This is exactly why I haven't voted yet. I totally see your point Happy, I really do.
I just keep getting the feeling that even if we vote for the stricter rules, it isn't anything that would happen any time soon, and we'd need the mods here a lot to enforce them constantly.
I just don't see that happening.
I have been a moderator in a forum on another VERY large support site for over a year now. I spend numerous hours a day monitoring the posts and making certain that the rules and policies of the owner of the site are being followed. If they aren't, I go to work quickly to correct the situation. No matter who the author of the infraction is, they are dealt with. I have had what we call Super Mods and Administrators alike, remove posts of mine where I have "forgotten myself" and posted something a little to sternly. Everyone is treated the same.
This takes a monumental amount of work and having staff on the same page. Not only on the same page, but willing to take care of the problems quickly and fairly.
This forum, in my humble opinion, has been completely out of control for a very long time. Since I have been back and posting now and then, I myself, have "reported" quite a few posts that were DEFINITE attacks on the poster, not the information within the post. I would be notified that action had been taken and find the reported post still where I found it. Mostly nothing was done.
This kind of action isn't going to help whip this forum into the kind of shape I see wanted by the posts of this particular thread. Liken it to being a teacher or caregiver to a large room full of children who've been allowed to have their own way, and act out in ugly manners, any time they want. The only way to bring that room full of "incorrigles" into line would be to have someone(s) at the helm who are willing to discipline said children for each and every infraction of rule, no matter how small of an infraction one thinks it to be. It's the only way, and I don't see moderators here spending the time or effort that would take. Sorry, I can only go by what I see and experience.
I see the "progressives" in the same light as I see all other "offshoots" of my church. They take what they like of her, and spit the rest out. They seem to have a habit of "spitting the rest out" on top of my and other Seventh-day Adventists' heads. The appear to enjoy, not only telling me that I'm brainwashed and refuse to talk about things "outside of the box", and of insinuating that I am ignorant because I have no problems with the 28 fundamental beliefs or Ellen White. It's not usually an attack on what I believe, it's an attack on me and my intelligence level, personally. I'm tired of it.
If one doesn't believe in the teachings of the Seventh-day Adventist church any longer, then fine. Go with God. But, I for one, am sick to death of having them come at me trying to get ME to see the error of my ways, when friends and neighbors, I'm hear to tell you that according to my Lord and Savior's own words, I'M not the one in error.
It has already been shown over and over again, that having both in one forum is not working nor is it going to work.
I'm ashamed alright, but not for the reasons being stated that we SHOULD feel ashamed. I am ashamed of all of the discord, all of the fighting and squabbling that others can come in here and see.
I've said this once, but I feel it bears repeating. What has been transpiring in the Seventh-day Adventist forum, I liken to Baptists, Protestants, Lutherans, Methodists, Pentecostal's, etc. going in to the One Bread One Body forum and telling the catholic folks all about themselves and why they are ignorant for not leaving their faith, their church.
I don't believe they would tolerate that for one minute, and we have tolerated it for MUCH longer than we should have.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak on this. I feel that the "split" is the only way to stop this incessant squabbling. Each to stay to his own forum, and if either crosses over and causes a problem, they should be firmly disciplined.