However, what seems to have been the problem was the inordinate amount of time Moderators were having to spend in applying CC rules in the Politics subforum. I'd be all for reinstatement of the Politics subforum and for some form of self moderation/regulation/free for all there. That way, the subforum lives or dies based on the people who post there. If it gets nasty and people stop posting then those who want a vibrant Politics subforum only have themselves to blame
It doesn't work, we tried it. Another part of the problem with the political debate was the fallout into the rest of the forums and the souring of relationships (due to personal and political differences or labelling based on political opinions). Even after the opt-in, which was basically a means of letting people make an
active choice to get involved - knowing it was going to get political - the same thing happened. Appeals came in from all sides wanting other parties to be moderated for this, that or something else. It only benefited those members who liked to discuss politics, but had a
much wider and heavier impact on the rest of the community and the moderator team.
I may have made a decision many of you don't like, and you may not appreciate or understand why I've done it, but I do feel it was needed and if we do anything else in relation to news and current events it will need some careful consideration beforehand, and some time to pass before any change happens.
Please do use CC as you always have done and get from it what you can in the meantime, and I'll give consideration to any constructive feedback in terms of future changes around discussion of current events.
Thanks,
Shaun