Exactly right ... but "banters" in and of itself does not include "political or religious" discussion ... HTC has, on many occasions stated so ... everything else is pretty much acceptable with the exception of vulgar language.
You really are arguing for the sake of argument ... your generalization of why 200 was created proves it.
Actually no.
The OP in the thread I linked to "Flit", Actually a squadmate of mine and friend dating back to before AH to the time of Airwarrior.
We had discussed between us at the time what it was all about. Discussion of politics was indeed a large part of what was going on. And what the complaints were about. Remember it was an election year. All you need do is think back to the last election and how the conversations went on 200 about the candidates was for the most part a nightly occurrence for an example of how it was on 04 when it was even more polarized to realise that there is no way it wasnt part of the banter what was going down at the time.
Any event he and I and the rest of the squad had private conversations about what was going on because some of us hadnt logged onto the game yet.
Im not sure if back then political discussion was disallowed in the game back then. At that time it was allowed here in the O'club. I do know however that there has never been an adequate way to enforce such a rule. Not through any fault or lack of effort of HTC but because obviously most people dont complain about it.
In any event. we all had in depth conversations on what was happening and why.
Then like now I found it all amusing because I really dont care one way or the other whats talked about because I dont hold many lengthy conversations on 200, or any other channel for that matter. And barely pay attention to what banters or discussions there are.
Point was not to argue for the sake of arguing. But to point out and remind everyone that 200 was chosen because of the complaints of the banter of all sorts that was going on on the default channel.
200 was chosen as an alternative to the default channel. The idea was that if you wanted to have discussions that people didnt want to hear on default. then you should go to a different channel to do it rather then force everyone on default to listen to it. 200 was chosen as that channel.
By going to 200 you are choosing to see whats going on there. Though I think HT worded it better
Problem is, everyone migrated there instead of staying on default and only using 200 for its intention. Now people are making many of the same complaints demanding action about the goings on on 200 that they were on default.
Point is 200 was created for the use of alternate conversation. This entire argument Ive made could have been about the discussion of blueberries and I would have put forth the exact same argument. Point is, everyone has to choose to go to 200. Nobody is forced into it. There is a default channel. If all you want to do it talk about the game and not be bothered with
any alternative subjects that may annoy you then thats where the claimed (not by you)"majority" that object should be. Because that is the channel that is the default for such things. Everyone chooses to be on 200. Nobody is forcing anyone to listen to anything. Your tuned to 200 by choice.
Now that being said. I've also stated that I can empathize with HTC and why they wouldn't want political discussion. I myself dont encourage it nor do I start political discussions here, or in game. I have other places I do that. I wish some of you would stop assuming I am for political discussion. I never said that. and I dont do it.
But..
But its alot like making laws against jay walking. good luck enforcing it because There is just no real way to adequately enforce it. And I am as sure as the sun rising tomorrow that this will become an issue again. Short of removing text altogether or closing down the game.Its an impossible task.
Some group of knuckleheads are going to be doing it again, and again and again. Im not saying any of this to be a hard arse or a jerk. I'm simply being truthful about the situation.
What I am saying is what I've been saying all along. 200 is a chosen channel. If people do not like the conversation on 200 regardless of what that subject might be. And only want to shoot the breeze with buds about the game. Then go to default. as that is what it was there for.
But if your going to move next to a racetrack. Then you shouldnt complain abut the sound of cars.
We could redo this whole thing and say ok. "Everyone that wants to talk politics or other non game related conversation move to 300. Everyone else stay on 200" and a couple of years from now we are going to be having the exact same debates because by then everyone is going to have migrated to 300 and the lessons of the past of why 300 started being used will again be forgotten.
Oh and EskimoJoe. Your comments on porn being discussed are among the most asinine I've seen in a while. splitting hairs