As a Newbie at this site - just to get up to speed - is there some historical reason why the Politics section is "Private"??

 

I recognise that it is easier to have political debate when all the posters are in one country and are debating similar issues. Even in an Oz-based site I use we have problems with people from different states not quite grasping what the others are on about. I imagine international politics can get even more heated than national ones.

 

Perhaps I have put up some answers to my own question...

you need to have a certain postcount before you can access it.

 

this helps prevents a lot of utter morons we were getting from trolling. a more elegant solution would have been desirable but alas there is now way round human behaviour and this at least filters it a bit.

That makes sense I guess. Politics is a troublesome issue and there are many provocateurs out there.

 

I have read The Spectator for years, and have some interest in UK politics because I am coming to work there in mid-2008. I have part-time consultancy work lined up although I have been offered, and turned down, full time jobs in Inverness and Leeds.

I think your post count needs to be 50 to post in Politics. To insane_alien's point, you will also notice that you cannot see posts in the Politics forum when not logged in (viewing as a Guest). This is a again to ward off hit and run trolls who have no intention to adding to the value and content of the forums as a whole.

Indeed, though I lowered the number to 30 to make it a little easier on people.

 

We're trying to make people register on SFN because of the science, not because of the Politics section (and, as iNow said, we're trying to keep the idiots out).

Thanks guys- that all sems very reasonable.

Yes, that makes a lot of sense. There are too many idiots out there and politics is a place where many can get out of hand. I think that is a good thing you keep it private until the members are assured to be eligible.