[wagglebee]

I am confused as to why these posts have been removed.

When certain posts (including all reference to them) are removed, what it actually does is “sanitize” the situation and allow people to pretend it never happened.

If certain slurs were routinely directed at social conservatives in other FR forums, the consequences would be severe. Why is it swept away on the Religion Forum as if it never happened?

[netmilsmom]

Personally, I would have no problem if the posts were removed and the poster given a “time out”.

These threads escalate.

[Brian Kopp DPM]

Yeah, at some point you’d think it would be more prudent to move the thread to the Smokey Back Room, lock it, or delete the entire thread altogether.

However, pulling the posts that simply point out posts that are “making it personal” or other inflammatory posts seems to be a bit over the top. The offenders are obvious. Why cover for them by pulling the posts that simply request some prudent moderation be employed?

[Religion Moderator]

It is the moderator's choice whether to remove a slur with or without all references to it, admonish the slur on thread, pull the thread, ignore it, banish the thread to the smoky backroom, etc.

Obviously the subject of religion is particularly sensitive. Offended posters tend to pick at a scab misdirecting the discussion from the issues at hand to ad hominenons back and forth. The thread can easily descend into a flame war or childish bickering forcing the mods to pull it or lock it.

To salvage this discussion, I chose to pull every reference to the offensive term.

Dr. Eckleburg, never accuse another Freeper or group of Freepers of being jihadist. There are many military families on Free Republic and that characterization is inflammatory per se.

Now, everyone, stop picking at the scab.

Discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal.