Christian Forums Under New Management

[Nadiine]

I think that staff need a private area to get on the same page with things. Chaos in leadership in front of everyone brings chaos to the body that leadership represents.

The reason that parents should never disrespect another parent in front of the children is that it provides insecurity and the ability for the children to play parents against each other. The parents need to talk privately to get on the same page. I believe that is necessary for the organization as well.


I will be praying for the leadership of our gathering place, and for the healing of our forum. May God be glorified in all we do, and may our words, be the words that He would want us to speak.

I agree with that, but not when it comes to the reports. The open report system is much more fair and helpful and less ominous. The previous system was failed in alot of our opinions.

 

[Nadiine]

You are absolutely, completely and totally correct!

And some people continue to wonder why there has been a mass exodus of members!

I don't wonder one bit... I often wonder if I should have been one of them!

 

[Bombila]

General Apologetics is by no means a 'cesspool'. If you and Lee don't care to have any debate about religion on these forums, then just close the debate areas down. In one fell swoop, you rid the board of atheists, agnostics, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists and everyone else who doesn't believe as you do yourself. Republican US Baptists only, if necessary. Happyhappy, right?

Closing the reports is a bad idea, especially as redrawn rules such as the 'blasphemy' rules will inevitably be used by more sensitive Christian members and staff to shut down discussion about some of the most confusing and conflicted Biblical doctrines and scriptures, issues which Christians themselves find troubling, some of which are the sources of the various sects contained within Christianity. I know this, because I experienced it pre- 7/7/7. Honest questions and debate by non-Christians were shut down, via warnings and deletions, because you can't even say certain things without being accused of blasphemy or mockery, regardless of intent.

I've enjoyed these boards and learned a lot. I'll be sorry to leave, I'll even miss War Eagle, who I actually agree with on some issues, but if that is what Lee wants, supported by WE and his cohorts, then fine. I shall with regret take my honest opinions and thoughts elsewhere, and say good luck to you all.

 

[praying]

Fine. I'll take that guess too. Almost 600 people at one time. For a message board that is a lot.

My guess is that the forum is too large and active to make open reports practical. That is my guess.

bUIt why it hasn't been impractical to this point.

 

[~BlessingsDreamFund~]

The wiki is a literary sumo wrestle and only the winner gets to eat lunch

Great Description.... Well Said...

 

[Melbelle]

So can I ask, are we going back to "Official" and "UnOfficial" warnings?

 

[Davidnic]

bUIt why it hasn't been impractical to this point.

That is your opinion. There are many here...on staff and off who feel the open reports have been a disaster where flames and venom are spread.

From what I have seen those people have some valid points. I'm sure that it will all work out. I am giving everyone the benefit of the doubt.

 

[woman.at.the.well]

 

[*Starlight*]

It does not mean being luke warm in order to be balanced, You can have a balanced board that is still extremely Christian in nature. And that does not give into false doctrine.

And it just happens to be that what you believe is "True Doctrine(TM)" and what people who disagree with you believe is "false doctrine"?

 

[WarEagle]

General Apologetics is by no means a 'cesspool'. If you and Lee don't care to have any debate about religion on these forums, then just close the debate areas down.

I'm all for having debates about religion. I think I've proven on other Christian forums that I'm more than willing and able to defend my faith.

However, General Apologetics has gone from defending the faith and answering sincerely asked questions and objections, to atheists and mockers making all sorts of false and insulting claims about our religion and us having to run around cleaning up the mess.

It's gotten so bad that if somebody asks a question, I usually won't even respond to them publically anymore, but will PM them and explain what the Bible says about that subject, precisely because I don't want to give atheists and mockers any more ammo to blaspheme Christ or insult Christianity.

In one fell swoop, you rid the board of atheists, agnostics, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists and everyone else who doesn't believe as you do yourself. Republican US Baptists only, if necessary. Happyhappy, right?

The only people I want to get rid of are those who just come here to make trouble and insult us.

 

[ParsonJefferson]

General Apologetics is by no means a 'cesspool'. If you and Lee don't care to have any debate about religion on these forums, then just close the debate areas down. In one fell swoop, you rid the board of atheists, agnostics, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists and everyone else who doesn't believe as you do yourself. Republican US Baptists only, if necessary. Happyhappy, right?

Closing the reports is a bad idea, especially as redrawn rules such as the 'blasphemy' rules will inevitably be used by more sensitive Christian members and staff to shut down discussion about some of the most confusing and conflicted Biblical doctrines and scriptures, issues which Christians themselves find troubling, some of which are the sources of the various sects contained within Christianity. I know this, because I experienced it pre- 7/7/7. Honest questions and debate by non-Christians were shut down, via warnings and deletions, because you can't even say certain things without being accused of blasphemy or mockery, regardless of intent.

I've enjoyed these boards and learned a lot. I'll be sorry to leave, I'll even miss War Eagle, who I actually agree with on some issues, but if that is what Lee wants, supported by WE and his cohorts, then fine. I shall with regret take my honest opinions and thoughts elsewhere, and say good luck to you all.

Honest questions, discussion and debate are one thing. But that has NOT, for the most part, been even CLOSE to what takes place on the GA sub-forum.

If you're willing to step back and take an objective look at it, you'll see that this forum - starting at the GA sub-forum - has become little more than a "bash and mock the Christians" site.

Are Christians afraid of non-Christians? Hardly. But why can't Christians be allowed to discuss Christian matters without the uninvited mockery of non-Christians? THAT is the issue here.

 

[MeekOne]

Better Yet !!!

Reformation Day !!! Reforms

Isn't Halloween also called All Saints Day?

All Saints Day Reforms!!!

 

[Nadiine]

Bombila, I don't want to see open debate shut down - most of what I do here is debate and I enjoy it. But I agree w/ WarEagle in that (at least in some areas like theology/ethics), it's gotten bombarded with people attacking Christians and Christianity alike.

It's mostly off topic anymore too. It starts with "the USA is a cesspool of filth", and 20 pages later, it's "prove Noahs ark existed". (literally)~!!
It's ridiculous when one Christian gets so attacked by so many skeptics, that they have to go searching for 'backup help'.... that should not be ON HOME TURF!!!!
(Supposed home turf).

There's been a high number of hostiles here working to shut things down & work from the inside and many have seen it coming even before 7/7/7 - Erwin opened Pandoras box that opened it up for them.
I call it a stronghold. And if you dare try to stomp your foot down to put a stop to it, expect heavy attacks from all sides.
I'm seeing it done. And while GreenM may have a point that it's also an internal issue (one I'm sure she realizes includes herself as part of it like everyone else is) the problem is, the enemy is already working inside and it's a basic war in this forum; many Christians left already.

 

[ParsonJefferson]

I'm all for having debates about religion. I think I've proven on other Christian forums that I'm more than willing and able to defend my faith.

However, General Apologetics has gone from defending the faith and answering sincerely asked questions and objections, to atheists and mockers making all sorts of false and insulting claims about our religion and us having to run around cleaning up the mess.

It's gotten so bad that if somebody asks a question, I usually won't even respond to them publically anymore, but will PM them and explain what the Bible says about that subject, precisely because I don't want to give atheists and mockers any more ammo to blaspheme Christ or insult Christianity.

The only people I want to get rid of are those who just come here to make trouble and insult us.

Well stated. Thank you!

If they just want to be abusively insulting jerks, they should confine their behavior to places like Brawl-Hall.com.

 

[Kristen.NewCreation]

I agree with that, but not when it comes to the reports. The open report system is much more fair and helpful and less ominous. The previous system was failed in alot of our opinions.

No, I agree the open reports have seemed to work well.

 

[Annabel Lee]

bUIt why it hasn't been impractical to this point.

I think having anonymous reporters caused most of the problems.
Too many spiteful members.

If the reporters were not anonymous, the reports would be reduced drastically.

 

[SimplyMe]

General Apologetics is by no means a 'cesspool'. If you and Lee don't care to have any debate about religion on these forums, then just close the debate areas down. In one fell swoop, you rid the board of atheists, agnostics, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists and everyone else who doesn't believe as you do yourself. Republican US Baptists only, if necessary. Happyhappy, right?

Closing the reports is a bad idea, especially as redrawn rules such as the 'blasphemy' rules will inevitably be used by more sensitive Christian members and staff to shut down discussion about some of the most confusing and conflicted Biblical doctrines and scriptures, issues which Christians themselves find troubling, some of which are the sources of the various sects contained within Christianity. I know this, because I experienced it pre- 7/7/7. Honest questions and debate by non-Christians were shut down, via warnings and deletions, because you can't even say certain things without being accused of blasphemy or mockery, regardless of intent.

I've enjoyed these boards and learned a lot. I'll be sorry to leave, I'll even miss War Eagle, who I actually agree with on some issues, but if that is what Lee wants, supported by WE and his cohorts, then fine. I shall with regret take my honest opinions and thoughts elsewhere, and say good luck to you all.

I wish to echo this. As someone who on these boards is labeled a "liberal" Christian (though my views are much more moderate), I was ready to leave when the 7/7/7 changes were announced. While I agree the tone has gotten worse ON BOTH SIDES (some Christians I've seen are every bit as guilty as the atheists/agnostics) many things did improve.

While I will watch the board to see what happens, I will no longer be participating on the forums.

 

[ravenscape]

Please everyone, take a breath and take your fingers off the keyboard for a second.

Do not make personal comments about other thread participants.

Do not make inflammatory statements about other members.

The Support Team wants very much to keep this thread open for comment.

Help us, by moderating your tone and choosing your words carefully.

Thanks

Raven, Support Team​

 

[GreenMunchkin]

That's precisely the problem. Evidently, there are many others here who agree with me.

There probably are, and that's ok. But traditional/conservative Christianity doesn't equal atheist-bashing. It doesn't preclude kindness. We need to be better witnesses than this. All of us.

 

[psalms 91]

Bombila, I don't want to see open debate shut down - most of what I do here is debate and I enjoy it. But I agree w/ WarEagle in that (at least in some areas like theology/ethics), it's gotten bombarded with people attacking Christians and Christianity alike.

It's mostly off topic anymore too. It starts with "the USA is a cesspool of filth", and 20 pages later, it's "prove Noahs ark existed". (literally)~!!
It's ridiculous when one Christian gets so attacked by so many skeptics, that they have to go searching for 'backup help'.... that should not be ON HOME TURF!!!!
(Supposed home turf).

There's been a high number of hostiles here working to shut things down & work from the inside and many have seen it coming even before 7/7/7 - Erwin opened Pandoras box that opened it up for them.
I call it a stronghold. And if you dare try to stomp your foot down to put a stop to it, expect heavy attacks from all sides.
I'm seeing it done. And while GreenM may have a point that it's also an internal issue (one I'm sure she realizes includes herself as part of it like everyone else is) the problem is, the enemy is already working inside and it's a basic war in this forum; many Christians left already.

Totyally agree but I am confident with infractions back in place it will get sorted out.