# A proposal for "Elections" forum rules description change

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-proposal-for-elections-forum-rules-description-change/782792>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [March 22, 2017, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-proposal-for-elections-forum-rules-description-change/782792 "2017-03-22T21:53:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-proposal-for-elections-forum-rules-description-change/782792/1 "2017-03-22T21:53:40Z")

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The first page of the “Elections” forum has more moved threads on it then the first page of any other forum right now. I believe it’s because what topics belong there are confusing to the OP.

From the sticky titled "Rules for Great Debates and Elections at SDMB:

> [@](#):
>
> **Elections:** \* For discussion of elections and electoral politics, including strategy and tactics, political parties, individual races, political news, and politicians and public figures.\*

I parse the first part following the comma as meaning “for discussion of strategy and tactics of elections and electoral politics.” Okay, so it’s still regarding everything about elections. Following that interpretation, the second part would mean “for discussion of political parties of elections and electoral politics.” Now it’s no longer necessarily about elections and/or electoral politics. The same with “politicians” and “public figures.” I’m guessing so many threads are being moved (or aren’t moved but apparently should be) because of the above rules description.

There was a locked one post thread that for some reason wasn’t stickied:

> [@Should the "Elections" forum be renamed "Politics"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-elections-forum-be-renamed-politics/780623/41):
>
> While it is true that Trump - and other politicians - are elected to their posts, not everything they do is suited to being discussed in the Elections forum. This forum is for the discussion of elections and the process of electing officials and other vote-based events. Threads about the elected, their actions and policies may be suitable for many fora. Please use your best judgement moving forward. As always, your humble moderators will redirect when needed.

It would probably help to have less threads started in “Elections” that will be moved, or should be moved, if the rules state something closer to what Jonathan Chance wrote above rather than what is there now.

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**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2017, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-proposal-for-elections-forum-rules-description-change/782792/2 "2017-03-23T00:11:32Z")

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[My post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20023208&postcount=2) from a thread a few weeks ago on this subject.

> [@](#):
>
> As it stands, there is a LOT of grey area considering the last few items in the description:
> 
> _For discussion of elections and electoral politics, including strategy and tactics, political parties, individual races, political news, and politicians and public figures_
> 
> Emphasis added. Get rid of those as they are generally not tied to an election. With that description, it’s no wonder so many people put every Trump thread in “Elections”. He’s a politician and public figure.