The attacks continue

[NightEternal]

Oh just forget it. What's the point anymore?

 

[annie1speed]

The point is you are still around.

Enjoy and redeem the time!

 

[DeanM]

Oh just forget it. What's the point anymore?

Hi NightEternal,

What's the point? Good question . . .

I'm going to take a chance and read a few things into your post. I can only guess what you mean.

But, your question stands. So, if I may be so bold as to take your question literally~

The point is to enjoy the community here in CF. Sometimes, this can be a hard task, I know. But, there is a possibility to turn your path here around. I know you dont know me as anybody other than 'the new mod who asked to be put on the ProgSDA staff.'

Perhaps the fact that I'm a mod might even make you presume certain things about me.

I like to think that I'm the mod that had a brush with, let's just say, some of the things that you're brushing right now.

At one point, I walked away from CF for quite a while.

Upon my return, I found a lot of the same-old problems, but I did something nobody expected. I came back to experience the fun and fellowship of the community.

I found threads where people asked for prayers, and I prayed. I found folks with questions, and I tried to help answer them in a soft, caring tone.

My old enemies still cropped up from time to time, and immediately attacked me. But, by then, the people around me had gotten used to my new soft approach, and actually defended me, as I would not defend myself any longer.

You might be thinking that I caved in, gave up my self-esteem and pride, and became a cookie-cutter member who is only slightly better than an automoton (no offense to Chrisbot).

In actuality, I found that I now have really opened my horizons. I have really found the community spirit.

What's the point, you ask?

To make a difference in someone else's life; through prayer, thoughtful insights, and sometimes just listening.

To be a friend to someone who needs a friend.

To be there for your friends when they need some advice, or a shoulder to cry on.

To welcome a new person and show them around this chat-board.

To live and love and grow while helping those around you do the same.

I, like you, NightEternal, used to wonder about the 'point' as well. I see what you're going through. I can only pray that you find what it is that you seek, here in CF and elsewhere.

You've got a new friend, if you like. Maybe we can chat?

 

[NightEternal]

Just to clarify, I had a long post typed up and ended up just deleting the whole thing, knowing the mods would nail me for speaking my mind out here and censor the thing anyhow. What you see there now was the result.

'What's the point' meaning what's the point in even trying to bother addressing the abuses going on with the report system anymore. Nothing has and will ever change in this place.

Thanks for that post Dean. I appreciate it.

I'll respond more in-depth tomorrow, time permitting.

Right now I just got spite-reported four times in one evening and I am NOT in the best of moods.

Later.

 

[DeanM]

Thanks for that post Dean. I appreciate it.

I'll respond more in-depth tomorrow, time permitting.

Right now I just got spite-reported four times in one evening and I am NOT in the best of moods.

Later.

Any time you like, NightEternal, and my PM box is always open as well!

 

[annie1speed]

Hi Dean,

You made very good points in your post. Part of our purpose as Christians is to comfort and encourage each other. In the fight to prove we are RIGHT it is easy to forget about that part of our mission.

Night lives in the cross-hairs of some people who ummmm don't appreciate his irreverent sense of humor, or the earnest hope he has for Adventism.

But I guess you know that already.

 

[DeanM]

Hi Dean,

You made very good points in your post.

Thanks!

Part of our purpose as Christians is to comfort and encourage each other. In the fight to prove we are RIGHT it is easy to forget about that part of our mission.

Interesting choice of words: "Fight" and "Prove."
I believe you're quite right that our mission is to spread the good news! And what a task it is!

I do not disagree with your words. For me, I have tried to substitute the words "Work" and "Show." These are two very similar approaches to reach the goal: to bring the faith to everyone.

The only real difference is that, for some folks, they might be more open to drawing their own conclusions based on what they see. And, if what they see is bitter debates, they might be more inclined to shy away from both parties, regardless of who makes the best points.

Please forgive me for putting so much emphasis on your choice of two little words. I'm sure that we strive for the same goals, and we certainly serve the same L-rd. I mean no offense!

Night lives in the cross-hairs of some people who ummmm don't appreciate his irreverent sense of humor, or the earnest hope he has for Adventism.

But I guess you know that already.

"Cross-hairs" is a word I can really empathize with! I don't think I've intentionally spat venom at anyone in CF for about a year now (I used to get quite snarky!), yet there are still a few folks who 'hunt me down.'

I pray that you will never have to see this happen to me, because their words still can hurt me, yet I will not fight fire with fire. I will 'lose' the fight every time, in terms of 'who can yell the the loudest.' I just respond with love, and a hug.

Night has built up some adversaries. This is true.

Irreverant humor? I'm a huge fan! I too enjoy Night's wit! Earnest hope? What higher calling is there?

But something has gone wrong~

Can Night have it all? Can he keep his irreverent style, promote and defend his faith, and still survive the infrastructure of CF?

I pray that he can!!!!

Others have turned their memberships around. It takes time, hard work, and a showing of faith.

And it can be met by resistence as well. The enemy does not want anyone to do what we do: to promote faith in the L-rd!

But the L-rd is stronger. He is our sheppard. He can guide us to do great works in His name.

Night has a real chance here. He will face great pressure. He will make a difficult choice. All the advice in the world will not change his heart, but instead he may look to the Word of G-d and find a new path to help him spread his views.

I, for one, am offering to help Night shoulder the weight of contrition. To help him remember what 'the point' is. To help him work against all odds, against the enemy, and for the love and power of our L-rd G-d the Almighty and break free of the shackles that have been clamped on him.

I readily accept this challenge. If Night will accept my offer to help, perhaps others will step up and help him bear the brunt of his work; for it is work that we are talking about.

Will any of you rise to this challenge with Night?

Will you stand behind your brother night and help him weather the storm that he faces?

You've got my support, Night!

You can do this if you really want it.

 

[Adventist Dissident]

night, what is the point of all of this. Do you remember when the progressives held sway. Do you remember what happened to bring that about. Why aren't you doing that. Night, your are playing the maryter, it time for you to stop. you have been doing this for over a year. I am getting sick of you and I AM YOUR ALLY

 

[NightEternal]

The Progressives held sway...

That would have been before you, Tall, Sophia and Stormy let the Trads drive you out, is that right?

Exactly.

Ice, I have TRIED to get this place split. I have TRIED to get new rules established in here. We went through all of this in our discussions in Tall's forum.

I TRIED to push for a rule not allowing the Trads to come in here:

An appeal for a new rule


There has been talk circulating amongst certain Progs and Formers, myself included, about adding a new rule to the Prog section that would essentially lock the Trads from coming into our area. As it is clear the spite-reporting has gotten only worse in here, I feel this option is more needed than ever.

Hopefully we can continue to work towards a split forum and we Progs can have our own area away from all of this. But in the meantime, I want to know who would be in favor of adding a new rule rule not allowing any Trads to come in here and use our area as yet another vehicle for thier TSDA cyber-bully pulpit. I know most of you Progs wanted to allow them in here, but I also know the mood has changed drastically lately on that for some of you. I, of course, have never wanted them in here and maintained that from day one. It has never made any sense to me to allow people in here who have a clear agenda to get our area shut down and wiped off this forum. The Prog area is nothing but a cancer, a blight to them, a barrier in their goal to make this whole place a P.R. vehicle for TSDAism.

Do I have your support to do what should have been done long ago?

We have already lost too many good forum members because of this nonsense. The Trads have their own areas and they have taken over the whole forum except in here. Yet they still come in here and report with glee, trying to get us banned. They are blatantly abusing the generosity you have shown them and they are thumbing their noses at you in the process.

Since it seems too much to ask that they leave us alone to our own area, I say we need to enforce a rule that would ban them from coming in here and posting. If they don't like what we say in here, they just need to STAY OUT.

Please, add your support to getting this new rule in place and let's make our corner a place where we can discuss without them coming in here, reporting and getting our threads locked and deleted as well as getting us nailed with RV's.

http://christianforums.com/t6993670

but Sophia said that was not a possibility:

Just to clarify, you wouldn't be able to exclude only Traditionals from debating in the Prog sub-forum. You could limit debate only to Progressives, or you could leave things open as they are now.

http://christianforums.com/showpost.php?p=44464641&postcount=23

WAHT MORE DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?

Not only that, when I started the thread to get some support for the rule, the response was pretty pathetic and anemic!

And we did manage to get only nonTrad mods overseeing our area. Where is the credit for that? I don't see it anywhere!

WHERE WERE YOU? I don't remember you even responding to our petition for a split forum!

So don't sit there and tell me I have not been trying to get things happening, because I HAVE. You can ask Sophia for yourself!

But it is pretty difficult when half of our group LEAVES for other forums and the others are content to battle it out with the Trads day after day!

I am truly sorry if you are sick of me and think this is some 'martyr' game.

Perhaps when you are one infraction point away from a perma-ban and you have a core group spite-reporting you constantly for the most inane, petty, ridiculous things so they can get that last one to stick and have you kicked out permanently I might be more inclined to take your rebukes. As it is now, you blow in here for a few minutes, give me a backhand, and then blow out again back to CARM and we don't see you again for another few weeks!

Please. You have no idea the time I have spent behind the scenes trying to intercept and fight these idotic reports and clarify 100 different things for the mods so that I don't have my throat cut for good. It has been a lot more time than I have spent actually discussing the issues, you can be sure of that!

 

[Adventist Dissident]

Night some of it is your own fault. you pick a fight and then complain about loosing. your style is too up in your face. I can respect up in your face, but not all the time. The best thing for me was to bow out in Nov. and take nov,dec,jan and feb off. it was really good it gave me perspective. i realized that people in the forum were trying to change people, that is not my job that is the HS. All I ask is to be able to examine evidence and decide for myself , without abuse. the problem is you aren't asking for that. some of the Trads are asking for this place to be shut down. our goal should be to keep it open and peaceful. not humilate and attack it seems that is what you are doing.

 

[AndrewK788]

Night some of it is your own fault. you pick a fight and then complain about loosing. your style is too up in your face. I can respect up in your face, but not all the time. The best thing for me was to bow out in Nov. and take nov,dec,jan and feb off. it was really good it gave me perspective. i realized that people in the forum were trying to change people, that is not my job that is the HS. All I ask is to be able to examine evidence and decide for myself , without abuse. the problem is you aren't asking for that. some of the Trads are asking for this place to be shut down. our goal should be to keep it open and peaceful. not humilate and attack it seems that is what you are doing.

I agree with this statement. But no, I'm not blaming Night.

I agree he can be up in your face and at times I think it may possibly cross the line.
BUT, the fact is he has been pushing for new forum rules which would relieve some of the conflict here. Anyway, I don't necessarily agree with everything Night says, but I do support his appeals for the new rules etc.

And Night, if there's something I can do to help get this in motion, I'm all ears. It's just meanwhile, if the only way to get attention is to make numerous threads like this one, count me out.

 

[annie1speed]

[quote]
I do not disagree with your words. For me, I have tried to substitute the words "Work" and "Show." These are two very similar approaches to reach the goal: to bring the faith to everyone.

[/quote]

I agree that work and show are better words and I probably should have proofed more before I posted. However in this forum it has been fight and prove as long as I've been allowed to hang around.

Night I hope you know that I am here and want to see you stay and be the influence you can be. You put a lot of time and research into your messages but people don't see that because of all the strife between them and you.

Speak the truth yes, but speak the truth in love. You don't have to ditch your sense of humor to do this. And OH PLEASE DO NOT think I am saying you are the only one who needs to do this. We both know ... I'll shut up now about that.

If you do split the forum and make it only for progs you will have to either make me an honorary prog OR come visit me in the Restoration Movement forum because I won't be allowed.... never did get that secret decoder ring ....

 

[Sophia7]

night, what is the point of all of this. Do you remember when the progressives held sway. Do you remember what happened to bring that about. Why aren't you doing that. Night, your are playing the maryter, it time for you to stop. you have been doing this for over a year. I am getting sick of you and I AM YOUR ALLY

The Progressives held sway...

The Progressives never held sway. Even during the wiki days and mod elections, the Trads were able to push through all of the FSGs that they wanted.

There was a time when the situation in the SDA forum was more pleasant for Progressives to post, but I won't go into the reasons for that.

That would have been before you, Tall, Sophia and Stormy let the Trads drive you out, is that right?

Exactly.

I can't speak for the others, but I didn't let the Trads drive me out (although I don't enjoy posting here as much as I used to). I'm still here when I have time, but real life has been very pressing lately, and, yes, I post on other forums occasionally, too. I've been doing that for a long time; I didn't leave CF for other forums. The fact that I left the SDA Church, though, makes me no longer a Progressive, so I can't be as involved in the SDA forum and Prog sub-forum as I used to be.

Ice, I have TRIED to get this place split. I have TRIED to get new rules established in here. We went through all of this in our discussions in Tall's forum.

A split may yet happen at some point, but I don't know when that will be possible.

I TRIED to push for a rule not allowing the Trads to come in here:

An appeal for a new rule


There has been talk circulating amongst certain Progs and Formers, myself included, about adding a new rule to the Prog section that would essentially lock the Trads from coming into our area. As it is clear the spite-reporting has gotten only worse in here, I feel this option is more needed than ever.

Hopefully we can continue to work towards a split forum and we Progs can have our own area away from all of this. But in the meantime, I want to know who would be in favor of adding a new rule rule not allowing any Trads to come in here and use our area as yet another vehicle for thier TSDA cyber-bully pulpit. I know most of you Progs wanted to allow them in here, but I also know the mood has changed drastically lately on that for some of you. I, of course, have never wanted them in here and maintained that from day one. It has never made any sense to me to allow people in here who have a clear agenda to get our area shut down and wiped off this forum. The Prog area is nothing but a cancer, a blight to them, a barrier in their goal to make this whole place a P.R. vehicle for TSDAism.

Do I have your support to do what should have been done long ago?

We have already lost too many good forum members because of this nonsense. The Trads have their own areas and they have taken over the whole forum except in here. Yet they still come in here and report with glee, trying to get us banned. They are blatantly abusing the generosity you have shown them and they are thumbing their noses at you in the process.

Since it seems too much to ask that they leave us alone to our own area, I say we need to enforce a rule that would ban them from coming in here and posting. If they don't like what we say in here, they just need to STAY OUT.

Please, add your support to getting this new rule in place and let's make our corner a place where we can discuss without them coming in here, reporting and getting our threads locked and deleted as well as getting us nailed with RV's.

http://christianforums.com/t6993670

but Sophia said that was not a possibility:

Just to clarify, you wouldn't be able to exclude only Traditionals from debating in the Prog sub-forum. You could limit debate only to Progressives, or you could leave things open as they are now.

http://christianforums.com/showpost.php?p=44464641&postcount=23

WAHT MORE DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?

You could limit debate in the Prog sub-forum to Progressives only (as long as you don't exclude only Trads), but most of the Progs seem to want to leave it open as it is now.

Not only that, when I started the thread to get some support for the rule, the response was pretty pathetic and anemic!

And we did manage to get only nonTrad mods overseeing our area. Where is the credit for that? I don't see it anywhere!

WHERE WERE YOU? I don't remember you even responding to our petition for a split forum!

So don't sit there and tell me I have not been trying to get things happening, because I HAVE. You can ask Sophia for yourself!

Yes, you have.

 

[StormyOne]

No one has "driven" me off... I have chosen to limit how much time I spend interacting with those that I have nothing in common, don't have a clue of where I am coming from and really aren't interested in discussing problematic issues.... So I post in other forums or come and read some of the stuff in our area (the progressive side)..... the internet for me is a hobby, and I like to enjoy it, interacting with the traditionals can be stress producing and really I don't want to allow that in my life....

As Ice said, its not my job to try to change them.... they are what they are.... it works for them so I am content to leave them as they are...

 

[NightEternal]

Alright, so you guys weren't driven off.

The bottom line is that you guys are still gone for the most part, and we don't have enough nonTraditional regulars to achieve any sort of meaningful change.

 

[StormyOne]

Alright, so you guys weren't driven off.

The bottom line is that you guys are still gone for the most part, and we don't have enough nonTraditional regulars to achieve any sort of meaningful change.

you would be correct....

 

[Mankin]

I'm here!

 

[Lebesgue]

Even though I am a former SDA, I support what the Progs are trying to do.

I think it is unfair the way some of the Trads seem to treat the Progs on here, and what I have seen looks like the Progs treat the Trads much better than the Trads seem to treat them.

It is telling when it seems like the Trads are much quicker to hit the report button.

If the Trads don't like what the formers and Progs say on here, I'd suggest they stay away from CARM because what we say on here is a lot milder than what is said on CARM.

I have to remember to take my CARM "hat" off when I come on here.

Shabbat Shalom,

Lebesgue

 

[Mankin]

I'm thinking about joining CARM myself to see the infamous place.

 

[tall73]

Night, and other progressives, if you want to make a difference then stop discussing it in the prog forum and go here:

http://christianforums.com/t6864947