This right here

I think the politics discussion is harmful to the site. However, it no longer bothers me, as I altered my settings so that I never see any of it. I feel like simply making that the default setting for everyone, meaning that people that want to see political topics in the Forum Buddy or Hot Topics list have to opt-in, would take care of most of the problem. That would largely prevent people that don't want to be involved in that discussion from being drawn in in a moment of weakness. It could give us the best of both worlds. Seems like its worth a try before outright elimination (which is something that I have previously supported, and still may).

Quite frankly i dont see how simply not viewing political threads of they aint your cup of tea isnt the the simplest solution
On top of that it shouldnt matter even of its "alot" of people, which is more the the thing of the vocal minority in cases like this.
I dont like NFL and NBQ thus in sports apps i scroll past posts about those or unlist newsfeeds regarding those topics

1. Free speech is essential towards good outcomes in society.
2. Free speech is essential towards toxicity in society.

There is no solution. Some discuss politely, others troll for a living.

I don't think the mod team, or at least the people in control, actually sees what the problem is.

The far sides of each political spectrum have been allowed to spread whatever nonsense they want to do on the forums without any real interference from the mod team and cause arguments and divisions among the community. In specific cases, you've had moderators also engage in this kind of discussion, which has seen one now ex-moderator be permanently removed from the team and one current moderator compare Adolf Hitler to a far left socialist... And when we have actual Incel threads being allowed on the front page, you know it's a problem.

One key highlight of the problem can be pointed to how long it took the mod team to put a stop to numberwang and CaptainExplosion's perpetual problem causing thread creation, let alone the problems seen before that with barneystinson. I want to hit it home hard that this isn't a problem with this specific mod team, but mod teams over the past 2 years, probably more. On many occasions the teams simply haven't cared to enter those toxic discussions and put a stop to what's going on until one party feels aggrieved and throws a few reports down.

Putting filters on Political discussion to keep it away from hot topics and the front page is a start, sure, but the problem will never disappear while moderators are happy to let trouble causers have free run to spread nonsense, particularly when they end up punishing those who are calling out said nonsense. The mod team needs to put boundaries on what is and isn't acceptable beyond name calling and extremely offensive remarks.

It's worth noting too, that these problems aren't simply in Political discussion, but have also been found in general discussion.

I'm on my phone and it's been a long ass day so this may or may not have a bunch of errors.

Edit - Fixed the post. StarOcean wasn't permanently removed from the forum, he was permanently removed from the team.

I didnt say those opinions didnt count, im merely saying that "alot" is very subjective

So general disccusion will get all the election and other politic discussion would this come to pass

This is a great and underappreciated post.

Glad that you are reaching out to the community for this.  Political conversations have to go somewhere, and this site has had some of the most interesting political exchanges of all the forums.  Just because the dynamic of this community is different, does not make it wrong or irrelevant. 

We just need people to behave, in these times of censorship, polarization and deplatforming of people with certain opinions, I don't think we should cave in to the times and simply remove a part of the forum. Limiting discussions doesn't end stupidity, but it does create fewer spaces for the few, but all important, voices to be heard in between all the shouting, name-calling and parroting of ideological platitudes. Keep the discussion board; ditch the people who can't fathom the principles of civil discourse in that setting.