New MennoNet Filter

[temporal1]

I could work on setting up a new group that can not see the Politics Thread.

I did this once before with the private CM groups years ago.

It might take a little work though.
If it is that important to some, I would see what I could do.

There are pros+cons to everything. i recall the former subgroup, i did not attempt to join, i wasn’t sure i was welcome.

i really like both the openness of the public forum, “the light of day,” and,
the ever-present possibility of some unexpected voice or thought joining in.
These 2 factors breathe life into it.

i also understand the frustration with politics, over years, lots of complaints. no easy answers.
recently, it’s been busy, understandably so. however, i’ve been sad to notice, it seems the numbers and variety of posters has gone down, even tho numbers of posts have increased.

when CAM was a busy topic, many new voices registered. difficult time.
maybe it’s the nature of things to wax+wane, according to big events.

i have been one of the noisiest recently in Politics. not proud of it. especially unhappy to think others are staying away because of the topic. the noisy ones. and disagreements.

would it make sense to make Politics and/or Current Events the subgroup? -
i wonder.

it might be an interesting experiment.
if it failed, i have no doubt it could easily be reinstated.

i was glad Current Events was separated from Politics.
not a perfect solution, but helpful.

This might make a good poll topic,
with the understanding, the results are to think about, the decision is Robert’s and mods’.
(No internet mobs demanding control!)

[Robert]

Let's try this.

Click your name in the upper right toolbar then click User Control Panel.




In the User Control Panel, click the Usergroups tab.




Click the radio button at the far right of the No Politics. You should see a black dot appear once selected and look like the image below.




Click the submit button with Join selected option chosen below the box with groups to join.


This will take you to a confirmation page. Click Yes and wait for the Usergroup page to reload.


Next click the radio button next to the No Politics group you are now a member of.



Click the button below the groups list.

This will take you to a confirmation page.

Click Yes. This should make the No Politics group your default group which means its permissions should override all other groups. Then go see if you can see the Politics forum. Let me know if this worked. I can still see it, but that is because I have Janitor permissions and I see all the forums.

Once you are a member and we get the permissions working right, anyone can join and make it your default group or switch back to Registered Users as your default. Each can choose for themselves.

Again, this may take a little more work getting the permissions to see or not see right, so if it is or is not working let me know. Thanks.

[Valerie]

We know of a great deal of Amish Anabaptists that pay alot of attention to politics- actually what happens in the government does affect what happens in the church so it's not unusual to keep an eye on how this will affect what happens to Christianity and churches. We need only look to countries that have gone through something like Russia did where they had to go underground with their faith for the better part of a century.

I'm sure it's perplexing and concerning when you join a Mennonite discussion forum and find a lot of political threads. I remember being really surprised myself and then I got to thinking about it why wouldn't and the Baptist want to watch what was happening in the political world. It affected who they were at the time they became and Anabaptists and many I know of in Ohio enjoy freedoms that other Christian sects don't enjoy because they have simply gone to court and been awarded exceptions. The political environment in America is what welcomed Anabaptists fleeing Europe. It would seem odd to not have any interest then, my own political interest wouldnt exist if not for the concern that Gods will be done on earth, ad it is in Heaven, as Jesus prayed.

As things in government become less tolerant of Christians, it may behoove us to pay attention, & pray.

We ate, however, due for another headcovering, modesty, divorce & remarriage focus, distinctions of Anabaptists.

[temporal1]

Robert,
i think your method may work very well for some members. it’s appealing.

i don’t believe i would use it because of the very interesting posts of some members that are so helpful on all topics, including politics.

the problem is noisy members like me. there aren’t very many.
i loathe to think we may drive others away. but what else can i think?

in former times, asking political-talkers to “go outside,” or, to the parlor, or to smoking rooms, etc., were acceptable, effective ways to deal with it. in my bigger family gatherings, talk of politics, employment, and often religion, were “banned” by the elders. turns out, there was plenty of talk, without!

what to do with political discussions is not new. not new to MD/MN, not new to society.

for myself, i wouldn’t mind being asked to “take it outside,” or “to the parlor.”

it might be an interesting experiment.
i have some ideas about what “might” happen. but, i’m often surprised.
there may be some obvious reason why-not i’m missing.

if it failed, politics is one topic i have no doubt would “bounce back.”

as others are saying, “just my 2 cents.”

[Sudsy]

I am confused, why wouldn't those who don't care for the "political thread", just refrain from looking at it.

For me, it is a matter of temptation to enter an area where imo, leads to considerable discord, strife, and I could add various other sinning that goes on under this category. Some Christians may be able to keep this subject from dominating their thinking and it having a negative impact on their walk with God whereas others, like myself, may find it an area of temptation to sin and I'm sure some of my participation was sinning.

From what I have read on this forum, quite a number of people use filters to keep access to other areas of temptation (i.e. porn) off their computers completely.

I don't want to make all those that chose political conversations to be put into the 'foe' option as I do want to hear their thoughts on other areas, so I'm happy to see Robert trying this filter.

I have been busy but will now get back to Robert on what he wanted tested out.

[Sudsy]

Let's try this.

Click Yes. This should make the No Politics group your default group which means its permissions should override all other groups. Then go see if you can see the Politics forum. Let me know if this worked. I can still see it, but that is because I have Janitor permissions and I see all the forums.

Once you are a member and we get the permissions working right, anyone can join and make it your default group or switch back to Registered Users as your default. Each can choose for themselves.

Again, this may take a little more work getting the permissions to see or not see right, so if it is or is not working let me know. Thanks.

Robert I got to this point an see I'm now a member of the No Politics group but I can still see the Politics forum. I take it that if I can filter 'No Politics' this will also work under the Active posts section ?

[Robert]

Robert I got to this point an see I'm now a member of the No Politics group but I can still see the Politics forum. I take it that if I can filter 'No Politics' this will also work under the Active posts section ?

Did you make it your default group?

[Sudsy]

Robert I got to this point an see I'm now a member of the No Politics group but I can still see the Politics forum. I take it that if I can filter 'No Politics' this will also work under the Active posts section ?

Did you make it your default group?

How do I make it my default group ?

[Soloist]

The only option I see is to remove "registered users" group. There isn't any other settings I see.

[Robert]

Robert I got to this point an see I'm now a member of the No Politics group but I can still see the Politics forum. I take it that if I can filter 'No Politics' this will also work under the Active posts section ?

Did you make it your default group?

How do I make it my default group ?

Try again. I found another setting that needed to be adjusted so you can.