Discussion of the virus has become all-consuming. This is perhaps understandable, given that the photographers amongst us (who seem to be fewer in number than one might expect) find their activities restricted. It has, however, led to unacceptable levels of personal abuse, for which I have temporarily banned one person (both identities) and, following complaints, threatened to ban others.
Some of the discussion has been educated and of interest. Much of it has not. The science thread, expressly initiated to be free of politics, was of course polluted by the obsessively political.
I have closed the main political thread. I see that another has been opened. So,
1. That thread will be where political discussion of Covid-19 begins and ends. It will function as a playpen, where those contributors who wish to indulge in what I have already noted to be the kind of infantile, repetitive pseudo-argument that apparently they find so exciting can do so, almost entirely unrestricted. I may read it; I may not: I have many calls upon my time, none of which is conceivably less important. Those who take part must accept that by doing so they enter a bear pit. I will consider complaints about behaviour therein but unless the comments are illegal or in my view unacceptably offensive (such as, but obviously not restricted to, accusations of revelling in death), I shall do nothing about them.
2. The consequence is that political discussion relating to Covid-19 is banned elsewhere on the forums. I realise that the line between Covid-19 politics and other politics may not be particularly sharp and I will use my discretion to decide on which side of that line any particular comments lie.
Jeremy
