Friendly Reminder Of Rules Of Lds Talk

[Heather]

I feel that some of the threads are really pushing the limits of what will be tolerated on this board. It is important for everyone to realize how well known this site is becoming and the amount of people who are not only using the site, but also browsing it. I’m here to ensure that no one is given false information about The Church. Perhaps it will help everyone to realize that when you are derogatory in your posts to another member of the board, your message is being given to several others who are browsing this forum to see just what members of the church are really like. I for one am pleading for everyone to set a better example. Otherwise this site has no purpose and no direction. I know I have been very lenient in the past, but I am asking the Mods to take more action in accordance with the outlined rules. Threads that go beyond those boundaries will either be placed in the open forum or deleted.

Please remember the rules that you agreed to when you became a member of this site:

1 - Do not post anything that is contrary to The Teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For example, it would be fine to express your view points such as, "As a Catholic, I believe in this..." However, opinions and views that are opposed to what the LDS Church teaches need to be posted in the Open Forum. (Anti-LDS Propaganda will not be tolerated anywhere.)

2 - Personal attacks, name calling, flaming, and judgments against other posters will not be tolerated. (Attacking someone's source of information does not constitute a personal attack, unless that source is Scripture or from another Official Church publication.)

3 - No bickering and nit-picking at other's responses. Realize that sometimes it is very difficult to be able to express how one feels through written words. Please be courteous and ask for a further explanation, rather then trying to attack and find holes in someone else's post.

4 - No cursing or crude language: This is a general audience website. If the language isn't used in a G rated movie, don't use it here. Any adult topics should be placed in the Open Forum. Any swearing, including filter skipping, will result in an automatic 5 day suspension.

5 - Please stick to the current topic at hand or create a new thread.

6 - Dual posting for the purpose of hiding your identity will not be tolerated, please PM a moderator if you have any information of someone abusing this rule.

Consequences to these rules could result in the following, and are determined on a case by case/post by post basis. Anything that we determine is more than just an infraction of the rules will result in immediate banning from the site.

- First infraction will result in a warning with a PM from a moderator on what rule was broken.
- Second infraction will result in a 1 week suspension followed by a 2 week moderator post approval
- Third infraction banned from the site for good.

Any topic that is out of hand will be closed and posts which break any rules will be deleted.

We try to have the agreement of at least one other moderator, if not more, before making final decisions.

Please make a conscious effort to stay on topic and respect your fellow posters, and please report and problems you have. That’s what the Mods are here for and we want to make this a better place for you.

Please remember that we are not responsible for any messages posted. We do not vouch for or warrant the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any message, and are not responsible for the contents of any message.

The messages express the views of the author of the message, not necessarily the views of this bulletin board or the LDS Church. Any user who feels that a posted message is objectionable is encouraged to contact us immediately by Private message, email, or Report a Post. We have the ability to remove objectionable messages and we will make every effort to do so, within a reasonable time frame, if we determine that removal is necessary.

You agree, through your use of this service, that you will not use this bulletin board to post any material which is knowingly false and/or defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, vulgar, hateful, harassing, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, invasive of a person's privacy, or otherwise violative of any law.

You agree not to post any copyrighted material unless the copyright is owned by you or by this bulletin board.

Thank you,

Heather
LDS Talk Owner

[pushka]

2 - Personal attacks, name calling, flaming, and judgments against other posters will not be tolerated. (Attacking someone's source of information does not constitute a personal attack, unless that source is Scripture or from another Official Church publication.)

3 - No bickering and nit-picking at other's responses. Realize that sometimes it is very difficult to be able to express how one feels through written words. Please be courteous and ask for a further explanation, rather then trying to attack and find holes in someone else's post.

[/b]

Hi Heather,

Thanks for posting this reminder, I feel it is good to be reminded of the rules from time to time, as people sometimes become a little complacent, and forget what is allowed or not.

I just want to ask you something with regard to points 2 and 3. If we read a post by someone, which is aimed at another member, and we feel that it is abusive, insulting or hurtful towards that member, should we say so in the thread, which people normally have done around here, or would it be better to send a PM to a mod or Report the post to somebody? Maybe sometimes it would be better if people bashed out their differences in PMs rather than within the body of threads, to avoid everybody else being affected by their words? Perhaps they could leave a message on the thread stating that they have contacted said poster to discuss their differences in private if they feel posting them publicly will cause unnecessary contention on the boards? Please let me know what you think.

[Heather]

I think that is a great idea Pushka!

[Josie]

Thank you for these reminders and making an effort to stop some of the bickering and contention that has been on the boards for the last few weeks.

Many of us come here to relax and enjoy old friends. We like the forums and being able to express our feelings, but when there is so much contention and attacks of each other, we loose the desire to come, because it is not a place to relax. I have been on these boards for most of the last 8 years and love the site. It is like home to me. I have wonderful friends here. Everything you and the moderators are doing to make this a better place is so appreciated. Especially cleaning up the boards.

Thank You,

Josie

[Iggy]

<<snip>> respect your fellow posters, and please report and problems you have. That’s what the Mods are here for and we want to make this a better place for you. <<snip>> Thank you, Heather LDS Talk Owner [/b]

And when it is the moderators who are the one(s) violating the rules and member(s) report them - can you guarantee that they -the mods will be reprimanded, and that the member will not be deleted?

When I was MrsS. I reported Snow, and the next thing I knew my account was deleted. I wrote to you via this board and you never responded to me to tell me the exact reason I was banned. Emma aka Elphaba was deleted at the same time and then all the hullabaloo happened regarding her banning.

Yes, you allowed me, and Elphaba to come back to the board, thank you. But neither you, nor any of your mods would grant me the courtesy of telling me why I was banned in the first place.I never wrote a contentious post, nor argued, ad nauseum with posters. Strawberry, in a personal pm told me basically to let it go. She said she was telling Elphaba the same thing.

The mods who are contentious are not removed as mods, they are not publicly chastised like some of the members, nor are their accounts deleted. Why not? Why the preferential treatment. When the mods break the rules of this board, why are they not punished in the same way as the general population?

Since I have been coming to this board - as MrsS - there has always been contention, lately that contention has escalated to hatred. It is evil, made even the more so because it is allegedly "Card Carrying Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" who are the perpetrators of the venom, hatred, contention, who feed it and make it escalate rather than diffuse it. What makes it even worse is that it is LDS Men, who allegedly hold the Priesthood who are doing this. Great representation of the church here, guys. I don't want to hear that your priesthood has nothing to do with this site. Yes, you have no stewardship over this site, but you do represent the Church, you are an example of the priesthood of the LDS Church, and you can NOT shuck off your priesthood like you would a wet coat. At least you shouldn't be. That priesthood is not something you put on and take off at your convenience.

When you get better mods, Heather, I will become active on this site again. As it stands, there needs to be a "Cleaning Up of your House".

Sincerely:
Iggy aka MrsS

[prisonchaplain]

I like LDStalk.

Sometimes I see contention.

Sometimes individuals tell me their side.

Sometimes I understand particular views.

BUT, on the whole, I really don't understand. Furthermore, I'm not sure I want to.

We get to come here and share our views. Some people are engaging, and we make some friends.

BUT this is the internet. Thick skin required, inhabitions often cast aside.

Then there's the whole free agency thing...why allow myself to get upset over an electronic, mostly faceless forum? I suppose I could, but the only harm I'll see will come to me.

LET IT GO. Love your enemies, and let the pain go.

[pushka]

Heather, thanks for considering my suggestion...I just want to let everybody know that by suggesting some 'arguments' be carried out via PM rather than publicly, I am not proposing that troubles should be swept under the carpet and not dealt with if they are sufficient to need dealing with by the Mods/Heather.

I would also like to support Iggy's post, and ask that the Moderators also be Moderated as, like PC's signature states:

"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." -- Lord Acton

we wouldn't like to see anybody's powers going to their heads now, would we?

[FrankJL]

Just wanted to chime in with my 2 cents too..

I pretty much agree with iggy and pushka, what are we supposed to do about ignorant mods?

I've seen a lot of really mean things coming from those who are supposed to be ensuring some level of tranquility exists here.

[begood2]

Just wanted to chime in with my 2 cents too..

I pretty much agree with iggy and pushka, what are we supposed to do about ignorant mods?

I've seen a lot of really mean things coming from those who are supposed to be ensuring some level of tranquility exists here.
[/b]

I just wanted to state that SF is my favorite mod and I think that she does an excellent job of trying to defuse contention on the site and make it a better place for everyone!

Maybe once a year the members should be asked to vote to sustain or remove a mod? What do you think?

[StrawberryFields]

<div class='quotemain'>
Just wanted to chime in with my 2 cents too..

I pretty much agree with iggy and pushka, what are we supposed to do about ignorant mods?

I've seen a lot of really mean things coming from those who are supposed to be ensuring some level of tranquility exists here.
[/b]

I just wanted to state that SF is my favorite mod and I think that she does an excellent job of trying to defuse contention on the site and make it a better place for everyone!

Maybe once a year the members should be asked to vote to sustain or remove a mod? What do you think?
[/b][/quote]

Thanks Begood.

I strive for fairness for everyone and I believe that there is room for everyone. My position is a tough place to be and I don't always get my way. "stomp, stomp,' SF makes a run for the door and slams it behind her HARD.

Okay I am better now. We have good people here at LDS Talk. The past few weeks have been difficult for me here but do I completely want to leave.... not really. I do however think I need to take some things less to heart and find a few new hobbies. I plan to visit here a few times a day but I will also give more time for my family who needs me more than any of you.

Take care and know that I am near.