Forum: Site Announcements

I had already self-edited myself from starting a new story idea I had because... okay, I'll say it. I was actually worried about the backlash for some political leanings that a lot of people who visit this site would not like at all.

Now with this I might be amenable toward a second swing at the story. I'll try to let people know how it is coming out.

Once again, it's best in fiction to avoid addressing the subject directly, as it'll likely force readers into opposing camps, so they'll come into the story with their own agendas and won't read your story objectively for what it is. Instead, if you switch the focus to a purely fictional political environment, in a purely fictional country, but you have inferences and similarities between your world a current governments at the time, you're more likely to succeed than it if write a purely political screed.

Just consider the opposing sides of the immigration battle.

The current issue on immigration in the USA is on controlled immigration with applicant screening as against totally open borders to let anyone at all in regardless of their character or criminal record.

majority of illegal immigrants actually enter the US legally on limited visas

You forgot the word known from that sentence. There is more information known about over-stayers than there is about direct illegals. This is because the over-stayers are vetted to start with and are tracked into the country, thus their numbers are known. Those who cross the borders without any visas are not properly counted or checked at all. Another aspect is most over-stayers will eventually leave the country again. Having their details and photos also makes finding them a little easier than the ones who just cross the border without being counted.

The saddest part is the number of illegals who die crossing the border in the wrong places, while many of their bodies are found, they rarely have any documentation on them so no one knows who they were and thus their families never learn what happened to them.

The expression/quotation I remember is as follows: Avoid talking religion or politics. They only lead to arguments and fighting.

The political debates here have proven half of that quote. I am undecided about the other half so far.

Optimal solutions: don't write about a particular political issue, and especially don't use the common political busswords, but do focus on the underlying issues. Again, you don't want to divide your readers into separate competing camps, but you want both sides to give your story a chance, so they can potentially see how they're unintentionally missing the real message about how politics often merely misdirects and misleads people, rather than addressing any central need.

A wise decision. One that will be interesting to follow as some folks just can't help themselves.

And some of us can't remember what we were told yesterday, let alone last week, despite remembering what happened 20 years ago. Short term and middle term memory are the first to go on us old dinosaurs.

I remember a UK advertising campaign some years back to try to get people to vote despite voter apathy towards the two main parties (am I allowed to say that?)

The advert featured a character who was heartily sick of politics. It showed him in everyday situations, and in every case the advert showed that politics was involved and to be ignored at your peril so go and vote.

In the spirit of the advert, removing all politics will be well-nigh impossible, but I hope the forum participants abide by the spirit of Lazeez's request even if the letter might get a little bent.

AJ