Dictating Beliefs

[Willamena]

Sunstone has only been gone a day and already things are falling apart.

I've noticed a few threads where people have shifted from expressing beliefs to dicatating them --that is, openly telling people that what they believe is wrong and they should believe this other thing, which is right.

Is this the kind of forum we want?

 

[Dunemeister]

I see what you mean. But doesn't every expression of belief carry the implication that the expressed belief is worthy of being believed? And doesn't that also imply that beliefs contrary to it are somehow less worthy of belief? I think we need to be polite about how we express our beliefs, but I'm not so sure that people ought not to say that I'm wrong if they disbelieve my assertions. What irks me is when people disagree with me but their disagreement is couched in language that implies I'm stupid, uninformed, immoral, or whatever. I wish that sort of thing were dealt with more consistently.

 

[Halcyon]

Sunstone has only been gone a day and already things are falling apart.

I've noticed a few threads where people have shifted from expressing beliefs to dicatating them --that is, openly telling people that what they believe is wrong and they should this other thing, which is right.

Is this the kind of forum we want?

Report them, that's proselytising. I'm sure Mister_T and Mystic can put the smack down as hard as Uncle Sunstone.

 

[Troublemane]

Ya, the smacketh cometh

 

[Willamena]

I see what you mean. But doesn't every expression of belief carry the implication that the expressed belief is worthy of being believed? And doesn't that also imply that beliefs contrary to it are somehow less worthy of belief? I think we need to be polite about how we express our beliefs, but I'm not so sure that people ought not to say that I'm wrong if they disbelieve my assertions. What irks me is when people disagree with me but their disagreement is couched in language that implies I'm stupid, uninformed, immoral, or whatever. I wish that sort of thing were dealt with more consistently.

Every expression of belief is true. That's why it's believed.

I know what you mean about the condescending.

 

[whereismynotecard]

No, it is not the kind of forum we want.

 

[Runt]

I've noticed a few threads where people have shifted from expressing beliefs to dicatating them --that is, openly telling people that what they believe is wrong and they should believe this other thing, which is right.

Is this the kind of forum we want?

If posters present an argument to back up their conclusion---and are willing to defend that argument---then I personally don't mind them dictating their beliefs or even openly telling people what they believe is wrong. But, as I said, they better be able to back up what they argue, and respond honestly and respectfully to criticism.

 

[Scott1]

I thought talking about staff business was a "rule-breaker".....

 

[Runt]

I thought talking about staff business was a "rule-breaker".....

Meh, nobody's making decisions for the staff or demanding a certain course of action. We're just stating our opinions on the topic. Besides, should not posters have a right to speak their mind on what kind of forum they want to participate in? Feedback is always nice, provided it doesn't get out of hand...

 

[Scott1]

Ah.... so it's ok to say things are "falling apart" provided it's a PRO-staff opinion.... gotcha.

 

[Willamena]

Ah.... so it's ok to say things are "falling apart" provided it's a PRO-staff opinion.... gotcha.

Thing is... no one has said that, here.

 

[Scott1]

Okey dokey

 

[Runt]

Ah.... so it's ok to say things are "falling apart" provided it's a PRO-staff opinion.... gotcha.

I've been gone for a while... have we seriously reached the point where the site and the staff are utterly above even the most indirect criticism and posters are required to never comment upon either?

If things were indeed falling apart----and everything looks great, as well as I can tell----it seems to me that silencing posters would be a symptom of that problem... so I hope things haven't changed so much that people are not allowed to voice their opinions in a gentle and respectful manner.

 

[Somkid]

Humm, does this mean I can be witty and sarcastic if someone dictates to me?

 

[feather]

No, I don't think this is how the forum should be. I think there is nothing worse than pointing the finger and saying you should believe in this... Whereas I find it fine to say I believe in this because...

 

[Willamena]

Okey dokey

I could interpret this in a number of ways, but I choose to see that you've found some reason to find in this thread that we are talking about staff, and/or that the forum is somehow failing. Is that so?

PS: Really, it's okay to talk about it here.

 

[Scott1]

I could interpret this in a number of ways, but I choose to see that you've found some reason to find in this thread that we are talking about staff, and/or that the forum is somehow failing. Is that so?

PS: Really, it's okay to talk about it here.

Drop it... thanks.... this forum is great and the staff are doing a great job... I'm thankful for the opportunity to post here.

 

[Willamena]

Drop it... thanks.... this forum is great and the staff are doing a great job... I'm thankful for the opportunity to post here.

haha.. oKay.

 

[Runt]

Drop it... thanks.... this forum is great and the staff are doing a great job... I'm thankful for the opportunity to post here.

I agree, and add also that I don't think this thread was intended to criticize the staff. It was, however, intended to discuss forum etiquette.

 

[Willamena]

I agree, and add also that I don't think this thread was intended to criticize the staff. It was, however, intended to criticize the idea of forum etiquette.

That is the case.