Do you think this forum is politically correct?

LQ is a work safe environment with a focus on Linux and Open Source related topics. While we are huge free speech proponents, we have a focus on fostering a safe, welcoming and friendly atmosphere. While you are free to discuss any topic you'd like, the rules are very clear on where the line should be drawn (" Do not post any messages that are obscene, vulgar, sexually-orientated, hateful, threatening, or otherwise violative of any laws.", "Personal attacks on others will not be tolerated." , "Flame Wars will not be tolerated." , "Do not post if you do not have anything constructive to say in the post.", etc. See http://www.linuxquestions.org/linux/rules.html for the full list).

--jeremy

Originally Posted by Mr. Alex can I talk here about race differences and nations' differences? About genocide of whites? About differences between men and women? About harm of immigration?

Those are topics for which discussion would create more heat than light. They are not so much thought provoking as simply provoking.

Originally Posted by dugan The above nonsense does not fall under the category of "thinking".

But that kind of ridicule for ideas you don't like, simply hardens everyone's positions.

Any of those topics would allow real thought and analysis and discussion in some sufficiently dispassionate forum (which likely is not here). They are not nonsense. Thinking about them should not be dismissed as not "thinking".

I expect Mr. Alex chose those to prove that reasonable debate on such subjects would not be permitted here, rather than to have such debate. I hope no one (especially me) needs to be forcibly silenced to prove the point that such purely provocative topics can't be discussed here. As I said in the related thread, free speech should not apply here. Jeremy can and should and does suppress whatever he thinks is bad for his forum.

I expect threads like this push the boundary and create grief for the moderators (sorry about making that harder). Can you have reasonable meta discussion about which topics and why would be off limits to an actual discussion? I hope so and I think that other thread managed.

My own two cents in that meta discussion is that the topics Mr. Alex mentioned are not appropriate to discuss here, only because the potential to provide insight (change minds) is nil and the potential to start flames is large. That does not make those topics nonsense nor devoid of thought, just devoid of room for constructive discussion.

Originally Posted by Mr. Alex (..) is LQ forum politically correct?

I'm kind of wondering what the reason was for asking this in the first place?..

I'm kind of wondering what the reason was for asking this in the first place?..

I'm wondering this too. He's a senior member who has been posting productively for years, and (as far as I know) he's never had a problem with the part of the rules that he started this thread about.

Comedians may not be PC but we sort of have to expect it from civilized persons. We can't simply call someone a name based on common taunts although I'd like to some very few times.


Is there some issue that made you upset?

I never bought the idea of political correctness. But that is simply not relevant for this forum.
LQ is an international platform, with members from any gender, race, religion, political view, type of food consumption (vegans, vegetarians, omnivores, ...), lovers of different types of sports, music, films and so on. This only works when all members show respect to each other.

Not political correctness, simple respect.

Originally Posted by TobiSGD Not political correctness, simple respect.

Exactly what I intended to post, you beat me to it! No other comments are necessary.

No, it's not politically correct and nor should it be expected to be. I have seen a few posts and/or threads, even in this thread itself (there is only one "race" on this planet and it's called the Human race), some may say push boundaries. Point is if you don't like it don't join in or if you do join in mount a counter point against what you see as wrong and explain it.

What is expected is that everyone follows the rules Jeremy has set down. By joining LQ you agree to this so there should be no issue there.

Thank you, johnsfine, that was very accurate.

Originally Posted by unSpawn I'm kind of wondering what the reason was for asking this in the first place?..

Some random nationalistic and anti-PC itch. It happens from time to time.

Originally Posted by dugan I'm wondering this too. He's a senior member who has been posting productively for years, and (as far as I know) he's never had a problem with the part of the rules that he started this thread about.

I didn't notice I violated any rule... I asked if I can violate them this way but didn't start doing it. I just wanted to check if PC lives here.

Originally Posted by jefro Is there some issue that made you upset?

Are you asking me?

Originally Posted by jeremy LQ is a work safe environment with a focus on Linux and Open Source related topics. While we are huge free speech proponents, we have a focus on fostering a safe, welcoming and friendly atmosphere. While you are free to discuss any topic you'd like, the rules are very clear on where the line should be drawn (" Do not post any messages that are obscene, vulgar, sexually-orientated, hateful, threatening, or otherwise violative of any laws.", "Personal attacks on others will not be tolerated." , "Flame Wars will not be tolerated." , "Do not post if you do not have anything constructive to say in the post.", etc. See http://www.linuxquestions.org/linux/rules.html for the full list). --jeremy

Very nicely put.

I think Jeremy and his mods do a good job keeping LQ open for discussion while pushing people to be professional and courteous. I don't know how Politically Correct fits into that,. and I don't personally care. There are plenty of forums to discuss politics, religion and other hot-button issues, and I've never felt that LQ was one of them.

Its called "Linux Questions" for a reason.

I don't think there is such a think as political correctness ... politics is always wrong.

Maybe you should rephrase your question or be more specific. For sure you will have to respect others and the rules. Of course, there are questions/topics which are very unsavory and best left not asked and not covered in public for many reasons. Don't think of it as the forum's fault tho, as you very unlikely to find a forum that will accept them without major ruckus.

So according to

Originally Posted by H_TeXMeX_H I don't think there is such a think as political correctness ... politics is always wrong.

this forum is not correct from this point of view.
Additionally the only way to be able to be politically correct (whatever is the meaning of it) is to discuss political events. But this is not the case.

Originally Posted by szboardstretcher ... There are plenty of forums to discuss politics, religion and other hot-button issues, and I've never felt that LQ was one of them. Its called "Linux Questions" for a reason.

I must say that the non-nix-general-any-topic description tempts one into byways. Scrap that or make it more specific and Linux only topics will predominate.

It is however interesting to get views from the Linux community on general topics even if only to investigate whether those views fit into a specific mould.

I showed one of the threads to a friend and his comment was that one is clearly dealing with a brighter segment of society than your run of the mill forum.

Originally Posted by pan64 Additionally the only way to be able to be politically correct (whatever is the meaning of it) is to discuss political events.

Not really. If you say “fireman” instead of “firefighter” it will be politically incorrect even though it has nothing to do with politics.

Originally Posted by H_TeXMeX_H Maybe you should rephrase your question or be more specific.

The question, phrased without euphemisms such as "politically incorrect", was "can I use LQ as a platform to express racist views?"

That question's been answered.