Is the Atlas a worthwhile place to discuss American elections?

[TheDeadFlagBlues]

The level of discussion on the various election boards has gone downhill at an alarming pace. This is strange because the Atlas is increasingly becoming a good place to discuss philosophy or history or social science or international affairs but the coverage of American elections is really embarrassing at this point.

[TheDeadFlagBlues]

(I came for the electoral discussion, I stuck around for the Update)

[traininthedistance]

I feel like the current election boards have always been the worst part of the site, well except for Update where I'm afraid we part ways rather severely. 

(I came for redistricting and stuck around for the philosophy/social science/etc.)

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

no

[Linus Van Pelt]

Before the campaign really starts, election discussion is always pretty terrible. Discussion of the results afterwards, when there interesting things to map, is usually good. When the campaign is actually in its main stages, it's more of a mix.

[they don't love you like i love you]

Before the campaign really starts, election discussion is always pretty terrible. Discussion of the results afterwards, when there interesting things to map, is usually good. When the campaign is actually in its main stages, it's more of a mix.

This. It's mostly an election results and maps site, and it's great to discuss that. The problem with discussing elections at this point is there's nothing meaty to discuss, so it's just pointless speculation and a bunch of hackery.

[Oakvale]

You're one of the Update sickos DFB?

[Tetro Kornbluth]

Let's be fair, what sort of person is interested in 2016 now?

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

Sure.  It's a good place to find literally every single poll and the conversations reach a level of depravity that is often beyond comical. 

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

I found y'all looking for polls, so I'll be damned if it's not.

[TheDeadFlagBlues]

I feel like the current election boards have always been the worst part of the site, well except for Update where I'm afraid we part ways rather severely. 

(I came for redistricting and stuck around for the philosophy/social science/etc.)

Back in 2008, the election boards were the hub of the forum and seemed excellent to me. Then again, it was 2008...

What makes the Atlas stand out is its excellent analysis of why people vote for candidates. There are plenty of forums and blogs with detailed reports that reveal how various demographic groups voted but I've only been able to find good explanations behind the reasons why various ethnic groups vote for certain parties and candidates here.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Let's be fair, what sort of person is interested in 2016 now?

Sadly, these people appear to exist.

[Potatoe]

Since people are discussing Conzoleezza Rice as a credible Candidate, I'd lean no.

[they don't love you like i love you]

We do have the midterms but they're not as interesting as 2006 or 2010. American politics is just rather boring now.

[Simfan34]

The lack of political diversity amongst posters now compared to 2008 or even 2010 probably also has a part in it.

[Lief 🗽]

The lack of political diversity amongst posters now compared to 2008 or even 2010 probably also has a part in it.

Yeah, unfortunately anyone with views outside of the mainstream is swiftly banned for "trolling."

[free my dawg]

Given that some threads are literally half-ignored people, no.

[Mr. Morden]

Let's be fair, what sort of person is interested in 2016 now?

Don't insult RogueBeaver like that. 

[Napoleon]

Are American elections worth discussing?

That's a better question.

Like traininthedistance I came for the redistricting discussion but that's years away from being relevant now. I stayed for the personalities (opebo, BRTD, etc).

[publicunofficial]

The only good places to discuss elections on the internet are here, Daily Kos Elections, and Red Racing Horses. If you don't like the discussions there, you won't like discussing elections anywhere.


Also the 2016 board is a godawful cesspool. WHO WOULD WIN BETWEEN CONDOLEEZA RICE/MITCH DANIELS vs. MARTIN O'MALLEY/JULIAN CASTRO?!?!?!. It will get slightly better as the primaries begin to shape up and it's not just mass speculation, then take a massive downturn post conventions as everything turns into unskewed polls, concern trolling, and mass predictions.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Of course not.

[Miles]

The only good places to discuss elections on the internet are here, Daily Kos Elections, and Red Racing Horses. If you don't like the discussions there, you won't like discussing elections anywhere.

This. I post here the most, but I also feel much more 'comfortable' here. RRH and DKE are good for election news, but I wouldn't say my experience commenting there is particularly positive (mostly because their posters are partisan).

I think the Congressional/Gov. & Statewide boards here are the best.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

The lack of political diversity amongst posters now compared to 2008 or even 2010 probably also has a part in it.

Yeah, unfortunately anyone with views outside of the mainstream is swiftly banned for "trolling."

Recent new posters demonstrate that's completely not true.... if they're actually trolling fiends.. then good f'ing riddance.

[morgieb]

Of course not. At least not right now.

The forum's discussion on international elections >>>> its discussion on American elections.

[Sol]

My favorite part of the site is the Political Geography and Demographics section, particularly for redistricting, tho' that's less relevant now.

Miles's posts on NC and LA are uniformly good, as are RogueBeaver's updates.