The official thread~

[DeanM]

Hi folks.

There's a lot to discuss regarding the placement of the SDA forums in the faith groups, the split that evidently paved the way for that move, what sort of options we have, how this will be handled, and the course of events that should be observed.

We're going to handle this issue one step at a time. Please do not try to side-step around any of the parts of this proposed process.

Ultimately, your staff wants peace, and if that means that your forums are to remained split and left in the faith category for now, that's what is going to happen.

This is a tentative list that may lead to the reconciliation of the issues:

1) Peace must be maintained at all times and all parties will remain civil, or risk derailing the process and possible other steps that may need to be taken to maintain the peace. This is not negotiable.

2) Issues regarding staff and their decisions are not to be made public in this process, but instead be taken to the staff members through PM, and failing that, to their Admins. I'd suggest that Athene, Ravenscape, and Tishri1 be the go-to Admins in case of any discontent with your mods that cannot be resolved through PMs.

3) We need to learn to debate properly and with respect.

4) We need to come up with a workable plan. Your input will be valued, but I am hopeful that you will strongly consider input from your staff, as they are more up-to-date with the specific requirements of upper staff that need to be addressed. IOW, trust your staff to help you through this, but do not be afraid to to make valid points in a civil manner.

5) A meeting of the two SDA groups will be held in an appropriate area. Issues will be highlighted that could possibly impede the peace process. Neither group will be given any more weight than the other. The discussion of who is and who is not a proper SDA will be off limits, and violators may find themselves removed from the discussion at the staff's discretion.

6) A new framework and design for a new forum will be presented by staff, and will be based on the best possible compromises and take into account all the issues presented by both sides. We've got some pretty good organizers on staff who are unbiased in this matter. We need to trust them.

7) Both sides will discuss the new framework, and either agree or disagree with it. Changes may be considered at this point, but this process will not drag out forever if both sides cannot be placated. The process will be scrapped at this point if there is undue bickering from either side.

8) We will submit this framework to the upper CF staff and allow them time to discuss it. We may at this time ask for the new forum to be considered for placement in the denominational category.

9) The forums will be combined and switched into "denominations."

10) Staff will guide the new forum through counseling posts for the first few weeks. Your staff is to be respected at all times. When we think you've got the hang of getting along, the staff will back off into its normal stance of moderation.

Again, these steps are going to happen in order, and one at a time.

Posts that address steps that are not under current discussion may be removed by staff.

This thread will follow these strict rules. Other threads may be used to discuss topics that are not currently on the table, and may or may not be referenced when those topics come up on this thread.

After reading the above rules, we are currently on step #3.

We need to debate properly an with respect. Please address only this issue until the topic is finished, at which time we will move on to step 4.


Dean.

 

[DeanM]

3) We need to learn to debate properly and with respect.


This has always been a rough area for many members of CF.

We're going to discuss the proper way to debate without putting people down.

1) Sarcasm. Unless you're best-buddies with the person you're debating, I'd avoid this. "Your God must be soooooo proud of you," is the type of thing I'm talking about. It does nothing to move a debate forward, and only causes unneeded angst.

2) If you want clarity, rephrase your question. Don't automatically claim that anyone is side-stepping your questions. Too often, people post loosely worded questions that may make perfect sense to them, but are a bit cloudy to other members. Don't assume that you have been perfectly clear in your questions. You may need to rephrase your questions.

3) All encompassing statements are generally provocative. For examople, "All Mormons are going to be pretty surprised when they get to the pearly gates." The use of the word "all," "every," and "none," are all examples of all encompassing delineators. Avoid them for the sake of peace.

4) Respect. Show respect to your fellow members. They may be wrong, they may be unlearned, but they are your brothers and sisters in Christ and deserve to be treated with dignity. If you don't agree with somebody, address their views in a respectful manner, and try not to address them personally.

5) Tone. It is nearly impossible to determine another poster's tone. To you, they may sound like they're whining or bashing, but they may have never intended that to happen. Try to describe your own tone. Perhaps "I am having a bit of a chuckle," or "I am saying this in utter seriousness." You may not need to do this for every post, but it would be good if everyone else knew your tone, and it takes only a few key-clicks.

At this point, this thread will remain on this topic until further notice. Your staff may pop in and give some more advice, and you are also welcome to lend some constructive advice as well.

Got any "what if?" questions about debating with respect? Let's discuss this now before moving on. Thanks.

Dean

 

[Sophia7]

2) Issues regarding staff and their decisions are not to be made public in this process, but instead be taken to the staff members through PM, and failing that, to their Admins. I'd suggest that Athene, Ravenscape, Tishri1, and Sophia7 be the go-to Admins in case of any discontent with your mods that cannot be resolved through PMs.

Sorry, Dean, but I would like to remove my name from the list of go-to admins. The other admins can handle any issues that come up here.

 

[DeanM]

Will do Sophia.

 

[Sophia7]

Thanks, Dean.

 

[sentipente]

In the SDA it usually comes in the form of questioning one's allegiance to the church because one chooses to pursue the church's central teaching of Present Truth. Only if that tendency is curbed by the admins will the rest stop being a problem. Adventists have traditionally not believed in inerrancy and the tendency of some to impose such a belief must be resisted.

 

[DeanM]

We are on the topic of proper debating. Post that are off topic should be placed in "The unofficial thread."

 

[ravenscape]

Please see Letalis' policy clarification. This thread is now closed, and discussion of the can continue in Letalis' thread.

Thanks,

Raven
Team Joy