Is there a way of stopping every thread from degenerating into libertarian nonsense?

[GinandTonic]

It does seem to be killing every interesting thread, and is almost always wildly OT, even by the standards of OT.

 

[ParadigmShifter]

Well I try and ignore him as best I can.

 

[Camikaze]

Perhaps it would be worthwhile infracting stupid threadjacks more (and I'm sure the mods can see the difference between a stupid threadjack and an acceptably uncontrived one). Or strategically placing reminders to stay on topic.

 

[Zelig]

Ban the offending user(s).

I settle with reporting most of the offending posts. (The time limit between reports really limit me, as I don't usually feel like leaving threads open while I wait for the timer to expire so I can report posts.)

 

[GinandTonic]

Oh sure, but the on-topic, or interestingly off-topic, parts of threads die when people cant be bothered to check pages of identikit irrelivence or just unsubscribe.

EDIT - dam, double xpost - teach me not to refresh before replying. @ para

 

[Camikaze]

Judicious splitting of threads could be an option to allow a thread to continue its original course.

 

[GinandTonic]

That is a bloody good call.

 

[useless]

This recent spate of libertarian bigotry which is hid in words such as "States rights", "Buisness rights" is nothing other then blatent prejudice. We all know what these words mean, but no one does anything about it.

 

[ParadigmShifter]

I'm not saying I support banning the poster, but many people have said similar things, and maybe they have a point.

 

[Ajidica]

The answer is simple. Give the Libertarians and the Socialists the ability to ban each other. Both parties leave for eternity, resulting in OT staying on-topic, troll free, and far too boring.

Serious response: I have been wondering why the mods are letting so many threads go radicaly OT recently.

 

[Cutlass]

If any significant number of people who claimed to be libertarians could, objectively, be described as such by others, I wouldn't be bothered by it much. But since they can't, it's annoying as hell.

 

[GhostWriter16]

Libertarianism isn't nonsense. Small l libertarians claiming to support liberty when they ignore the economic aspect is nonsense.

 

[Birdjaguar]

Moderator Action: Thank you all. Your point is well made. So that this thread doesn't get derailed or get too personal, I am going to lock it now and let an admin reopen it if we need more input. I will also add it as a discussion topic in staff.