Question of the Day - 15 January 2024

Sometime mid 90's, I remember one of the back lots behind the IP was full of WWII Era German/Nazi military vehicles. and some Haulers, they were being transferred into or out of the car collection. all very well preserved or restored. I thought it was pretty cool. the staff cars all had the Nazi fender flags etc. Probably one of them could have been Hitlers?  I found it to be historic, not disrespectful.  NOW the Birthday Parties.. that's just wrong in many ways
 

Kevin, you are taking the joy out of reading QOD.
Please stop all political comments.
Please.

That it was removed. I don't see the post that Rick Becker is referring to, so that's my guess.

The objections to my political comments haven't been due to a dislike of such comments per se; they've been 99% from people who disagree with me ideologically. They wouldn't object at all if I tilted right instead of left. And as Hitler was first and foremost a political figure, I though that a political comment wasn't out of line here.

However, LVA apparently disagreed. It's their sandbox. And given the apparent ideological bent of many if not most QoD readers, I'll refrain from saying anything that might upset them in the future.

It really is time to do something about Lewis.

As a left-leaning older guy, I disagree with your statement "objections to my political comments haven't been due to a dislike of such comments per se; they've been 99% etc etc...."
I don't want to read ANY political rantings on this site.....NONE...ZERO.
It takes the fun out of reading about my favorite place to gamble and recreate.
Kevin, please keep your word and stop. 
LVA, you gotta make sure you're not losing people to politics.
Let's exchange ideas about all things Vegas and gambling.

 "The objections to my political comments haven't been due to a dislike of such comments per se; they've been 99% from people who disagree with me ideologically. They wouldn't object at all if I tilted right instead of left" -- Lewis

Rubbish! I tilt almost as far left as Lewis, & I object to his using the QoD to express his political opinions, especially ones with Hitler analogies. Most people who do not make a full time job of inputting their pathological loathings & resentments wherever they can believe similarly.

Anthony Curtis allows the demented posters (left and right) in the Sink to break every LVA rule as well as every rule of civilized society, so it's no wonder that some of the Sink crap bleeds into other forums as the two main Cuckoo's Nest dayroom patients, Lewis & his co-dependent partner in insanity, Miller, test the limits of Anthony's forbearance.

Anthony may like the clicks generated by these kooks, but, in the long run, they are harmful to LVA's reputation.

There are no explicit rules regarding QoD comments, but if there were, the torrent of personal insults directed at me by you and others would surely violate them. The amusing part is that you doubtless think that your post was perfectly OK.

Please,enough of the Kevin Lewis politics crap. I look forward to purchasing another membership this year but frankly if this nonsense is allowed with this politics obsession and people like Kevin Lewis posting with full acceptance by LVA? I will not renew. 

Furthermore, Kevin, I and perhaps I'm speaking for many others don't give a damn about what you like or don't like in politic. I really don't. You want to obsess about it there's many other places for you to spew this garbage but this shouldn't be one of them in my view. LVA perhaps doesn't mind politics to be front and center here and they have their choice and I have my choice to not resubscribe and not be subjected to this nonsense.

This subject went off topic with political commentary and we've removed several posts, though the most recent have been left up for context. This is happening too often lately in QoD, and several readers have responded (in these posts and in private emails to us) that the off-topic discussions aren't welcome, while no one has responded in favor of them. Hence, this type of commentary will not be allowed, especially with regard to politics. Of course, there will be semantical arguments about what constitutes politics, so let me get a little more specific. I’m talking primarily about referencing someone’s current political preferences in right vs. left ideology and candidates for office, including, but not limited to, Trump and Biden. Anyone who continues to ignore this rule will be disallowed from posting comments. I'll say it once again, the Kitchen Sink is for this sort of thing (to a limit); we're not gonna have it here.

Perhaps the QoD shouldn't explicitly be about politics? Adolf Hitler was a politician, so a QoD about him, even obliquely, is in fact a political discussion already.

Nonetheless, I will refrain, given the negative reactions. I've misread the political bent of participants here, and that was my mistake.

I understand about the QoD being political in nature, and we don't want to stunt all commentary. That's why I was more specific about current preferences, which is what stirs the pot the most.

"The Kitchen Sink is for this sort of thing (to a limit)"

It would be helpful if you were more specific about those limits. Apparently, four letter word ad hominem attacks on other LVA members are now within your limits as they are never deleted from the Sink:

"Go f**k yourself troll" (without the asterisks)
"You dumb bastard"
"You're embarrassing yourself. F*cking idiot" (without the asterisks)
"Promise to kill yourself if you're wrong? Skin in the game, Davey Dog!"
"Mark, there is a process for curing your TDS - step one - pull your head out of your ass"

There have been worse posts of thinly veiled threats of violence, but I couldn't find them in a quick search. Although rare, they're not entirely absent from the Sink.

IIRC, you used to say "Remember, the forum rules still apply in the Sink." The only difference being that the topics in the Sink could be about anything. That's obviously not the case anymore. I think you should publish updated Kitchen Sink rules.

Anthony, can't you ban certain parties from being members? That way, they COULDN'T post anywhere on lva. I don't think you need their 36 or 50 dollars a year, do you? 

It's not about banning or not banning. It's about trying to walk a line on censorship. I'm a huge free-speech guy. But I also understand there are limits. I don't want to ban people, either. If you want to talk about Kevin, I get it. But if he wasn't a political maniac, he'd be the hands-down most valuable contributor to questions on the MBs. So multiple things have to be considered. As far as rules not applying in the Sink, I confess that's true to great degree. I've thought about this a lot and I think the steam-blowing aspect – allowing those who have to spout, spout -- is powerfull for the health of the rest of it, but only if it’s confined there. I agree that it’s beginning to not be the case and we need to be more on top of it if lines are being crossed in the Sink and outside of it. But if you HAVE to go into the Sink, don't you deserve what you get?

During Engelstad's ownership, I had a girlfriend who was a dancer in the show there. She was one of his favorites and, accordingly, was invited to a lot of the private gatherings discussed in this QoD. She confirmed his Nazi preoccupation, but also said he was nothing but a gentleman as far as she was concerned. Crazy-rich dudes are a different sort.

Anthony Curtis, I respect you very much, but Kevin lewis as a most valuable contributor?  Maybe only for frequency of comments.  He may be the reason I will not renew, and not just for political ramblings.

Yes.

  Anthony - your comment " he'd be the hands-down most valuable contributor to questions on the MBs"- is insulting to the many others who have posted to the Advisor- some for years. (I will not include myself, for I have admittedly posted responses that I regret.) As often as Lewis disses Vegas, rudely makes light of others, uses foul language, and is just plain hateful - how can anyone who does such be considered valuable is beyond belief. What would be wrong for him to cut out the meanness and for him to express his knowledge without offending others? - This is your website and you can do as you wish but expecting those who love your site to accept your evaluation of Lewis as " he'd be the hands-down most valuable contributor to questions on the MBs" is just ludicrous. He may be knowledgeable but his  negative postings and his language are always dismissive and unwarranted. The whole reason for what has transpired here today is directly because of what he has posted.  

If you don’t like the “kitchen sink” comments don’t go there.  If you don’t like Kevin’s comments, just skip over/ignore them. But I think it’s like a crash on the freeway, you just Have to look to see how bad it is.

"But if he wasn't a political maniac, he'd be the hands-down most valuable contributor to questions on the MBs."

Hmm. Where do I start? Jeff and David Miller make very good points for a start. Reading your words carefully, as someone else stated, I also read that as a bit insulting to other posters here who make good contributions over the years. And is "Valuable" ticking people off creating flame wars here often? Check. In being obsessed in politics? Check again. Insulting and degrading and using language that is uncalled for against others who have a different view so many times I lost count? Check again. This is "valuable"? No way.

And one of the posters said another key point, the guy just disses Las Vegas endlessly. We get it, he hates Las Vegas in its current form, repeats it again and again. Value there?

"Kitchen Sink". Perhaps there should be a "Kitchen Sink" area of LVA? And leave the QOD to be only about QOD. Ignore specific posters option? I know my first choice.   
 

On a non-political side note, it is pretty fascinating to learn about what technological advances were made during WW2, not only by the US and its Allies, but Axis Germany as well.  Some of these technologies were invested in by Germany during that time period and still have a huge influence on today's modern designs:

Submarines
Rocket Propulsion
Jet propulsion
Chemical processing
Synthetic Fuels
Rail road production and profit
Ballistic Missiles
Cruise missiles
Tanks 
NASA
Porsche
Volkswagon


Some of this had to do with the fact that, when at war, necessity is the mother of invention and Hitler's maniacal will to build a 1000 year Reich and his willingness to invest heavily in the development of these industries.  

One more piece of history lost sometimes is that fact that the Germans wanted to rid the world of Communism just as much as they wanted to rid the world of Jewish people and those not worthy to live in their master race.  

I think he is hilarious most of the time. Valuable, I would say yes. Political, everything is political. If you are not paying attention to the Politics of this country then you will be vastly surprised when you see things change for the much worse.  I want to make another statement but am afraid Anthony might think it a step too far.  I’m sure he doesn’t want to monitor this stream on a daily basis.

Perhaps you haven't explored the LVA website and found the Forums section.  That is the section AC is referring to when he mentioned Kevin being a top contributor to the MB (Message Boards).  There is a "Kitchen Sink" section in the Forums as well as many other sections about a large variety of LV subjects.  You can ask just about any type of question or provide a trip report, etc.  It is far more extensive than the QOD comments which to seem to attract more of the off-the-wall comments.