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.
And,....
we are simply reduced to bullet point presentations with respective fan clubs cheering on our sides.
= = = =
Of course. In large measure
However, our bullets
ARE HOLIER
than their bullets! Harumph!
LOL.
When the abuse button is used, ALL of the moderators are notified. If I am not around, they will use their best judgment to deal with the complaint.
Me neither. lol
All these rules, just to give the clever few a new basis to be cleaverer and point to a rule book and tell someone to shut up and go away.
Closed "caucus" threads with cleverly chosen titles... just to poke someone in the eye with nothing to be done about it.
Open threads with the same title as the cleverly titled caucus thread... just to kick them back in the... knee.
Semi-open "Ecumenism" threads with enough rules to choke a horse.
Here's what I want to know, can you make a thread type just for lurkers? <crickets> ... ah... the peace of the sound of nothing... but so boring... <yawn>
LOLOLOLOL
Pontificated as thought the parallel reverse were NOT true!
LOLOLOLOLOL
Ironman can beat the pants off Batman.
(but I like your analogy)
“The fact is I rarely use the abuse button.”
Nor do I. In fact, I can probably count on one hand the number of times I have”
I’ve used it twice since I’ve joined, but on the political threads. Mainly against obviously disruptive trolls posting ugly bigoted statements just to make us look bad.
Ohhhh, they're like that...
The observers know the differences run very deep.
= = =
. . . . uhhhhhhhhhh
except, perhaps . . . for the lurkers who are . . .
as clueless as some of the respective religionists appear to be . . . about the basics . . . such as which way UP is . . . black vs white; left vs right . . . etc.
LOL.
What was claimed is that the Pope made an announcement regarding UFOs. All I did was demonstrate that claim is false. "Anti" didn't come up in my discussion.
Somehow I’ve managed to read or skim 262 posts.
Reminds me of raising kids or herding cats.
Good luck, RM, you are going to need it along with lots of patience.
>>Closed “caucus” threads with cleverly chosen titles... just to poke someone in the eye with nothing to be done about it.
Open threads with the same title as the cleverly titled caucus thread... just to kick them back in the... knee.<<
Now that is a question. Can someone post a “Catholics are idol worshipers” (caucus) thread?
Mis charaterizing the Vatican vis a vis to the Vatican’s awareness and convictions re UFO’s and ET’s
because of wholesale lack of being well informed
is no great feather in anyone’s cap, either.
That's because our Guardian Angels (Matt 18:10) won't allow with it.
>>Ohhhh, they’re like that... <<
Stop it! LOL!
Perhaps one button, three bells?
Oh, never mind...everyone would choose (1) wouldn't they?
No. The Caucus threads are unchanged.
Some FReepers want to “give” all their dogma, but they don’t want to have it challenged.
= = =
Tooooo true . . . or only
that they will TOLERATE, barely
to have it challenged
ONLY
WHEN
it is challenged with a sugary mint; on a golden tray wrapped in 7 layers of white rabbit fur and endless sweet platitudes and polite submissive kowtowing deferences . . . .
gag me with a spoon.
LOL! That of course would require a software change.
I haven't charactrized the Vatican's awareness and convictions. I have demonstrated that in the referenced article on Drudge that the Pope did not make an announcment regarding UFOs.
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