let me edit.

[PalmerWMD]

Sorry Vimy.

These threads have just proven too divisive.

I dont think we need further proof for that.In the best interest of our community I ask that until further notice, no more political and or war threads be posted.

I have quite a few soap boxes of my own I like to get on, this war being the least of them, but I don't for the good of our group.

I say again: NO MORE POLITICAL threads until further notice please it just poisons our little group!

Fred...:angel

[big jon's 240]

Is there a difference between arguing about politics, vice arguing about anything else? If you cant stand getting involved in little friendly arguement about politics, dont read the thread! Vimy and i are on complete opposite ends of the "political spectrum", but we went back and forth for quite a while, and kept it civilized. If you cant handle someone with a different view than your own, than i personally dont want you on these boards. Lock threads, delete threads, doent make to much of a difference to me. You guys run the show, im just along for the ride. And hey vimy, we finally agree on something!

[MaineExport]

I could be offended by the characterization of my informed opinion as "rubbish" but I choose not to be. After another war related thread got locked down due to some inane flaming, I have attempted to not sink to the level of the overmatched who resort to personal insults fired as a last gasp effort to score a point.

Nice try, Poop Smith.

Hey... leave the Poop Smith out of this... he's never done anything to hurt you!!

I hope you understood that my lost post was just a joke Vimy... I'm not sure that I made that very clear? Your opinions are not rubbish.... **(maine grits his teeth trying to choke back the urge stab himself in the thigh with his Bic pen)** they are informative and at the very least they shed an interesting new light on the isssues!

[Tino]

[Mike09]

lol

[89sxRCR]

Quote »I say again: NO MORE POLITICAL threads until further notice please it just poisons our little group![/quote] aie, i prefer a poison of a different kind...:alcoholic :alcoholic :alcoholic mmm...liver damage...