I keep trying to avoid threads that rant on about Muslim extremists because I have a look on here to keep up with events at Pools (and opinions about events at Pools). Quite like a bit of music/film banter too.

It is getting harder to avoid Islamophobic outbursts though. Topics called things like "petition" or "trouble brewing" don't really give you enough of a clue of the likely contents of the thread. If you object to the stuff in the threads a standard reply is along the lines of, "welcome to the board Guardian reading silly boy. Don't read it if you don't like it". Well I wouldn't if you gave me some idea what you're about to come up with.

I know of at least two Bunkerites who have packed the board in because they were sick of suddenly having to read stuff they found disturbing. You have to decide if you can be arsed to argue when all you really wanted to do was read about Pools. I'm generally in favour of free speech and don't think any subject should be banned but it would be good if topic titles made the actual subject a bit clearer.

Maybe we should have a 'off topic' option?

to be fair I don't even read them now - it's the same contributors contributing the same contributions they contributed previously on the subject!!!

I read this one as well!!!

A quick tip: don't hold your breath waiting on any apology from me. Oh and by the way, its not just the bunker that is having these debates, its every discussion forum in the country be it football related or not.

You must spend a lot of time on the computer to be sure about that Mr I. I wouldn't expect an apology for your opinions, or even for thread titles, but the chance to avoid political threads if I want to would be appreciated. You, and others who also enjoy a ranty moment or two, often post good stuff that I enjoy reading on football threads so I'd like to avoid swerving particular user names.

Can't you just read the first line then bin it off if it's getting political?

i was always told not to get involved in arguements about religion or politics,and i don't but what i do know about politics is iain wright is a self serving i'am alright jack cu nt

I suppose you can bin it off but once you see what is getting said you're already annoyed and have to decide whether to argue or not. I agree with Chip about not giving in when rational argument is being shouted down but I don't have the time or motivation to reply that often.

I think about some of the stuff that away fans say about visiting Pools, West Ham and Southampton for example, people like the welcome and the focus on football rather than bother. In the past I've recommended the bunker to supporters of other clubs because it reflected that. I'm not sure I would anymore, there are too many posts that make it look like we only welcome some people.

Can't argue with threepintwonder though!

It's all down to personal taste, isn't it? You're bang on about The Guardian's independence which is guaranteed by the Scott Trust, and is does get good exclusives. I think the misconception is that it is "anti-government" which gives rise "liberal" "lefty" taunts. Back in the Thatcher years, wasn't anyone who didn't support her considered a "liberal" or "lefty"?

I'll disagree with your comment about it being "generally regarded as the best in the country." In the business, it ain't. It's highly regarded but when it comes to awards it's the usual suspects like The Mail (Daily not Hartlepool), Times, Observer, and FT.

Mr I's right (eyes right ??) - these and other political discussions are taking place on forums everywhere - not just in this country, but across the internet and they have done for the last 15 years.

In my experience they are inevitably divisive, inevitably highlight and accentuate differences between people and inevitably spill over into non-political threads and poison the relationships of otherwise like-minded people.

The forums which have thrived are the ones where political discussions have been separated out into their own subforums where they can be ignored by people who just want to talk about the things which bring us together, rather than the things which push us apart.

Would a separate Political Poolie subforum be such a terrible thing ?

We've already got a seperate forum not being used much at the moment!

Is this just my case AGAIN about folk trying to tell others how to and what to think????????????????????

Boils my piss, if you dont like others views .................. welcome to the board!!!!!

Childish fookers, "i'll leave if i read this, that and the other........" thats whats fooked the bunker up, no ones allowed an opinion unless its the "right" one!!!

For my view, they can go take a jump, and take " they" as you like left, right or centre.

See you on intheblue!

Is it fook there is no tit's in it

There are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of sites dedicated to promote extremism in this world of ours.
Can anybody really associate the bunker with any of that?????

On Islam or Muslims........it's only the perceived extremists who get hammered on here...........and quite right in my opinion. The IRA have been hammered on here but no one could accuse the site of being anti Catholic, or anti Christian. There are probably individuals who are but that's their choice, just like it's everyone's choice whether they read it or not. People complain about the nanny state and here we are with people who want to be protected from other people's opinions. What next????

If anyone who reads this site gets really and truly boiled up with anybody else's opinions then it is they who have the problem.

It is not compulsery to read this site.

Nor is it compulsery to grow up, but it sure helps sometimes.

That is all.

Mr I.

Shame on you for the disturbing new avatar. Put me right off breakfast.

Always makes me laugh when people say they will stop posting on here cos of this or that.

Just put a topic on you wanna talk about then....

Concurring

You couldn't make it up.

Well actually you could, and I suppose that's why you repeatedly do.

If you're gonna make outrageous statements I reserve the right to laugh at you.

You said it was the best newspaper yet quote facts relating to a website?

Aye, you're right.

The pictures on page 3.

They always remind me of you for some reason.

Don't start on the fellas too chip!

Now that the match is off you could squeeze another woman in or even two

or play more poker

is that to stick the porn on while on the job