I think its a shame when we as a forum get bogged down by real world arguments and issues. At our heart we all enjoy the game of diplomacy and we are here for that reason. No one wants to be called a bigot or a tyrant; but honestly when you read the posts on here it is sometimes hard to define who exactly is the "bad guy". Yes the conservatives and right-wing members have their veiled sexism, racism, and xenophobia; but the liberals and left-wing members often come across with a superiority complex, and bigotry that rivals that of the most extreme branches on the right. The sad truth is, this forum like many things in the world today, has becomes so divided that we can no longer enjoy our free time without the incessant hum of never-ending debate, justification, and hate. Today i watched 2 members who i respect as players of diplomacy and overall fun people argue to an extent that did little to improve either of their images. And while many will attribute the issue to one of these 2 people, it is ultimately the fault of us as a community for breeding a forum that encourages violent rhetoric, and hatefilled debate.

I am not suggesting we "ban" political discussion; as i like to imagine we are mostly educated individuals, but those of us who take our joy from healthy discussion and an enthralling game of diplomacy should take a few steps back and decide if we want to drag the misery and drama of the world around us into what should be a stress-free game.

And i know many of you will call-out my trolling; and that is a fair assessment. Maybe i do fuel the fires a bit, but my intention is usually to bring levity to otherwise frustrating situations. To help alleviate what i perceive as the pending degradation of civility and the status quo.

Many of you wont have made it this far and will likely post some ad hominem but let me make clear that my motivations are simple. I do not want to see the people i respect and the game i enjoy ruined by violence and aggression.