inhopeofglory
Member
Hi All,
I would like to offer the following thoughts concerning how we handle debate and discussion on the forum. I do not intend to "point the finger" at anyone, only bring some things to our attention in the hope that our discussions may glorify God and be edifying to all.
These aren't in any order.
Consider posting similar questions in the same thread. If you have a series of questions about a particular subject, it's a lot easier if they're all together. That way we a) don't have a stream of new threads on the same (or similar) subject(s) pushing all the other more diverse threads off the front page of each forum area and b) we don't get the same questions/arguments repeated over and over in different threads.
Watch the tone of your responses. Be polite. Don't sneer at another's beliefs/views or be cuttingly sarcastic, however ridiculous you may consider them to be. It doesn't promote discussion, but just antagonizes and irritates. If you're extremely emotional at the time, consider taking a breather and not posting until you're calm. Often, upon reviewing your proposed reply, you will find that you can find a better/less antagonistic way of saying what you want to say.
Don't state opinion as fact. The Creation/Evolution issue is a good example, in which points of interpretation are stated as fact when they're not, usually in an effort to either intimidate or put down another's views. Kinda "whoever shouts the loudest wins". This is a Christian forum, so Biblical evidence/argument is (should be) taken as factual - however, remember even then that there are often differing opinions of what a verse says/means, so be courteous in your presentation. Naturally, when it comes to truth there is a right and a wrong understanding, but we are all learning and growing...
Don't make personal attacks. It is very easy to state an opinion in such a way that it attacks the person rather than the view that person is presenting. If you're "being blunt" to the point of personal offense, then perhaps you are being too blunt. There is usually a softer way of saying something while still retaining the force of the argument. You may consider your view/understanding to be as clear as day, but another may not "get it". That's okay. You don't have a right to offend for the sake of pressing your point.
Don't just repeat the same question/answer/point over and over. It doesn't promote healthy discussion. Think of another way to say it, or another verse to use, or another angle from which to approach the subject at hand.
Don't ask questions for the sake of argument. If you're not genuinely interested in the answers, then don't ask the questions. The Creation/Evolution issue is another good example of this. I have often witnessed (here and elsewhere) questions being fired at people as a method of intimidation. One can almost hear the sneering sarcasm. The questions aren't asked in order to discuss and debate, they're asked to trip up and to ridicule the one with the opposing viewpoint. Often, in fact, they're asked because the asker feels threatened by the points being made against their worldview, even if they won't admit it to themselves or to others.
Know when to walk away. Winning isn't everything. Sometimes we can get into debates that just go round in circles. Neither side is going to budge, and so the debate quickly becomes a waste of time, often descending into a string of personal attacks. Similarly, it is possible to win a debate and in so doing lose a friend/brother. Instead, agree to disagree, and perhaps you will come back to the issue another time.
Pray about your responses. If you're a Christian here, I'd encourage you to pray about your replies, however short. God wants to be intimately involved in every detail of your life, so don't think you're wasting His time. He can give you words you didn't know you had (because you didn't - He gave them to you! ).
Well, I hope that this has been a fruitful read. Mods, if you feel this is unproductive and/or I am overstepping my bounds as a board member, please let me know and delete the thread.
Regards, inhopeofglory
I would like to offer the following thoughts concerning how we handle debate and discussion on the forum. I do not intend to "point the finger" at anyone, only bring some things to our attention in the hope that our discussions may glorify God and be edifying to all.
These aren't in any order.
Consider posting similar questions in the same thread. If you have a series of questions about a particular subject, it's a lot easier if they're all together. That way we a) don't have a stream of new threads on the same (or similar) subject(s) pushing all the other more diverse threads off the front page of each forum area and b) we don't get the same questions/arguments repeated over and over in different threads.
Watch the tone of your responses. Be polite. Don't sneer at another's beliefs/views or be cuttingly sarcastic, however ridiculous you may consider them to be. It doesn't promote discussion, but just antagonizes and irritates. If you're extremely emotional at the time, consider taking a breather and not posting until you're calm. Often, upon reviewing your proposed reply, you will find that you can find a better/less antagonistic way of saying what you want to say.
Don't state opinion as fact. The Creation/Evolution issue is a good example, in which points of interpretation are stated as fact when they're not, usually in an effort to either intimidate or put down another's views. Kinda "whoever shouts the loudest wins". This is a Christian forum, so Biblical evidence/argument is (should be) taken as factual - however, remember even then that there are often differing opinions of what a verse says/means, so be courteous in your presentation. Naturally, when it comes to truth there is a right and a wrong understanding, but we are all learning and growing...
Don't make personal attacks. It is very easy to state an opinion in such a way that it attacks the person rather than the view that person is presenting. If you're "being blunt" to the point of personal offense, then perhaps you are being too blunt. There is usually a softer way of saying something while still retaining the force of the argument. You may consider your view/understanding to be as clear as day, but another may not "get it". That's okay. You don't have a right to offend for the sake of pressing your point.
Don't just repeat the same question/answer/point over and over. It doesn't promote healthy discussion. Think of another way to say it, or another verse to use, or another angle from which to approach the subject at hand.
Don't ask questions for the sake of argument. If you're not genuinely interested in the answers, then don't ask the questions. The Creation/Evolution issue is another good example of this. I have often witnessed (here and elsewhere) questions being fired at people as a method of intimidation. One can almost hear the sneering sarcasm. The questions aren't asked in order to discuss and debate, they're asked to trip up and to ridicule the one with the opposing viewpoint. Often, in fact, they're asked because the asker feels threatened by the points being made against their worldview, even if they won't admit it to themselves or to others.
Know when to walk away. Winning isn't everything. Sometimes we can get into debates that just go round in circles. Neither side is going to budge, and so the debate quickly becomes a waste of time, often descending into a string of personal attacks. Similarly, it is possible to win a debate and in so doing lose a friend/brother. Instead, agree to disagree, and perhaps you will come back to the issue another time.
Pray about your responses. If you're a Christian here, I'd encourage you to pray about your replies, however short. God wants to be intimately involved in every detail of your life, so don't think you're wasting His time. He can give you words you didn't know you had (because you didn't - He gave them to you!
). Well, I hope that this has been a fruitful read. Mods, if you feel this is unproductive and/or I am overstepping my bounds as a board member, please let me know and delete the thread.
Regards, inhopeofglory
