[eweissenbach]

I was a regular participant on the political board, though I occasionally opted out to give my blood pressure a sabbatical. It seems to me it was a worthy and interesting forum, though as some have said, it was not a place to change the hearts and minds of others, but a place where several people could state their opinions. I think that seldom, if ever, were minds changed, or differing opinions accepted, but it was an interesting and entertaining diversion. As an "opt in" forum, it would seem that the firewall would protect those that were not up to the jousting that took place in political. The problem that seemingly led to the demise of political was the inordinate amount of time required by the mods and the administrator to police it during the election season. I was hoping it would come back after the elections, but don't know if the admin really has the interest or the motivation to restore it. The political forum was really populated by relatively few "regulars", and most seem to still be around, so the decision to end political seems to have cost the admin very few contributors. Again, I would welcome the return of political, but I still enjoy participating in TOTV, and am probably personally better off without some of the unpleasantness.