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I agree that it’s important to be somewhat polite. It totally detracts from serious discussion when people are constantly being brusque or unnecessarily rude.
Daystar just propositioned me in the “Response To The SAB Preface” thread.” And it wasn’t like he even did it in a nice way by asking me out for dinner or something. He tried to get me to “suck his ass.” I feel violated. There should be a consequence for making unsolicited sexual advances like that.
If there is a rule against swearing, you will be missing some wonderful posts. Some posters are artists with using 4 letter words. Also, I wouldn’t want to see Hitchens banned from this site.
Name-calling: I think that it is usually not called for, but hey, when you’re being an idiot it’s OK for people to let you know. If the name-caller is out of line, others will point it out. Self-moderation works among intelligent people.
I do agree with not allowing put downs based on race or sexual orientation. Trust me, being called a flaming heterosexual is hurtful, even if true.
The one thing I am opposed to is life-time bans. I’ve seen at least one poster who contributed a lot to another site banned for life and the site is worse off for it.
Daystar just propositioned me in the “Response To The SAB Preface” thread.” And it wasn’t like he even did it in a nice way by asking me out for dinner or something. He tried to get me to “suck his ass.” I feel violated. There should be a consequence for making unsolicited sexual advances like that.
Also, I wouldn’t want to see Hitchens banned from this site.
LOL!
We should differentiate between swearing and name calling, though. Hitch, e.g., uses assorted swear words from time to time, to great effect. PZ, on the other hand & to my knowledge, never uses swear words, except masked (“It’s a frackin’ cracker!”), but he’s the greatest name caller I know. Richard neither swears nor name-calls.
So what should it be? Maybe, because we’re kinda guests of Sam Harris, we should adapt his conversational tone? Which is, like Richard’s, practically free from swear words & name calling? Just a suggestion.
Or, maybe, we should write a manual for Responsible Swearing or something…
“Rules” should be kept to a minimum for the simple expedient of keeping them within the 7 +- 2 things people can remember.
The rules should come down to a list of one liners and links to more detail discussion of each rule to make sure that both mods and mems understand the rule in the same way or can reference the detail when disagreeing.
In addition to rules I would recommend a short list of “guidlines” that will not be mod fodder but requests to the mems about their posts: Try to minimise gratuitous swearing, don’t wander off topic for too long, etc.
In the rules area I think there needs to be something about how off topic conversations may be moved if they go on for too long in a thread and how purposeful thread derailment is a no no.
I agree with a system of escalating when someone consistently mucks up. Each level should include discussions between mods and the offending mem prior to being enacted. The mem may defend their action or accept the mods argument and retract which lets them off the hook. I have no problem with perm. bans after considerable escalation. The site is run by volunteers who have better things to do than deal with the same dickhead over and over again.
For what it’s worth I like the no swearing idea, mostly. Yes I’m sure we would loose out on a few highly creative posts but I think that the overall flavour and tone of the forum would benefit. I don’t see this place as rough-and-tumble but reasoned thoughtful discussion, debate and argument. When people start slinging around the F’s and C’s it creates an unnecessarily adversarial atmosphere, which I don’t think this place should have. And this place is in a written form, nobody lets a F or a C word out in the heat of typing? We can all review and correct our language before posting, it’s not like a chat where the odd F word can slip out by accident. As a previous poster pointed out if we have a no swearing rule we will all have to get more creative in knocking down the disingenuous arguments of our fellow interlocutors
But what we decide we have to stick to. A culture will develop here and if we try and change that culture later all hell will break loose!
For what it’s worth I like the no swearing idea, mostly. Yes I’m sure we would loose out on a few highly creative posts but I think that the overall flavour and tone of the forum would benefit. I don’t see this place as rough-and-tumble but reasoned thoughtful discussion, debate and argument. When people start slinging around the F’s and C’s it creates an unnecessarily adversarial atmosphere, which I don’t think this place should have. And this place is in a written form, nobody lets a F or a C word out in the heat of typing? We can all review and correct our language before posting, it’s not like a chat where the odd F word can slip out by accident. As a previous poster pointed out if we have a no swearing rule we will all have to get more creative in knocking down the disingenuous arguments of our fellow interlocutors
But what we decide we have to stick to. A culture will develop here and if we try and change that culture later all hell will break loose!
I’m sorry but that’s fucking absurd!
Now, should I be banned for simply conveying my view with words you don’t like? Word policing is just pointless nit picking.
How about dealing with something serious, like threats of violence/death against ones person or persons…........
For what it’s worth I like the no swearing idea, mostly. Yes I’m sure we would loose out on a few highly creative posts but I think that the overall flavour and tone of the forum would benefit. I don’t see this place as rough-and-tumble but reasoned thoughtful discussion, debate and argument. When people start slinging around the F’s and C’s it creates an unnecessarily adversarial atmosphere, which I don’t think this place should have. And this place is in a written form, nobody lets a F or a C word out in the heat of typing? We can all review and correct our language before posting, it’s not like a chat where the odd F word can slip out by accident. As a previous poster pointed out if we have a no swearing rule we will all have to get more creative in knocking down the disingenuous arguments of our fellow interlocutors
But what we decide we have to stick to. A culture will develop here and if we try and change that culture later all hell will break loose!
I’m sorry but that’s fucking absurd!
Now, should I be banned for simply conveying my view with words you don’t like? Word policing is just pointless nit picking.
How about dealing with something serious, like threats of violence/death against ones person or persons…........
Now, should I be banned for simply conveying my view with words you don’t like? Word policing is just pointless nit picking.
How about dealing with something serious, like threats of violence/death against ones person or persons…........
I think GAD’s absolutely right. People have to choose to be offended by “bad” words—just depends upon how delicate they want to be, or how much they want to display their righteousness, I suppose. If being offended by certain words bothers you, stop. It’s also pointless to try and impose courtesy and respect. We can impose the forms but no substance. If you’re impressed by forms and care nothing of substance I guess that could make you happy, but I think the more rational you are, the less forms matter and the more stock you hold in substance.
How about we just deal with each other, and if you don’t want to read what a given forumite posts, don’t.
Works for me (even without using the “ignore” function some forums apparently have ... which seem kind of strange to me, but whatever).
I’d say no swearing, as there’s already been some.
Interesting thought. My initial reaction was F*** that, but upon reflection if we intend to have a rational and logical forum maybe swearing is not only undesirable but counter productive to the culture we wish to build here. We can choose at this point to create a place where only civil debate is permitted. Don’t know the answer, just trying to formulate the question.
Here is an answer, and it is as concisely as I can state it:
Fuck that suggestion for a rule!
We will not have a rule against swearing as long as it does not go against the other rules, like personal attacks. We do not have an option for a word censor that a member can enable, but it is on the list of things to do.
Now, should I be banned for simply conveying my view with words you don’t like? Word policing is just pointless nit picking.
How about dealing with something serious, like threats of violence/death against ones person or persons…........
I think GAD’s absolutely right. People have to choose to be offended by “bad” words—just depends upon how delicate they want to be, or how much they want to display their righteousness, I suppose.
I’d say no swearing, as there’s already been some.
Interesting thought. My initial reaction was F*** that, but upon reflection if we intend to have a rational and logical forum maybe swearing is not only undesirable but counter productive to the culture we wish to build here. We can choose at this point to create a place where only civil debate is permitted. Don’t know the answer, just trying to formulate the question.
Here is an answer, and it is as concisely as I can state it:
Fuck that suggestion for a rule!
We will not have a rule against swearing as long as it does not go against the other rules, like personal attacks. We do not have an option for a word censor that a member can enable, but it is on the list of things to do.
YAY!!!
We can swear!
We can swear!
I’m glad that’s over with. Now I won’t have to compose my long list of words and submit them for approval. By thee way - I hereby give anyone here permission do personally attack me. I’m very thick-skinned. The only thing I won’t put up with is a threat. My real name is in my introduction so I would, naturally, take threats very seriously. Not that I’d expect such a thing here - I only mention it because I witnessed that sort of thing on a local forum.
Oh - I almost forgot - We have permission now - .................. FUCK!
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