I'd like to set one cause I think it could be profitable. However, I would need people to come in, haters, likers, and neutral. Where to find these people? Also, how could such a site be monetized? Finally, my views have some strong right and left-wing points, so that might be a setback.
Setting Up a Political Forum
- Thread starter Jason76
- Start date
As a forum owner and admin I always leave my political views at the door. It's imperative unless you want to run a forum with a strong political bias.
I'd also recommend you compose some easily understood posting rules that are not open to interpretation. Forum users read rules as much as we read the small print on all the things we sign up to during our lifetime i.e. never. As such the rules are not really for the user, more for the staff to apply when moderation/mediation becomes necessary.
Rule number one should definitely draw a clear distinction between criticism and personal attacks.
The problem with running a political forum these days is polarization. The extent of it varies between nations but in some countries there is very little middle ground, just a lot of extremism on both sides of the political spectrum. Running a forum under those circumstances could prove difficult.
In general political forums are a lot easier to get off the ground than other niches. Publishing topical political content seems to rank high so I would expect to get page views and hopefully some new members from that kind of content. All the usual start up initiatives still apply e.g. get some conversations going through friends, post exchanges etc.
You mention 'haters' and if I'm honest hate fueled content may well get you off the ground with less effort but do you really want to set that kind of tone from the get go? Toxic is easy compared to healthy debate but you'll end up with a cesspit of hate and loathing from members that will only ever post from one extreme perspective.
Monetizing a left or right leaning political site should be relatively easy but you'll need to be established and expect revenue to come from member donations rather than advertising. Monetizing an open or neutral political site I'd say would prove very difficult even when established.
I'd also recommend you compose some easily understood posting rules that are not open to interpretation. Forum users read rules as much as we read the small print on all the things we sign up to during our lifetime i.e. never. As such the rules are not really for the user, more for the staff to apply when moderation/mediation becomes necessary.
Rule number one should definitely draw a clear distinction between criticism and personal attacks.
The problem with running a political forum these days is polarization. The extent of it varies between nations but in some countries there is very little middle ground, just a lot of extremism on both sides of the political spectrum. Running a forum under those circumstances could prove difficult.
In general political forums are a lot easier to get off the ground than other niches. Publishing topical political content seems to rank high so I would expect to get page views and hopefully some new members from that kind of content. All the usual start up initiatives still apply e.g. get some conversations going through friends, post exchanges etc.
You mention 'haters' and if I'm honest hate fueled content may well get you off the ground with less effort but do you really want to set that kind of tone from the get go? Toxic is easy compared to healthy debate but you'll end up with a cesspit of hate and loathing from members that will only ever post from one extreme perspective.
Monetizing a left or right leaning political site should be relatively easy but you'll need to be established and expect revenue to come from member donations rather than advertising. Monetizing an open or neutral political site I'd say would prove very difficult even when established.
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Deleted member 4320
Following on from @zappaDPJ comments, I don't think forums are a suitable place for a political discussion. Twitter is probably a better format, but we all know how politics turns out on there.
Besides, politics isn't something that builds a community. It's very divisive and I think it'll cause a lot of drama. A forum for a specific political group would be better, although I don't think people would want to leave social media to join a forum to discuss their views.
Besides, politics isn't something that builds a community. It's very divisive and I think it'll cause a lot of drama. A forum for a specific political group would be better, although I don't think people would want to leave social media to join a forum to discuss their views.
Political forums can function if your target group is just one side of the political compass, but then you'll just be creating an echo chamber. Echo chambers are easy enough to monetize (for proof, check your local cult), but you'll also contribute to lessening - not broadening - people's worldview.
There used to be a really big political forum about 10 years ago maybe? It got shut down and I don't remember why. But political forums can become big if rules are laid out as well as actually forced to be followed. If you allow name calling, does everyone get to do it? People take offense at the smallest of things these days and think they're being called a name when it's actually a belief that they hold that was being called "stupid".
A 2024 Elections Forum could really take off if you promote it enough. You KNOW people want to talk about what's going to happen. Are you willing to allow conspiracy theories to be discussed? What's weird is that some things that were once labeled conspiracy theories have come to light as being the truth.
A 2024 Elections Forum could really take off if you promote it enough. You KNOW people want to talk about what's going to happen. Are you willing to allow conspiracy theories to be discussed? What's weird is that some things that were once labeled conspiracy theories have come to light as being the truth.
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Deleted member 49125
Religion & Politics are two topics that can cause such discord even among people on the same side. As others have said, you would need to have rules laid out for the discussions can get quite heated. It would also have to be heavily moderated.
Let us know what you decide.
Let us know what you decide.
Echo chambers are pretty boring. We need human sacrifices to go in and get clobbered to death with no help. 😡
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How about setting up a political forum with three nodes. One for the right, one for the left and one for the battleground.
On registration members make a choice of which node to join for posting in, the right or the left. Everyone can read all content and everyone can post in the battleground, pitchforks available on demand.
I'm only being semi-serious but the idea did cross my mind while watching the movie 'Gangs of New York' for some reason 😵
On registration members make a choice of which node to join for posting in, the right or the left. Everyone can read all content and everyone can post in the battleground, pitchforks available on demand.
I'm only being semi-serious but the idea did cross my mind while watching the movie 'Gangs of New York' for some reason 😵
Seems like a text book example of how to, if not radicalize, then make people's opinions more extreme.
- Introduce a false dichotomy and make people pick between two sides (even though most people are somewhere in between)
- The user, who initially might only be leaning towards the right/left is now a part of a community-in-a-community where only people form the right/left can post.
- In most cases, those who make the most noise get the most attention. The extremes of the right/left get more attention, their threads blow up more, and the user is mostly exposed to the extremes of their direction (again, even though they might just have leaned more towards the right than left or vice versa)
- Repeated exposure to the extreme is rarely a good thing: some opinions the user encounter will naturally stick.
- Congratulations! You've potentially turned sensible and nuanced users more extreme.
I totally agree although I think the idea still has some merit but with a far less contentious topic.
The concept itself is awesome, don't get me wrong! But it's more morally sensible when the conflict is "Team Edward or Team Jacob" or something else less fundamentally divisive than politics.
The problem comes when we don't fit into one tidy category. I'm a conservative voter, but I do want some sort of universal healthcare. In my 20s I voted Democrat and then later on I voted Independent and now that I'm older I vote Republican. But that doesn't mean I agree with everything the parties have ever rooted for.
I'm the same, nobody can be right (no pun intended) all of the time but I think too many people vote a particular way because they've always voted that way. Perhaps that's always been the case but in recent times it seems the gulf between political opponents has got noticeable larger.
Having your own political forum might work, but nowadays, it's impossible to civilly debate on a lot of other people's forums without banning. People are too easily offended by one slightly offensive remark. I mean, it's impossible to not become a little mean in politics.
Well, some topics are actually not debatable, so they're just "Stalin Show Trials" of a sort, lol. For instance, you either think a fetus is a life or it isn't. If you don't or do, you can't be reasoned with by the other side.
Well, if you owned a political forum, people would want these sorts of topics brought up, but there's no solution to them.
Well, some topics are actually not debatable, so they're just "Stalin Show Trials" of a sort, lol. For instance, you either think a fetus is a life or it isn't. If you don't or do, you can't be reasoned with by the other side.
Well, if you owned a political forum, people would want these sorts of topics brought up, but there's no solution to them.
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Deleted member 4320
You're replying to this thread as if you're not the one that started it 😂
I think the easiest way to have a political forum is to do it similar to a religious one. Don't focus on the actual beliefs themselves; but, discussion of individual tenets, how they can differ based on personal influence and upbringing and the like. You could have individual sections or maybe a debate of the day or month.
For example,
Healthcare as @ZandraJoi stated.
You could allow people to debate how you would handle it. You can't go full universal healthcare because you want competition to keep pricing low. Look to Canada or other countries with universal healthcare where it can take months to a year to be seen for major surgeries or to get an X-ray done. It's why a lot of citizens would come to Detroit from Canada for small operations and wellness visits.
You could do something akin to a world government or faux government type forum. They used to be really popular. You can have delegates go through the whole process of submitting proposals for improvements, etc.
For example,
Healthcare as @ZandraJoi stated.
You could allow people to debate how you would handle it. You can't go full universal healthcare because you want competition to keep pricing low. Look to Canada or other countries with universal healthcare where it can take months to a year to be seen for major surgeries or to get an X-ray done. It's why a lot of citizens would come to Detroit from Canada for small operations and wellness visits.
You could do something akin to a world government or faux government type forum. They used to be really popular. You can have delegates go through the whole process of submitting proposals for improvements, etc.
Right now is NOT the right time to build a political forum. Honestly. I thought of it, a similar view as you, the problem is, there is an ideological battle going on... everywhere. Even on a wrestling forum. (I'm not going to name the website, because I am not supporting that trash.)
I am on a wrestling board that spews garbage ideas, Cam in on the same board, too. Because of the sale/merge.
So, what's happening is, people are flaming others in groups. Especially in politics. Currently, the majority of the today's "left" will osciscise ANYONE who disagree with the majority narrative.
Especially with the current subject in the media - the grooming of kids towards binary genders. Its a controversial subject, but what I'm saying is if you say ONE thing... THEY project their ideas to your brand.
Its all "Cancel Culture." A bunch of woke trash, really.
Look, my point is, right now is not the right time. If you want to be on a fair, calmly discussed political forums, find them by their keywords.
I am on a wrestling board that spews garbage ideas, Cam in on the same board, too. Because of the sale/merge.
So, what's happening is, people are flaming others in groups. Especially in politics. Currently, the majority of the today's "left" will osciscise ANYONE who disagree with the majority narrative.
Especially with the current subject in the media - the grooming of kids towards binary genders. Its a controversial subject, but what I'm saying is if you say ONE thing... THEY project their ideas to your brand.
Its all "Cancel Culture." A bunch of woke trash, really.
Look, my point is, right now is not the right time. If you want to be on a fair, calmly discussed political forums, find them by their keywords.
Yes, but it becomes a cat and mouse type of game. There are owners of websites that will bend their knees for a silent majority of "left-leaning" echochamber. That kind of thing? It KILLS websites. If you have a majority of one side on the board who come out with pitchforks, you will lose money and you will close the board.
People don't understand that and don't understand my point. Let them burn. I want people to succeed, but hey, if you aren't going to listen to my wisdom and fail...? I warned you. So don't come crying to me.
(I don't mean you specifically, but in general so don't feel offended.)
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