off topic...er, topics?

I don't mind off-topics.  I kinda like them.  Each thread has a catagory the OP can choose to label the thread.  Anything I start that's off-topic gets labeled as such.  I even put a large OT in the title so it's easier to see the thread is off-topic.  Those that are uninterested don't have to click on it.  It's that simple, IMO.

Fred19Flintstone said:

I don't mind off-topics.  I kinda like them.  Each thread has a catagory the OP can choose to label the thread.  Anything I start that's off-topic gets labeled as such.  I even put a large OT in the title so it's easier to see the thread is off-topic.  Those that are uninterested don't have to click on it.  It's that simple, IMO.

Yep, Fred is correct. Some are gonna be flame wars, others are just interesting to read and comment on. Keep it civil. The choice is up to the member. Just like TV, if you don't like it, change the channel. 

Doc_Eggerton said:

I enjoy this site because it tolerates some OT, however; politics, gun control, religion, abortion rights,et al, are not fun OT's for this type of forum.  You want to show me your new truck or the deer you took last week and I will enjoy them.  I shun the other things.

pretty much the same here. I think we do a pretty good job self-policing here but self-policing leads to dust ups from time to time. I think we have it dialed in here pretty well. I mean, I don't have to love or follow every post. It's a big world and everyone has things that ring their bell so I'm respectful of that. I'm pretty much OK with they way it is. Too much Brisket and not enough play makes Jack a dull boy )

I can get along with just about anyone, even if they're complete idiots (IMO, which is what counts) with politics, religion, etc.  Unfortunately, some of the same extremists will have a bias against someone's cooking posts just for political reasons. 

3000 years ago - where does the sun go at night, I'm scared!!!  Answer - Helios drags the sun across the sky in the day with his chariot!  Reply - oooh, I feel much better!!  (fast forward to where we know the earth is round)  I don't like that them thar people is worshiping a false god, mine is the real god!!!!  It's a template for everything I believe in!!!! 

Do we really want to divide ourselves?  If it interferes with disseminating good BBQ information, then that'll drive people off the forum.  If not, then go for it, but if the popular discourse is any indicator, I'll bet a bunch of people will be turned off if someone, like me, who says I don't believe in all that mythical magic that most people (including myself) have been brainwashed our whole childhoods via family, church and sub-culture.

One exception to politics might be when the politics effects cooking on the Egg such as double posted on.

double said:

A rare Saturday at home and there's a burn ban in place in our area, no egg for me today :-(

jfarley said:

One exception to politics might be when the politics effects cooking on the Egg such as double posted on.

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double said:

A rare Saturday at home and there's a burn ban in place in our area, no egg for me today :-(

I don't think that's a political thing as much as public health.  I'm going to be a devil's advocate here.  If you live in a coastal valley that has meteorological inversions (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inversion_(meteorology) ).  You can get some bad smog.  I think the contribution from BBQ is insignificant, and people eating at home generally have better diets that eating out, so let them BBQ. 

That said, if your child has has bad asthma and stays up coughing all night, gets rushed the the ER because of the air quality, or even dies because it's so bad for so long - that's an empathy issue, a human health issue.  The road to hell is paved with good intentions, unfortunately, and the BBQ ban is a victim of those good intentions.  Is good breathable air a political issue? - it's become that, but asthmatic kids belong to all parties.  If you have no empathy for your fellow human being because your ideological convictions are so strong, you're an extremist, not a humanist.  Those are the people that are first to light their torches and brandish their pitchforks to condemn the perceived witches as a scapegoat for a drought that killed your crops.

Sounds good. One can always push the "I am out of here button".

jfarley said:

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nolaegghead said:

jfarley said:

One exception to politics might be when the politics effects cooking on the Egg such as double posted on.

double said:

A rare Saturday at home and there's a burn ban in place in our area, no egg for me today :-(

I don't think that's a political thing as much as public health.  I'm going to be a devil's advocate here.  If you live in a coastal valley that has meteorological inversions (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inversion_(meteorology) ).  You can get some bad smog.  I think the contribution from BBQ is insignificant, and people eating at home generally have better diets that eating out, so let them BBQ. 

That said, if your child has has bad asthma and stays up coughing all night, gets rushed the the ER because of the air quality, or even dies because it's so bad for so long - that's an empathy issue, a human health issue.  The road to hell is paved with good intentions, unfortunately, and the BBQ ban is a victim of those good intentions.  Is good breathable air a political issue? - it's become that, but asthmatic kids belong to all parties.  If you have no empathy for your fellow human being because your ideological convictions are so strong, you're an extremist, not a humanist.  Those are the people that are first to light their torches and brandish their pitchforks to condemn the perceived witches as a scapegoat for a drought that killed your crops.

Nola, growing up in the San Fernando Valley in the 60's I know the inversion layer well and suffered many sore throats after playing outside. I'm not sure if you are putting me in with the group who lacks empathy based on my comment. Only a fool does not want clean air. I have great empathy for my fellow man and want clean air for everyone. What I am against is the pols imposing stupid laws such as double has in Oregon that ban barbecuing on certain days. As you say, barbecues are not the issue when it comes to air pollution.

This interchange may be a classic example of why we need to stay away from politics. 

I'm totally with ya, man.  My opinion is the air quality is bad and it's within the public good to try to fix that, but the BBQ smoke component is insignificant.   And I'm lobbying to put political issues to bed here.  I know I'm a minority because I'm politically moderate (except on social issues where I'm a liberal mother f*cker).  Bottom line:  I just like to cook good food.  I have plenty of friends on both side of the political spectrum.

Still looking forward to your sage advice nola!

BuckeyeBob said:

My guess, although I very well may be wrong, is that he is probably going to think twice about sharing anything on here,

Heh, you're quite safe there, I love debating almost anything and everything (dangerously so : sometimes I will play devils advocate just to enjoy being contrary).

I learned long ago that, in order to get along in life, you need to learn to disagree without being disagreeable.

I may think someones political views are up Caveman Creek, that their religious views are antiquated, or whatever else I think of their opinion; In the end, that person will still always be welcome at my house, I'll still happily sit down, have a beer and chew the fat with them.

Life is too short to let differences of opinions ruin it.

I would just add that anyone who is on the interweb and gets upset because someone they have never met (and probably never will) has an opinion that differs from theirs should probably find other hobbies with homogenous thinkers and no internet connections. Maybe we should go back to faxing so everyone would have time to cool off between comments )

Hey, the gun-control thread vanished! 

I'd like to apologize, it's probably my fault - after posting the rant about how we shouldn't control any weapons sales (including sales of hand grenades, JDAMs, FAMEs, the whole spectrum etc) and we should stop all background checks.  And how guns don't kill people because they're inanimate objects, and that would take magic and stuff, etc.

I'm probably on every no-fly list on the planet now.  Thanks a lot, forum.

Or just post this;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIlG9aSMCpg

Off Topic is just that- Off Topic.  IMO anything goes unless it is specified by the ADMIN of the site not to post about.  Guns, religion, politics, other grills:), sports- well you get the point are all topics that can be discussed.

If you dont agree with the topic or dont want to be a part of the discussion- then dont post in it.  I also dont think you need to put "OT" anywhere in the thread title if you are posting it in the OT forumn correctly.

I get some of these off topic subjects get people riled up- but so what?  It is the members of this board that can either make a thread blow up or go away by simply choosing to post in it or ignore it.  I think it's silly when someone says you are not to talk about these subjects as if their opinion should matter.  If youre a Mod and youre going to delete- then delete it.  All others should just make the decision of whether to join the discussion or move on.

 

Go Irish

 

 

:ar!