The Evolution and Birth of the DA Political Forum

This News Tribute is dedicated to those brave, persistant Fore-Fathers and Fore-Mothers who fought and argued for the birth of a DA Political Forum. These are the posts of conversations in the then Deviant Forum who wanted to see a separation of Political Discussions from their forum. Against all odds, and heavy opposition, they fought for and gained the DA Political Forum for us to enjoy and use.

Let us have a moment of appreciation for their dedication. The DA Political Forum, after two full years of fighting and petitioning was born and introduced by °jark On July 26, 2004 @10:17 PM!
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[link] New Forum Category

~illusion3d Apr 17, 2002, 3:26:25 PM
I am wondering if we need to add a new forum category for Political Discussion.

I have noticed quite a few politically based discussions in Art Scene and Deviants and I don't think that these are the appropriate forums. Most discussions are posted there because there is no place else.

Please understand, I am not saying that we should remove political debate from these catagories. Quite the contrary I encourage it. However, It would seem that creating a new forum would be a better way of conducting these discussions. This forum could also host discussions on news and other matters. Whether or not religion, "ethics and philosophy also deserve a separte catagory or can fit well in the current ones can also be addressed.

What do you think?"

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[link] *nullfactor Apr 17, 2002, 5:03:23 PM
I think it's a smashing idea! - I was thinking "Society". "
[link] ~sajsemegaloma Apr 17, 2002, 5:16:03 PM
"Basicly it might be a good idea and it might not be ... a [political] forum like that would only further inspire to put up topics that don't belong here to start with ... which would results in bickering fighting and flaming ... or then again, it might not, but the risk is pretty big, so i suspect very little chance of this happening!"
[link] ~illusion3d Apr 18, 2002, 9:26:30 AM
"O.K., I'm a little suprised at the lack of response to this [political forum] idea, so I'm going to take one more stab at this.

First, thank you to *nullfactor. "Society" perfectly captures what I have in mind for this new [political] forum.

Now let me try to explain why I feel that this is a necessary [political] forum.

At the current moment, there are several topics in Art Scene, Deviants, and Complaints regarding issues in the Middle East, WTC, Gay Rights, and Hitler, just by way of example. People are already discussing these issues and I'm sure they will continue to do so in the future. I do not want to question the merits of these topics. In my opinion, any topic is a good one as long as you are not trying to intentionally offend someone. I do feel that it would be more appropriate to have a separate forum for topics of this nature. I do not believe that they are currently in the right category.

Another issue is whether these threads belong on DA in the first place. After all this is first and foremost and art community, not a polical forum. However, I feel that one of the best functions that this community serves is an exchange of ideas. Whether your thoughts are on canvass or paper, I feel that we should encourage intelligent dialogue over a wide range of subjects.

That brings me to the next point. Are the members of DA capable of intelligent dialogue. Absolutely. Unfortunately, there will always be those members of the community who will act immaturely and respond with bickering and insults. That should not be a reason that we ignore valid topics. For the most part, the members of this community have strong opinions and passions. Why should we keep that bottled up for fear it may be spoiled by people who will react with ignorance.

I have stated my case. I now leave it in the hands of the Deviant Community.

Thank you."


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[link] New Forum Category

`utro Jul 31, 2002, 7:40:34 PM

"On the recents page under the Deviants category at the moment there are topics such as capital punishment, sweatshops, abortion and war mixed in with topics concerning the da serial killer, hairstyles, back to school, commenting, deviant meets, irc, pixelart and clone sex. I think it would be a good idea to have a separate forum category dedicated to social, political, religious and philosphical issues, so we can leave the deviants category for the strictly fun and/or pointless threads. Any opinions on this?"

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[link] ~five Jul 31, 2002, 7:42:30 PM
"I suggested something like this a while back...and it's been suggested recently, as a "Debate" forum. I personally like the idea."
[link] `MattSpire Jul 31, 2002, 7:43:38 PM
I say I. *raises hand* "debate" is good.. i was wondering what title to give it. that works well.
[link] `utro Jul 31, 2002, 7:45:23 PM
"agreed. i like "debate". Of course anything can be debated. Even hairstyles. But i think it would work well, as long as in the description it points out something about important issues or current events."
[link] `musicinmyhead Jul 31, 2002, 8:17:03 PM
good idea `utro i'd definitely be up for that, rather than having to sift through the deviants section for something slightly intelligent to read!"

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[link] Political Section in Forums

~musickrazy57 Dec 15, 2002, 8:30:43 PM
"We need a poltical forum section here at I think it would allow us to talk politics and people who do not care to discuss them can just avoid the section. Of course we would need it to be regulated as some poltical subjects turn into flame wars. But I think having one for the more mature deviants would be a good idea.

what do you think?"
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[link] :dev$lolly: Dec 15, 2002, 11:53:33 PM
"It's probably not going to happen. ~reality23 along with others got the political tier in indy art going though,s who knows."

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[link] Need Current Events Forum!

~thesuper Mar 26, 2003, 9:42:58 AM

I think this war has shown the need for a Political or Current Events Forum.

The deviants section of the DA forums has been overrun with war talk.

Can I get an Amen!"

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[link] ~devart-critic Mar 26, 2003, 10:06:36 AM
Amen
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[link] Add a Politics Forum

~culturalflux May 7, 2003, 12:08:13 AM
"I think DeviantArt sorely needs one of these. It would channel the political/religious arguments over to that forum, and the Complaints forum would then be full of more of it's intended subject matter."

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[link] `mooboy May 7, 2003, 1:49:28 AM
Like a Flame Forum <img src="http://images.deviantart.com/emoticons/odd/icon_blankstare.gif" align="middle" alt=" (Blank Stare)" title=" (Blank Stare)" border="0" />
[link] ~vandal-savage May 7, 2003, 2:42:13 AM
"I'm not sure how well that would work. I think many people kind of drift into those threads as opposed to actually going looking for them. Thus, I think that a Politics Forum would get very few posts/replies and the other forums would still be filled with political threads because that'd be the place to post and get replies."
[link] ~lord-zany May 7, 2003, 12:28:34 PM
i think that's a horribly dumb idea. if you want to discuss politics you shouldnt be coming to an art site.
additionally - no one cares about your views on politics."
[link] $realitysquared May 8, 2003, 5:39:17 AM
Threads concerning politics and religion tend to generate the most flames and warnings so I'd rather not see a forum encouraging these sorts of subjects- although having them all in one place would make it more convenient for the PV Team I suppose <img src="http://images.deviantart.com/emoticons/icon_wink.gif" align="middle" alt=" (Wink)" title=" (Wink)" border="0" />

--
Daniel (realitysquared)
Copyright & Etiquette Administration Director,
Community Development Division,
deviantART Inc.
[link] ~ikod May 11, 2003, 8:50:09 PM
"I think that is a very poor idea, and would cause alot of flames and possibly law suites if it got out of hand. Nice try, but wrong site."

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[link] new forums?

`lady-blue Jun 5, 2003, 10:05:49 PM
I think there's enough political and religious threads in the "deviants" general forum that they could both have their own forums. Maybe instead of a "Politics" forum, there could be a "current events" forum? I dunno... what do you think? Since there's so many people in the general forum complaining about how many religious and political threads there are all the time...

Amy"

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[link] Go to the Current Events forum...

~hereticschizoid Dec 14, 2003, 9:30:23 PM
I would put this in the complaints forum, but it would be pointless there as it is directed to the ppl with political threads in this forum...
there is a current events forum: [link]
go there if you would like to discuss politics.
Hopefully with this thread, people will be more aware of that forum, and go to it to talk about the happenings of the world..."
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[link]

`mp3chuck Dec 16, 2003, 3:39:59 PM

"Yes indeed, yes indeed. Just the place for all your political thoughts, ramblings, and even misconceptions (and boy, there sure are plenty of those). It's an awfully lonely forum right now, but from the looks of things it could easily be a hoppin' place. So head on over into the land of ... Current Events. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Right?
[link]
Right."

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[link] what happened to the political forum...

~mibi Mar 4, 2004, 1:06:15 AM
is it just gone? ...because thats retarded..... i know silenceing political discussion is on par with the bush administration but does the DA administration really need to follow suit...

can we get the political discussion/forum back please..."
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[link] `mp3chuck Mar 4, 2004, 6:50:13 PM
"The Political forum didn't disappear in some grand conspiracy ... it disappeared because the forums don't go more than 1 sub-forum deep. Since Political is a sub-sub-genre (i.e. Digital Art -> Drawings -> Political), it doesn't get its own forum."
[link] ~mibi Mar 5, 2004, 6:17:01 PM
well there used to be a vibrant and healthy political forum... just because the galleries got rearranged and renamed shouldnt mean that their forums get wiped... i mean... it was a thoroughly used forum.."
[link] `mp3chuck Mar 5, 2004, 6:19:07 PM
"Well ... put the request in the suggestion forum and I'll talk to someone and see if it's a possibility!"
[link] =RedOut Mar 6, 2004, 5:04:32 PM
"Bring it back god damnit. Anyways from what ive seen political art was split up between the section under 'miscelanious' and one under 'drawing', there may be more. They should all be one."
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[link] political debate

~reptilecartoons Apr 3, 2004, 6:00:07 AM
"i think devaintart needs a political debate forum, or are deviants uninterested about thing happening in the world ?"

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[link] I think they should start a political forum thread thingy

~berniewall Jul 14, 2004, 10:34:00 AM
Geez I cant seem to find the right word. Thus im sounding like an idiot.I think they should start a political forum thread catagory thing. Alot of people start political threads.So I think it would probably be a good idea to start a catagory for it. Just a sugestion."

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[link] `wordlesswhisper Jul 14, 2004, 12:35:14 PM
"This has been suggested before, but I don't think it's ever going to happen. Political threads, even if they are dead horses, still go in the Deviants forum. Creating another forum would just result in *more* misplaced posts."

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[link] Welcome to the Political Forum

°jark Jul 26, 2004, 10:17:20 PM
Want to discuss politics? Use this forum for all those republican -vs- democrat -vs- indie discussions. Keep things civil please!

BIRTH OF THE DA POLITICAL FORUM-JULY26, 2004 @ 10:17:20 PM