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World Religion
HTML https://worldreligions.createaforum.com
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#Post#: 2--------------------------------------------------
Welcome to the World Religions!
DIR By: bulmabriefs144
Date: August 28, 2019, 5:08 pm
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So this is where normally the admin welcomes the new forum
members, only to alert them to oppressive ground rules.
Here's a nice example from Religious Forums!
--- Quote ---
> All of the following rules apply to any content on the forums,
including but not limited to: posts, conversations (private
messages), profile messages, chat messages, signatures, home
page links, etc. The staff will not patrol private messages but
will apply the rules to them if and when they are reported.
>
> If you feel content breaks the rules of the forum, please
click the REPORT button associated with the content. For rule
violations in the chat room, please take screen captures and
post them in Site Feedback.
>
> 1. Personal Comments About Members and Staff
>
> 2. Discussion/Dispute of Moderation
>
> 3. Trolling and Bullying
>
> 4. Soliciting/Advertising and Off-Topic Spam
>
> 5. Obscene Language and Adult/Violent Content
>
> 6. Illegal Activities
> Advocating or discussing personal engagement in illegal
activities or criminal organizations (such as terrorist groups)
is prohibited. Illegal activities are defined based on United
States law, and include but are not limited to: drug use, theft,
piracy, vandalism, and all violent crimes.
>
> 7. Quotations and Citations/References
>
> 8. Preaching/Proselytizing
>
> 9. Subverting/Undermining the Forum Mission
>
> 10. Debating in Non-debate Forums or Posting in DIR/ONLY
Forums
>
>
--- End Quote ---
Okay, this is based on the rules of the last forum that I was
at. And it's why I am trying to leave. Let's talk about these
rules one at a time, and explains why only one of these rules
will actually remain.
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First off.
--- Quote ---
>
> If you feel content breaks the rules of the forum, please
click the REPORT button associated with the content. For rule
violations in the chat room, please take screen captures and
post them in Site Feedback.
--- End Quote ---
You're encouraged to snitch to the mods!
1. Personal Comments About Members and Staff
Let's explore what this actually means in fact rather than what
it should mean in theory. What it means in theory is that
members and staff are not threatened or criticized. What it
means in fact, however, is that disputing a warning or moderator
action, is itself a moderateable offense. As in, rather than
saying "You insulted my religion, I will hunt you down, etc"
when the Moderator censors your post for saying "hate speech,
transphobia, homophobia, Islamophobia" you dispute it even
politely, explaining "But... this wasn't Islamophobic, I quoted
the Quran's own words." Instant ban for calling the Mod wrong.
Sorry, but I do not want this in my forum.
2. Discussion/Dispute of Moderation
Basically, this is a merge of #1, because they are basically the
same thing. One is calling the Mod an idiot, the other is
disputing their actions. A healthy forum actually holds those
in charge accountable.
3. Trolling and Bullying
Uhhhh, I hate to tell you this, but mods will always be
selective of who they consider to be trolling or bullying. And
it is based somewhat on their own personal politics/religion,
but also based on the squeaky wheel principle. The biggest
assholes are the most likely to complain when they feel bullied,
yet the lone Christian or conservative poster on a gaming
website getting ganged up on might be ignored because they sound
homophobic or transphobic. You'll notice I have no LGBT
sections, no Islam section, and no Politics section. I don't
have time for activism.
4. Soliciting/Advertising and Off-Topic Spam
I have made a few changes to the way moderation works in this
forum. The mods have very little power, while the regular users
have many of the same powers. For example, users can close their
own thread. They can also delete posts within their own thread.
But neither users nor mods can close the threads of others or
delete their posts. You can PM me, and I can help you with that
if they started the thread, but there are no real Report
functions. And if someone wants to use my site to advertise a
business, or if a topic went off track, I have no beef with
this.
5. Obscene Language and Adult/Violent Content
Here's the thing. The minimum age here is 18. I expect that
everyone here is able to view adult content, and as such my only
request is that such things are kept relevant and tasteful. You
are adults, and are expected not to get offended like a
14-year-old girl. If someone notifies me of anything extremely
graphic or violent, I will consider the context (whether it's
threatening someone or the like). But I would trust that you
can figure out what is and is not appropriate.
6. Illegal Activities
You'll notice this one is the only one bolded in the quote. It's
the only one I care about. I am likely unable to properly
police plagiarism, and I don't want to spend all of my time
worrying about people getting offending by nude pictures. But
having people try to set up public meetings for sex or violence,
I might want to actually be told about such a thing. The same
for attempts to commit terrorism or to do human trafficking. I'm
not sure how effective this board will be against this, but I've
made it so even regular members can lock topics (I'm gonna test
this out before committing to it). If something sketchy goes on,
I want regular people to act, not a bunch of power-drunk mods.
7. Quotations and Citations/References
This was about plagiarism, and misquoting people. I honestly
couldn't care less about whether a quote is accurate. But if
someone has a claim against another person, they can lock their
post.
8. Preaching/Proselytizing
Human beings operating on a religious forum want to preach. It's
why they're there.
9. Subverting/Undermining the Forum Mission
Religious Forums is about all religions getting along. In an
ideal (read: dream) world, yes, every religion would get along
with every other. But more important to me is having people able
to speak freely and openly. It would be nice to debate and
everyone to perfectly like each other, but I would like people
to tell each other how they really feel without mods, to reach a
point where the other actually has to admit "you may be right",
leaves, or apologizes. After long conversations where it always
felt like you were using kid gloves for fear of being banned,
and nobody every talking about their real problems like "I had
some guy try to murder me at age 8, and that's why I hate
Christians" but rather giving vague lies about how they KNOW
there can't be a God, and the thread closes just as someone
shows otherwise.
10. Debating in Non-debate Forums or Posting in DIR/ONLY Forums
Not even applicable. Basically Religious Forum has sections that
the user can allow for themselves (up to about 6) to avoid
offending people. I think you missed the point of a religious
debate forum. You're supposed to argue. Arguing allows people
to actually air grievances. These mod-heavy forums prevent any
meaningful conversation from taking place.
The problem with all of this is that it patently ignores the
fact that in fact, you are probably living in the US (if you
aren't, tough luck, I am and this is my forum) and these site
rules should be subservient to the Bill of Rights. Not override
it.
HTML https://nccs.net/blogs/americas-founding-documents/bill-of-rights-amendments-1-10
In particular, nearly every web forum asks you to agree to an
agreement whereupon in order to post, you waive your 1st
Amendment right to free speech. They tell you that the forum may
have the right to alter or delete your post, or to ban you
permanently from posting. This is in direct violation of
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of
religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging
the freedom of speech or of the press, or the right of the
people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government for
a redress of grievances." You are asked to agree to a set of
forum rules that directly contradicts this.
The only time censorship ought to be used is when speaking is in
violation of human law (that is, "I've got some nice slaves to
sell.")
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