Should there be any restrictions on the types of questions asked here?

I love a good debate, but politically and religiously charged questions rarely spark *good* debate on this site. I was under the impression when I first joined this site that it was a forum for trivia and general advice. You're always going to have debate about the best way to go about something, but do we need to drag religion, politics, and moral constructs into it?

There are all kinds of sites that are dedicated to that kind of thing. I think that in this particular forum it's rarely constructive. But, please don't answer if you're going to go on about "freedom of speech".

That freedom also enables site owners to decide what content they want to be included, and for people who don't agree with site policies to go to another site if they want to. Asked by Tozhra 44 months ago Similar questions: restrictions types questions asked Politics & Law > Politics.

Similar questions: restrictions types questions asked.

Yes. But that isn't for me or you or any of us to decide.. and you know that.. but I don't think the restrictions that you have in mind are the same that I have in mind. Askville first and foremost is a business venture.It is an advertising arm of amazon.com and is meant to be a community.

When administering a community - two specific things usually keep a forum going - friendship and conflict. The discussion forum is for that purpose.. it is the community aspect of askville.. it is.. the "ville" if you will. The purpose of allowing debate and discussion is to keep the community aspect alive so that the people that hang out will answer questions as well.. this keeps people coming back because the users develop relationships and find some enjoyment.

These return visitors are actually the core answerers of the site.. They make the most coins and they serve as the foundation for it. Now.. in your question you make a couple of assumptions.. 1. That politically and religious questions rarely spark good debate.. I honestly don't believe you.

I spend quite a bit of time here in the religious section and find the debates usually pretty good (unless someone is having a bad day). We try to steer clear of fallacy yet don't treat eachother with kid gloves. I've had some great debates with people here.. and would be happy to have a beer with more than one of my "adversaries".

2. Politically.. I can someone see what you're saying here.Lately.. I've seen one specific user abusing the asking system to "troll". That's is her right but most intelligent people steer clear of her and her ilk.

I know I do.. But I can't paint the entire politics section with her brush.. I like it being there.. I enjoy political discussion as well though it less often bears fruit... kinda strange that religion divides less than politics on askville (at least to me) As for bad questions.. any question about a crime is pretty much bad.. I'm also not sure of the TOS but I think we're supposed to be kid friendly.. so - lewd questions should get their own locked section... I'd really like it if rather than picking topics we like.. we could just exclude topics we don't like.. this would make it easier for you to browse the site and not have to see what you don't want to see.. like religion and politics.. anyhow.. if you're ever up for a religious debate.. let me know... you can pick the topic and sides.. I just like to argue.. and learn while arguing.. my best friends are always former adversaries... Sources: my brain...

You have asked a question about (part of) the heart and soul of Askville... I don't know exactly how long you have been here, but judging by your gold it looks like it's been at least a little while, as in more than a month. I've been here for about 9 months now, and I would like to share my view. When I first got here, there were spirited, intelligent discussions both religion and politics.

There were some great questions that were asked and there were (and to some degree still are) eloquent representatives of various sides of a topic. Some of the questions were so thorough and well thought out they were downright academic. As I said, they were spirited, but polite enough and civil and people got to know who stood where.

Of course, there were, to your point, also questions about Trivia and General Advice and those were, and still are, cool too. But back then, at least in my book, it was the Golden Age of Askville. I have heard the cries of people over the months saying this place had changed.At first I thought they were just whiners or drama queens, but now I realize that there is something to this--smart minds have pointed out that Askville has degenerated into a shell of what it was.

It seems like the future is taking this site to something akin to Yahoo! Answers. I can't say because I have never visited there, but I have never heard good things from people who have.

And I don't know what caused the change, but a greater mind than mine who lurks here has made (as usual) an excellent point. Askville is turning into something the long-timers didn't sign up for. This place was really, really (and I don't get excited about this type of thing often) cool.

It was the best of its kind, it was the only of its kind, but the success of growing the place has robbed it of much that was fun and interesting which is sad for those of us who have given months and months of our words and time here. To answer your question, no, I don't think there should be a restriction placed on what types of questions are asked here. Amazon sells religious books, political books, moral opinion books along with all the elements of pop culture--this place is a logical discussion and extension of my favorite online retailer and all those who patronize it.

I don't disagree with you, the discussions you describe are not always constructive, but I don't think Askville will gain anything other than a false sense of harmony (if that) by squelching such questions and discussions. Sources: my opinion .

No - there should not be restrictions - but that being said I think there should be guidelines and the guidelines should be followed by all - and by "all" I mean the members of the community and the site owners as well! I think that a diversity of subject matter is the true draw for any online community. I am not at all sure that I’d spend my leisure time in ONLY one forum that had ONLY one focus.

I sort of like the "cocktail party" concept of online community. If you don’t care for one conversation, there is another one going on just inches (or a click) away. To be specific to your question - the subjects of religion, politics and moral constructs can be actually quite fascinating.

I find that to be the case when I am engaged in conversations/discussions in which the participants maintain an open mind and conduct themselves with respect towards others even (and especially) when they find that they disagree. I will agree with you in that if and when a discussion becomes an all out conflict instead of an honest exchange of ideas; when it degenerates into mudsling and innuendo and name-calling etc - then you are 100% right in your judgment that it is non-constructive. I do hold, however, that it needn’t be the case.

Sources: personal opinion and personal experience of engaging in conversations, debates and discussions on many such topics. :-)? -Cat-?

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No. The name is askville. I think we should be able to ask anything, people will tell you/them if it isn't cool.

You see people who have no idea what they are talking about like me. Some smart folks, all kinds, it is a good thing. "Truth between candid minds can never do harm" Thomas Jefferson to John Adams :) .

If you limit the questions asked here, soon there will be no questions. There aren't that many good or interesting to keep askville going without it becoming completely inane. Schelli's Recommendations Now, That's a Good Question!

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" "just wondering why a few have never asked questions. " "Why do you think so few questions about sports are asked on Askville?" "Are there really coupon codes for all the stuff asked about in Bonus Questions? " "Is it just me or does there seem to be more and more questions which are "asked anonymously"?

" "Anyone else having difficulty understanding the "questions" being asked lately?" "Why are some questions even asked?

Just wondering why a few have never asked questions.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.