Maybe someone can enlighten me.

@mahler123 

Often.

What’s your problem?

The only reason I commented was that I thought we could be a little more tolerant of the OP’s position. He was only political in the most general sense. I was also suggesting we could be a little more chilled and stop the name calling. Is that not mellow?

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@newton_john

I believe he was referencing a hit by the artist whose last name is your handle on this site. 

As to mixing topics, I think any rational adult can discuss more than one thing at a time and I'm bemused by those who don't. I don't freak out when someone brings up something automotive, or sports related, or their favorite whisky, but for some reason politics is the third rail. My theory is that people bristle at having to defend  indefensible positions. The fact that these discussions sometimes devolve into name calling and edge lord behavior doesn't mean they should be avoided at all costs, in fact just the opposite. Sunlight is still a fantastic disinfectant.

@hifiguy42 + 1 - That song was a huge hit, too.... 

Took the bait.

I don't freak out when someone brings up something automotive, or sports related, or their favorite whisky, but for some reason politics is the third rail.

@hifiguy42 

The reason politics became a problem here was a dynamic tag team of users who would be triggered by the slightest mention of, say, tariffs, and proceeded to turn perfectly good threads into feces-flinging fests.

This has nothing to do with being off-topic. You can mention cars or bourbon all day long and nothing happens. Politics has become the 3rd rail because people made it.