# Politicized questions in GQ **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [October 13, 2016, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicized-questions-in-gq/768440 "2016-10-13T17:26:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicized-questions-in-gq/768440/1 "2016-10-13T17:26:56Z")
Okay, so Colibri shut down the political comments in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=807211), and I can’t argue it was a wrong decision to do so. However, the OP went out of his way to politicize the question and get in his full set of licks against those scummy assholes, the Clintons…\* but that’s not the question, so never mind.\* Right. That a couple of us made politicized responses isn’t… okay in GQ, but I contend that the question itself, as posted, is inappropriate as well. The topic should have been locked, to force the OP to repost somewhere both his science question AND the political slime it was wrapped in could be addressed, or moved by the mod to that end. Put another way, if responses can’t be politicized in GQ, then OPs should not be allowed to be, either, no matter how deftly the politics are excused. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicized-questions-in-gq/768440/2 "2016-10-13T17:37:18Z")
I didn’t see any licks against the Clintons in the OP to which you linked. You and **Czarcasm** seemed to me to be the only ones concerned about the politics, for which you were (IMO appropriately) modded. If you don’t like the question, don’t respond (except factually) or Pit **Nars** or something. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicized-questions-in-gq/768440/3 "2016-10-13T17:39:27Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > However, the OP went out of his way to politicize the question and get in his full set of licks against those scummy assholes, the Clintons…\* but that’s not the question, so never mind.\* As I see it, he did no such thing. As phrased, it is not even clear whether the OP is interested in the idea being supported or debunked. The OP actually went out of his way to emphasize that he was only interested in information on DNA testing and nothing more. You and others were the ones who sought to politicize the question. As I said in the thread, if you have concerns about a thread being political, report it and ask it be moved. There is no reason for you to make a political response in GQ even if the OP is political. Otherwise you are not only violating GQ rules but you are junior modding. Given the circumstances, even if an OP is political, I may choose to move the thread, close it, or issue a mod note instruction to posters to stick to factual responses. It’s not up to you to make that call on your own. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicized-questions-in-gq/768440/4 "2016-10-13T17:41:03Z")
“Bill Clinton supposedly slept with a _prostitute_ and had an _illegitimate_ son…but please don’t discuss these things-just talk about genetics and DNA.” Nope-no well-poisoning going on _here_. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicized-questions-in-gq/768440/5 "2016-10-13T17:47:14Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > “Bill Clinton supposedly slept with a _prostitute_ and had an _illegitimate_ son…but please don’t discuss these things-just talk about genetics and DNA.” > > Nope-no well-poisoning going on _here_. Isn’t that the allegation? You were also out of line, and might have been mod-noted for junior modding. Let’s refrain from that in the future. This is not your call. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicized-questions-in-gq/768440/6 "2016-10-13T17:57:50Z")
If I had wanted a political discussion, I would have chosen a different forum. I’ve been a member here for 14 years. I know where the Elections forum is. I don’t know what you think my end game is here. I’m really interested in the genetics of the situation. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicized-questions-in-gq/768440/7 "2016-10-13T17:59:26Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > “Bill Clinton supposedly slept with a _prostitute_ and had an _illegitimate_ son…but please don’t discuss these things-just talk about genetics and DNA.” > > Nope-no well-poisoning going on _here_. Doesn’t well-poisoning imply that a debate is desired? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicized-questions-in-gq/768440/8 "2016-10-13T18:12:43Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > Doesn’t well-poisoning imply that a debate is desired? NOT saying that this was your intention, but for explanation: “well-poisoning” is usually done by a person placing a controversial statement or position within the framework of a supposedly innocent question. That way, the cheap shot is thrown, and anyone who addresses it is accused of not addressing the question the poster is supposedly “really” interested in. Well-poisoning is usually found anywhere _except_ GD, because the well-poisoner isn’t interested in honest debate. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicized-questions-in-gq/768440/9 "2016-10-13T18:16:14Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > NOT saying that this was your intention, but for explanation: “well-poisoning” is usually done by a person placing a controversial statement or position within the framework of a supposedly innocent question. That way, the cheap shot is thrown, and anyone who addresses it is accused of not addressing the question the poster is supposedly “really” interested in. Well-poisoning is usually found anywhere _except_ GD, because the well-poisoner isn’t interested in honest debate. Again, not your call. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicized-questions-in-gq/768440/10 "2016-10-13T18:20:10Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Again, not your call. What was I “calling” when I was giving that common definition? I didn’t say it was Official Board Policy or make a ruling. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicized-questions-in-gq/768440/11 "2016-10-13T18:34:02Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > NOT saying that this was your intention, but for explanation: “well-poisoning” is usually done by a person placing a controversial statement or position within the framework of a supposedly innocent question. That way, the cheap shot is thrown, and anyone who addresses it is accused of not addressing the question the poster is supposedly “really” interested in. Well-poisoning is usually found anywhere _except_ GD, because the well-poisoner isn’t interested in honest debate. In the OP of the original thread, what you’re calling well-poisoning, I would call context. If I had said, “President Clinton supposedly had an illegitimate son with a prostitute, therefore Secretary Clinton shouldn’t become president”, I’d agree that that was a poisoned well. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicized-questions-in-gq/768440/12 "2016-10-13T18:35:48Z")
Refraining from commenting until I know what I am allowed to comment on. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicized-questions-in-gq/768440/13 "2016-10-13T18:36:49Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > What was I “calling” when I was giving that common definition? I didn’t say it was Official Board Policy or make a ruling. It’s not your call whether the OP of that thread constituted well poisoning, obviously. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicized-questions-in-gq/768440/14 "2016-10-13T18:36:54Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > Doesn’t well-poisoning imply that a debate is desired? Not necessarily, but unlike the completely incorrect definition given elsewhere in this thread, well-poisoning is > **[Poisoning the Well](https://www.logicallyfallacious.com/cgi-bin/uy/webpages.cgi?%2Flogicalfallacies%2FPoisoning-the-Well)** > > To commit a preemptive ad hominem attack against an opponent. That is, to prime the audience with adverse information about the opponent from the start, in an attempt to make your claim more acceptable or discount the credibility of your opponent’s... > [@](#): > > Description: To commit a preemptive ad hominem attack against an opponent. That is, to prime the audience with adverse information about the opponent from the start, in an attempt to make your claim more acceptable, or discount the credibility of your opponent’s claim. [Poisoning the well - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poisoning_the_well) (second cite, verifying the first) > [@](#): > > A poisoned-well “argument” has the following form: > > ``` > 1. Unfavorable information (be it true or false) about person A is presented by another. (e.g. "Before you listen to my opponent, may I remind you that he has been in jail") > 2. Therefore, the claims made by person A will be false. > > ``` You presented the accusations in question, and you did not make a claim. Therefore, no well-poisoning. In fact, the incorrect definition of “well-poisoning” being used against you might be well-poisoning. (IE: “I don’t like the facts you’re presenting, therefore you’re poisoning the well”.) ETA: Or…um…exactly what you said in your most recent post (about context) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicized-questions-in-gq/768440/15 "2016-10-13T18:37:39Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Refraining from commenting until I know what I am allowed to comment on. Give me a break. You know you are allowed to comment on moderation in ATMB. When I said “it’s not your call,” I was referring to ATMB. Again, obviously. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicized-questions-in-gq/768440/16 "2016-10-13T18:45:15Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > It’s not your call whether the OP of that thread constituted well poisoning, obviously. I specifically said that I was NOT applying it to his post-I was just giving a definition. Obviously. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicized-questions-in-gq/768440/17 "2016-10-13T19:08:00Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I specifically said that I was NOT applying it to his post-I was just giving a definition. Obviously. _You_ made the accusation of well poisoning in your first post in this thread. Please, don’t be disingenuous and play word games. You were wrong in the original thread. Don’t do it again. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicized-questions-in-gq/768440/18 "2016-10-13T19:15:56Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Give me a break. You know you are allowed to comment on moderation in ATMB. When I said “it’s not your call,” I was referring to ATMB. Again, obviously. Should the second “ATMB” be “GQ”? If not, I’m super confused. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicized-questions-in-gq/768440/19 "2016-10-13T19:20:18Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > _You_ made the accusation of well poisoning in your first post in this thread. > > Please, don’t be disingenuous and play word games. You were wrong in the original thread. Don’t do it again. I wasn’t being disingenuous-I was backing away from my initial suspicion. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicized-questions-in-gq/768440/20 "2016-10-13T19:21:38Z")
Generally in the NFL, it’s the player who throws the _second_ punch that gets the flag for unsportsmanlike conduct … whatever the assumed political jab in the OP, it could have easily been ignored and the factual answer presented … and frankly I’m not convinced there was a political jab in the OP … seems just a bunch of (unnecessary) background information on why the OP has this question … Yeah, a piss poor example to use in the OP in these politically charged times … but we had proper moderation and the thread should be focused on the actual question in the OP … [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicized-questions-in-gq/768440.md?page=2)