"Bar Rules" for the HAMB?

I do my best to keep my posts to car related questions and info and I also stick to reading the same. Lately though I have noticed a couple of posts spin off into some somewhat heated debates over political beliefs. In light of everything that's going on in the world and all the friends and enemies that are being made between the various countries every minute, it seems like it would be in everyone's best interest to establish the same standard as every decent bar I've ever been in:

you don't talk religion and you don't talk politics.

It just seems like there are a lot of good folks on the HAMB from a bunch of corners of the globe and I don't think anyone needs to have their country or their beliefs run down here. I have this place set up as my default setting on my browser so I can AVOID being bombarded with that shit on Netscape or any other news source...I don't want to have to dodge it here.

And there goes my first...and last...non-auto-related post.
Curt

 

Well said, Curt, I agree. The HAMB is about hot rods and customs, not politics.

 

Ryan, take a look at the "Should I Freedom my Headlights" post.

 

Yep, the "freedom headlights" post was what I was talking about....but it looks like that's been addressed. Damn, that little lock function is cool!

Thanks.
Curt

 

Ryan, why does it bother you so much? It almost always gets taken care of naturally anyway. Just step in if it get too awful, and you'll know its too awful when we all start emailing you. You don't have to babysit us you know... (not said in an ugly way... just trying to give you a break from the Hamb)! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

Ryan, I was about to post a statement concerning the speech the President just gave and state my support for our government and our troups that are about to go in harms way. In my view this subject goes to the very heart of our hobby/passtime, because we live in America and have the freedom to express ourselves and participate in pastimes of our choosing we should be grateful for the country we have and the people who are willing to put thier lives on the line so we can continue our lifestyles.
I understand your desire to keep the subject matter on topic, but you have to admit there has been way more usless topics discussed here. Delete this if you must or contact me (e-mail or PM) and I'll be glad to conform to your wishes.
Frank

 

I have a few views on this.

I think its best if HAMB stays free of politics, like Ryan says.
This is an international place. I think thats a cool thing, -and not because Im norwegian. I really enjoy reading about Noris rod in Japan, joking around with Paul from Brisbane, seeing what Christian is cooking up in his garage in Belgium, staying in touch with Granite in Scotland, learning something about early kustoms from RPW I didnt know, -as an addition to all the posts I enjoy from guys like Nads, -Mike-, Lurker Mick, C9, Germ, Ron, and a bunch of others on the board. Its offcourse Ryans cal if this addition is welcome (no strings attached) because of our common ground in rods and kustoms, or because of common political ground, or not at all because this is an american board period.

After spending a few years looking at this place of ours; I feel I know Ryan well enough to think he prefer the first option any day of the week.

Let me play the devils advocate for a little while and show a couple of situations that dont do the HAMB any favors the way I see it: Someone kicks of a politic rant in one thread. Someone (the same guy or another later poster) has political opinions that goes against the "HAMB-Politically-Correct (tm)" majority. The HAMB-pc majority then has a one way street political shouting match with the minority (usually one guy), and then concludes by saying we wont have politics on the HAMB, -no matter how it all started. Either of us could be majority or minority depending on which issue that came up; it doesnt have to have anything with nationality; -it could be a wide variety of other stuff too, just think about it.Only sheep has the same opinions as the majority ALL the time.

A while a go; our ONLY french member had to see France and frenchmen in general being rediculed and spat on for something french POLITICIANS decided. Etienne is a very tallented artist and an asset to the board the way I see it; he should be our "ambassador" in France; not a target for the HAMB-pc-Winning-team-majority. I think its low stuff pure and simple, and it makes me loose respect.

I have seen the same with our only japanese member Nori a few times too.

Thats it I think. I think "no politics" should mean "no politics" regardless if your view is on the winning team this time around or not.
I also think we should think about it ourselfes so that Ryan dont need to spend work on policing us. Or maybe we need the Issue Police (Officer Spellcheck) after all (where is that dude anyways? )

 

Sailor, you want to know what I think?? I think you are absolutely right...no politics and no religion brought to the board.

 

[ QUOTE ]
Ryan, I was about to post a statement concerning the speech the President just gave and state my support for our government and our troups that are about to go in harms way. In my view this subject goes to the very heart of our hobby/passtime, because we live in America...

[/ QUOTE ]

Fab32-

The problem is that not everyone is going to share your political views, which will turn your well-intentioned message of support into a gnarly political debate.

We're all bombarded with political issues from all sides already, especially in times like these. I go to NPR and CNN to keep up with politics; I go to places like the HAMB to get away from them.

So I agree with Ryan--politics have no place in the HAMB.