Rules and Guidelines For Forum Posting

[Neil D]

Nothing like a simple set of basic rules is there?

Boy, there are a lot of things to ponder over here over these, um......John, what are these called again...guidelines or rules?

Rules and Guidelines For Forum Posting:

1) Be loving. Discuss issues with Christ-like love for your brothers and sisters here.

Recognize that others are seeking the truth just like you. And these praying, thinking Christians might come to different conclusions than your own.

These members will feel just as strongly about the "rightness" of their opinion as you feel about yours. Study with them in humility -- seeking the truth, NOT just trying to convice others you are right. Go wherever the Spirit, Bible, and Spirit of Prophecy lead. HIS truth will win in the end.

2) Speak ONLY for yourself. Do not tell anyone what any other person is saying. Do not put words in their mouth. They will do that themselves. Advocate for your own position strongly but with love for others.

3) Don't call names or be negative towards other people... they are Christ's children. Sinners just like ourselves. Only rebut differing issues, NOT the members who write them.

4) No commercial messages, or spamming.

5) If you ever feel justified for being combative toward another member... see rule #1 and DON'T.

6) Listen to, and cooperate with, moderators.

Feel free to suggest other guidelines by writing to us here at Adventist Forum. God Bless!

Someone suggest that you need a mentor to show the way....What's wrong with the above guidelines/rules to be the mechanism of discipling a user?

Or how do the guidelines adjust to the manipulative user? You know the type, the "you must think like me or you are lost to God forever" type? We get these type of people on a regular basis...

[Taylor]

Nothing like a simple set of basic rules is there?

lol nope :)

[John317]

Your turn, Tom, if you don't mind. I'd like to hear what you think of the rules and guidelines. Are there any changes-- whether additions or deletions-- you would make?

[there buster]

Quote:

Nothing like a simple set of basic rules is there?

Rules are easy. They just don't enforce themselves.

". . .dreaming of systems so perfect, no one would have to be good." T.S. Eliot

. . . especially "moderators"

[John317]

Originally Posted By: Stan Jensen

Nothing like a simple set of basic rules is there?

Boy, there are a lot of things to ponder over here over these,

Which are the hardest for you or the ones that cause you to ponder the most?

Quote:

um......John, what are these called again...guidelines or rules?

There will be guidelines or suggestions. The rules would be those things that if members ignore will result in editing, deletions, and, if persisted in, banning. For instance, calling people names, making personal attacks or attacking individuals rather than issues, bringing personal or "old" arguments or "grudges" on to the public forum, attacking the moderators on the public forums, etc.

Quote:

Someone suggest that you need a mentor to show the way....What's wrong with the above guidelines/rules to be the mechanism of discipling a user?

Sounds like something that could be done. There has been mentoring before. Of course mentoring is only useful if the person being mentored wants to be mentored and is making progress or improvement.

Quote:

Or how do the guidelines adjust to the manipulative user? You know the type, the "you must think like me or you are lost to God forever" type? We get these type of people on a regular basis...

The guidelines and rules aren't written to discourage people from arguing their positions strongly. The Forum encourages people to make strong cases and to try to persuade by showing evidence and reasoning.

[John317]

Quote:

Nothing like a simple set of basic rules is there?

Rules are easy. They just don't enforce themselves.

It's true that the rules don't enforce themselves. As Bravus and Stan and others have said before, the hope is that members will enforce the rules on their own. Most members do. But if not, the moderators will have to enforce the rules. The rules are useless if they're ignored or have no influence on what is happening on the Forum.

[Stan]

Trouble is, everyone is right and flawless in their own eyes..

[John317]

That's true.

[Bravus]

Consider it a plea with teeth

[Stan]

Would like to ask, and have EVERYONE watching this thread ANSWER THIS

A- Do YOU make unacceptable posts? AND if you have, who, what, when, where and why?

JOHN3:17

SULLA

REDWOOD

LIZ

CRICKET

MORNING GLORY

SHANE

JASD

DGRIM60

RUDYWOOFS

COASPEN

BRAVUS

NEIL D

ICHABOD

TAYLOR

TOM W

This was done in order of those who posted on here, very few females, perhaps only 3-4 in the history of this forum, have done posts that irritated people enough to leave, and NONE of the above females, that I am aware of.

[Bravus]

I have definitely made unacceptable posts in the past. I've tried to remove them on later sober reflection, but haven't always managed to do so in time to avoid damage to relationships. Usually occurred due to posting in anger or to thinking myself cleverer than I really am. There have been other instances where I have thought a post was fine but someone else later was able to show me how it wasn't, or how what I had written could easily be understood another way.

I also sometimes ride faster than the speed limit.

[Liz]

I try to read most posts as if the best intentions possible were made. I also try to post that way, but sometimes I do have a "red-headed temper moment" and post exactly what I am thinking which isn't always nice. I have no problem with the moderators or even my fellow posters saying "Hey you got a little rough, tone it down." I also know that I need to grow a thicker skin, and I am working on that. Not everyone gets my sense of humor either, I really like to tease, which my two uncles on here can attest to, so if you don't like to be teased you really need to let me know.

I think that open and honest communication will go a long way.

[Bravus]

CoAspen, I think Stan's point is that we have great mote-spotting skills on our brethren, but our beam-detection skills in relation to ourselves sometimes need a little work.

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

I drink coffee. I'm sorry if that offends anyone.

I'm still going to drink coffee.

[Morning Glory]

Whew, that is a relief!! I try to be kind in my posts..........in this thread I just questioned the meaning of a word. If I HAVE offended anyone w/ my posts, I take this opportunity to apologize.

Going back to my corner.....

MG

[John317]

No reason to feel you need to go back to your corner. Stay out here.

[cricket]

Would like to ask, and have EVERYONE watching this thread ANSWER THIS

A- Do YOU make unacceptable posts? AND if you have, who, what, when, where and why?

...

CRICKET...

This was done in order of those who posted on here, very few females, perhaps only 3-4 in the history of this forum, have done posts that irritated people enough to leave, and NONE of the above females, that I am aware of.

Most assuredly, I have made unacceptable posts. There have been many times I would have liked to have gone back and edited the things I've written, because in my own opinion, they have been snide remarks and things I later regret writing. Of the times I can recall, these posts were made out of frustration stemming from the sense that my opinions were not being heard--or, if they were, they were being ignored or "cast aside". More recently, when I find myself in those situations, I tend to return to the thread less and less--and find another forum to speak my mind.

[Dr. Shane]

CoAspen, I think Stan's point is that we have great mote-spotting skills on our brethren, but our beam-detection skills in relation to ourselves sometimes need a little work.

I think one of the benefits of being in a 12-Step program is that the emphasis is on beam-detection. One of the steps is making amends for wrongs we have done to others. When we make amends to others that have wronged us more than we have wronged them we are to make no mention of the wrong they did to us. Yet knowing this, it is so easy for human nature to pull us back into looking for the spec in our brother's eye and overlooking the beam in our own. It is a daily task of constantly reminding ourselves that our greatest concern is improving our own character and not that of others around us.

Oh, yes, I know I have made posts that have offended others because they have been so kind to tell me so, and the moderators and Stan. I constantly try to improve my method of posting so as to focus on topics and not other members.

[Dr. Shane]

I drink coffee. I'm sorry if that offends anyone.

I'm still going to drink coffee.

My wife and I love to go to Starbucks together. It keeps the romance in our marriage. At least it is one of the things that does. Of course we do order decaf, sugar-free, fat-free coffee but some of the stricter Adventists view drinking decaf coffee like they view committing adultery with a condom. I respect their view and their right to hold that view but disagree with them.

[John317]

I think it's important for everyone to realize that the guidelines and rules for posting are not made in order to prevent anyone from ever feeling offended. There's no attempt to be "politically correct" or to keep people from expressing their views strongly.

When telling our viewpoint, it is not necessary to attack the person or to call people names or to belittle them, their ideas, or their characters.

This is at the bottom of the guidelines and rules. As said before, most of the members have been doing very well. The rules are needed by only a small percentage of the members.

[Stan]

Rules are never used by those who would break them anyway...

HOWEVER, am happy for your list...

[John317]

I'll be rewriting them and posting them after a while, taking into consideration everything that has been said and things that some have written to me about them.

[Peace]

I have to admit that I have not always been Christlike. I apologize.

[there buster]

Quote:

The rules are useless if they're ignored or have no influence on what is happening on the Forum.

Or if they are applied inconsistently.

[Robert]

I'm still going to drink coffee.

So? I eat meat. According to Ellen White I will be lost. It just gets ridiculous with all the rules. Those who make them don't keep the other rules...like no self-seeking and/or self-love. So don't worry about the legalists nuts. You let your conscience be the guide and not these blind guides.

Notice I didn't apply "legalists nuts" and "blind guides" to anyone directly and therefore I can't be touched by any moderator! They know who they are!

Rob