Christian Forums Under New Management

[BelindaP]

First, let me say that I support open report forums, too.

I think one thing that will help to mitigate having the forums closed is that the Reconciliation Team are on staff, which means we will be able to read report threads. Rather than handling mediation and appeals blindly as the conciliators often had to do, we will be able to have all the info.

 

[NorrinRadd]

...

• Sharing of information about one's beliefs, for instance by quoting Bible verses or witnessing, is encouraged. Honest debate and discussion regarding the existence and nature of God is allowed and welcome. Mockery of Christians, Christians beliefs, and the Christian God are not. ...

Personally, as a Christian, I wouldn't mind if this sort of rudeness were permitted. Facing it is good experience for those times we experience it in "real life."

 

[Nadiine]

I don't think it did, or at least, not on this level. Private reports led to a lot wondering what was going on, some were upset about the secrecy issue, but conflicts on the forum didn't escalate to nearly the level it has.

Perhaps you don't think so becuz you didn't sit on the recieving end of the "judges"? Or becuz you were a Mod? Sure, it was great if you were the Mod.

It was obnoxious. They tell you debate, then tie your hands as to claiming what you believe is false and why.
Get near that & expect a gag with a warning.

Not everything about CF prior to 7/7/7 was wonderful - many Christians left this site due to that report and warning system that was heavy handed and stunted honest or in depth debate by what you were forbidden to say.
It got silly - having to beat around the bush with "inuendo" and "hints", yet not being able to explain the source without violation. (which partially still goes on today)...

& most of the reason for what has "elevated" aren't the open reports, it's that the POSTS/threads are already emotionally charged & hostile. That is what brings it into the report; it's already there.

I like the comment by another poster to not have them "anonymous" report posts. Less people would be spouting off if they weren't anonymous.

 

[Servant222]

Playing Devil's Advocate (as one who knows nothing about LeeD).

1. A dictatorship rarely works. If one person has complete control over this site, it is vulnerable to human frailties, despite the best of intentions.

2. If the site is to have the support of the Christian community as a whole, which it should, the credibility of the site owner with regard to faith and financial affairs must be established beyond any doubt whatsoever.

I will believe that this site is all that Christ would want it to be when it is endorsed by established Christian organizations and churches as being a good site to learn more about the Lord.

Perhaps a good place to start is with a clear Statement of Faith from LeeD.

 

[BeautifulWorshipper]

Hi everyone,

Thank you for your patience. In the past 18 days, I have had a lot of PMs from people sharing their concerns and hopes. I want you to know that I have listened, and in the next 5 days we will be addressing many of those concerns, including:

1. Overwhelming support to return to the christianforums.com site.
2. Concern about efficacy of Wiki Policy
3. Rules
4. Desire for unbiased and fair staff action
5. Fear that changes will adversely affect groups on the forum

In order to make sure that we can make the forum a better place for everyone, I am going to:

1. Gather a small group of advisory members
2. Create private staff forums to discuss staff structure and policy going forward.
3. Return the site to a more inreach focus as contrasted with outreach. This will not affect access for non-Christians.
4. Work with Christian and non-Christian staff to determine where non-Christian staff may mod.
5. Create a new policy for staff. Staff serve at my pleasure, they will no longer be elected or subject to member recall.
6. Instate a reconciliation team to handle appeals, mediate member-member conflict, staff-member conflict, oversee staff, and make recommendations to my designee as concerns staff discipline, and or staff removal.
7. Provide a wiki formatted forum for members to discuss a rule or provide solutions to a problem.
8. Turn on the infraction system with some modifications.

New Staff Structure
Moderation:
Mods -Admins (team leaders) - Advisors

Staff conflict/discipline:
Mods -Admins (team leaders) - Advisors/HR Assistant

Staff Action Mediation:
(members) - Reconciliation team - Advisors/HR Assistant

Technical support:
Superadmins

Temporary rules:

• The names or titles of God, including Jesus Christ and the Persons of the Trinity (Father, Son, or Holy Spirit), in any language, are not to be used as expletives or interjections or in an abusive, mocking, or insulting way.

• Sharing of information about one's beliefs, for instance by quoting Bible verses or witnessing, is encouraged. Honest debate and discussion regarding the existence and nature of God is allowed and welcome. Mockery of Christians, Christians beliefs, and the Christian God are not.

• Promotion of the religion or rituals of Satanism is strictly prohibited. Promotion is defined as the active attempt to sway others to Satanic beliefs and/or practices.

• Flaming, baiting, trolling, or feeding trolls is not allowed. This also applies to groups. In other words, play nice, don't hurt others, nor call them names.

• If you think you are being flamed, choose *not* to be offended, but instead take a break, and communicate, rather than escalating or accusing others.

• Defamation is not allowed.

• Harassment of another member is not allowed.

• Threads which are off topic for the individual forums are not allowed, and substantial derails ot threads are not looked upon in a favorable fashion.

• Congregational Forums wishing to remain safe havens may choose to limit debate to members of their own denomination, insist that all posts conform to their creed etc.

• Age and or gender restrictions are to be respected.

• Reasonable confidentiality will be respected by Staff and Members, alike.

• Issues with staff decisions should be taken to the staff member, then the reconciliation team, period. Don't post them, don't PM them to others, don't take them to Lee.

• Do not say racist or sexist things. If the swear filter is activated, edit your post, don't try to bypass it. Don't post graphics or text you would not be comfortable sharing with someone's grandmother.

• Don't break the law, don't violate copyright, threaten others, or do or promote anything illegal.

• Don't spam in threads or sigs, don't promote get rich quick schemes anywhere on the site.

• Use the brain God gave you. Think before you post. Think about how your post may affect someone else.

Loving the use the brain...

Thanks, they are great, and make me feel comfortable!! I forgot there was even a change over haha.

 

[Spudgrandma]

I am hopeful too....still alot of questions...I will wait to see how this all plays out! Glory to God!!!

Amen to this.

I'm not quite as hopeful as I was last night, but I will keep an open mind and wait and see.

 

[TheCalledOutOne]

2 of the 3 are IIDB ~E~lsewhere members is this balanced?

THAT should be addressed for sure. I have an issue with that..but I won't go there...

 

[Paulos23]

The temp rules look OK given the focus of the site, I can follow them. But the whole private staff forum has me a bit worried. In the past it led to abuses, I hope that doesn't happen again.

 

[Criada]

THAT should be addressed for sure. I have an issue with that..but I won't go there...

Not sure why this is an issue - a lot of people are members there - doesn't make them bad people - or bad Christians!!

 

[TheCalledOutOne]

So who gets to decide what a false doctrine is?
tulc(just curious)

The BIBLE is pretty clear on that.

 

[Jazzedforhim]

Personally, as a Christian, I wouldn't mind if this sort of rudeness were permitted. Facing it is good experience for those times we experience it in "real life."

Personally as a Christian, I like this site for fellowship most of all. There are very few forums that are like that.

I don't mind defending my faith but I don't want to be personally attacked and offeneded in a rude way because of it. That is not Christlike behavior. I think the site should exibit Christlike behavior as much as is possible. There are PLENTY of forums out there where Christians are attacked and ridiculed simply for believing. We cannot PROVE our faith so what good is it to be called names and such because of it. Honest RESPECTFUL debates are reasonable, but IMHO rudeness is not.

If this site holds to those guidelines, IMO it will be so unique there will be many Christians here enjoying the benefits.

 

[WarEagle]

My sentiments exactly.

Why call it Christian and then open it up to universal religion??? (THEN, TIE THE HANDS OF CHRISTIANS TO WARN ABOUT WHAT IS FALSE???)!!
& they wonder why the site is imploding.

I agree. How bizzare that a message board would claim to be a Christian message board, but then punish those who share the Gospel and try to stand up for sound doctrine, while protecting and even exalting those who preach false doctrines.

Anybody can come here and believe the most Unbiblical things, but all they have to do is to claim that they're Christians and they can't be questioned.

There used to be the standard of the Nicene Creed for determining who is a Christian here (although that was never enforced), but now, all you have to do is say you're a Christian ("Lord, Lord, did we not...") and you're above criticism.

But if a Christian tries to share the Gospel with somebody or correct false doctrine, and all Hell breaks loose.

It's pretty pathetic.

 

[praying]

How many other message boards with over 2,500 active members at one time have open reports?

We don’t have 2500 active members on any given day/hour, that number is way off. Remove the guests from that figure for it to be a measure of anything. Personally, with or without the guests I don’t think that number has any bearing on whether reports should be open or not.

 

[HeReignsInMe]

I Like It!

 

[praying]

He is my brother..

The road is long
With many a winding turn
That leads us to who knows where
Who knows when
But I'm strong
Strong enough to carry him
He ain't heavy, he's my brother

 

[Glaz]

It just seems ridiculous that a member who is reported can't even go in and defend themself or tell their side of the story. You should at least be able to witness the staff process for handling the report against you. I don't see why that would be a big deal, if they are doing their jobs fairly, then they have nothing to hide.

 

[PassthePeace1]

Does this mean wiki go boom?

 

[drstevej]

Does this mean wiki go boom?

Grabbed for Custom Title.


WANT AD: Out of work wiki warrior needs immediate employment. Word wrangling lobbyist with experience here and elsewhere. Lost job with ownership change. Will Wiki for food.

 

[ParsonJefferson]

Personally as a Christian, I like this site for fellowship most of all. There are very few forums that are like that.

I don't mind defending my faith but I don't want to be personally attacked and offeneded in a rude way because of it. That is not Christlike behavior. I think the site should exibit Christlike behavior as much as is possible. There are PLENTY of forums out there where Christians are attacked and ridiculed simply for believing. We cannot PROVE our faith so what good is it to be called names and such because of it. Honest RESPECTFUL debates are reasonable, but IMHO rudeness is not.

If this site holds to those guidelines, IMO it will be so unique there will be many Christians here enjoying the benefits.

This is precisely the problem I repeatedly called attention to, and was scorned for.

If it is the desire of the "owner(s)" to just have this be a battle site, then fine, let it be that, and make it clear that that is what it is. Admit that it is an all-out, no-holds-barred fight site, where Christians are openly mocked and where civility is absent. And if that's what members want, so be it - they're welcome to it.

But there are already lots of discussion forums out there where that is the paradigm. I choose to not be part of them, and will continue to absent myself from this forum, if it continues to be that kind of site.

I hope the changes are for the better, because that is certainly needed.

 

[Davidnic]

We don’t have 2500 active members on any given day/hour, that number is way off. Remove the guests from that figure for it to be a measure of anything. Personally, with or without the guests I don’t think that number has any bearing on whether reports should be open or not.

Again, just a guess. And how many other message boards have open reports? Just a question. And what number of active users at one time would you put it at?