Posted on 06/22/2012 8:48:35 AM PDT by Religion Moderator
It is within the bounds of “open” Religion Forum town square style debate for a Freeper to express his hatred of a belief. But such posts are never allowed on RF threads labeled “prayer” “devotional” “caucus” or “ecumenical.”
It is never within the bounds on the Religion Forum for a Freeper to express his hatred of people who hold a particular belief when any Freeper is part of the belief group.
For example:
It is ok to express hatred towards CatholicISM on “open” Religion Forum threads. It is never ok to express hatred towards Catholics because some Freepers are Catholic.
It is ok to express hatred towards ProtestantISM on “open” Religion Forum threads. It is never ok to express hatred towards Protestants because some Freepers are Protestant.
It is ok to express hatred towards SatanISM and Satanists both because no Freeper is Satanist.
Some political posters are now venturing onto the Religion Forum probably because Romney’s beliefs are at issue in this election.
If you do not wish to see RF posts, do NOT use the "everything" option on the Free Republic browse option list. Instead, browse by "News/Activism." When you log back in, the browse will reset to "everything" - so be sure to set it back to "News/Activism."
Finally, whereas posters may argue vigorously for and against beliefs on “open” Religion Forum threads it is never tolerable to use ad hominems in religious debate because they invariably lead to flame wars when the subject is one’s deeply held religious beliefs.
For something to be "making it personal" it must be speaking to another Freeper, personally.
"Protestants are heretics" is not making it personal. "You are a heretic" is making it personal. "Catholics worship Mary" is not making it personal. "You worship Mary" is making it personal. "Mormons worship many gods" is not making it personal. "You worship many gods" is making it personal.
However, when a poster paints with a brush that accuses an entire religion of criminal behavior - his post will be pulled as flame bait. For example, posts that say "Protestants kill babies" or "Catholics molest children" or "Mormons kill non-Mormons" will be pulled. However, if the post is specific about a non-Freeper, I will not pull it. For example "Rev. Doe says abortion and infanticide are not sin" or "Father Doe was convicted for molesting those kids" or "Mormons killed non-Mormons at Mountain Meadows" would not be pulled.
Statements formed as questions are rarely "making it personal."
"Are you a heretic" is not making it personal. "You are a heretic" is making it personal.
Forms of "making it personal" include mind reading, attributing motive, accusing another Freeper of telling a lie (because it attributes motive, the intent to deceive) - making the thread "about" individual Freeper(s), following a Freeper from thread to thread and badgering a Freeper over-and-again with the same question.
When in doubt, avoid the use of the pronoun "you" and Freeper's names - or put yourself in the other guy's shoes.
Despite all these efforts to eliminate ad hominems, there is nothing I can do to keep you from "taking it personally."
If you keep getting your feelings hurt because other posters ridicule or disapprove or hate what you hold dear, then you are too thin-skinned to be involved in “open” RF debate. You should IGNORE “open” RF threads altogether and instead post to RF threads labeled “prayer” “devotional” “caucus” or “ecumenical.”
You’re welcome. Thank you for your support.
You’re welcome.
Thank you for your support.
Accusing another Freeper of telling a lie is a form of "making it personal" because it attributes motive, the intent to deceive. The presumption is that the poster is saying what he believes is true.
When informing another Freeper that he has it all wrong, it is important to choose the right words to avoid ad hominems.
For instance, the words "prevarication" "dishonesty" "slander" "deceit" "calumny" and "subterfuge" are synonymous with "lie" because they entail intent.
But words such as "false" "error" "wrong" "inaccurate" "misstatement" do not attribute motive and are not "making it personal."
Other words push the envelope of motive but are not synonymous with "lie" for purposes of modding the RF. However, they can be "making it personal" if applied to another Freeper, personally, in such a way the discussion becomes "about" the individual Freeper instead of the issues. Those words include "misrepresentation" "detraction" "disinformation" "distortion" "hyperbole" and "doublespeak."
But I would not stop the repetition because we never know whether newbies have heard the arguments or whether we have new Lurkers listening in.
LOL
Thank you for your support.
“The “I belive that” is implied on most statements on the Religion Forum.”
Not so. A non Catholic is making an assertion of fact about the Catholic Church, that Catholics actually *do* pray to statues. That is the whole point.
This regulation does nothing to address the source of the problem that people are asserting their personal opinions are what the Church actually teaches.
And before you get into me on this point, I’ve been on both sides of the line. I know what protestants do believe, and why they are making these assertions because they sincerely believe this to be the case.
“Accusing another Freeper of telling a lie is a form of “making it personal” because it attributes motive, the intent to deceive. The presumption is that the poster is saying what he believes is true.”
When a poster makes the assertion, “Catholics worship Mary”, that is a lie. It is not true. If the poster were to say, “I believe X”, that would be the truth. There is a big difference between the two statements, and it’s a very important one to get across.
I could state that Protestants worship the bible, but that would be a lie. It would be a falsehood because no Protestant church teaches it. In the same manner, no Catholic church teaches that Mary is to be worshipped.
“it is important to choose the right words to avoid ad hominems.”
The burden lies on the FReeper making the claims in the first place. FReepers should not take their own personal opinion to stand in place for the facts.
Wouldn't that be sort of like obama telling us how many jobs he has "saved"?
I understand that mods are not paid, if that is true ... why do you volunteer for such an ulcer producing endeavor?
I am not the arbiter of truth.
Both sides should argue those beliefs on "open" Religion Forum threads but never resort to ad hominems.
I know this may be out of context, but that right there is some funny shiite.
Many posters will be disappointed, or amused, at that.
LOL. I’m the Religion Moderator at Jim Robinson’s pleasure and you are correct, mods are not paid.
He should at least pay for your ulcer medication. LOL!
LOL
Aside from the topic at hand...you may COUNT on my prayers and I do SO covet and appreciate yours...
We’ve been blessed with the very best Religion Moderator on God’s Creation.
Thank you for the clarifications — again :-)
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