I appreciate this thread. I have been pretty concerned over the last months. While it's true that with the off-season and with the entire NFL season in doubt that we've had fewer posters over the past months, I also think it's due to the preponderance of fairly nasty political threads. I'll even confess, there are times when I wonder why a couple of us are even here - because if all you're posting is political threads designed to provoke - well, that's not what BGO was created for.
On the other hand, as I told someone privately recently, we started this place with the goal of it being about you guys and gals, not about the staff. So the idea of 'moderating' or closing threads constantly in a heavy-handed way - I'll be honest, it's not what I signed up for.
I'd point out too that we went almost a year before having to moderate anyone. Now? It's not infrequent. That's worrisome.
I'm thinking hard about Chris' suggestion - a political forum where you can say whatever you want any way you want. No holds barred. But posting a political thread or even comment elsewhere is a one and you're done offense. I'm really thinking about it. I've also considered banning political threads altogether. I confess I wonder if a few of you guys would stay here if we did that
Anyway - I appreciate the sentiments in this thread. This is a great place, and can be an even greater one. But as we've learned at other sites, a community is only as good as it's member's sense of community, respect, tolerance, and affection for one another. You chip away at that, and before you know it, you're like every other internet ****hole out there. I'd hate to see that happen. In fact - we'd shut it down before we let that happen.