I'm sick of this forum.

[Amani_Bhava]

There is too much hatred and bigotry on this site. Racism, homophobia, transphobia, bashing Muslims, bashing Jews, etc. It's way out of hand here. In one thread, you have a poster accusing transgender people of being mentally ill sexual predators and in another, you have a poster going on an anti-black racist rant (with a "like" from a staff member, no less!). And that's only what I've seen tonight. It's getting to the point where I do not feel this is a welcoming or respectful message board. I have more productive and respectful discussions on Facebook. At least there I do not have to pretend to be nice to people who obviously see me as subhuman.

This site needs to change and do better. I really don't want to leave this site as I have friends here and good memories, but I often find myself angry, hurt and sad reading posts on this site. I really wonder why I bother when this place can be so toxic. I just wanted to air my concerns. It's something that's been on my mind for awhile.

As the guy on a supposed anti black rant .. first a black man accused my nation and race out of the blue .. I wrote very reasonable replies and apologised to him 3-4 times on behalf of Indians who may have hurt his sentiments -- I called my countrymen idiots, morons and mentally retarded.

If this seems racist .. I apologize to you.

But I ask you why do the moderators allow such a thread to be created in the first place? Who would not react if they saw someone accusing his countrymen in huge fonts?

Sorry for your distress but I would do what I did hundred times over.

namaste

amani_bhava

 

[SalixIncendium]

**MOD POST**
​

RULE 1 REMINDER:

Personal attacks and name-calling, whether direct or in the third person, are strictly prohibited on the forums.

RULE 3 REMINDER:

Where Rule 1 covers personal attacks, Rule 3 governs other behaviors and content that can generally be described as being a jerk. Unacceptable behaviors and content include:

1) Content (whether words or images) that most people would find needlessly offensive, especially when such content is posted just to get a rise out of somebody and/or is not part of a reasoned argument.

2) Defamation, slander, or misrepresentation of a member's beliefs/arguments, or that of a particular group, culture, or religion. This includes altering the words of another member to change their meaning when using the quote feature.

3) Antagonism, bullying, or harassment - including but not limited to personal attacks, slander, and misrepresentation - of a member across multiple content areas of the forums. Repeatedly targeting or harassing members of particular groups will also be considered bullying.​

ANY PERSONAL ATTACKS, HARASSMENT, TROLLING, OR BULLYING WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED AS INTERPRETED BY THE STAFF, WILL BE TREATED AS RULE 1 OR RULE 3 VIOLATIONS OR BOTH, AND WILL BE ACTED UPON IN ACCORDANCE WITH FORUM POLICY.

​

 

[Trackdayguy]

FWIW, I'm not sure I've ever seen such behavior on RF. Admittedly I don't visit all the sub-forums, so I wonder if this is limited to certain sub-forums?

Edit: Additions:

What I DO see in this forum is that IDEAS get bashed. The distinction between a person and their ideas can sometimes be a hard one to see, but it's a really crucial distinction. For example, I bash Islam a lot. but I don't bash Muslims. I might bash apologist arguments that I think are poorly formed, but again, that's an attack on an idea, not on a person.

I agree in principle. However when attack someone else's life style of belief system we are indirectly attacking them, on the basis of association.

 

[Trackdayguy]

As the guy on a supposed anti black rant .. first a black man accused my nation and race out of the blue .. I wrote very reasonable replies and apologised to him 3-4 times on behalf of Indians who may have hurt his sentiments -- I called my countrymen idiots, morons and mentally retarded.

If this seems racist .. I apologize to you.

But I ask you why do the moderators allow such a thread to be created in the first place? Who would not react if they saw someone accusing his countrymen in huge fonts?

Sorry for your distress but I would do what I did hundred times over.

namaste

amani_bhava

I have moderated on several forums, the problem for staff/moderators is: 1. We have freedom of speech but at the same time we cant allow the wolf in the paddock. 2. Part of the problem is that moderators start becoming parents and deciding what it is that we shouldn't do say or believe. The majority of moderators are great people and are serving their respective communities without reward, yet the fear of people being offended has huge power of most moderators who are incorrectly taking responsibility for other peoples attitudes and responses.

 

[Trackdayguy]

Wow.

So a member posts about some legitimate problems on the forum, vents some feelings and doesn't abuse or offend anyone, and is hit back by some with mockery and insult for daring to do such a thing.

That's low.

Your right. the majority of people are frightened to death of offending people, its at a pandemic state.

 

[icehorse]

I agree in principle. However when attack someone else's life style of belief system we are indirectly attacking them, on the basis of association.

It seems to me that if you don't want to debate your ideas, you shouldn't spend time on debate forums. If some of your ideas are too delicate to be discussed, that's a big problem. We humans basically have two ways to work through disagreements:

- discussion
- violence

If you hold ideas so tightly that they cannot be debated, you are ultimately supporting violence. There is simply no other choice.

 

[Revoltingest]

But I ask you why do the moderators allow such a thread to be created in the first place? Who would not react if they saw someone accusing his countrymen in huge fonts?

I notice that many provocative threads become good discussions
(even if this requires skipping some outlying posts & posters).
And yes, some posters are hostile to some groups. But if they
keep their animosity in check, things can nonetheless go well.
Tis when posts descend into animosity that it's most useful for
mods to step in.

 

[Revoltingest]

Your right. the majority of people are frightened to death of offending people, its at a pandemic state.

An additional problem is the many who intend offense.
(In my mind, I'm naming names....but never in a post.)

 

[Trackdayguy]

It seems to me that if you don't want to debate your ideas, you shouldn't spend time on debate forums. If some of your ideas are too delicate to be discussed, that's a big problem. We humans basically have two ways to work through disagreements:

- discussion
- violence

If you hold ideas so tightly that they cannot be debated, you are ultimately supporting violence. There is simply no other choice.

yes, I would agree, however we all have emotional associations with the things that we do and believe. Im presently on several other forums, all non religious, cars, camping & travel. Over the years I have been on many religious forums and although this may not be true my experience tells me that without doubt they are way more JUDGMENTAL.

Folks on car, camping... forums couldn't give a sh.t what you believe, and as a general rule dont use the camping manual to bring correction when its not been asked for. It seems to me that so many people on religious forums seem to think they have some God given right to straighten everyone out who doesn't agree with them.

My response to the judges is GET A LIFE, and start dealing with your own **** instead of throwing rocks at others that dont sign up for your dogmatism

 

[Amani_Bhava]

I have moderated on several forums, the problem for staff/moderators is: 1. We have freedom of speech but at the same time we cant allow the wolf in the paddock. 2. Part of the problem is that moderators start becoming parents and deciding what it is that we shouldn't do say or believe. The majority of moderators are great people and are serving their respective communities without reward, yet the fear of people being offended has huge power of most moderators who are incorrectly taking responsibility for other peoples attitudes and responses.

I think I am slightly old school Asian for this forum. Did not know. The thread happened right after I joined and I did not know what to do - let it slide or let slip the dogs of war.

My Asian upbringing and identity is too much to bear for some members.

Considering my mentality is so much different and I offend other members I would take a few months break from this forum

namaste

amani_bhava

 

[Trackdayguy]

An additional problem is the many who intend offense.
(In my mind, I'm naming names....but never in a post.)

Offense is a choice, you can only be offended when you've given others people permission

 

[Revoltingest]

Considering my mentality is so much different and I offend other members I would take a few months break from this forum

No matter what you post, there'll be someone who will take great offense.
Whether it's petulance, prejudice, or just plain misreading, it happens.
I offend people all the time here, & yet they let me stay.
You honor the rules & the spirit of the place, so you're doing fine.
(It took me only 30,000 or so posts to feel at home here.)

 

[Revoltingest]

Offense is a choice, you can only be offended when you've given others people permission

Aye, we choose how to respond to others.
But I point out that some at times intende giving personal offense.
We shouldn't lash out in that way.

 

[Thief]

There is too much hatred and bigotry on this site. Racism, homophobia, transphobia, bashing Muslims, bashing Jews, etc. It's way out of hand here. In one thread, you have a poster accusing transgender people of being mentally ill sexual predators and in another, you have a poster going on an anti-black racist rant (with a "like" from a staff member, no less!). And that's only what I've seen tonight. It's getting to the point where I do not feel this is a welcoming or respectful message board. I have more productive and respectful discussions on Facebook. At least there I do not have to pretend to be nice to people who obviously see me as subhuman.

This site needs to change and do better. I really don't want to leave this site as I have friends here and good memories, but I often find myself angry, hurt and sad reading posts on this site. I really wonder why I bother when this place can be so toxic. I just wanted to air my concerns. It's something that's been on my mind for awhile.

I have been banned for a spell
not for viewpoint as much as it was a posting technique

I do believe what I post
I simple wasn't using the words......'my belief'.....or.....'I believe'

it's a fine line
I took up argument and gained some ground
but the point I seek to make still remains

regardless of the words I choose the content is aimed

if not.....the conversation would have no direction
and never any resolve.

as for poor technique......it will always be an obstacle
some people ......for whatever reason.....
are willing to move the fence as far as they can push it
more territory

I heard a preacher make comment this past weekend about the two party system we suffer
here in America

it serves to divide
it sets people against each other
as long as we continue in this way....America is a divided country
and the laws then hinder the party that losses the election
and back and forth it goes
and each occasion reduces our liberties and freedom

the two party system will eventually destroy this free country

all other issues follow the same technique
my side is better than your side
you're wrong
I'm wrong

until the fences come down......no one is altogether right

 

[Thief]

No matter what you post, there'll be someone who will take great offense.
Whether it's petulance, prejudice, or just plain misreading, it happens.
I offend people all the time here, & yet they let me stay.
You honor the rules & the spirit of the place, so you're doing fine.
(It took me only 30,000 or so posts to feel at home here.)

SEE!!!!!......I said so!!!!!!
some people just slide on by!

 

[Kirran]

I think I am slightly old school Asian for this forum. Did not know. The thread happened right after I joined and I did not know what to do - let it slide or let slip the dogs of war.

My Asian upbringing and identity is too much to bear for some members.

Considering my mentality is so much different and I offend other members I would take a few months break from this forum

namaste

amani_bhava

Just to point out, being Asian is by no means any kind of problem in being on RF. We have plenty of members who've been raised in India, and some from other Asian countries, and it's a total non-issue.

 

[Amani_Bhava]

Just to point out, being Asian is by no means any kind of problem in being on RF. We have plenty of members who've been raised in India, and some from other Asian countries, and it's a total non-issue.

Maybe they are not old school Asian.

A week or two here .. and I would not have gotten into that argument with EBM. He wrote it just as I became a member and I got mighty angry. Kismet ..

namaste

amani_bhava

 

[Kirran]

Maybe they are not old school Asian.

A week or two here .. and I would not have gotten into that argument with EBM. He wrote it just as I became a member and I got mighty angry. Kismet ..

namaste

amani_bhava

I dunno, some are pretty old-school

 

[shmogie]

There is too much hatred and bigotry on this site. Racism, homophobia, transphobia, bashing Muslims, bashing Jews, etc. It's way out of hand here. In one thread, you have a poster accusing transgender people of being mentally ill sexual predators and in another, you have a poster going on an anti-black racist rant (with a "like" from a staff member, no less!). And that's only what I've seen tonight. It's getting to the point where I do not feel this is a welcoming or respectful message board. I have more productive and respectful discussions on Facebook. At least there I do not have to pretend to be nice to people who obviously see me as subhuman.

This site needs to change and do better. I really don't want to leave this site as I have friends here and good memories, but I often find myself angry, hurt and sad reading posts on this site. I really wonder why I bother when this place can be so toxic. I just wanted to air my concerns. It's something that's been on my mind for awhile.

It sees to mne that you are demanding that everyone conform to your feelings and value system. This is the new trend, "my feelings trump everything else."

Your feelings are totally irrelevant to me, you allow yourself to have them, you deal with them.

I believe strongly in free speech. Any person has the right to say what they choose.

I and my value system get bashed here on a regular basis, it's called life. The bashers have every right to say what they choose. I have every right to allow it to hurt me, or not. Censorship of free speech is a sure and sick sign that only one viewpoint is demanded, and if we let it, only one viewpoint will be allowed.

My Mother taught me a long , long time ago that " sticks and stone will break my bones but names/words can never hurt me". You should learn that lesson and just say what you want to say and let the rest slide.

 

[Amani_Bhava]

I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.

Unless that is the way in which one approaches forum discussions .. there is no point.

namaste

amani_bhava