Posted on 05/14/2008 9:06:42 AM PDT by Religion Moderator
In late April, markomalley and gamecock made a trial run at a respectful dialog category for threads on the Religion Forum. The trial failed due to the inability of the posters to agree on what is or is not respectful. Then in early May, several other posters appealed for the elimination of posts which seek to tear down other posters beliefs (iconoclasm.)
Meanwhile, the situation on the Religion Forum has been exacerbated by posters on the News/Activism forum inadvertently being exposed to religious debate as a result of choosing the everything option on browse instead of the News/Activism option.
In response to the pleas for a respectful dialog and/or the elimination of iconoclasm (attacks on other peoples beliefs) Im opening the floor for trial postings of a new type of semi-open thread which we shall call ecumenic.
Unlike the caucus threads, any poster could reply to an ecumenic thread. And the article on which an ecumenic thread is based could include contrasts and challenges of other beliefs. However, on the ecumenic thread, the poster must not argue against any other beliefs. He can only argue for what he believes or ask questions.
While we test this new type of thread, be sure to tag every article so that posters will know when to avoid a thread. The tags during this trial run are prayer devotional caucus ecumenic or open.
Devotional threads are closed to debate of any kind.
Caucus threads are closed to any poster who is not a member of the caucus. If it says Catholic Caucus and you are not Catholic, do not post to the thread. However, if the poster of the caucus welcomes you, I will not boot you from the thread.
Ecumenic threads in this trial run are closed to all anti arguments. Posters who try to tear down others beliefs or use subterfuge to accomplish the same goal are the disrupters on ecumenic threads and will be booted from the thread and/or suspended.
Open threads are a town square posters may argue for or against beliefs of any kind. They may tear down other's beliefs. They may ridicule, similar to the Smoky Backroom with the exception that a poster must never make it personal. Reading minds and attributing motives are forms of making it personal. Thin-skinned posters will be booted from open threads because in the town square, they are the disrupters.
When you see a post which is inappropriate for an ecumenic thread, ping me. Do not bother the Admin Moderators with an abuse report unless the situation requires immediate attention.
"Caucus threads are closed to any poster who is not a member of the caucus. If it says Catholic Caucus and you are not Catholic, do not post to the thread. However, if the poster of the caucus welcomes you, I will not boot you from the thread."
" Ecumenic threads in this trial run are closed to all anti arguments. Posters who try to tear down others beliefs or use subterfuge to accomplish the same goal are the disrupters on ecumenic threads and will be booted from the thread and/or suspended."
Hah -- the RM made rules before but the Abuse-Button-Pushers failed to follow them!!! So now we get a new set of rules --
Sooooo true, wmfights. The hurt feelings crowd is always complaining when their pet beliefs are poked...
Tough -- it's here to stay.
Oh, btw, it’s common courtesy to ping the person you talk about.
Yes, their version of Catholicism is different from the Catholic version of Catholicism, and it is impossible to dislodge them from their belief. They are very very attached to their odd hobby.
LOL.
I was a part of it too, at least until the after service pot luck, then it became part of me.
Reminds me of...
I blow my nose at you....
*******************
The "open" thread is still available to us all:
" Open threads are a town square posters may argue for or against beliefs of any kind. They may tear down other's beliefs. They may ridicule, similar to the Smoky Backroom with the exception that a poster must never make it personal. Reading minds and attributing motives are forms of making it personal. Thin-skinned posters will be booted from open threads because in the town square, they are the disrupters."
Okay, but the ecumenic thread looks like the red-headed stepbaby of the Catholic/Mormon caucus thread to me.
>>but the Abuse-Button-Pushers failed to follow them!!! <<
Name one.
LOL! "Odd hobby" is a great term. :-)
>>I see that too! The air is thick with complaints! <<
Right here.....
How long till the complaint goes up "hey those open threads are to rough". "we have ecumenical threads, we have caucus threads, we have devotional threads", we don't need open threads. Once you start down the road of censorship it doesn't stop.
Is this NEW? Because I have never seen it done.
LOL. So true...
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