Daffey Thoughts
After my first week on Patheos, I thought it was worth putting this out on the table.
I won’t ban or threaten to ban anyone who comes by, and I won’t pre-moderate comments. Just avoid two important internet tendencies. First, it goes without saying that actual, physical threats will not be tolerated. That’s a no-second-chance violation.
The other is personal attack and accusation. No name calling. No slander or calumny. And no insulting my intelligence by saying it’s not wrong when you do it since your judgments and the judgments of the eternal mind of the Thrice-Holy God just happen to be the same. That doesn’t mean you can’t criticize someone or point out where you think they are wrong. But don’t put words in their mouth and then blast away. And don’t assume immoral motives or secret internal sinful thoughts. If someone says they are against gun violence but disagrees about how to reduce it, don’t assume they’re lying or secretly desire to increase the slaughter of innocents.
That’s not to say I don’t welcome debate, discussion, even heated arguments. Feel free to attack stances, opinions, ideals. Though be careful. I can’t help but think our tendency to say “I’m awesomely right and your idea is hate and evil” has stoked the fires of an already on-edge world.
Nonetheless, those are the two no-nos. No threats of physical violence. No personal attacks, accusations or similar rhetorical tricks of the trade. Otherwise, argue away! For my part I will not – repeat, not – hurtle insults and false accusations about you in a public forum, and then threaten to ban you for defending yourself. Or ban you for that matter. I promise to do my best not to accuse or slander or attack or name call. If you think I’m doing so, just say so. I’ll either clarify or explain where I’m coming from. On the rarest of occasions, I might even apologize.
I welcome debate. Fun, energetic, even at times snarky, debate. Informed, reasonable, polite debate is my preference. But I understand we don’t always read others the best way on the internet, and we don’t always have time to research a thesis for a comments section. Heck, I don’t have time for that level of research for my blog. So the first set is acceptable. Comment away, I’m always interested in what people have to say.
BTW, I don’t mean no name calling that is in line with our Politically Correct sensitivities, but calling people bigots or racists is just hunky-dory. Nope. No name calling.
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