User Panel
Posted: 8/30/2005 9:06:40 PM EDT
[Last Edit: VA-gunnut]
I don't know if everyone is bored with the other forums on the site or not, but I'm getting tired of having to lock threads in this one. Most everyone has seen the rules for posting in this forum. If you haven't, here is the link one more time: www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=135&t=372814
So if this keeps up, I'm just going to start locking more accounts, and less theads. |
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<center id=center>Have you visited your Hometown Forum today?
http://www.ar15.com/forums/board.html?b=8</center id=center> |
I received an IM today asking what the guidelines for this forum are. I'm not sure if the other thread isn't clear enough, so I'm going to try and explain it a little more.
I used to Mod the VA Hometown Forum, actually I still do in a way. My guidelines for that forum are pretty strict compared to the GD, or the basic CoC. My rule of thumb is that the Hometown Forums are like a house. I expect the members/guests of the VA Forum to behave as if they were at my, or another members house. If the conversation in the thread couldn't, or shouldn't take place in my house while in front of my kids or a lady, then I won't allow it. I look at the RF the same way. If the discussion shouldn't take place, or wouldn't be appropriate in a religous place, then it shouldn't happen in the forum. Now I will try to give the discussions a little leeway until they get out of hand, but then I will put a stop to them. If this doesn't make sense or if anyone has a question, please feel free to ask. |
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<center id=center>Have you visited your Hometown Forum today?
http://www.ar15.com/forums/board.html?b=8</center id=center> |
You know my question. You saw fit to evade answering it three times. So I don't really expect an answer here either. But you know how to get ahold of me if you want to finally get around to answering my f'ing question.
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Serious question for clarification:
1. Who's religion 2. Definition of religous place 3. "Shouldn't or wouldn't be appropriate" (by who's standards) I only ask because most all the rules/guidelines seem subjective. |
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-Charlie
"Why is a beer with breakfast frowned upon, while Vodka with Tomato Juice (aka Bloody Mary) is an accepted early morning drink?" - Hmmmm......... |
I think if you renamed the forum the "Pro-God" forum... some might just begin to understand how discussions are meant to flow in here. I usually don't care to debate what religion is better or worse, I really don't care what anyone else is, except for a potential spouse, who I would prefer be of the same denomination as me, so we could save money on gas by carpooling to mass. I don't think any religions are better than any others are, but I do believe that there is one religion that is better FOR ME than all the others. A thought.... Why do some people who come here (this forum specifically, but ARFCOM in general, also) feel that ARGUMENT is a necessary ingredient in a DISCUSSION?
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DRIVERS: Move over or slow down for stopped law enforcement or public safety vehicles.
U.N. answering machine greeting: Thank you for calling the U.N. If this is an Emergency, please hang up and dial AMERICA. |
Re the last sentene, and I agree with you. People would rather be thought right |
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-Charlie
"Why is a beer with breakfast frowned upon, while Vodka with Tomato Juice (aka Bloody Mary) is an accepted early morning drink?" - Hmmmm......... |
Too bad you didn't just do this in the first place. Your question has been answered in the other thread. But I'll copy and paste it here too. As to your question about SteyrAug's post. If you had bothered to read the thread that is tacked at the top of this forum, you would see the guidelines I use for this forum. Now, go back and read SteyrAug's post aloud to yourself. Then ask yourself, would you say the exact same thing in a church? I used church as the reference point, because he was discussing christians. Now, what do you think the members of a church would say to someone that was talking that way in their church. They would of probably asked him to at least change the tone and language within it. Or, they would of asked him to leave. These is the same thing I did when I locked it. I asked him to redo his post if he wanted. He chose not too. |
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<center id=center>Have you visited your Hometown Forum today?
http://www.ar15.com/forums/board.html?b=8</center id=center> |
Of course they are subjective. The CoC are guidelines to posting in the forums. Most of the members here are smart enough to know what is wrong or right. We always have those that want to push the limits. These people don't usually last too long though. Just keep the discussions civil and polite, and there shouldn't be any problems. Why is it that we have so many other members that can handle this, but there has to be a few that just can't deal with it? |
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<center id=center>Have you visited your Hometown Forum today?
http://www.ar15.com/forums/board.html?b=8</center id=center> |
This is not the "Pro-God" forum. This is the Religion Forum. Discussion of religion is fine, and it isn't required that someone be religious to take part in the discussions. But that doesn't give the non-religious members the right to come in here and bash or try to convince the religious members they are wrong. As for your last sentence, I couldn't agree with you more. |
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<center id=center>Have you visited your Hometown Forum today?
http://www.ar15.com/forums/board.html?b=8</center id=center> |
If I didn't have to wade through the GD's cop bashers, handgun forums anti-1911'ers, anti-Yankee mindsetters, or just general site trolls, then maybe I would spend some time in this forum. Yeah... right Well, you know what I mean! |
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DRIVERS: Move over or slow down for stopped law enforcement or public safety vehicles.
U.N. answering machine greeting: Thank you for calling the U.N. If this is an Emergency, please hang up and dial AMERICA. |
Never been a problem for me, the civil and polite stuff. Have "fun" at times, but mostly try to learn something once I can cut through the BS. Requires "listening" and not talking a lot. That said, I asked these questions b/c the RELIGION discussions can often get touchy. Discussion means some probing questions may be asked. When it comes to religion, even honest questions piss people off. Thanks for your response. That said, I've not seen "COMMON SENSE" a common when it comes to religious discussion. |
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-Charlie
"Why is a beer with breakfast frowned upon, while Vodka with Tomato Juice (aka Bloody Mary) is an accepted early morning drink?" - Hmmmm......... |
Agreed. That is the fun of trying to run this forum. I get to try and figure out if someone is asking a question because they want to know something, or if they trying to stir the pot up with their questions. |
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<center id=center>Have you visited your Hometown Forum today?
http://www.ar15.com/forums/board.html?b=8</center id=center> |
The nature of this subject matter requires the Mod to keep us on a short leash so things remain civil.
I realize this, and temper my posts accordingly. If we were discussing these things face to face, I'd probably be a bit stronger in my criticisms and more forceful in presenting my case. Without tight controls this forum could easily spiral out of control and go thermonuclear. Then the folks in GD would be laughing at us because we couldn't make a go of this forum. Rather than kick against the rules like a bunch of rebellious kids, we should operate within the CoC and make the best of our discussions here. I have read threads here which included some strong disagreements, but they were handled civilly. I have read posts from Jews and pagans, so it's not just a "Christian" forum. Look guys, I like it in here. I could easily find a board that only has Christian posters, but I like hanging out here. Let's take care of this forum. |
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Welcome to Dar al Harb. Load up a few magazines, settle in, and make good use of your stay here.
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Amen. |
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But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
[1 Corinthians 2:14] |
I'm glad to see that some people are enjoying the forum.
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<center id=center>Have you visited your Hometown Forum today?
http://www.ar15.com/forums/board.html?b=8</center id=center> |
I posted these comments in a thread and specific to activity therein, but it is good, general "rule" info to keep in mind regarding calling someone's religion/beliefs a "cult" (or anything else generally regarded as derogatory) in this forum:
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... Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness...
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can someone please explain the term trolling, i don't get it...
thanks. æ |
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Trolling is when someone starts a thread, or makes a post knowing that it is going to cause trouble. |
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<center id=center>Have you visited your Hometown Forum today?
http://www.ar15.com/forums/board.html?b=8</center id=center> |
thanks
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It has just been brought to my attention that this tacked thread contains no notice of the FSM prohibition:
Before I became a moderator, the popular religious spoof regarding the Flying Spaghetti Monster, or FSM, (originally created as an argument to ridicule ID supporters, IIRC) was used in this forum as a tactic to bait believers, derail otherwise serious threads, and cause strife for the sake of amusement in many cases. It was decided that FSM posts were to be considered trolling (in this forum specifically) and not allowed here at all. Site Staff fully supported this decision. It was announced at the time and has been mentioned since, but someone suggested that it ought to be in this thread for the benefit of new folks, and I fully agree. Along this line of thought, I want to let you know that it is my intention to sit down eventually and come up with a comprehensive listing of the expectations of conduct in this forum above and beyond the general CoC for the site -- there are rules unique to this forum. Some of the things are more of a case-by-case judgement call, and many of the tangible things should be just common sense, but I still believe such a listing would be useful. However, I really wanted to be a moderator a while longer before "codifying" anything, so it may be a while longer before this is done. Until then, the "golden rule" would be a good rule of thumb to use in this forum. If you are posting a comment or starting a thread here for the primary purpose of ridiculing the beliefs of others, insulting any or all believers (or non-believers), baiting those who think differently than you, "stirring things up," or just for the sake of amusement, then you really need to find another forum. Legalistically-speaking, that's vague, I know... but I feel sure that almost anyone posting here is capable of reading that and knowing whether or not they should post what they are posting, whether they admit it or not. If they don't... well, then I am here to help. |
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... Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness...
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This was post from a recent thread that exemplified, very well, my vision and hope for this forum, and I thought I'd paste it here to share. |
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... Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness...
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man, what have I been missing.
btw, My G-d eats the FSM for lunch and dinner. and non believers for breakfast |
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The red flyer has gone missing. Its whereabouts are unknown.
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I certainly agree that rabble-rousers could use the FSM to troll (and probably do and have in the past; I'm relatively new to this forum), but I feel that a blanket prohibition is the wrong decision. Let me explain further. Assuming the discussion is conducted in a courteous and professional way, the FSM is meant as a sort of apologetics. I realize that unless you set firm rules you will have whiners when you interpret less-concrete rules (even as apropriate), but I encourage you ignore the whiners and to make the right decision and to simply say that trolling is outlawed, without making a blanket ban on any particular mode of apolgetics or rhetoric. I understand that in the past people may have injected it into threads inappropriately or started topics simply to rile people up, but this is not the behaviour I am concerned with in this post. If any mention of the Flying Spaghetti monster (presumably outside this thread ) is explicitly banned, what about Bertrand Russell's Teapot? It serves the same function in apologetics, yet is simply slightly less contemporary (though no less familiar to any well-read person). This is a serious question. Again, I encourage you to ban trolling but not to censor or ban any particular position or mode of debate so long as it is conducted reasonably. Respectfully Submitted |
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"The man whose life is spent in performing a few simple operations ... generally becomes as stupid and ignorant as it is possible for a human creature to become." Adam Smith
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Unfortunately, that cannot be assumed here... far from it, actually. In my experience here, on this site, the FSM has been used exclusively to taunt and ridicule believers in a wink, wink, nudge, nudge sort of way. I've never once seen it used here to add to or further a legitimate, respectful discussion. This site's Moderators (me included) volunteer our time freely -- we have other jobs and responsibilities and have only a limited amount of time each day to spend "policing" our forums here. It is far easier for me/us to ban FSM entirely, given its history here, than to spend the time and effort to deal with the complaints and arguments on a case-by-case basis. I make no apologies for taking the "easy way out" in this case, as I firmly contend that no discussion/debate here has suffered from the absence of FSM and it is still freely brought up anywhere else on the site as the prohibition only applies to the Religion Forum (although it seems to have gone out of vogue and I rarely see it mentioned anymore ). As to other parodies or apologetics metaphors, I'll have to deal with them as they are brought up. As always, it will have everything to do with the context of the post and its intent re: the original thread topic, etc. All of that being said, I understand your perspective on the subject and appreciate your post/comments. |
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Blessed and thankful father of twin daughters born just last month!!!
< http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=8&f=31&t=262724&page=1 > |
who do i send the bill to for all the time ive spent this morning coming to terms with the FSM thing....damn you, Wikipedia!!
back to subject, after spending alot of time reading the rules and the addendums (thanks for the big red letters, btw hink done for the sake of understanding why other people of other beliefs have different standards and behaviour than what i believe is the majority of us here, solely, not bashing whatsoever. strictly education and establishing standards for tolerance, if there can be any had, can't be something anyone here would consider censorable, i assume? newer member, so posting for clarification |
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heh, never heard of a flying spaghetti monster. however, the invisible pink elephant is a common subject useful in logical debate that i've seen (useful in existance/faith issues). is that taboo?
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The key here is mutual respect and courtesy and, in a nutshell, that is all that is really required here. You don't have to agree with someone (or even like them) to respect their right to their own deeply-held beliefs and practices. No, a pink elephant is not taboo per se but, much like the FSM, I can't imagine a use of it in this forum that wouldn't be disrespectful and insulting and, thus, outside of the intended use and spirit of the forum. IOW, if you cannot discuss someone else's beliefs/practices without ridiculing them, then this is not the forum (and perhaps not the site) for you. [I'm using "you" generally here, not singling anyone out.] I'm not some automaton -- I'll decide all forum issues within the proper context and I do my best not to rush to judgement. If anything, I'm often guilty of issuing too many warnings before referring the matter to Site Staff for action. |
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This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
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I hope wherever these mods are, they are Blessed with all that God has to give. It is very good of this site to have a forum like this. I just found it.
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Originally Posted By phaed: heh, never heard of a flying spaghetti monster. however, the invisible pink elephant is a common subject useful in logical debate that i've seen (useful in existance/faith issues). is that taboo? This is the religion forum. A place for the faithful. |
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Actually it's a place to discuss religion with respect. There are many athiests and agnostics who post in here as well and help make for intelligent discussion.
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Originally Posted By WindKnot1-1:
Actually it's a place to discuss religion with respect. There are many athiests and agnostics who post in here as well and help make for intelligent discussion. I would agree with this. |
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To Be One, Ask One!
www.wasatchlodge.org Have questions about the Freemasons? IM/E-mail me! "it's always nice to have an option that doesn't involve needles or rectums." Bed_Head |
I won't be buying a membership to this club so ling as the hypocrisy of rallying for our 2nd amendment is only ok if we agree to let you crush our voices in the forum boards on issues that make some cry?
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Originally Posted By Locotom:
I won't be buying a membership to this club so ling as the hypocrisy of rallying for our 2nd amendment is only ok if we agree to let you crush our voices in the forum boards on issues that make some cry? |
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To Be One, Ask One!
www.christopherdiehl19.org Have questions about the Freemasons? IM/E-mail me! |
agree and understood.
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There is no level playing field in life ~ Para069
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