General Posting Advice

[KevinG]

Since I missed all the fun of the parting huff yesterday from yet another wounded advocate for truth and the former Mormon way - and since due to my new work schedule opportunities to preach are fewer and further between... I thought I'd take the time to post some free advice (worth every penny you paid for it) on how to survive and thrive as a Mormon adherent or critic in this forum.

#1 Read the Board Guidelines the most important being respect each other and the moderators.

#2 Don’t take it (or give it) personally. Coming into any conversation and taking swings at others sacred beliefs is not a good way to win friends and influence people. Drop the chip off of your shoulder and be open minded, even when your beliefs may differ from the predominant group of commenters.

#3 Don't be a victim. Participation on this forum (like in church, or volunteer activities in general) is voluntary. You are free to post or not post as you wish. It is the height of irony to take advantage of a free service, with volunteer sponsors and moderators and complain about how you don’t have freedom of expression.

#4 Eschew offensisensitivity. Taking offense (where none is given) is a sign of your own biases not the moderation team or other posters. I enjoy this forum because it is neither wholly faith promoting or faith opposing to the Latter-day Saints. I have learned a great deal about my faith and myself by seeing the great variety of opinions and approaches to Mormonism here. Most difficulties here do not stem from a pro vs. anti Mormon view but a my way vs. the highway view on the part of posters.

#5 Moderate yourself first so others don’t have to. When you find yourself being insulting or insulted check yourself before you wreck yourself. In my experience thread bannings and other moderation discipline is few and far between and usually results from someone ignoring the board rules not saying something the moderators disagreed with. In fact bad behavior often goes on a long time before someone reports it. Tolerance of dissent here is very good compared to most moderated online forums of any type.

#6 Get over yourself. Your truth does not equal the whole truth. Most posters don’t care that you came out against the cult that is brainwashing your whole family or that the scales finally came off your poor deluded eyes. Just as you probably don’t care if others think you must be a sinner if you disagree with them. Don’t assume your experience is generalizable and those who don’t share it are stupid or deluded. We’re are rarely as dumb as you think we are.

#7 Remember where you are. This is a forum to discuss Mormonism and so you will find a bias towards discussing (ta-da) Mormonism. Not Atheism, Catholicism, Unitarian Universalism, Republicanism, Vegetarianism, Feminism or other –isms. Expect the faithful, doubting and anti- to defend their view but don’t expect us to get excited about your tangential hobby horse.

Thank you for reading my rant.

[thesometimesaint]

Follow the 11th Commandment. Thou shalt not take thyself too seriously.

[Calm]

It is the height of irony to take advantage of a free service, with volunteer sponsors and moderators and complain about how you don’t have freedom of expression.

There are few things a poster can say that disconnects my brain from the conversation faster than something along the lines of "I will probably get banned for being so forthright"....

Temper tantrums or rants are not the same thing as a well reasoned and presented argument.

There have been too many critics that have managed to stay for significant amounts of time while still disagreeing strongly with LDS truth claims or cultural aspects or whatever. What isn't allowed by moderators is making judgmental comments about the intelligence or honesty of someone else...and if that is what is getting one into trouble, perhaps one needs to take a serious look at one's arguments because if one needs to appeal to that type of an argument to add substance, the rest of one's comments are probably pretty useless.

Edited April 12, 2013 by calmoriah

[ERMD]

^{I missed the fireworks!}

Edited April 12, 2013 by ERMD

[ERayR]

There are few things a poster can say that disconnects my brain from the conversation faster than something along the lines of "I will probably get banned for being so forthright"....

Temper tantrums or rants are not the same thing as a well reasoned and presented argument.

There have been too many critics that have managed to stay for significant amounts of time while still disagreeing strongly with LDS truth claims or cultural aspects or whatever. What isn't allowed by moderators is making judgmental comments about the intelligence or honesty of someone else...and if that is what is getting one into trouble, perhaps one needs to take a serious look at one's arguments because if one needs to appeal to that type of an argument to add substance, the rest of one's comments are probably pretty useless.

I will probably get banned but

[ERayR]

^{I missed the fireworks!}

Me too. I'm going to have to quit doing any work it is just getting in the way.

[Duncan]

well said!

[mfbukowski]

Me too. I'm going to have to quit doing any work it is just getting in the way.

Me 3. What happened?

[Calm]

I think something to do with the "General Parting Advice" from PoisonWell who apparently feels s/he can't speak as freely here as s/he should be able to....

But since s/he isn't banned, I suspect the fireworks were at most a little squib or two.

Edited April 12, 2013 by calmoriah

[ERayR]

I think something to do with the "General Parting Advice" from PoisonWell who apparently feels s/he can't speak as freely here as s/he should be able to....

You mean like turn it in to a cage match?

Edited April 12, 2013 by ERayR

[Calm]

You mean like turn it in to a cage match?

Actually in most cases it seems like those who complain want it to be more like a dunk tank where they are the ones that get to throw the ball and the other guy needs to just sit and take it.

[ERayR]

In one of the posts there was something about seeking the truth and debating. In my mind those are not necessarily compatible. Seeking the truth is about quiet discussion. Debate is about scoring points.

We have some of both on this board.

[Calm]

In one of the posts there was something about seeking the truth and debating. In my mind those are not necessarily compatible. Seeking the truth is about quiet discussion. Debate is about scoring points.

We have some of both on this board.

I agree.

And anyone who thinks debate leads to truth rather than to just showing off who is the better debater needs to rethink what is going on in a debate, imo.

[cdowis]

Remember:

This forum is just a hobby.

[wenglund]

Me 3. What happened?

As you may have guessed, it had something to do with me. The aptly self-titled "WellPoinson" had a hussy-fit because I refused to go into detail in answering his tangential question on a thread. And, in spite of what I said to the contrary, of course, s/he attributed my reluctance in answering to my alleged aversion to the "truth," and huffily left the board after making a public announcement to that affect. It was a lovely spectacle.

The good news is, I have since opened a thread that will allow me to more appropriately take up his or her question (it is the thread on whether the Holy Ghost may tell different people different things). We will just have to see if his or her quest for truth leads back to the board. I won't hold my breath.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[sethpayne]

Thank you for reading my rant.

Great thoughts, Kevin.

Let me also add that the feature to block posts from certain users who annoy/infuriate/bother you with their comments and/or posting style, is a godsend. It makes reading the board much more enjoyable when you don't have to sift through posts that are just likely to tick you off.

From what I can tell, about 99% of posters have my posts blocked and I don't blame them.

[KevinG]

Great thoughts, Kevin.

Let me also add that the feature to block posts from certain users who annoy/infuriate/bother you with their comments and/or posting style, is a godsend. It makes reading the board much more enjoyable when you don't have to sift through posts that are just likely to tick you off.

From what I can tell, about 99% of posters have my posts blocked and I don't blame them.

What was that Seth? I had you blocked.

[KevinG]

As you may have guessed, it had something to do with me. The aptly self-titled "WellPoinson" had a hussy-fit because I refused to go into detail in answering his tangential question on a thread. And, in spite of what I said to the contrary, of course, s/he attributed my reluctance in answering to my alleged aversion to the "truth," and huffily left the board after making a public announcement to that affect. It was a lovely spectacle.

The good news is, I have since opened a thread that will allow me to more appropriately take up his or her question (it is the thread on whether the Holy Ghost may tell different people different things). We will just have to see if his or her quest for truth leads back to the board. I won't hold my breath.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

We all know you are resistant to the truth and full of cognitive dissonance Wade. It just takes new posters a while to get used to the fact that you are unrepentant and satisifed with your self delusions. But we still love you.

[ERayR]

We all know you are resistant to the truth and full of cognitive dissonance Wade. It just takes new posters a while to get used to the fact that you are unrepentant and satisifed with your self delusions. But we still love you.

Not really he is just opinionated and intractable. That is why I like him he is like me. However, I wish he would listen to reason a little more.

[KevinG]

I do hope Wade realizes that was a sarcastic tease...

[ERayR]

I do hope Wade realizes that was a sarcastic tease...

Me too or else I am doomed.

[MorningStar]

#8 Try picking a username that doesn't make you sound like a jerk from the beginning.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

^{I missed the fireworks!}

Stay away a few hours and miss so much.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

#8 Try picking a username that doesn't make you sound like a jerk from the beginning.

Don't use the same user name everywhere you go, you are loved or hated right away. Thus my Joni Mitchell signature line.

[cursor]

Joni Mitchell is GREAT!