This is ridiculous by the way. All the way through the first Trump administration, there were self-identified conservatives regularly posting here. Just not conservatives who supported Trump. It's down to just Teufel these days, although I think the others disappeared when the forum reset (along with a few other posters whose perspectives I miss).
You essentially said Deathy and people who voted like him should be executed lol
But since you mentioned me, everyone's favorite non-MAGA conservative, I'd say ~80 million Americans including Hispanics, Asians, Muslims, etc voted for Trump at decades-setting record rates, excluding them is a recipe for a bubble. Considering the posts in the election thread from people certain that Trump was a goner or the people who were sure he faked his own assassination attempt or when someone was surprised when I told them Arab Americans would be voting for Trump in large numbers I think some folks here could use more alternative perspectives not less. Some of you may not like it but "Trump voter" is a broad category with a number of reasons why, not just the ideologically reassuring and self-satisfying "they're all MAGAT white supremacist traitors." That's just objectively false and simplistic, even if there are most assuredly a cohort of those worst type of people among them.
Also, Deathy G1 politely posting here does not make anyone "unsafe," that's an infantalizing attitude and akin to throwing a temper tantrum to pre-emptively shut down conversation. This is a forum for debate not group therapy. It might be one thing if he were actually supporting specific beyond the pale policy, but he didn't. And I can't find any evidence Trump has ever said he wants to stop all transitions at any age so it can hardly be said Deathy supports that by extension of his Trump vote. Instead Deathy has offered criticism of Trump here and there and was fair about Kamala's campaign (I'd say too fair, but hey.) That hardly seems like the kind of person P&R needs to eject or cheer their departure. His most egregious post was being a little cavalier with who he called Nazis, but that's a time honored P&R tradition.
I turned down a forum mod offer years ago and my stated reason was I'd feel obligated to be less bareknuckled in my P&R posting and pull punches. So I am by no means saying this needs to be a kumbaya circle. The very nature of discussing politics will always come with a bit of an edge and heated headbutting from time to time. Pressing someone on their votes, views, etc and expecting them to explain them is fair game. If you're not up for that or a thread title bothers you, stick to lurking.
However, I do think instantly assigning others the least charitable, most negatively stereotypical views is counterproductive and wrong. Showing a modicum of respect towards each other, which I think of more as not being complete flaming assholes as opposed to holding each other in high regard, is a bare minimum ask. Dogpiling with the purpose of driving others out is wrong. Anyone taking to direct messages to harangue someone is wrong. I'm not clear if Deathy actually received threats or he was just saying he wouldn't stoop to it, but obviously there should be zero tolerance for that. And certainly mods should lower the temperature, not join in on the dogpiling and personal insults.
Basically I think "A place to discuss political and religious viewpoints. All board rules apply here. No flames, personal insults, or baiting. Respect each other, and tackle the issues at hand, NOT each other." at the top of the forum are solid guidelines and don't need an "except MAGA, hug off, chuds" clause.
