AngelOfDeath
There is quite a bit of contradiction in your argument, and I think it deserves to be addressed.
First, you say you ignore topics you find uninteresting, yet you devote considerable time and several paragraphs explaining how much you dislike the political discussions. If ignoring those topics is really that easy, why spend so much energy complaining about them? Nobody is forcing you to read, participate in, or respond to discussions that don't interest you.
You complain that political discussions are scattered throughout the forum and don't belong alongside adult entertainment. But this is an open forum, not a private entertainment club with a prescribed agenda. People have different interests, and there is no reason discussions about politics, economics, current events, or social issues cannot coexist with discussions about sex. Participating in one doesn't disqualify someone from participating in the other.
Your comparison of political discussion to a nursing home brawl, complete with walkers, senior dinner rushes, and insults about age, says considerably more about your attitude than it does about the people you're criticizing. You accuse others of lacking maturity while relying on age-related ridicule to make your point. That's a rather remarkable contradiction.
You also suggest that discussing politics is nothing more than a cry for attention and an exercise in repeating other people's opinions. Perhaps that describes some participants, but it certainly doesn't describe everyone. Some people enjoy exchanging ideas, challenging assumptions, debating policy, and keeping informed about the world around them. Disagreement is not inherently toxic, and intellectual discussion doesn't become worthless simply because it takes place on an adult-oriented website.
As for your assertion that politics are inherently divisive, disagreement is a normal part of a functioning society. The problem isn't that people hold different opinions. The problem arises when people cannot tolerate those differences without resorting to personal attacks and condescension.
Finally, your reference to someone's personal loss, followed by repeated personal jabs, is particularly unnecessary. You cannot claim to be taking the high road while simultaneously using someone's age, personal circumstances, and perceived shortcomings as ammunition.
You say you miss the old forum and the people who once participated. Perhaps what you really miss is a time when the forum reflected your particular interests and expectations. But forums evolve, membership changes, and people develop interests beyond those they originally came to discuss.
Nobody is asking you to participate in political discussions. However, expecting everyone else to limit their conversations to subjects you find entertaining is unreasonable.
The beauty of an open forum is that you can choose what to read, what to discuss, and what to ignore. That freedom belongs to everyone, not just those who prefer the conversations you happen to enjoy.
