Moving Onward In the Forum

[Brian]

Hi, Everyone.

I've talked about this a little bit on Facebook, but I wanted to bring it up here, as an "official" statement from the Poohbah (me).

I'm hoping that we're going to have people with a wide range of ideas, in culture, politics, and religion. I want there to be free and open discussion on all topics -- especially controversial ones, because that's where discussion is the most valuable.

It is not my intention -- or my role -- to take sides on any discussion. I reserve the right to have an opinion, and to express it, but basically, all opinions and viewpoints are welcome -- even if every single other person on the forum (including me) disagrees.

The only place I'll be drawing the line is racism, porn (because that could get me in trouble) or antagonizing other users through personal attacks. It's, at the very least, impolite to shit where people are eating, so making this place unpleasant for people is not going to be tolerated. Argue ideas, but not personalities.

With that, I welcome you all and hope you have fun on the forum.

[silverpop]

political and religious issues are very hot topics how are we going to deal with those? we all now those topics tend to turn ugly if
not carefully controled but the issue is how much control will be needed to keep things peaceful without making it seem opinions are not welcome

[Brian]

political and religious issues are very hot topics how are we going to deal with those? we all now those topics tend to turn ugly if
not carefully controled but the issue is how much control will be needed to keep things peaceful without making it seem opinions are not welcome

I think the key is to state your opinion as an opinion, and to be respectful of those who disagree with you.

Examples of things that would cross the line:

"You're a Muslim? Bomb any buildings lately?"
"Your god is a fairy tale and you're a moron for believing in it."

In the "old" forum (before the exodus) some people thought nothing of making fun of people's religious beliefs, rather than actually discussing them. I really want to avoid that. It's not constructive, and doesn't let people feel welcome. If you have a problem with a given religion's dogma, that's fine, but express it as that, not as a personality conflict.

[Millennium]

"You're a Muslim? Bomb any buildings lately?"

Good Lord!......

[Brian]

Yeah, that's exactly my point, Mill! Hateful things about a religion or group is not okay on here. Particularly when it's directed at a member.

[Linnea]

I don't plan on participating in religious or political threads but if I see any of the Obamas morphed into chimps or gorillas, I'm going to make a stink.

[Brian]

I don't plan on participating in religious or political threads but if I see any of the Obamas morphed into chimps or gorillas, I'm going to make a stink.

Yeah, I remember that coming up before the exodus.

If anyone's considering doing something like that, please don't. It's one of those things that has racial implications.

That doesn't mean that all charicatures or criticims would be out of line. There's a relatively famous picture of Obama as the Joker, which, while it gets its point across, does it in a different way.