Civility subsection suggestion

[Catholic_Lady]

I mean, if someone doesn't like it or doesnt agree with its ptemise, they don't have to post in that section. The rest of the forum would stay the same. This would merely be a single added section for interested parties. Uninterested parties need not post there.

I guess I'm not seeing what the trouble Is?

[Silver]

I mean, if someone doesn't like it or doesnt agree with its ptemise, they don't have to post in that section. The rest of the forum would stay the same. This would merely be a single added section for interested parties. Uninterested parties need not post there.

I guess I'm not seeing what the trouble Is?

Just like the sports thread. I'm not interested in sports, and I don't post there.

[Catholic_Lady]

The only real concern I could see with this is the potential to cause extra work for the staff if people refuse to follow the rules.

But I feel like making this a section where approval is needed to be able to post in it, would really make people honor the rules because they wouldn't want to risk getting kicked out.

Other than that, I mean, if you dont like the premise, just don't post there lol.

[LastPoet]

Well, first motion from me in such a subforum is permaban.

And therein lies one problem...
Does that seem like moderation, or something a bit more extreme?..

I expressed myself insufficiently. Permaban from that subforum.

[*Deidre*]

I mean, if someone doesn't like it or doesnt agree with its ptemise, they don't have to post in that section. The rest of the forum would stay the same. This would merely be a single added section for interested parties. Uninterested parties need not post there.

I guess I'm not seeing what the trouble Is?

I think Fireball’s comment sort of touches on it. There might be a concern that the subsection will become a preachy-friendly section with little rebuttal and since it’s an atheist site, it might stir some people in the wrong way.

And I was once a theist, and if we are being honest, that’s part of the faith...Jesus said to make disciples of all nations, basically to share with others your beliefs but with the intent to convince them of those beliefs. The Catholic faith is no different. So your intent might not be that but in the end, a section that prevents harsh rebuttals from atheists will turn into a section filled with faith beliefs. I believe in God but I’m not a theist, but I was once an atheist and so I see Fireball’s point, I guess.

[Catholic_Lady]

See, I don't believe that though. I think if someone was having a discussion with friends/family at the dinner table, or in a classroom setting with their peers, they would know pretttty well how to stay civil...

Have you ever managed groups of people with little to no higher education? I've got employees who will talk to the woman we have handling health coverage. A women they know to be a devout christian who does not swear and does not like to hear others swear. And they still couldn't get through a sentence without the word fuck in it if you put a gun to their head. You think everyone just knows. Trust me there are those that don't.  And speaking of higher education...

....I think overall, a good way to put it is this: imagine you are a college student in class and there is a classroom discussion going on, started by the professor, about a serious/controversial topic. Don't say anything on the thread that you wouldn't say in the classroom setting to your classmates and professor.

I get where you're trying to go with this example but to be fair, college professors have been known to use a four letter word or two. I'm just sayin'. College professors have also been known to belittle or otherwise verbally bitch slap students in the course of open discussions.

I also notice you're still hanging on to the dickwad thing so I will ask you again. If I'm having a discussion with someone I know to be atheist and I say I think what they're saying makes them sound like a christian, have I just called them a christian?

If it would be that confusing to you because "somewhere out there exist professors who cuss out their students and call them nasty names", then just stick to reading the rules, both of which would prohibit the 2.

"Christian" is not a nasty name, but I would say, if in doubt, don't do it.

[John V]

Have you ever managed groups of people with little to no higher education? I've got employees who will talk to the woman we have handling health coverage. A women they know to be a devout christian who does not swear and does not like to hear others swear. And they still couldn't get through a sentence without the word fuck in it if you put a gun to their head. You think everyone just knows. Trust me there are those that don't.  And speaking of higher education...

So, the forum would keep people with little education and no self-control out of serious discussions.

That's a good thing.

[johan]

"Christian" is not a nasty name, but I would say, if in doubt, don't do it.

Maybe christian isn't a nasty name to you, but that doesn't mean someone else wouldn't be insulted by that label. And you're still not answering my question. Its a yes or no answer and you are avoiding the question. I suspect that's because I'm asking you draw a line which you do not want to draw i.e. when does a comment become an insult. Its a very subjective question to answer. I don't blame you. I wouldn't want to draw that line either.

Catholic_Lady Wrote:
I mean, if someone doesn't like it or doesnt agree with its ptemise, they don't have to post in that section. The rest of the forum would stay the same. This would merely be a single added section for interested parties. Uninterested parties need not post there. 

I guess I'm not seeing what the trouble Is?

People who use the new posts button don't see forum sections. Case in point, I have absolutely no idea what section this thread is posted in. None. Nada. Zip. I know I can look at the top of the page and figure it out. I just don't do that because as of now, it doesn't matter. You're going to make that now matter anytime someone who only looks at new posts responds to a thread.

Now perhaps there are ways to solve this particular issue, but the point is your comment isn't valid unless this issue is addressed.

---

Also as has already been pointed out, what you're suggesting is already in the TOS for the entire forum i.e. keep it civil. Which again, goes to show that not everyone has the same idea of what is or isn't civil. Either that or forum moderation is lacking in this area. I'm not complaining about the job the mods do, I'm just saying that if you want to forum to be closer to your own personal definition of what civil is, perhaps finding ways to alter the current moderation standards would be a better way to do it.

[Edwardo Piet]

The only real concern I could see with this is the potential to cause extra work for the staff if people refuse to follow the rules.

But I feel like making this a section where approval is needed to be able to post in it, would really make people honor the rules because they wouldn't want to risk getting kicked out.

Other than that, I mean, if you dont like the premise, just don't post there lol.

And it would only be like how to post in the Mafia subforum you have to be pat of the Mafia user group.

[Catholic_Lady]

The reason I'm not putting much effort into my responses to you, Jo, is because I feel you are being disingenuous and obtuse on purpose.

"Christian" is, by definition, not a nasty word. Same as the word "chair" is not a nasty word. If people want to be offended by the word chair because it's nasty "to them", I would say that's their problem. With that being said, if someone finds a way to use those to words in a manner that is clearly meant to insult or provoke the other person, I would say that is breaking the spirit of the rule.

Same goes for if you tell someone "you sound like a dickwad", you are not "technically" calling them a dickwad. But if the rules of a forum are to be civil, not fling shit, not name call, and not cuss someones out, telling someone they "sound like a dickwad" and then saying "well, I said he's acting like a dickwad not that he is one!" ... that is still breaking the spirit of the rule and is thus still disallowed.

If a particular person has a hard time with this and intends on purposely pushing boundaries and skirting the rules, I would say that section is not for them. They can either not join, or they do join and promptly get kicked out when they can't manage to follow suit. No harm, no foul. The whole rest of the forum is still there and the same for them to use.