*SIGH* While I'll agree that the movie itself is semi-political in nature, I was going to allow the thread to go on until people resorted to type and started turning the thread to pure-politics, hurling insults and making snide comments. I honestly don't understand why it is that folks can't intelligently discuss subjects without having to turn things ugly.

And yes, it can be done. Well, at forums where folks can be respectful of others.

Regardless, how 'bout we just leave any further documentaries that are even slightly political as Verboten. That means any documentary-type movie that skirts the subject politics needs to be discussed somewhere other than Hobby Talk, m'kay?

747, F91, Y3a and PhilipMarlowe: You guys are all on a one week probation for either posting political statements or insulting others. Any TOS violations during that time will get you a 7 Day Time Out (BAN, for those who needs things spelled out for them). Please don't make me have to what I'd honestly rather not do - regardless of what a lot of you might think.

Jeff, I have some problems with the way this was handled, and your post.

Point by point:

Since it's pretty much impossible to discuss this movie without getting into the issues it raises, which makes it ipso facto a political discussion, maybe the only thing that should be mentioned here is the one thing we can all agree on: Michael Moore is fat and ugly!

747, F91, Y3a and PhilipMarlowe: You guys are all on a one week probation for either posting political statements or insulting others.

Why is making fun of Rush Limbaugh's drug use being "political", but calling Michael Moore fat & ugly is hunky-dory and earns scotpens no threat of a ban? And what does pointing out Moore is fat & ugly contribute to any discussion about a movie?

Regardless, how 'bout we just leave any further documentaries that are even slightly political as Verboten. That means any documentary-type movie that skirts the subject politics needs to be discussed somewhere other than Hobby Talk, m'kay?

Will we be changing the title of the forum to "Movies for Modelers That Won't Upset and Stir Up Some of the More Vocal Members"?

Seriously Jeff, if some of us don't like of all the Star Trek threads, and go in saying "All that needs to be said is Gene Roddenberry was fat & ugly", are you going to ban Star Trek because some folks feel the need to be snotty and insulting when it's even mentioned?

There was absolutely no reason for Y3 and scotpens to chime in with their uninformed personally insulting political opinions about a movie they haven't even seen except to accomplish what they did, stopping a discussion about something they didn't like.

And this has been a pattern by some on the board.

I hope I've made my point without being insulting or political, and you will consider it carefully.

Or people can just stop tuning modeling and movies into political crap, and stop acting like losers about everything and then threads could stay open longer to allow for more discussion.

Why is making fun of Rush Limbaugh's drug use being "political", but calling Michael Moore fat & ugly is hunky-dory and earns scotpens no threat of a ban? And what does pointing out Moore is fat & ugly contribute to any discussion about a movie?

. . . There was absolutely no reason for Y3 and scotpens to chime in with their uninformed personally insulting political opinions about a movie they haven't even seen except to accomplish what they did, stopping a discussion about something they didn't like.My "fat and ugly" remark was meant as a lighthearted jest, not a personal attack on Michael Moore, and I think most members took it that way. (Let's face it, when you're a public figure, people are going to make fun of the way you look. It happens.) Nonetheless, if Griff feels I deserve probation or the threat of a time-out as well, I'm willing to swallow my (non-socialized) medicine!

Oops, hope THAT wasn't political!

My "fat and ugly" remark was meant as a lighthearted jest, not a personal attack on Michael Moore, and I think most members took it that way. (Let's face it, when you're a public figure, people are going to make fun of the way you look. It happens.) Nonetheless, if Griff feels I deserve probation or the threat of a time-out as well, I'm willing to swallow my (non-socialized) medicine!

Oops, hope THAT wasn't political!

I've made some "light-hearted jest" remarks about Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly over the years, and have been threatened with a ban because it "upsets some people" even though they aren't politicians. I used the exact same "I was only making fun of a public figure" argument.

Again, I don't see how making fun of the mouth pieces of the right earns the threat of a ban, but calling Michael Moore fat & ugly(or making fun of him) is ok.

It doesn't seem particularly fair or right.

Come on guys, this is gay. Off topic threads are one thing, and documentaries can be a good thread too, but come on, if you have nothing to contribute other than make fun of people, then what is the point of having the thread? And I am not saying this because it is mean for the person being discussed, I am saying it because it is stupid. It is not worth wasting time and server space on some stupid political fuss or insult contest. If you know you will get banned for it, than dont do it. Its as simple as that. Just quit turning everything into some political crap, etc. and just shut up.

Sheesh...

...Gay?

Come on guys, this is gay. Sheesh...

That's exactly the thought I have when I read many of the Star Trek minutia threads, you know, "who's the manliest captain" and all that?

I guess the difference between us is I just don't participate in threads that don't interest me. I feel no need to go into them and say "Gene Roddenbarry was a fat ugly pot-smoking gay-marriage supporting liberal who would be appalled by many of the attitudes exhibited by ardent fans of the show he created". And I don't protest when folks that do want to talk about Star Trek do, or feel the need to tell them they're wasting their time.

Why is making fun of Rush Limbaugh's drug use being "political", but calling Michael Moore fat & ugly is hunky-dory and earns scotpens no threat of a ban? And what does pointing out Moore is fat & ugly contribute to any discussion about a movie?
The way I took this was that it wasn't political at all, but a commentary on Moore. Was it uncalled for? Sure, I'll grant you that. However, it wasn't an attack on another member and - again - I don't see it as being political in nature, nor was it pointedly so. It's the context of things, Scott. Your Rush Limbaugh comment in the past, IIRC, was set in a political context and inflamming the situation in a political fashion, thus the problem that came with that particular situation. I'm sorry if you took that personally.

For my own part, I'm not impressed with Moore. However, I don't have a problem with him one way or the other.

Please, don't anyone take any of this personally. I'm not perfect and realize nobody else is, either. However, I'm trying to keep the peace here. Personal attacks were made on other members and political shots were taken, both of which are verboten. I understand frustrations and passions rising whenever politics is brought up and it seems to be an even hotter-button subject here at HT than just about anywhere else, thus my thinking is this is why Hank has made that one of the Verboten subjects.

If you want, I'll just defer all of this to Hankster and let him handle it if you guys think I'm being biased in one way or the other. It won't hurt my feelings for him to take the lead on this, but some of you might not like the end results.