I haven't commented here, but I am probably the person posting most frequently in the Off Topic folder, so I really should weigh in with an opinion.
Personally I think that politics is extremely interesting to discuss. I also think that as far as possible, ideas and principles should be discussed rather than persons. Of course, that is just my opinion.
I think it is extremely important to try to stay respectful during these discussions. It is absolutely okay - indeed, it is pretty much necessary - to discuss what people have said, and to agree or disagree with the statements of other persons. As far as possible, however, I think we should avoid discussing what other people are. After all, how can we know what they are? We can only judge them by what they have said in public, and what they do in public. Sometimes, admittedly, things are revealed about people that they didn't want to make public themselves. It is certainly okay to discuss such things too, but I think we should be careful when it comes to jumping to conclusions, certainly regarding the behaviour of individual people. What do we really know about these things that they are accused of?
Personally, I felt that I was unfairly accused in an ongoing thread in the Off Topic forum. Somebody made an extremely generalized accusation against me, without backing this claim up with any quotes or any other evidence. That is the sort of thing I don't want to see on the boards.
Ann
