NO SNIPING ZONE

[hasbeen99]

I was really hoping I wouldn't have to post this thread, but after 2 weeks, it's proving to be necessary.

Larry wanted this forum to be a place where people of all faiths (or none) could share and discuss what they believe, so we could all learn from each other. In order for that to happen, everyone has to feel comfortable and safe enough to share what is almost always very personal.

The reason most of you supported me as moderator of this forum is because I'm open and accepting of people with differing beliefs. If this forum is going to be successful, we all must be respectful of each other, especially if we disagree.

That means, everyone who posts their thoughts in this forum gets a clean slate. I'm not concerned with previous posts from old threads in R&R. There cannot be any personal attacks in this forum.

If you want to take a shot at someone, do it in R&R -- that's partially what it's for.

I have already begun to edit or delete posts that flame other members and bring nothing of significance to the thread, and I will continue to do so as long as I'm moderator of this forum.

I promise to be fair, and defend everyone equally. I will defend Miss tery as ardently as I will Rob or Turbo. If I miss a questionable post, please bring it to my attention.

Again, I don't want to be heavy-handed. I don't want to micro-manage this thing, but I will as needed to ensure the forum's success.



UPDATE (3/25/04):

The debate spawned from the "Religion" thread that was moved from R&R has led me to decide that from this day forward, any thread moved to this forum will remain unedited up to the date and time it was moved. However, any posts added to the thread in this forum will be subject to the existing "no sniping" policy.

This seems to be the most fair way to handle archived threads.



UPDATE (3/26/04):

In addition to forbidding personal attacks directed toward individual members, I'm asking that from this day forward, any threads or posts calling into question aspects of both religious and non-religious beliefs be worded in a respectful manner. Any thread title or post I see that looks condescending or insulting will result in immediate editing if I think value can be saved, or deletion if I don't.

[Braves]

I was really hoping I wouldn't have to post this thread, but after 2 weeks, it's proving to be necessary.

Larry wanted this forum to be a place where people of all faiths (or none) could share and discuss what they believe, so we could all learn from each other. In order for that to happen, everyone has to feel comfortable and safe enough to share what is almost always very personal.

The reason most of you supported me as moderator of this forum is because I'm open and accepting of people with differing beliefs. If this forum is going to be successful, we all must be respectful of each other, especially if we disagree.

That means, everyone who posts their thoughts in this forum gets a clean slate. I'm not concerned with previous posts from old threads in R&R. There cannot be any personal attacks in this forum.

If you want to take a shot at someone, do it in R&R -- that's partially what it's for.

I have already begun to edit or delete posts that flame other members and bring nothing of significance to the thread, and I will continue to do so as long as I'm moderator of this forum.

I promise to be fair, and defend everyone equally. I will defend Miss tery as ardently as I will Rob or Turbo. If I miss a questionable post, please bring it to my attention.

Again, I don't want to be heavy-handed. I don't want to micro-manage this thing, but I will as needed to ensure the forum's success.

:xyzthumbs...that's the right attitude to take if you are going to have a successful forum

[mathmajors]

Then you must also realize that people interpret scripture and history in different ways, and that what you state isn't always an absolute truth.

[VOR]

Then you must also realize that people interpret scripture and history in different ways, and that what you state isn't always an absolute truth.
No ya don't. this society is anchored in positivism, the right way or the hiway, it's your choice.

[Southern_Yankee]

Lets do as the Roman's did...

[vpkozel]

Lets do as the Roman's did...

What would an orgy solve?

[LarryD]

there's a place for sniping. and it's not here in this forum.

thank you hasbeens, for taking the time to clarify the purpose of this forum.

if people find no value in it, then they can move along to another forum that better suits their disposition.

i know that many folks don't post, but they do read.

[LarryD]

Then you must also realize that people interpret scripture and history in different ways, and that what you state isn't always an absolute truth.


i think that his post was about bringing a r&r mentality over here.

[Turbo]

Then you must also realize that people interpret scripture and history in different ways, and that what you state isn't always an absolute truth.
I don't see anyone taking the attitude that THEY are the last word on scripture or history.

I see this forum as one for sharing ideas and having good responses leading to good discussions. Every part of that is done with respect to the other person.

While I may disagree with Miss tery and some her attitudes, in no means do I want her to go away. I value her opinions and thoughts.

Thank you, hasbeens, for the sticky.

[mathmajors]

I'm not trying to undermine hasbeens or the forum or whatever, but there have been times where I've felt hasbeens responds to a post and it feels like it's the last word. Maybe I'm intimidated by him.

[ezy ryder]

I'm not trying to undermine hasbeens or the forum or whatever, but there have been times where I've felt hasbeens responds to a post and it feels like it's the last word. Maybe I'm intimidated by him.

no, he's just a thread killer.

[mathmajors]

no, he's just a thread killer.
Ah. I've been there.

[Southern_Yankee]

i think that his post was about bringing a r&r mentality over here.

What LarryD is trying to say is, he doesnt want the inmates running this asylum like R & R.

[hasbeen99]

Then you must also realize that people interpret scripture and history in different ways, and that what you state isn't always an absolute truth.

I'm not trying to undermine hasbeens or the forum or whatever, but there have been times where I've felt hasbeens responds to a post and it feels like it's the last word. Maybe I'm intimidated by him.


If I've come across as intimidating to you or anyone else, I sincerely apologize. Believe me -- that's the last thing I want to do. :( And if I do get too big for my britches, SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME!

I don't mind -- in fact I welcome -- opposing views, and I love a good civil debate. There have already been a couple in this forum, and I feel richer for the experience.

That being said, interpreting any holy text is a tricky and sensitive ordeal. One of the most important lessons I learned in the preaching class I took is that context is everything. Without understanding the context of a passage of text (be it in the Torah, Talmud, Bible, or Qur'an), the original message is lost. Interpreting text outside of context is how organizations like the KKK and other hate groups justify themselves.

I'm not saying that my interpretation is always the right one -- not by a long shot. I take careful means to figure out the most likely interpretation, but I'm not a professional preacher, and even they're only human. I will always welcome a different perspective. I've learned much from standing in the shoes of others.

[slydevl]

If I've come across as intimidating to you or anyone else, I sincerely apologize. Believe me -- that's the last thing I want to do. :( And if I do get too big for my britches, SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME!



You're pretty big, but I think your pants still fit.....at least for a while longer

[vpkozel]

OUCH!!!! Sly hit me.

[BigVito]

HB, is there a way that we can prevent messages from being deleted in threads that are moved to this forum from R&R, NOD, etc?

The "rules" are different in those forums and those posts are "acceptable" in the context of those forums. It is the moving of the thread itself that changes the rules.

Not sure what the solution is because I truly enjoy this forum and how the discussions are going. I just don't want to see things deleted when they were posted in a different enviroment before being moved.

Not a big gripe, by any means, just a concern if more threads end up being moved.

[hasbeen99]

HB, is there a way that we can prevent messages from being deleted in threads that are moved to this forum from R&R, NOD, etc?

I've gone back and forth on this, BV, and to be honest, I'm still not sure what the right thing to do is. As kind of an unwritten rule, I was going to leave old threads from R&R that were moved here unchanged. But I also felt a need to honor Sly's request yesterday.

I don't feel like I took anything away from the value of Miss tery's "Religion" thread by deleting/editing out the sniping. There was a lot of great discussion in that thread, and that hasn't changed.

At the same time, you're absolutely right about the rules being different in other forums, which is why I hesitate to edit older moved threads. Imma talk to Larry about this and see what he says.

Just out of curiosity, BV, why do you want to keep the flaming intact in those threads?

[BigVito]

I've gone back and forth on this, BV, and to be honest, I'm still not sure what the right thing to do is. As kind of an unwritten rule, I was going to leave old threads from R&R that were moved here unchanged. But I also felt a need to honor Sly's request yesterday.

I don't feel like I took anything away from the value of Miss tery's "Religion" thread by deleting/editing out the sniping. There was a lot of great discussion in that thread, and that hasn't changed.

At the same time, you're absolutely right about the rules being different in other forums, which is why I hesitate to edit older moved threads. Imma talk to Larry about this and see what he says.

Just out of curiosity, BV, why do you want to keep the flaming intact in those threads?Tough call, HB. I'd thought of the possibility of locking those threads when they are moved here with a moderators note directing the posters to a new R&S thread with a modified title Religion R & S, for example. This may be too unwieldy, but I do believe that moved threads should remain intact.

I don't think this will be much of an issue now that the Forum is established.

[hasbeen99]

I've just made a decision, and I agree with you, BV. Moved threads aren't going to be edited prior to their move. I just moved the "Religion" thread back to R&R.

[vpkozel]

I've just made a decision, and I agree with you, BV. Moved threads aren't going to be edited prior to their move. I just moved the "Religion" thread back to R&R.

I think the rule should simply be that if a thread starts out in a different forum and gets moved here, then it won't be edited, but the rules of this forum apply once it has been moved here. That religion thread should be here - it will get lost in R&R. Just my .02.

[slydevl]

Nice job hasbeens.

I think if someone wants to discuss religion in a civil manner they can post their thread here. I don't think every thread about religion needs to be moved here. Some may want to discuss it in a less than civil manner and those should probably be left in R&R or NOTD.

Thank you

[hasbeen99]

Nice job hasbeens.

I think if someone wants to discuss religion in a civil manner they can post their thread here. I don't think every thread about religion needs to be moved here. Some may want to discuss it in a less than civil manner and those should probably be left in R&R or NOTD.

Thank you

I agree completely. Thank you, Sly.

[SilverSurfer]

I'm sorry I am just now getting around to reading this. I moved the religion thread back here a couple of times without knowing why it was moved back to R&R.

hasbeen, if you need to move one of these back to R&R, let me know by pm and I'll leave it there. Hopefully that won't be too much.

This would be the hardest forum to moderate in my opinion. Glad you got the job, I couldn't handle it.

[VOR]

I agree with sly hasbeens, good job. Everyone should check their penis at the door when they enter this forum. Of course for some that is easy.

[Reznor]

Nice job hasbeens.

I think if someone wants to discuss religion in a civil manner they can post their thread here. I don't think every thread about religion needs to be moved here. Some may want to discuss it in a less than civil manner and those should probably be left in R&R or NOTD.

Thank you
Follow your own advice much? In hasbeens top post, he mentions condescension and insults. Questioning an entire group's intelligence and morals is hardly civil.

[hasbeen99]

Follow your own advice much? In hasbeens top post, he mentions condescension and insults. Questioning an entire group's intelligence and morals is hardly civil.

Granted, but that wasn't part of the rules, which was Sly's argument to begin with. The rules at that time specified personal attacks, not blanket insults toward a group. I let MT's statement stand, so I had to let Sly's stand. Now that it's in the rules, new attempts to insult groups or individuals will not be tolerated.

[Reznor]

Granted, but that wasn't part of the rules, which was Sly's argument to begin with. The rules at that time specified personal attacks, not blanket insults toward a group. I let MT's statement stand, so I had to let Sly's stand. Now that it's in the rules, new attempts to insult groups or individuals will not be tolerated.
Ok, didn't realize he's posted it before the rules update. Gotta love grandfather clauses. :)

[hasbeen99]

Ok, didn't realize he's posted it before the rules update. Gotta love grandfather clauses. :)

Retroactive would've been a mess. I'd be editing threads forever.

[vpkozel]

Now that it's in the rules, new attempts to insult groups or individuals will not be tolerated.

How about everybody? Is it permissible for me to insult everyone?

[VOR]

How about everybody? Is it permissible for me to insult everyone?

No but only because it's you. everyone else can though. Called it first nahhhhh

[BigVito]

How about everybody? Is it permissible for me to insult everyone?Yep, insult everyone. Just make sure you generalize it enough and remember that I believe you are hokey and naive. :D

[CrazyIvan]

Thank you, HB, for this thread. Discussing various forms of religion (and non-religion) in a non-threatening mileau can be a real treat for the mind.

I particularly appreciate the opportunity to enter such discussion without people of various faiths trying to "convert" me. THAT is something that has always made me feel uncomfortable; it is something I consider obnoxious and bigoted.

So, thank you, again for providing a "safe" place for people like me.

[Honeygirl]

I particularly appreciate the opportunity to enter such discussion without people of various faiths trying to "convert" me. THAT is something that has always made me feel uncomfortable; it is something I consider obnoxious and bigoted.

:applause: Couldn't agree with you more :).

[Mortimer]

Why is Miss tery banned?

[hasbeen99]

Why is Miss tery banned?

This thread (http://www.thisboardrocks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=74490) probably explains it as well as any other.

[Soimush09]

Alright so I was wondering if there is like some kind of a speical sniping squadron for GP because if there isnt I think it would be pretty cool to have one...just a thought i guess, but yeah...tell me what ya think...because I would love to join that and join it in a heart beat...i would also love to be like the captian of the squadron too, but its all good...lol...so yeah...I love sniping.

[presidence99]

Alright so I was wondering if there is like some kind of a speical sniping squadron for GP because if there isnt I think it would be pretty cool to have one...just a thought i guess, but yeah...tell me what ya think...because I would love to join that and join it in a heart beat...i would also love to be like the captian of the squadron too, but its all good...lol...so yeah...I love sniping. http://www.funnyforumpics.com/forums/WTF/1/wtf-animated.gif

[tharan000]

I love sniping.

http://ui02.gamespot.com/2305/sniper_2.jpg