how come...

[Mr. Pinchy]

Topical stuff like the air Asia crash and ISIS movement aren't discussed in here?

Would have thought stuff like this would generate some interesting discussion.

No disrespect to most of the other threads in here, but it really is hard to stay awake in the gentlemans parlor for the most part

[kronos9]

Two guesses. First, threads like that could easily drift into the prohibited area of politics. Second, maybe we come here to escape that stuff for a little while.

[drmoss_ca]

I appoint you topical news editor. It's a job with heavy responsibility, since you will need to make the news you report both interesting and relevant to SMF members, yet somehow add something that will override their present habit of reading news elsewhere. On the other hand you don't want to be intrusive and irritate the membership with attention-demanding headlines about the news. Political neutrality will be important as there's nothing like politics to make a forum have fights. Stick to the centrist line with the occasional nod to the hard line socialists and anarcho-syndicalists who actually run this place. Oh, and don't mention the owner by name. He gets upset if people think he still owns us, being a gentle soul who is having doubts about the ultimate morality of property ownership. I'm glad you have volunteered for this as the job will probably take a few hours each day if done well. You'll be paid at the same rate as the mods and admins, and the first performance review will be in one month. Don't forget the team-building exercises after the cold showers at 5am every Thursday.

Or.....you could simply say to yourself this is a shaving site, and it doesn't have to have a corporate opinion on stuff that isn't its business. Members can start any thread they like (within the rules!) and see how they fly. Liberty Hall. We're quite relaxed about it, and the culture here has grown organically over the last 10+ years according to what people want. You'll be doing your bit in seeing if you nudge it in your direction and that's fine. Really. Just post a thread if you find interesting news and you'll soon see if there is a hunger for such discussion. Just don't go all controversial and make me stir myself from my slumbers and have to come and act the heavy-handed referee when the kids start fighting!

Chris

Ah, I see I have been ninja'ed by kronos who has said the same thing with great succinctness.

[Mr. Pinchy]

The reason I ask is with this being a very US/UK-centric forum, I'd be interested to hear what citizens from other countries feel about events around the world as they happen.

I'd assume that since this a gentleman's parlor, with seemingly intelligent men, a civil and robust discussion could be had about any topic.

But far be it for me to assume what the majority of here would be interested in talking about.

[drmoss_ca]

Oh come on! I spent twenty minutes over breakfast letting my egg get hard boiled in concocting that reply and I get that in return? Please do give us the Australian viewpoint. We hunger for it. Don't be all passive aggressive; be aggressive! Tell me off, tell me why I shouldn't have replied as I did. Just don't let that poor egg have gone to waste for nothing....

I'd assume that since this a gentleman's parlor, with seemingly intelligent men, a civil and robust discussion could be had about any topic.

But far be it for me to assume what the majority of here would be interested in talking about.

Oh dear, no offense intended, mate, perhaps I shouldn't be playing with you this way (but I had assumed, charitably, that you were up to it), so I shall cease my superciliousness and simply say this: Yes, start any news topic you like. It might be wildly popular or it may fall on its face. But you should feel free to do it regardless of the consequences. They shall not come from me.

Chris
PS I'm not from the US, nor from the UK this last thirty years. I spend some time each day (dis)approving membership requests from all over the place. I'm completely happy that this place should be international. Go for it.

[Kyle76]

It's really a pretty small group of regulars here. Back on Sept. 30, I posted that there had not been a single post on this forum for more than a week. That thread is still on the first page here, if that tells you anything. We do discuss some interesting topics, and occasionally current events are among them, but with the small group of regular participants and the generally genteel nature of the discourse here, most threads run their course in short order. I do enjoy hearing opinions from across the pond (being somewhat of an anglophile with an uncle still living in London), and we are even forced to endure comments from the Great White North occasionally, given the "ownership" issues mentioned heretofore. That said, I'm all for any topic that anyone wants to bring up. I don't see things getting out of hand.

[ShadowsDad]

On another forum where I am a mod' we find that any thread that even smacks of politics is poison. And yes, we're all gentlemen and ladies over there as well. Frankly I'm old enough to steer clear of them. There are other topics that are argument laden as well. Current events are definitely dangerous and are very difficult to keep from political discussion. You have no idea how hard I'm biting my lip right now.

But OK, I'll ask, what is your take on the flight(s) from Indonesia? All we get is what the talking heads tell us here in the US and they have their own agenda.

[brothers]

. . . . we come here to escape that stuff for a little while.

Thank goodness we can.

[Rufus]

. . . . we come here to escape that stuff for a little while.

Thank goodness we can.

Hear, hear.

[Mr. Pinchy]

All we get is what the talking heads tell us here in the US and they have their own agenda.

Now we are talking. What do you mean by agenda?

[brothers]

unsubscribing from this thread . . .

[ShadowsDad]

Can't discuss that without getting political, and I won't do that.

[Squire]

I begin my day drinking coffee with a group of guys whose average age is about 15 years older than me and I'm a retired Social Security recipient. They keep me current on all the local affairs.

Through texts or conversion my resident college students excitedly give me their take on the hot button international issues of the day. They consider themselves well informed, and they are, just not old enough yet to understand what the Roman poet Martial meant two thousand years ago when he said "there's nothing new under the Sun".

So being newsed out by the end of the day I click on a hobbyists board to read what my fellow hobbyists have to say about our shared hobby interests.

[JayTrek]

I sort of enjoy this being an oasis from such topics.

As one who has very strong opinions on these topics...yet has seen several otherwise great online forums digress into chaos as the result of ill will built up in off topic political discussions...this is a place I can come and know that class and respect will be first priority. And I like that.

[Mr. Pinchy]

Through texts or conversion my resident college students excitedly give me their take on the hot button international issues of the day. They consider themselves well informed, and they are.

Precisely what I would love to hear, what the average American thinks of international events. Not the crap that mainstream media churns out.

[drmoss_ca]

We don't let the average ones in; they all belong to other shaving forums. Our Americans are Grade A tested and guaranteed. In fact they automatically become honorary Canadian citizens when approved for membership.

Chris

[Kyle76]

Our Americans are Grade A tested and guaranteed. In fact they automatically become honorary Canadian citizens when approved for membership.

Chris

Kind of like Justin Beiber in reverse, Chris?

[Squire]

Woo-hoo, dual citizenship. Now I can travel North without a passport.

[rsp1202]

. . . they automatically become honorary Canadian citizens . . .

I can't choose between British Columbia and Nova Scotia. Should I just keep a condo in both?

[drmoss_ca]

If you can't decide, we have to rescind your citizenship.

Chris