moderator's note

I just deleted a thread which had no apparent relationship to skiing, on a topic which has previously proven unsuited. While it is likely the poster was trying to be humorous, there are more appropriate venues than this one elsewhere on the internet. <br><br>Thanks for your patience and restraint.<br><br>Mark

You have certainly demonstrated a one-sided view of political opinion. Liberal political comments are throughout TAY and are status-quo. However, many of us did not begin viewing TAY in order to see liberal political comments but had such shoved down our throat. If you have any inclination for reason and consistency, you have a big job ahead to go through your TRs and delete all of the other political commentary, most of which is liberal in nature, as you have deleted mine.<br><br>TAY Random Tracks contains numerous and constant political references. However, the very real double standard followed here does not always allow direct references that are obviously conservative in nature. For example, the Global Warming thread was blatently political but those liberal politics are acceptable and even defended, while in that thread Ron J immediately had his hand slapped for talking about conservatives.<br><br>The Republican Randonnee Club does exist, we are leaving to tour in the Wenatchee Mtns. in 1/2 hour. When I have mentioned the Club to many non-Republican ski touring acquaintences they have been very amused. It is sort of a fun and silly thing. <br><br>I also sense that you personally, markhauf, tend to edit according to your personality crushes, such as with the Trab guy who was practically disparaging other equipment while blatently advertising his product on TAY.

Yeah what Randonee said.<br><br>I for one am pretty liberal but enjoy occasionally hearing what "the other side" has to say. <br><br><br><br>On my mountain biking listserv, whenever someone posts something liberal, all of the [few] conservatives on their instanly say things like "why can't we just keep this list about mountain biking, keep the politics elsewhere". (etc etc)<br><br>there've been a couple times when I've retorted with things like "jeez people... instead of whining about how the liberals should keep this place apolitical, ..... why don't you fight back!? TELL US why you think GWB is such a genius!! TELL US why you think the Republican party is better!!" (etc etc) <br><br>well, apprently Randonee did have the balls to speak his mind in a mostly liberal-dominated environment. why not let him do so? <br><br><br><br>

I just deleted a thread which had no apparent relationship to skiing,

<br><br>yeah as far as I can tell, this thread has no apparent relationship to skiing either.

I didn't see a double-standard with deleting that thread. While I can't claim to predict anyone's actions, I'm pretty sure if someone posted something like Randonee's with a liberal tint, it would have been removed too. <br>(Seems like someone wants to push buttons just for the sake of pushing buttons).<br><br>If you want to post tiresome political stuff, there's plenty of room for that on ttips.

Thanks for your responses, which offer an opportunity for me to clarify my perception of my role here. <br><br>I have absolutely no problem with political expression of any stripe regardless of my own views on a given subject. However, this is a skiing web site, established and maintained on a volunteer basis, almost entirely by Charles; the post in question had no apparent connection to skiing, snow, weather, or other outdoor recreation. On this basis alone, I judged that it did not belong here. Tipping the balance further was the fact that it addressed a subject which has in the past tended to bring out the worst in posters. I'll summarize thus: off topic, no redeeming value in this context, likely to foment conflict. This did not feel promising. <br><br>There is one more relevant piece of the moderators' role: these forums are intended to provide a venue for civil, informative discourse. Sneering, insult and other forms of attack--personal or conceptual--are generally frowned upon, both by the membership and by the moderators. It is possible that some of what may be viewed as politically-motivated moderation actually addresses lapses in this regard. I would encourage all posters (and particularly those who address notably delicate issues like global warming, mechanized access or ski area expansion) to pay particular attention to the tone and language with which you present your case. Are you addressing the issues in calm, non-inflamatory language, or are you attacking the intelligence, character or abilities of other posters....even in jest? The former approach is greatly preferred here. <br><br>I have been helping moderate for perhaps a year or so (actually, the need for moderation is so limited that I can hardly remember for how long I've been doing it). During that time, I've probably pulled a couple of posts and private-messaged a couple of posters suggesting that they tone it down or stay on topic. For the most part, folks on this site self-moderate, and the credit for keeping things on track and civil accrues to them. This is doubly fortunate in that moderators, like everyone, are limited in vision, incapable of being everywhere at once, and in many other respects fallible. For my own share of this fallibility, I apologize.<br><br>Thanks for listening.<br><br>Mark

I missed the post in question so can't comment there, but at least based on what you just wrote, Mark, I appreciate your intent. As you may have noticed, I have enjoyed digging in on some of the debates you mention, but have been dismayed when folks on either side of the equation insult, name-call, or otherwise question the person rather than the arguments (and folks on both sides have indeed done so, it is clearly not the province of a single viewpoint but rather an aspect of human nature that fortunately is not overly common on TAY). If I lapse into such behavior, I expect (and hope) to be slapped.<br><br>Moderating is a tough job - thanks for being willing to take it on, Mark (and Ron and Charles).