[Jim Robinson]

The problem is that some of you have been taking it too far. Like I said, those of you who make a carreer of Mormon bashing (or Catholic bashing, Jew bashing, etc,) are not going to be welcome on FR. Period. Give and take in the general debate is fine. Outright bashing is not.

[Corin Stormhands]

Give and take in the general debate is fine. Outright bashing is not.

With the exception of my time in the Calvin/Arminius wars, which I've stayed away from (for the most part) for the better part of a year, I am not one who has participated in "outright bashing." I've made a couple of digs (don't we all). And on occassion, when asked directly I've said "Yes, I think Mormonism a cult." OR "Yes, I think Calvinism is bad theology."

OUR PROBLEM Jim, is that we don't see that "Give and take in the general debate is fine."

I know that's your intent. But it is NOT playing out that way.

[ksen]

Here is another channelled message from xzins:

Asking for other people’s money implies some ethical responsibilities to the donors. It isn’t enough to glibly say, “there’s the door.” If it’s fully your house, fully paid for by you, then you have every right to tell your visiting friends to “hit the door.” But…if your visiting friends help you pay your rent, you owe them more than a “get the hell out.” Sure…sure….you can call the cops, and since your name is on the deed, the cops will kick your friends out. But what you’ve just done is violate the good faith your friends had placed in you.

Legally, you owe them nothing; but ethically, you owe them a lot.

At a minimum, you owe them a hearing and an explanation.

-xzins.

BTW, I have not contributed to FR so this is not to be taken as a threat to withhold funds.

[fishtank]

If you go back and read the political debates, say in the 1700s, you'll see a huge degree of incivility in those debates. And the Founding Fathers protected that "bashing" as free speech.

I think almost any criticism of a belief is fair game, as long as there is no stalking, harrassment, threats, etc.

I've been on usenet groups where a guy was stalking the people he was arguing with. That is over the line.

Heated discussions are not, IMHO, and the abuse button pushers should be ashamed of themselves for being overly sensitive.