How do you feel about politics discussion on your forum?

How do you feel about politics discussion on your forum? Do you even allow them?

On one of my forums I have alot of users that discuss politics. SOmetimes the discussions get quite heated. But in general it doesnt seem to spill over.

What are your policies and experiences?

I've always ran "nothing illegal" forums, meaning anything that was legal (porn, profanity, ect) was fine. Now my next project deals with high school students. So while I'll have to have much stricter rules, I don't intend to stifle political expression. To the contrary, I'd rather see them caring about it than being disengaged potheads.

Some have found that politics can create enemies on a forum and create divisions amongst the members - which is why I asked the question.

Create two forums for the major parties (or call it Liberal Central and Conservative Corner, etc.). That usually keeps the spillage to those forums. One forum for politics can cause some serious fights, and it's hard to moderate them and not be targetted as being "unfair".

I'd personally create an entire forum for politics, because there's a lot to debate.

Chris

There are forums on politics. If your forum is not really about politics, but the members are interested in talking about it, make a separate category for it. It helps draw the members in when they are interested in a topic.

let them go at it, but point out that you will put a heavy mod hand down if it gets into personal flaming and the like...

Personally I love to see Politics discussed on a board, because as long as the members can be mature about expressing their opinion then usually political discussions can produce some healthy debate for the forum. It can be very helpful in keeping the forums active.