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Locked on 01/26/2004 9:33:25 AM PST by Sidebar Moderator, reason:
This thread is now locked. It has served its purpose. thank you all for your participation and patience. |
Posted on 01/22/2004 6:34:29 PM PST by Sidebar Moderator
Unfortunately, that's a very difficult question to answer; just the nature of the beast, I think.
All I can say with certainty is that it's my job to draw that line. I try to do that as judiciously as is possible. I sometimes make mistakes, seemingly a condition of humanity. It's regrettable, but if one lives long enough one learns to take one's mistakes with a certain amount of humility. If you read through this entire thread you'll see that I made a couple of mistakes here; if you continue reading you'll also see how I attempted to correct those mistakes.
In the final analysis, while I can't always provide a precise definition of abuse, I've been doing this long enough now that - most of the time - I know it when I see it.
Again, if you think I've made a mistake in a particular ruling, a polite FReep mail stating your objection(s) often works wonders. Sadly, unless I catch myself in time, calling my attention to what is perceived to be my mistake with a harsh comment on the thread will often result in whatever is the opposite of "wonders". A kind word turns away wrath, or however it's said in the myriad of Bible translations extant today.
Follow the pattern. ;-) If Catholic Only isn't gonna happen, and Protestant Only isn't gonna happen, then "g.r.p.l. only" isn't gonna happen.
It would appear that over the years every time I have posted such an example you call it a "false accusation" and then you accuse those who try to prove the truth of the material posted of being agressive posters and hostile posters and liars and Natural men.
I think you've noticed that I have pretty much avoided any discussion of LDS Doctrine or History lately. And I have come to your defense many times when people have knee jerk reactions to your presence on a thread and call you names or otherwise directly ridicule you. That is wrong. Those who called you names and directly questioned your salvation or your committment to God were wrong to do so. Indeed I may have even participated in such behavior and if I did it was wrong.
But I think it is a legitimate discourse to discuss whether certain doctrines or church practices are inconsistent with the Bible or inconsistent with documented historical records. I am always accused of "playing the Sevetus card" against the Calvinists. I have argued that the execution of Servetus, like the execution of all heretics and witches was a dark stain on the body of Christ. It is a dark stain on the Church of Christ of which I am a member. But it is legitimate in a religion forum to discuss the history of the Church of Christ. People are not agressive posters because they post historical documents. People are not agressive posters because they post the dirty laundry of specific church organizations to determine the validity of the teachings and the qualifications of the leaders of certain church organizations.
If we want to seek the truth, then we must be willing to examine and discuss not only the wonderful and good things that our churches teach and have done in the past, but also the terrible and embarssing things they have done as well.
I have posted examples before. Nearly every time I have done so, the thread has been deleted. I am hestitant to do it again. I would be insane to post some examples on this thread.
I enjoy the religion forum here very much. It is unquestionably the best religion forum on the net. The people who post here are for the most part are as learned and informed in religious matters as you will find anywhere. It is a great place to post your religious views and see if they hold water. It is also the best place on earth to learn to defend your beliefs against strong and well reasoned arguments to the contrary. So if you enjoy it, treat it as your baby. Feed it. Nurture it. Let it grow. Don't kill it.
But if we do go that route, we're going to have to have a lot of discussions on how y'all are going to self police it so that the staff here doesn't get overwhelmed with it.
MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.
The handwriting is on the wall.
The answer is, when it comes to the Religion Forum, the Sidebar Pastor is setting the lead and I am going by what he says. So if his words, and my words, are different, go with his.
Now on a separate note, there was a mail to the SM account which I would like to share and have people think about. I am not naming who sent this, since he or she mailed it instead of posting it.
"I remember posting one article a long time ago quoting the leader of the Mormon church who said something like, "spend more quality time with your family"...I agree. Sometimes, people in their zeal lose the forests for the trees."The whole article was about families etc. (I think it was national family day or some obscure holiday or something)
Next thing you know my thread was put into the religion forum and it turned into a BIG mormon bashing thread with everyone calling him a liar and a fraud. Saying he had 10 wives and that he was a cult leader etc.
Its like 'what happened to the topic of families?' He didn't even write the article, but was just cited in it with about 10 words.
IMO things like that have got to go.
If this is what was being asked about before when it was put to me if "g.r.p.l. only" threads would be allowed, then I want to clarify.
"g.r.p.l. only" threads will be pulled.
That thread doesn't say "g.r.p.l. only" and would not be pulled.
And if we got an abuse report from someone saying "this Catholic is posting on our g.r.p.l thread" we would ignore it. And if we got an abuse report from someone saying "this Catholic is being abusive on our thread" we would look to see if we agree that there is abuse going on, and act accordingly.
Thanks, LM
Please. Take it!
You see, unlike husband and wife, we actually agree on most things... ;^)
I got a two week suspension for doing that. So which one of you gets to go to freeper purgatory?
Never quite understood that phenomena
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