I haven’t been on the site for a while but am really concerned that red herrings get thrown into so many discussions just to get people talking politics. Maybe these like-minded people could get their own group, just about politics.
To my mind, posts and comments should never include: sex; religion or politics.
Maybe the Mods are listening and might intervene (if they agree)!
there is already a Politics section…
EDIT sorry my computer went offline while I was tapping… aaaargh.
If folk put something Political in any other thread, it can easily be moved into Politics.
Personally, I muted Politics and find life much less stressful 
I take a peek now and again… phew, then it’s back sanity 
Speaking as someone who is often responsible for helping threads drift off-topic 
, I think it’s inevitable that sometimes threads go up side-alleys, especially popular topics. We think of a comment to make, and that triggers a response from someone else, and off we go…
As to the political aspect, there is a specific “politics” section in which such matters can be discussed, but often a more general topic can have a political aspect to it (for example immigration law, or taxation), and that’s how a thread can end up being political.
And some members do like to bring politics in as that’s how their minds work.
The Mods do move threads into the relevant category if they have been misposted.
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So who would do the moving. The thread I was following was about soldiers and soft boiled eggs plus the cost of postage stamps then in dives straight into tax then about pensions and all including a lot of unpleasantness. What is scary is that it’s people marked as ‘Patron’ or ‘Respected’!! I messgaed them but I’ll probably get an earful back!
I can’t find a flag to the Mods, only to the culprits so I have messaged them! Lord knows what I’ll get back!
Advice to take more water with it, possibly 
the art of conversation is robust here, and that’s good - if it gets silly there’s usually a solution.
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Are you new to the internet, @ROUSSELOT_Joyce_Ann ? What you describe is common in forums. If you’re uncomfortable with the (relatively mild, and well-moderated) level of robust debate you find here, maybe the forum isn’t for you. Certainly telling people what and how they should debate is unlikely to work.
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Actually not quite so genial! Now they have told me they are great buddies, it’s just innocent banter, not baiting. Now I get it!
Actually, I reckon there’s a fair mix of subjects and banter.
This is an on-line dinner party scenario.
Someone might well offer something which is not to my taste, but I simply waft it away (politely) ie ignore it/mute it.
Any newbie or someone who’s not been on for a while… I’d suggest they take a good look at the subjects and who is saying what.
Might take a few days to get the feel of the dinner party and what is being served up… but it’s worth it.
Jumping into the soup tureen is best avoided unless dead drunk.
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Thanks for you helpful comments. Actually I was programming back in the day when it was cardboard cards with holes in. I am all for robust debate but not mud slinging. I quite agree that nobody should be telling anyone what should be debated and how, except the mods in whose judgement I have confidence as, I am sure, you do.
So pleased the penny has dropped
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I can’t say I have done a statistical analysis, but I feel that this has actually improved recently, and threads have been moved.
As for thread drift each of us is entitled to be robust back and ask people to start a new thread in politic section if it’s a subject of interest. However, sometimes it gets to a cetain stage when main subject has been well covered so if it drifts into politics, especially UK politics, Imjust mute it.
“What is considered good etiquette in a group like this”
It varies, depending on the poster. In general, many of us block certain topics or specific individuals because they are often the centre of bad manners and intentional provocation. Politics as a topic can be like that stage after a proper dinner party has finished, where some individuals decide to start doing jaeger bombs, shout for attention and then vomit in the pot plants.
But in general, if one is polite, kind, respectful and encouraging it can go quite a long way.
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That makes sense. Bit like dipping a toe in to test the waters!
You are clearly unfamiliar with how SF works despite being a relatively long standing member.
- All subjects are acceptable. Rudeness to others isn’t.
- Personally I love discussing religion, sex and politics but that’s just me. If people want to talk about food or cats that’s fine with me!
- We don’t have Mods per se.
- And we certainly don’t ‘moderate’ discussions or topics unless entirely necessary.
- There’s a mute button if you dislike being confronted by certain subjects. Or members.
Hope that clarifies matters!
Have a nice day,
Cat
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Or cheese!
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or AdBlue ad nauseum. Or windscreen stickers.,
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The most important topic of them all. 
But I would say that…
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I thought they were doing away with them, but the CT man slapped another one on my windscreen 3 days ago. 