Post by Admin on Dec 15, 2014 11:53:01 GMT -5
Everyone starts somewhere, right? Every born again believer usually starts out having a very limited knowledge, and for those that may have been a member of Churchianity, and sat in a pew before realizing their need for a personal relationship with Christ, what has been learned over the years may need to be examined (as everything we "believe" needs to be).
So this thread will cover some basics. Let's get started (and this list will be added to as needed).
1. Never respond off topic: in other words...read the OP and respond to that. Often we see a post that may have gotten off-topic and respond well into the post. Nothing will ever be accomplished in Doctrinal Discussion and Debate if the topic is derailed. This is discourteous to the OP and the topic, and is viewed as bad form in discussion.
2. Similar to the first point, do not make every thread about a "pet" doctrinal view. This too is bad form and this type of posting will result in Moderation of members that do so.
3. Never change what someone has said when you quote them. When quoting, always give complete quotes. This forum does not prohibit or even discourage long posts or responses, so if there is only one point you wish to address in a long post, quote the entire post, and then re-quote the portion you want to address. This way the context is not lost and what someone quotes can be verified in the original post. In Bible Study, context is one of the most important issues, and the primary reason why some people become erroneous in their teaching and doctrine.
4. Leave your emotions in the desk drawer beside you. It has to be understood that a doctrinal debate forum, or any forum for that matter, is going to result in disagreement between two or more people. Get that straight before you allow someone to interfere with your goal of self-control, and it is you that becomes the one responding emotionally. All it takes for disagreement is...two people talking.
5. Do not think that if someone disagrees with you...that gives you a right to question their salvation. The only right anyone has is to question doctrine and practice, and we do this by presenting a Biblical Model for the views we express. This forum maintains the Integrity and Sufficiency of the Bible, and all doctrine and practice is measured by the Bible alone. Personal remarks or comments which call someone's salvation into question will not be tolerated. You are free to challenge another's doctrine and view, but let's leave judgment of others where it belongs...in the hands of the Lord.
6. Limit your private messaging. Do you want to be like Paul, who publicly defended the Faith? Or do you want to be like Nicodemus...who sought private discussion?
7. Always try to be courteous. Remember, as born again believers we are supposed to be representatives of Christ wherever we go. Anonymous discussion is an open invitation for failure to maintain self-control, and it is up to us not to behave poorly simply because...we can.
8. Never criticize how someone else posts (i.e., length, sizing, spelling, et cetera). Sometimes multi-lingual people will be mistaken for being low in intelligence or education when the opposite is true, they are learning another language. Everyone posts in a distinctive style so just accept that. It will likely be viewed as changing the subject, rudeness, or inability to answer direct questions, and is just bad form.
9. Similar to the previous tip, do not use excessive color emphasis in texts which might be misinterpreted. In forums, ENLARGENING THE TEXTS indicates yelling. We can use bold, italics, or underlining to perform emphasis.
10. Keep a sense of humor, or in other words...don't take yourself too seriously. If you don't have one...develop one. Some people (who shall remain nameless) often use humor in their responses, so make sure someone is not just yanking your chain before getting upset.
11. Keep humor friendly and clean. Don't use vulgar concepts or even allude to them. This shows a lack of intelligence, as we can convey humor without relying on vulgarity or hostility to ruin that.
12. Only respond, never "create" a debate. This is for the purpose of avoiding someone charging you with either "forcing something down their throat," or, charging you with derailing a topic. While topics sometimes reach into other relevant issues, and oftentimes should, I think we do better if no valid charges of bad form can be levied.
13. No baiting. This Forum defines baiting as directing a conversation to a preconceived conclusion. While asking a question is an ancient custom of teaching, baiting usually has a one-track mind, or better, a one doctrine mind. Because it is a customary teaching practice to evoke a response or answer by asking a question that demands an answer, this issue is not likely to be a problem here. Both question and demanded answer will be examined by the staff to determine whether it is acceptable.
14. No flaming. Similar to baiting, this is to evoke an emotional response. This will not be tolerated.
This list will be added to as needed.
So this thread will cover some basics. Let's get started (and this list will be added to as needed).
1. Never respond off topic: in other words...read the OP and respond to that. Often we see a post that may have gotten off-topic and respond well into the post. Nothing will ever be accomplished in Doctrinal Discussion and Debate if the topic is derailed. This is discourteous to the OP and the topic, and is viewed as bad form in discussion.
2. Similar to the first point, do not make every thread about a "pet" doctrinal view. This too is bad form and this type of posting will result in Moderation of members that do so.
3. Never change what someone has said when you quote them. When quoting, always give complete quotes. This forum does not prohibit or even discourage long posts or responses, so if there is only one point you wish to address in a long post, quote the entire post, and then re-quote the portion you want to address. This way the context is not lost and what someone quotes can be verified in the original post. In Bible Study, context is one of the most important issues, and the primary reason why some people become erroneous in their teaching and doctrine.
4. Leave your emotions in the desk drawer beside you. It has to be understood that a doctrinal debate forum, or any forum for that matter, is going to result in disagreement between two or more people. Get that straight before you allow someone to interfere with your goal of self-control, and it is you that becomes the one responding emotionally. All it takes for disagreement is...two people talking.
5. Do not think that if someone disagrees with you...that gives you a right to question their salvation. The only right anyone has is to question doctrine and practice, and we do this by presenting a Biblical Model for the views we express. This forum maintains the Integrity and Sufficiency of the Bible, and all doctrine and practice is measured by the Bible alone. Personal remarks or comments which call someone's salvation into question will not be tolerated. You are free to challenge another's doctrine and view, but let's leave judgment of others where it belongs...in the hands of the Lord.
6. Limit your private messaging. Do you want to be like Paul, who publicly defended the Faith? Or do you want to be like Nicodemus...who sought private discussion?
7. Always try to be courteous. Remember, as born again believers we are supposed to be representatives of Christ wherever we go. Anonymous discussion is an open invitation for failure to maintain self-control, and it is up to us not to behave poorly simply because...we can.
8. Never criticize how someone else posts (i.e., length, sizing, spelling, et cetera). Sometimes multi-lingual people will be mistaken for being low in intelligence or education when the opposite is true, they are learning another language. Everyone posts in a distinctive style so just accept that. It will likely be viewed as changing the subject, rudeness, or inability to answer direct questions, and is just bad form.
9. Similar to the previous tip, do not use excessive color emphasis in texts which might be misinterpreted. In forums, ENLARGENING THE TEXTS indicates yelling. We can use bold, italics, or underlining to perform emphasis.
10. Keep a sense of humor, or in other words...don't take yourself too seriously. If you don't have one...develop one. Some people (who shall remain nameless) often use humor in their responses, so make sure someone is not just yanking your chain before getting upset.
11. Keep humor friendly and clean. Don't use vulgar concepts or even allude to them. This shows a lack of intelligence, as we can convey humor without relying on vulgarity or hostility to ruin that.
12. Only respond, never "create" a debate. This is for the purpose of avoiding someone charging you with either "forcing something down their throat," or, charging you with derailing a topic. While topics sometimes reach into other relevant issues, and oftentimes should, I think we do better if no valid charges of bad form can be levied.
13. No baiting. This Forum defines baiting as directing a conversation to a preconceived conclusion. While asking a question is an ancient custom of teaching, baiting usually has a one-track mind, or better, a one doctrine mind. Because it is a customary teaching practice to evoke a response or answer by asking a question that demands an answer, this issue is not likely to be a problem here. Both question and demanded answer will be examined by the staff to determine whether it is acceptable.
14. No flaming. Similar to baiting, this is to evoke an emotional response. This will not be tolerated.
This list will be added to as needed.