BLF Rule #3: Please avoid controversial or divisive subjects such as religion and politics.
The no politics rule on BLF is a necessary one because without it this place would quickly degenerate into one where no one wants to visit.
But if you think about the politics of flashlights, many things related to flashlights are or could be considered political in nature.
First to define the term: what is political?
1.) Of, relating to, or dealing with the structure or affairs of government, politics, or the state.
2.) Relating to, involving, or characteristic of political parties or politicians.
What aspects of manufacturing, operating a flashlight company, buying, or selling a flashlight are or could be considered political?
- Corporations and licensed businesses are creatures of the state.
- The buying and selling of goods within the domain of commerce, operating in accordance to commercial code which is the purview of the state.
- Sales tax, import duties, and other taxes and fees.
- The regulation of imports and exports. Everything related to customs. Everything related to trade between countries.
- The currency used to purchase or sell a flashlight, and money and banking in general.
- State sanctioned holidays and corresponding sales events.
- Subsidies.
- Subjects related to the planning and viability of flashlight meetups: governmental or non-governmental policies related to public health, travel restrictions, carbon credits, social credit, permits, the prices of gas, energy, food, lodging, etc.
- Shortages or disruptions to any part of the supply chain as a result of state interventions, or those caused by war, sabotage, or manipulation otherwise political in nature.
- Market traded securities or debt instruments of companies involved in the supply chain. The management and operations of such companies.
- The mining of bauxite ore, lithium, and other materials which make a flashlight, the related environmental impacts, the ownership and operation of these companies, etc.
- The labor conditions of people who work in the mining industry or any factory in the flashlight related supply chain, and relevant regulations.
- Things related to the shipping and distribution of flashlights and related goods. Current events, disruptions, regulations, etc.
- Energy sources in general, especially those used to manufacture and distribute flashlights and recharge their batteries.
- The refuse generated by manufacturing processes and packaging and distribution of flashlights and related goods, and what happens to end of life waste.
- Regulations related to flashlights themselves, batteries, etc.
- Any and all regulations, acts, mandates, laws, statutes, etc.
I’m sure there are more, but the point is that flashlights are more political than one might at first surmise. To completely avoid any and all politics would mean that you are limited mainly to a discussion of the hypothetical or actual characteristics of the objects themselves, avoiding a great many factors otherwise related to their existence.
The purpose of this thread is not to argue the necessity of the rule, but to point out that many aspects of flashlights are or could be considered political in nature. The rule itself is somewhat untenable, in other words, but because it is not strictly enforced and serves more as a guideline for proper conduct and an emergency valve for when things get too hot, it serves its purpose without completely curtailing discussions of the above mentioned subject matters, though it may significantly limit their scope and frequency.
Now be a good consumer and go buy some more flashlights. Try not to think too much. Support all the things. Obey. That is all.