And how are you going to moderate the No Politics rule in a science-based forum, when
science itself is being politicised (and especially so in the country where this forum is based, BTW)? Just to clarify, I don't mean the funding of science by politics and vested interests and all that, I mean doubt is being sown maliciously about the consensus academic scientific community views, the evidence-based 'working hypotheses', because people don't want them to be true for any number of reasons.
I agree with the No Politics rule, absolutely. But - honestly -
@amirm needs to poll all his mods and get a statement from each of them that they do not hold an Anti Science view in relation to
any scientific topic or field, if they want to be a mod here. Specifically, they are not opposed to the scientific community consensus view on any topic or field.
Because if they are, then I guarantee it already has and will continue to impact the moderation of this forum, negatively. How so? Well, for example, by issuing a thread warning over the merest hint of an aside mentioning Politicised Science Topic X, even from the pro-science position, while allowing any amount of poo-pooing of science itself. Because THAT IS POLITICS: it is not science to poo-poo science itself. It is not internal scientific scepticism, the healthy sort. It is political BS. It is politics, mainstream politics. It doesn't fit with a No Politics rule. If any mods think that is different from poo-poing global warming or evolution, then they are making a grave error.
When I eventually see the mods here enforce the No Politics rule in relation to the politicisation of science itself, then some of these shoddy threads, started with shoddy motivations, will be shut down and it will be a good thing, not a bad thing. The discussion will have been shut down for the same reason global warming and evolution threads get shut down: No Politics. Definitely a good thing.
The litmus test for the No Politics Rule, especially in the 'tricky' areas where science has been politicised, is easy: the current consensus working hypotheses of the legitimate scientific community need to be respected on ASR, and any questioning of it, while very welcome, needs to be based on legitimately-sourced evidence. Are you guys ready to enforce that? It's the No Politics Rule, done right.
Sadly, politics has entered audio discussions, not limited to denying global warming, evolution, etc, but by denying science itself. Sorry, but That Is Politics. Please eliminate it from ASR.
You have seen how much damage and vitriol and endless circle work comes from allowing discussion of global warming, evolution, political parties and allegiances, elections, etc. You have banned it: hooray! Surely you can see that denial of science itself has become a topic just as damaging, futile, questionably motivated, and, as
@Shazb0t and I have recently posted, tiresome. It is now, truly, politics.
cheers