Gentlemen, the air in the Barber Shop seems to us to have gotten unnecessarily heated of late. As a reminder, upon registering for our forum, you agreed to our Terms of Usage, which read in part:
Please be aware that due to the increasing volume of overly argumentative politically-based posts in the Barber Shop, we are implementing a zero tolerance policy. Members who choose to conduct themselves in a manner deemed by the moderators to be argumentative, ungentlemanly, or otherwise not in keeping with standards of decorum at B&B will have their access to this section of our site permanently removed, along with any custom title they may have previously gained as a measure of respect herein. With the American Presidential election season seemingly warming up far too soon (not unlike Christmas merchandise rolled out before Halloween
), and with an increasing number of global political issues reaching their boiling points, we've decided to maximize everyone's enjoyment of B&B by nipping the inevitable arguments and (ahem) measuring competitions in the bud now.
In the several times since B&B's founding that we've seen fit to take this stance, we've found that the vast majority of our members see it as a positive measure that greatly revitalizes their enjoyment of the site. On the other hand, each time we've rung the "zero tolerance" bell a scant few members decide to howl at the moon (and anyone else who'll listen) about infringement of freedom of speech. Let's be clear: B&B is a privately-owned website. While we are tolerant of quite a bit, moderators are by no means required to allow members to belittle others or consistently restate the same point in the vain hope that the entire internet will somehow line up with their way of thinking. The way we figure it, your local Barber Shop wouldn't tolerate such pettiness, lest they quickly lose patrons -- why should we?
Should you be a person who finds great enjoyment in arguing politics on the internet, we simply and respectfully suggest that B&B is not designed to meet that particular need of yours. Fortunately, you are free to post on political forums elsewhere online, then return here for a healthy fix of shaving and other gentlemanly pleasures.
To summarize, political discussion is fine, political arguments are not. As always, feel free to PM a moderator should you have any questions.
2. Realize that we take great pride in B&B being a work-friendly, internet oasis for gentlemanly behavior. This means that profanity, inflammatory comments regarding politics and/or religion, personal attacks, pornographic images, discussions of illegal or illicit activity, or any other ungentlemanly behavior as deemed inappropriate by the Administrators/Moderators, is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Offenders will be dealt with swiftly. More to the point, if it's likely to be offensive, or if you wouldn't say it to someone in person, it doesn't belong here.
Please be aware that due to the increasing volume of overly argumentative politically-based posts in the Barber Shop, we are implementing a zero tolerance policy. Members who choose to conduct themselves in a manner deemed by the moderators to be argumentative, ungentlemanly, or otherwise not in keeping with standards of decorum at B&B will have their access to this section of our site permanently removed, along with any custom title they may have previously gained as a measure of respect herein. With the American Presidential election season seemingly warming up far too soon (not unlike Christmas merchandise rolled out before Halloween
In the several times since B&B's founding that we've seen fit to take this stance, we've found that the vast majority of our members see it as a positive measure that greatly revitalizes their enjoyment of the site. On the other hand, each time we've rung the "zero tolerance" bell a scant few members decide to howl at the moon (and anyone else who'll listen) about infringement of freedom of speech. Let's be clear: B&B is a privately-owned website. While we are tolerant of quite a bit, moderators are by no means required to allow members to belittle others or consistently restate the same point in the vain hope that the entire internet will somehow line up with their way of thinking. The way we figure it, your local Barber Shop wouldn't tolerate such pettiness, lest they quickly lose patrons -- why should we?

To summarize, political discussion is fine, political arguments are not. As always, feel free to PM a moderator should you have any questions.