That stinks. I went on a pretty good rant there last night and now I can't remember what the hell I was talking about. Well, I do remember the gist but... That too shall pass because the problem with having a separate socio-political forum is you gotta remember to go looking for it and by the time you find it you've either calmed down or sobered up or lost your edge or both. I contend that debating your fellow fictioneers (vehemently, if needed) in an open and evolving forum is good writing practice and in fact encourages a person to spontaneously combust some bars of profound prose and pentameter. (Unlike myself, some members even cite sound logic and statistics to back up their arguments! 
But I get why Sol doesn't want that kind of divisive rhetoric above the fold and on the front page, scaring away potential next big writers, and I'm not protesting his decision. Perhaps the bestest thing to do is to personally write an essay on whatever current event is chapping your lips and then wait to engage the first responders. Unfortunately, like Vern says, it kinda kills the spontaneity and retards the discussion.
Having said all that, what is it I'm actually saying?
Cheers
John
