DIR Rules Poll, Christianity DIR

[Panda]

As you may be aware we are currently changing the way all our DIR forums work and have decided to leave the option up to the individual members of each DIR to choose from. We have came up with two options that we think are suitable:

1. One method is the same as the way DIRs are currently run: non-members of that area are limited only to respectful questions, and are not allowed to make any non-question posts. These DIRs will remain blue as is currently the case.
   
2. A second new method has been proposed for those DIR forums where, non-members of that area may make respectful posts that comply with the tenets and spirit of that area. This includes questions, as well as knowledgeable comments. These DIRs will be coloured green

We would like your opinions on the matter so please vote for how you want your DIR to be run. Please ONLY vote in your own DIR.

In the case where there is a limited number of votes, less than 4, then a DIR will remain blue. In the event of a tie or if the votes are extremely close with a large number of votes they will also remain blue. We will only change the DIR rules if there is a clear majority.


NOTE: This poll is public so we know only members of the DIR are voting. This poll will automatically close after 30 days.

 

[lunamoth]

Green.

 

[jilliebean01]

If it aint broke dont fix it, or you can fix it til its broke .

 

[jilliebean01]

But then again, also take into consideration that i'm new here.

 

[Renji]

Green..

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Looks like a lot of work for the mods deciding if the question /post oversteps the mark.

I would go green. If there is a quick way to stop a thread becoming a subtle attack.

 

[SageTree]

Green is good.

 

[Katzpur]

As you may be aware we are currently changing the way all our DIR forums work and have decided to leave the option up to the individual members of each DIR to choose from. We have came up with two options that we think are suitable:

1. One method is the same as the way DIRs are currently run: non-members of that area are limited only to respectful questions, and are not allowed to make any non-question posts. These DIRs will remain blue as is currently the case.

1. 
   
   [*]A second new method has been proposed for those DIR forums where, non-members of that area may make respectful posts that comply with the tenets and spirit of that area. This includes questions, as well as knowledgeable comments. These DIRs will be coloured green

We would like your opinions on the matter so please vote for how you want your DIR to be run. Please ONLY vote in your own DIR.

In the case where there is a limited number of votes, less than 4, then a DIR will remain blue. In the event of a tie or if the votes are extremely close with a large number of votes they will also remain blue. We will only change the DIR rules if there is a clear majority.


NOTE: This poll is public so we know only members of the DIR are voting. This poll will automatically close after 30 days.

I voted blue for this reason... The LDS DIR is a sub-forum of the Christianity DIR. With the green option, non-Mormons would be able to make "knowledgable comments" about Mormonism. I can see that as being very problematic on a forum where so many non-Mormons consider themselves to be authorities on what Mormons believe. If the rules of the Christianity forum (and its sub-forums) were to be left as they are now, people could still state what they think they know, but do it in the form of a question.

In other words, under the green rules, someone could go to the LDS DIR and say, "Mormons believe that when they die, they'll become a god and get their own planet." Under the blue rules, the person could only say, "Is it true that Mormons believe that when they die, they'll become a god and get their own planet?" I'm just curious as to how the staff would respond to inaccurate "knowledgable comments"? We already have plenty of forums for debate. This is the only website I know of on the internet where people can come to get accurate information from the followers of a religion without their questions turning into a debate.

I can see the same thing happening, though possibly to a lesser extent, on the other sub-forums of the Christianity DIR. I think it's really nice, though, that you're putting this matter up for a vote instead of just making a change without the input of the forum members.

 

[uu_sage]

I would prefer the Green option

 

[Katzpur]

I notice that most people who have voted so far want to go green. None of them have explained why. I'd like to hear some advantages of going green, since it looks like that's where we're headed.

 

[Quagmire]

I voted blue for this reason... The LDS DIR is a sub-forum of the Christianity DIR. With the green option, non-Mormons would be able to make "knowledgable comments" about Mormonism. I can see that as being very problematic on a forum where so many non-Mormons consider themselves to be authorities on what Mormons believe. If the rules of the Christianity forum (and its sub-forums) were to be left as they are now, people could still state what they think they know, but do it in the form of a question.

In other words, under the green rules, someone could go to the LDS DIR and say, "Mormons believe that when they die, they'll become a god and get their own planet." Under the blue rules, the person could only say, "Is it true that Mormons believe that when they die, they'll become a god and get their own planet?" I'm just curious as to how the staff would respond to inaccurate "knowledgable comments"? We already have plenty of forums for debate. This is the only website I know of on the internet where people can come to get accurate information from the followers of a religion without their questions turning into a debate.

I can see the same thing happening, though possibly to a lesser extent, on the other sub-forums of the Christianity DIR. I think it's really nice, though, that you're putting this matter up for a vote instead of just making a change without the input of the forum members.

Hi Katzpur. This is something that occurred to us too after we put the polls up. What we'll most likely wind up doing after the main polls are completed is creating separate polls for each sub-DIR. So in other words, even if the Christianity DIR goes green, the individual denominational DIRs can still decide how they want their's to be run.

 

[Renji]

I have voted green to make the DIR parts of the forum a bit active. There are many DIRs that are here but seems non-existent because only few people who post in it, due to the fact that the members of that specific DIR in this forum are relatively few. By allowing non members to post knowledgeable comments,we can perhaps encourage them to participate. Perhaps, by allowing "knowledgeable comments," the mods can add up criteria such as: a) the post should be respectful b) the post should be backed up by links (especially if it tackles a doctrine or a dogma) from credible sources from websites of that specific faith for it to be recognized as an official stance of the members of that specific DIR (eg. if a non members plan to make a knowledgeable comment about Catholicism in the Catholic DIR, it should be backed up by sources from the Roman Curia or Holy See website or any other credible websites, otherwise, that post can be considered just as an assumption and hence can be reported for staff review).

 

[Katzpur]

Hi Katzpur. This is something that occurred to us too after we put the polls up. What we'll most likely wind up doing after the main polls are completed is creating separate polls for each sub-DIR. So in other words, even if the Christianity DIR goes green, the individual denominational DIRs can still decide how they want their's to be run.

Good to hear! :yes:

 

[nazz]

I voted blue for this reason... The LDS DIR is a sub-forum of the Christianity DIR. With the green option, non-Mormons would be able to make "knowledgable comments" about Mormonism. I can see that as being very problematic on a forum where so many non-Mormons consider themselves to be authorities on what Mormons believe. If the rules of the Christianity forum (and its sub-forums) were to be left as they are now, people could still state what they think they know, but do it in the form of a question.

In other words, under the green rules, someone could go to the LDS DIR and say, "Mormons believe that when they die, they'll become a god and get their own planet." Under the blue rules, the person could only say, "Is it true that Mormons believe that when they die, they'll become a god and get their own planet?" I'm just curious as to how the staff would respond to inaccurate "knowledgable comments"? We already have plenty of forums for debate. This is the only website I know of on the internet where people can come to get accurate information from the followers of a religion without their questions turning into a debate.

I can see the same thing happening, though possibly to a lesser extent, on the other sub-forums of the Christianity DIR. I think it's really nice, though, that you're putting this matter up for a vote instead of just making a change without the input of the forum members.

you make a good point

 

[SageTree]

Is there a consideration or ability that the MAIN DIR will be green,
and that the sub-forums/sects of the DIR will remain blue or something along those lines?

Or perhaps that is the 'next level' or the blue and greening?
IE. The ind. sub-DIRs figuring out their own wishes, rules and standards for outsider participation.

 

[Katzpur]

Is there a consideration or ability that the MAIN DIR will be green,
and that the sub-forums/sects of the DIR will remain blue or something along those lines?

That's what Quagmire told me would be the case, and that sounds fine with me. It seems like it's going to create a whole lot more work for the staff, though. I mean there are so many new posters signing up every day. I would be willing to guess that not one in ten reads the forum rules before beginning to post. A lot of people are already pretty vague as to where they can debate and where they can't. Yeah, I know... you don't even need to read the forum rules to know that DIR basically means "no debating." Still, people see the word "Christianity" and if they're not Christian, they think, "Great, here's my opportunity to discredit the belief of Christians that Jesus was resurrected." I guess if someone started a thread of that sort, it could always be moved to the debate forum, which is what I'd hoped would happen.

My main concern was the sub-forums, and as long as they stay under the blue rules, I'm okay with the green rules being applied to the main forum. It wouldn't be my first choice, but I can definitely see that I'm outnumbered.

 

[SageTree]

That's what Quagmire told me would be the case, and that sounds fine with me. It seems like it's going to create a whole lot more work for the staff, though. I mean there are so many new posters signing up every day. I would be willing to guess that not one in ten reads the forum rules before beginning to post. A lot of people are already pretty vague as to where they can debate and where they can't. Yeah, I know... you don't even need to read the forum rules to know that DIR basically means "no debating." Still, people see the word "Christianity" and if they're not Christian, they think, "Great, here's my opportunity to discredit the belief of Christians that Jesus was resurrected." I guess if someone started a thread of that sort, it could always be moved to the debate forum, which is what I'd hoped would happen.

Thanks for the info.

It might be work, true, but I truly believe that it's a good good thing for us all.

We're here for understanding more than anything, I feel, and this will be conducive to that.

But yea... work....

With member supported actions and reports, keeping in touch with the Staff, nothing should get too out of hand, more than now anyways

My main concern was the sub-forums, and as long as they stay under the blue rules, I'm okay with the green rules being applied to the main forum. It wouldn't be my first choice, but I can definitely see that I'm outnumbered.

I think on the General DIR it will open a lot of doors...

Some sub-forums are naturally more open to questions and what not....
But each group has it's own right to have what/who they want in it.

No judgment on my part... I get it

The Sub-forums are more likely to contain VERY specific answers/questions,
and I DO believe that in a lot of cases this is best left up to the experts....
Or at least those MORE affiliated with the tradition.

 

[Adstar]

Option 1.

People who post questions want to get answers from Christians. Allowing unbelievers to answer with their own personal non-Christians opinions will only cause confusion.