Are political threads allowed?

[DVCcurious]

There is a rule that political comments are not allowed.

Yet there are currently active threads about Obamacare and the government shutdown.

These are clearly political topics.

I'd like to know how it is determined when political comments are OK and when they are not OK. I read the rules and all it says is "political comments are not allowed", but these threads continue on without being closed and deleted.

Can a moderator clarify what makes a post "political" and why "post your Obamacare success stories" is not considered political?

A PM from a moderator would be helpful. I just want to avoid getting "points" assessed to me because I don't understand this rule.
I guess what I"m looking for is an answer that says something like: political topics are OK, but mentioning a politician or a political party is not OK.

 

[lauradis]

It truly is a budget question.

We all need info on success, loopholes, what this going to cost others.

How this is going to effect our Disney funds.

Sure there has been some rants and some of them have been pure political and people have gotten points for the bad political post.

Truly don't see the harm in these threads. There are plenty of threads that I have no interest in so I don't read them or post on them.

 

[ICF]

If they bother you so much, just don't read them....and then let the Mods figure out if they should continue or not.

 

[mrsklamc]

Perhaps the issue is not that OP is bothered by the threads, but would like to know if they can participate without earning points.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Perhaps the issue is not that OP is bothered by the threads, but would like to know if they can participate without earning points.

This is how I took it also. More like, if there is a rule, enforce it or drop it.

 

[lauradis]

Perhaps the issue is not that OP is bothered by the threads, but would like to know if they can participate without earning points.

op already posted on one of the threads and was treated rudely.

 

[Planogirl]

I don't see the threads about healthcare being the same as not allowing political comments. The DIS doesn't want to see bickering about the parties and specific political figures as I understand it. The new healthcare rules and the government shut-down affects everyone economically and can be discussed without bringing politics into it.

Maybe.

 

[RitaE]

I really not under the impression that the Budget Board has much of an active Moderator. I've seen drama and violations that would be shutdown pretty quickly on other boards continue on the Budget Board for days before anybody seems to notice.

You'd do better sending a PM to one of the Moderators from the Community Board or something and explaining what ever issue you are having and ask for clarification.

 

[DVCcurious]

I am honestly curious if there is more specific information on this rule.

The easy answer is "don't participate in those threads and you won't get a violation", but I'm hoping I can get a better answer than that. But maybe there is no better answer and it's just a moderator's judgement call, in which case I will avoid those threads because I HATE judgement calls. I like hard and fast rules. That's why I stopped watching the NBA!

 

[disney1990]

Simply stating the facts about how to use affordable care act to get health insurance, I do not see as political. Nor do I see it political to discuss that people are hurting and not able o take their vacations because of the shutdown.

Now if somebody says that so and so is a jerk (Republican or Democrat) because they won't do such and such, then it is very political. I have not bad mouthed any politician involved or any Dis board member, because that is political.

 

[pat fan]

From my experience and viewing, it's strictly a judgement call. And while I will not suggest which way it leans, it sure rivals the Eiffel Tower in it's leaning!

 

[Spoot]

From my experience and viewing, it's strictly a judgement call. And while I will not suggest which way it leans, it sure rivals the Eiffel Tower in it's leaning!

The Eiffel Tower leans??

 

[AntFarm]

I am surprised the Obamacare threads have not been shut down. Makes me wonder about the presence of moderators on here and even what their political stance might be. Sure the original intent of those threads were to be about the budget side of things but anything involving Obama's administration becomes a hot topic and a whole lot of posts on those threads have nothing to do with how this law affects people's budgets and are a lot of political and partisan fueled comments.

 

[Shauna123]

Obamcare threads should be shut down. Too hot a topic and it is political no matter which side you fall on.

 

[JillianMarie]

I do a lot of lurking around here and I am also sort of confused by this. A thread about navigating exchanges and how one does it should be fine. The reality is that it's out there - so tips on how to get the best deal should be encouraged, not shut down. But, an endless debate on the pros and cons of having a healthcare exchange is useless. And it seems like the former can't exist without someone turning it into the latter.

For reasons that absolutely elude me, it still seems like a hot button issue which is getting in the way of people actually using the system and seeing if it even works. It's too bad that it's gotten politicized to the point where people can't even have an exchange of ideas without it getting completely nasty and blown out of proportion.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

The Eiffel Tower leans??

I thought this too.
Maybe she/he was thinking of the leaning tower of Pisa.

 

[luvmy3]

I think the Mods use their own discretion. A political topic, like ACA can be discussed without swirling insults to posters who have a different political ideology than you, and I haven't seen any of that in either thread. Maybe the mods feel that since it effects every one of us, and our budgets that the topic can continue on the BB.

 

[sookie]

No. The TOS states that there should be no political threads. And it is so political here on the budget board, it reeks donkey and elephant.

And points have been given out for even mentioning - in passing - the healthcare act before.

There was a thread a few months ago discussing flex spending accounts. I mentioned the changes to flex spending accounts due to recent law changes.

I discussed how the limit for medical flex spending used to be $5,000 and now it is $2,500 - and that affects my budgeting. I was not the thread starter. I was just replying to a question.

I was given points and a reprimand.

That action by the DIS mods, in my view, means that these threads are also political - they are way more political than what I said!

The TOS should be enforced fairly.

 

[luvmy3]

No. The TOS states that there should be no political threads. And it is so political here on the budget board, it reeks donkey and elephant.

And points have been given out for even mentioning - in passing - the healthcare act before.

There was a thread a few months ago discussing flex spending accounts. I mentioned the changes to flex spending accounts due to recent law changes.

I discussed how the limit for medical flex spending used to be $5,000 and now it is $2,500 - and that affects my budgeting. I was not the thread starter. I was just replying to a question.

I was given points and a reprimand.

That action by the DIS mods, in my view, means that these threads are also political - they are way more political than what I said!

The TOS should be enforced fairly.

But what is a political thread? It may mean different things to everyone and that is why I think the mods are allowed to use their own discretion.
To me no political threads means- no threads about how bad your side is or how good my side is compared to yours. And the inevitable ripping apart eachother that follows.
I don't consider discussing laws, bills, acts (etc) that effect us all as political. That is just how I interpret it, and I could be wrong but I think that may be why some political topics are allowed. If there are posts that cross the line they are most likely removed but the civil discussion is still allowed to continue.
I mean, do you consider discussing NCLB or Common Core standards political?

ETA I have been given points by some mods for things, where I was sure I would get points for something and didn't. That is going to happen when you have more than one person moderating.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

No. The TOS states that there should be no political threads. And it is so political here on the budget board, it reeks donkey and elephant.

And points have been given out for even mentioning - in passing - the healthcare act before.

There was a thread a few months ago discussing flex spending accounts. I mentioned the changes to flex spending accounts due to recent law changes.

I discussed how the limit for medical flex spending used to be $5,000 and now it is $2,500 - and that affects my budgeting. I was not the thread starter. I was just replying to a question.

I was given points and a reprimand.

That action by the DIS mods, in my view, means that these threads are also political - they are way more political than what I said!

The TOS should be enforced fairly.

Wow, that's ridiculous! Stating that laws/limits changed is like mentioned how high your property taxes are or saying our bridge toll to Philly just went up to $5. That's just facts of life, not politics.
I'm sorry to hear this happened to you.