29 Jan 05
Hi All,
I've sent a pm to Russ asking that Religion has its own forum. With all due respect to each one's own religious (or non-religious) endeavors, I am quite tired of being bombarded by propaganda. It's not even debate anymore.
I'm not implying anyone should be silenced or censored for their beliefs. At the same time, however, there should be a place where those who share common beliefs can converse and those who do not can peacefully co-exist.
I have asked Russ to create a vote for it but I understand he may not. I suppose its easy enough to avoid in any forum the debates covering these subjects but I think there are so many of them now clogging the Debates forum that I don't think its fair anyone should have to do that.
Does anybody else feel the same?
29 Jan 05
Originally posted by Joe FistNo, I strongly disagree.
Hi All,
I've sent a pm to Russ asking that Religion has its own forum. With all due respect to each one's own religious (or non-religious) endeavors, I am quite tired of being bombarded by propaganda. It's not even debate anymore.
I'm not implying anyone should be silenced or censored for their beliefs. At the same time, however, there should ...[text shortened]... that I don't think its fair anyone should have to do that.
Does anybody else feel the same?
29 Jan 05
2 edits
Originally posted by Joe FistFor one, it has already been reported via a credible source that Russ has decided that this won't happen, so it is a moot point to debate.
Care to elaborate?
Second, if you read the description of the Debates forum, you will see that it was designed specifically to accommodate religious discussion. I understand that some time ago, the prevalence of religious discussion in General is what prompted the creation, or genesis if you will, of the Debates forum in the first place.
Note that the Clan forum was designed to accommodate clan discussions, and clan discussions "clog" that forum, but nobody is calling for clan discussions to be quarantined out of that forum! The similarity should be obvious: the Debates were designed to accommodate religious discussion, and the forum advertises itself that way, so it would be silly to cordon off relgious discussions out of the very place that they are intended to be held.
Dr. S
29 Jan 05
Originally posted by DoctorScribblesYour first point: I understand Russ's decision but I just thought if enough interest and opinions were heard perhaps he would reconsider. Perhaps he would not. Regardless I think the people should decide and if the decision is to keep it the way things are so be it.
For one, it has already been reported via a credible source that Russ has decided that this won't happen, so it is a moot point to debate.
Second, if you read the description of the Debates forum, you will see that is was designed specifically to accommodate religious discussion. I understand that some time ago, the prevalence of religious discu ...[text shortened]... ordon off relgious discussions out of the very place that they are intended to be held.
Dr. S
2nd point: I respect the idea of the Debates forum is to "debate" on all subject matter, including Religion. But most of the religious debates are no longer debate. There are no exchange of ideas. It is reduced to scripture quoting and name calling. I think its completely perverse how many threads are open on this subject because its basically the same arguement over and over and over again.
I don't know anything about the clan forums. I am at best a mediocre chess player. I challenge that most of the religious debates are no longer really debates. In English, the arguements are just getting old and boring and the same thing.
29 Jan 05
Originally posted by Joe FistStop reading the debates about religion then. There are plenty of other debates going on, or other forums to check in on.
Your first point: I understand Russ's decision but I just thought if enough interest and opinions were heard perhaps he would reconsider. Perhaps he would not. Regardless I think the people should decide and if the decision is to keep it the way things are so be it.
2nd point: I respect the idea of the Debates forum is to "debate" on all subject m ...[text shortened]... really debates. In English, the arguements are just getting old and boring and the same thing.
If you feel you are a mediocre player, go and post some of your games in the "Chess Forum" and see if anyone can give you some constructive advice.
Mark
29 Jan 05
1 edit
Originally posted by Joe FistIf you apply this standard to the religion-oriented threads, you should apply it to all threads. The Philosophy Quotes thread, for example, is old and boring to me. Should it be deleted or given its own forum? The same goes for threads about Iraq and politics in general. Should they be quarantined as well, so they don't clog up the Debates? And what's left in the Debates after you've quarantined all these subjects that you claim have grown stale? Not too much of anything. You think that the old, boring, and repetitive discussions are a clog, but they're actually the water, since when you take them away, hardly anything will remain to run through the pipe. Further, the fact that the religious threads continue to thrive day after day and week after week is evidence that they have not in fact grown stale to those participating in them.
I challenge that most of the religious debates are no longer really debates. In English, the arguements are just getting old and boring and the same thing.
Dr. S
29 Jan 05
Originally posted by DoctorScribblesYeah , we went through the idea of a seperate religious forum just a month ago . Russ says no dice .
If you apply this standard to the religion-oriented threads, you should apply it to all threads. The Philosophy Quotes thread, for example, is old and boring to me. Should it be deleted or given its own forum? The same goes for threads about Iraq and politics in general. Should they be quarantined as well, so they don't clog up the Debates? And ...[text shortened]... week is evidence that they have not in fact grown stale to those participating in them.
Dr. S
But I think there should be some kind of way to keep religion in the debate forum (it's been bleeding into general again) , and to keep threads from getting steered into someone's pet agenda . It's not just religious either (IE - STANG) . I'm not talking about wandering off type digressions . I'm talking about people with a pattern of always trying to take any forum to the same ol' place . There are threads which call out for barbs like - "Are there any honest non-believers" , "Bush is a war monger" , "Repent" - Those are almost asking for anything/everything to be slung at them to see what sticks . But when people are trying to have and intellegent political discussion and it gets switched to god , or when they're trying to have a joke exchange and it gets switched to politics , etc - the whole thing goes to hell . Why have threads and different forums at all then ?
Why don't we all type at once on the same page while we're at it ?
I think a lot of nastiness will not be evoked if people are more polite and discriminating with where they post . I know that's where a lot of my bile slinging comes from , it's reactionary to offensive manners perpitrated by the same few posters .
29 Jan 05
Originally posted by Joe FistThe same is true of nearly all forums in nearly all venues designed for debate--from Ricky Lake to the Federal Presidential Debate Commission sponsored events.
But most of the religious debates are no longer debate. There are no exchange of ideas. It is reduced to scripture quoting and name calling. I think its completely perverse how many threads are open on this subject because its basically the same arguement over and over and over again.
When matters of religion or political ideology, or even lifestyle are at issue, most folks exchange views, and then repeat themselves endlessly.
We could exclude all those who do not actually debate, but then there would be so few posts that there would be little point in logging in to RHP, unless one did so for the sake of chess.
29 Jan 05
Originally posted by Joe Fist
But most of the religious debates are no longer debate. There are no exchange of ideas. It is reduced to scripture quoting and name calling. I think its completely perverse how many threads are open on this subject because its basically the same arguement over and over and over again.
Do you really see any difference between these and the political
threads? I mean, has Stang or TexasCowboy ever 'exchanged' ideas.
No, they simply repeat the same things over and over without any
regard for evidence or counteragrument.
Most posts in most threads are polemical opinions and nothing more.
Nemesio
30 Jan 05
Originally posted by Joe FistMove religion out of general and send it the debate forum, now move
Your first point: I understand Russ's decision but I just thought if enough interest and opinions were heard perhaps he would reconsider. Perhaps he would not. Regardless I think the people should decide and if the decision is to keep it the way things are so be it.
2nd point: I respect the idea of the Debates forum is to "debate" on all subject m ...[text shortened]... really debates. In English, the arguements are just getting old and boring and the same thing.
it out of the debate forum into a religious forum. Sort of like the
public areas today, allow them to talk about God in a church but keep
it completely away from everyone else. I guess that mind set is
creeping out everywhere.
Kelly
30 Jan 05
Originally posted by KellyJayIf only it were confined to churches! AMEN.
Move religion out of general and send it the debate forum, now move
it out of the debate forum into a religious forum. Sort of like the
public areas today, allow them to talk about God in a church but keep
it completely away from everyone else. I guess that mind set is
creeping out everywhere.
Kelly