Posted on 04/23/2006 8:01:06 AM PDT by Religion Moderator
Hello everyone. Pleased to meet you. I am your Religion Moderator.
I have been asked by several posters to let you know any special guidelines which apply to posting in the Religion Forum on Free Republic. Here goes…
First, you should know that all moderators have authority on the Religion Forum and we are individuals and therefore what is tolerable to one may not be tolerable to another. However, I have general responsibility for this particular forum and spend most of my time reading your posts and moderating the conversations. And I do hold Religion Forum posts to a higher standard.
The previous Religion Moderator is still with us and other moderators who have served as Religion Moderator may also appear on thread with this handle. In other words, you cannot be sure that I am the person who posted with the handle. However, most of the time, it will be me simply because I’m reading all of your posts.
A few guidelines:
Threads which are devotional or church-like in nature (such as daily mass readings) will be protected from challenges to doctrine, etc. Reported challenges will be pulled. The titles of the threads should be clearly designated so other posters and the moderators will know.
Threads which are not clearly designated are open to challenges, like a public square.
Posters should remember they are not “preaching to the choir” on open threads – and take care to be respectful, clear and concise in their arguments. Passers-by will value your demeanor as much – or more than – the actual substance of your post.
This is very important: meet the offensive challenge to your doctrine on the open thread, do not mash the abuse button. I will not remove a challenge simply because it is offensive to your beliefs. If you cannot defend your own confession, then you are better off avoiding the open threads and leaving the reply to someone else of your confession.
Always argue the issues – theology, philosophy, history, etc. – and never make it personal.
If I see the conversation turn personal, I will intervene by pulling posts and/or posting a warning. If the misbehavior continues, posters may find themselves having to log back in – or they may be given a time-out to cool down.
In the extreme, the threads may be banished to the smoky backroom, locked or pulled. And a hot-headed or defiant poster may be banned.
Banned posters who try to sneak back onto the forum using a different handle are nuked. Trolls are nuked.
I have no tolerance for potty language simply because it inflames other posters and results in unnecessary abuse reports that moderators then have to process. It is a waste of everyone’s time and doesn’t help the poster’s image either.
Whenever I see a profanity – or a reference or acronym for a profanity – I will remove the post. If your post was pulled and you remember using such a word, just rephrase and repost and everything will be fine.
As with all threads on the forum – hatred and any suggestion of racism or violence will be pulled. Posts which are just plain tacky may also be pulled.
Calling an author a liar is permitted – calling another poster a liar is not.
Attributing motive to an author is permitted – reading the mind of another poster is not.
Poking fun at a confession is permitted, but be careful when poking fun at another poster. If he doesn’t think it is funny, I won’t either.
Don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of it. It all boils down to being respectful – phrase your challenges as if you were the recipient, i.e. think Golden Rule.
So very true on all points! Thank you for your insights!
My link given in post 266 shows the text of the often-overlooked preamble to the Bill of Rights, which reads (in part):
THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution.Anybody know what post 373 was? (I hope it wasn't mine!)
Let's not go there!
LOLOL! I need another cup of coffee... obviously.
I meant 273.
It wasn't yours.
Thanks. (I'm always running scared.)
I certainly didn't overlook this PH. I quoted it at post 252 above in defense of my position.
I don't know who wrote 273, or why it's gone. Jeepers, I hate it when things like that happen!
As you say Patrick, anybody know?
Bush is a globalist.. Alito and Roberts are no doubt globalists too.. else why did he select them.. Bush is starting to stink.. and he doesn't seem to care.. Being For so-called domestic "conservative" issues(debatable) and at the same time For eliminating Americas sovereignty is a good gambit.. It seems to be working heroically..
Anything to distract from closing the Mexican border is a win for a globalist.. The Balkanization of America is well advanced.. And republicans generally are like Judas goats.. Whatever the democrats attack(George Bush) the republicans will close ranks and support.. BRILLIANT really..
Republicans For BIG givernment and unlimited import of foreign democrats is quite brilliant.. ALL illegal and legal immigrants WILL be democrats you know.. OK.. there will be a few RINOs.. The voting demographics of America is changing rapidly and few care.. Again quite brilliant.. I don't like it a bit, but then you must admit, it is pretty smart..
273 was removed for language only. The poster could rephrase and repost without the disallowed word and it would be fine.
But how do you really feel, hosepipe? (just kidding)
Thank you for letting me know, RM!
I don't know who wrote 273, or why it's gone. Jeepers, I hate it when things like that happen
That is so funny I feel the same way what did I miss? LOL
Yesterday I double post and asked one to be deleted...
Hours later I wonder what I missed! LOL
LoL...
I decided to respond before reading anyone else's opinion.
In general, down through the centuries the lack of a written Constitution seems to have served us well, because most executives have respected tradition. However Tony Blair is working fast to dismantle a system that has worked well for longer than pretty much anyone else's system, and there are no formal rules to stop him from doing that. Important new law goes through without parliamentary debate. The executive reigns undreamed, the House of Lords has been emasculated without being replaced with anything (in the name of fairness). We're getting close to an elected dictatorship (elected by less than a quarter of those eligible to vote). New administrative regions are created that no-one identifies with or cares about. Expensive new elected assemblies were set up for Wales and Scotland, yet Welsh and Scottish Westminster MPs still get to vote in Westminster on matters that don't affect their constituencies because those matters are controlled by the new assemblies. The government wouldn't dare contemplate self-rule for England though, of course, because an English assembly probably wouldn't be suitably socialist. Rant done.
True.. but England(Wales, Scotland even Ireland) will be a mere State(s) in the World Republic.. eventually... so will the U.S.... in the new world order..
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