Civilized trial thread

[Catholic_Lady]

To be clear, disagreement, criticism, and debate would be allowed, obviously lol. That's kind of the whole point of the subforum.

[CapnAwesome]

You want to see if this works? Let's do a trial thread here. I know, I know, while not fully representative of what is being suggested, but this should be some start.

Let's debate the overdone subject of the existence of the Abrahamic god ... civilly.

I'll start with a simple question for our resident theists:

Even if it was reasonable to believe some classical god exists, give me one good reason why it has to be the Abrahamic god worshiped by Jews, Christians, and Muslims.

What, no debates on ABBA?

ABBA are Republican.

[Edwardo Piet]

To be clear, disagreement, criticism, and debate would be allowed, obviously lol. That's kind of the whole point of the subforum.

Yes. I think to suggest that we can't call people ignorant is a step too far though! I'll regularly admit I'm ignorant on many topics. I'm not insulting myself by saying that.

[RoadRunner79]

A safe space goes far beyond merely not being allowed to insult people. A safe space involves not being able to criticize someone else's views.

Yeah, that's the thing, if you ask someone who is pro-safe spaces, they'd probably describe it in a similar way to this idea, being safe from insults, but it's really about being safe from ideas.

Also put in this hypothetical, lets say a member who is in good standing in everyway on the board goes to the civil section and offends or insults someone, say because like me, they check stuff based on the recent posts button, are we going to ban that person over it? Seems unneccesary in so many different ways.

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Hey, Cap'n, you've been called out for being afraid of an xtian conversation! 

See!

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I don’t see being proposed most of what you said. Are you afraid of civil honest conversation?

You can have that conversation with me on any part of the boards. Since I don't resort to personal insults (except occasionally with Hammy, but he starts it :p )

But you are just proving my point. You are looking for a safe place to be preachy, not for a rarional debate. We already have that here. It's called the debate sub section.

No, still not talking about a “safe space” in that way.... your point seems to be based on false assumptions.

[SaStrike]

sex. oh wrong thread.

[CapnAwesome]

Yeah, that's the thing, if you ask someone who is pro-safe spaces, they'd probably describe it in a similar way to this idea, being safe from insults, but it's really about being safe from ideas.

Also put in this hypothetical, lets say a member who is in good standing in everyway on the board goes to the civil section and offends or insults someone, say because like me, they check stuff based on the recent posts button, are we going to ban that person over it? Seems unneccesary in so many different ways.

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See!

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You can have that conversation with me on any part of the boards. Since I don't resort to personal insults (except occasionally with Hammy, but he starts it :p )

But you are just proving my point. You are looking for a safe place to be preachy, not for a rarional debate. We already have that here. It's called the debate sub section.

No, still not talking about a “safe space” in that way.... your point seems to be based on false assumptions.

You want to be able to say nonsense and not be called a dumbshit, a place to not be offended. How is it not a safe space?

[RoadRunner79]

No, still not talking about a “safe space” in that way.... your point seems to be based on false assumptions.

You want to be able to say nonsense and not be called a dumbshit, a place to not be offended. How is it not a safe space?

If you address what I say, and not something else, as well as explain why;   I have no problem if you think something is dumb.  If you are just hurling insults to poison the well, or trying to bully others to make yourself feel good, then that is both sad and uncivil.

As to not being offended.  That depends.  Is it your intention to offend?   Are you saying something with the sole purpose to offend?  IF I'm offended by facts and reason, then that is on me.  If you are saying stuff only to provoke, mock, or ridicule, then I think that would qualify.

And once again, I'm not, nor do I see anyone asking for a safe space.  It appears to be just in your imagination.  Your point still seems to be on false assumptions, and potions that I did not state nor do I hold.  I think that the Prime directive issued a short time ago was good.  I applaud the spirit behind it.  The problem is that it lacks teeth.  I think that the area for civil discussion would be the prime directive enforced.

[*Deidre*]

I see the points of view of those who don’t want this separate area. The reason being, faith for an atheist isn’t debatable. And if we are being honest, theists who debate are really just defending their faith. Witnessing, etc.

There is no absolute evidence to debate unlike secular topics. Faith is derived from many things and experience and emotions are both part of it.

To want a separate space to not be insulted, I get that. But I honestly see it turning into a pulpit for some to preach, which doesn’t offend me, but I’m not an atheist. So, I see both sides.

[RoadRunner79]

I think that the main issue would be how to formulate the rules, and apply them fairly.  It may not always be black and white as to what is civilized or it may depend on motive.  I still think that the aversion to being civil is quite apropos to my views as of late; not of all, but a large majority of internet atheists.

[*Deidre*]

I personally think the forum as a whole should make name calling, insults, detailed threads with insults etc - bannable offenses. Not banned forever but time limits.

Even if I were an atheist, if I posted something that someone didn’t like about say politics, I don’t want to deal with that one special poster calling me a fuck wit or whatever, as it derails the dialogue. Other forums ban for a day or week or whatever, those types of offenders. Religious forums does this and it works. Play nice or go in time out.

I think if those rules were enforced (whether the mod spots it on sight or it’s reported) there wouldn’t be a need for a separate space.