Conversation with all members of OBOB Politics area

[benedictaoo]

I can agree to anything but we have folks here who I believe will never change and it seems no proper action is taken against them. As they fly under the radar while the condescend, insult, shame, brag on themselves, and the list goes on. Until we respect one another and ppl are here because they aren't political hacks nothing is going to change.

 

[Miss Shelby]

I really don't think there should be rules. As long as it's not spam or selling something or porn it should be allowed.

 

[Michie]

I rarely post here anymore because this forum seems to have become conspiracy central. I do not mind discussing these things in light of our faith but we never do. It is all partisan
liberal/conservative bologna where politics come first with the faith trailing far far behind. Then there is the labels. The only thing that should matter is the faith and how to navigate this stuff on the real world as Catholics and Christians. It is still a Catholic forum but gays, guns, and partisan politics are the popular items on the menu. I can listen to Rush Limbaugh or any liberal source for this stuff. I come here to learn how to navigate as a Catholic Christian in the secular world and to reason together. Witness is pretty crappy here and it is just overall unhealthy. If you can get this place to change when there is so much disagreement and just plain entertainment in the drama then you deserve the Nobel Peace Prize!

I would like to have a conversation with you all and see if we can agree to this. First this is a no report thread. Staff can still report but please do not report each other. And please do not make it so a report is needed.

I think we all see the violence and hate in the world today. And we all want it to be different. Our faith, guiding us and expressed through our politics is a big part of how we do that. And it can get emotional.

We all come from different places, different pains and joys and we all want a better world focused on Christ. This forum should reflect that more. So I am asking all of you...can we discuss this and agree to something like this

Listen to understand not just respond. Realize that we can not demonize large numbers of a group...stereotype their intentions and place that on people who post here. No one here is the representative for what is wrong with the liberal view or the conservative view or any view. Can we set aside snark, scoring points and passive aggressive comments in favor of dialog? This agreement is not mod enforceable. It is an agreement between brothers and sisters to treat each other better even when the discussions are serious. No one is asking for PC discussions without edge or passion. But passion does not mean disrespect.

Blessed Mother Teresa said: “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”

Lets face it, with the election season about to go into overdrive we need to commit to seeing each other as people and not as representatives of an ideology. It happens too often in political discussion and it takes a commitment from those participating to raise the bar of conversation.

Like I said, this agreement is not something the mods will be enforcing (except where things violate the rules as normal). It is an agreement between Christians to act honestly with each other without rancor and malice in word.

Can we agree to try this? It does not mean you do not forcefully defend your points. But it means you do not get personal and you do not shove people into an ideology and attribute horrible things to their intentions. And before you report someone you try to work it out in thread as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Can you try to make this subforum a standard for the civil discussion of where political issues and faith meet?

With all the darkness in the world today can we attempt to have a common goal...to get the world closer to the heart of Christ, even if we strongly disagree on how?

 

[Miss Shelby]

Faith enrichment should not be anyone's motive for being here, or for actively and regularly being on any social media site. It is more Faith and soul destroying when approached that way. I speak from experience and have seen it happen to many.

 

[seekingsolace]

One thing I learnt is how unfruitful this place can be. I left for a long time, and very infrequently come by to check on members and pray for them - anything else seems pointless. Users seem to relish disputes and open scorn against fellow Christians; I don't want to be part of it.

The body has lost perspective on the fundamentals of the Christian faith, and I worry: heap coals upon their own heads.

 

[Michie]

Miss Shelby-

Then why come to 'Christian Forums'? Or any of the Catholic Forums? I can tell you that many have learned much and been led back to the Faith as well. Why not just go to a board that claims no faith? Sincere question.

 

[seekingsolace]

Who's that addressed at Michie?

 

[Michie]

Sorry. I was asking Miss Shelby.

Who's that addressed at Michie?

 

[seekingsolace]

Sorry. I was asking Miss Shelby.

Ah okay thanks, and sorry (didn't know if it was me)

 

[Miss Shelby]

Then why come to 'Christian Forums'? Or any of the Catholic Forums? I can tell you that many have learned much and been led back to the Faith as well. Why not just go to a board that claims no faith? Sincere question.

I think people come with the sincere desire to learn and grow. Often times they do. But all too often the compulsion takes over to be here out of.. I don't know. But it's not something Faith driven.

Several years ago, when I was in my posting prime and thought I was learning as well as teaching, a young man pm'd me and said ' Miss Shelby you seem like a lady who is very Christian and I want to ask you, I like posting here but at the same time I feel like it's making me lose my Faith. What should I do' he meant should he stick around?

I told him if it's affecting his Faith he should not stay. He thanked me, logged off, and I never heard from him again. I have checked his profile from time to time. He's never been back. Very smart one, that lad. And probably doing better than we are.

 

[Michie]

You gave him the right advise. I think it affects different people in different ways. I personally come here to discuss these things from the Catholic, Christian, or even other perspectives. But it just gets ugly. And when the board is called "Christian Forums", that can be a bit distressing that people seem to not care how we look to others and to one another.

I think people come with the sincere desire to learn and grow. Often times they do. But all too often the compulsion takes over to be here out of.. I don't know. But it's not something Faith driven.

Several years ago, when I was in my posting prime and thought I was learning as well as teaching, a young man pm'd me and said ' Miss Shelby you seem like a lady who is very Christian and I want to ask you, I like posting here but at the same time I feel like it's making me lose my Faith. What should I do' he meant should he stick around?

I told him if it's affecting his Faith he should not stay. He thanked me, logged off, and I never heard from him again. I have checked his profile from time to time. He's never been back. Very smart one, that lad. And probably doing better than we are.

 

[Miss Shelby]

I agree with you, Michie and my witness on the board is poor. But at the same time I feel as though I am amongst friends and can be myself. I think we give too much of the benefit to lurkers sometimes though by feeling we have to be 'perfect'. We are all human and have our human moments. I'm glad I can do that here.

 

[Michie]

I really have no complaints when people do that with humor and are not meanspirited about it. But it has gotten pretty cut throat lately and there is no humor in it. I'm not a good witness either but I like to feel like I am at least trying. This place can be pretty scary to new posters. I remember when I returned here and it was not exactly the welcome wagon! Lol

I agree with you, Michie and my witness on the board is poor. But at the same time I feel as though I am amongst friends and can be myself. I think we give too much of the benefit to lurkers sometimes though by feeling we have to be 'perfect'. We are all human and have our human moments. I'm glad I can do that here.

 

[Miss Shelby]

I really have no complaints when people do that with humor and are not meanspirited about it. But it has gotten pretty cut throat lately and there is no humor in it. I'm not a good witness either but I like to feel like I am at least trying. This place can be pretty scary to new posters. I remember when I returned here and it was not exactly the welcome wagon! Lol

I guess I haven't witnessed much of that. Maybe I should adopt the rule that if I wouldn't say it on Facebook, I shouldn't say it here. Of course, that would eliminate my need for coming here.....tee hee

 

[Michie]

lol! Some do seem to use this place as an outlet. Reminds me of that old movie: Network. "I'm mad as hell and I'm not gonna take it anymore!" *shakes fist*

I guess I haven't witnessed much of that. Maybe I should adopt the rule that if I wouldn't say it on Facebook, I shouldn't say it here. Of course, that would eliminate my need for coming here.....tee hee

 

[pdudgeon]

*snicker. Don't worry. It's not. Just look at the tread titles. It's not a conservatives only sub-forum, but it sure is dominated by conservatives.

no, it's dominated by liberals and middle-of-the-roaders who lean liberal.
the conservative/traditionals i could count on one hand.
the pendulum has swung to the left in here.

 

[pdudgeon]

OBOB GPF is for political discussion through the lens of orthodox Catholicism which means that it is generally going to be closer to the conservative point of view if this sub-forum is what it is intended to be.

or at least it should be that way.
in practice, not so much.

 

[LoAmmi]

no, it's dominated by liberals and middle-of-the-roaders who lean liberal.
the conservative/traditionals i could count on one hand.
the pendulum has swung to the left in here.

I've said this before and I'll say it again.

When both sides keep saying that the other side is dominating, it's probably a sign that neither side is.

 

[pdudgeon]

It is true that the internet lets people have a shield to act how they want and treat others as if they are just an object. That is the challenge of all this.
And that is why I am asking the membership here to make the effort on their own. I do understand the uphill battle I am asking. I really really do. But I also think the people here are capable of it.

If only half of those who normally post will do it, it could make a difference. If people begin to make a thread uncivil walk away. Without the conflict it will die. If people decided that they will take the personal responsibility for not feeding the behavior (either in themselves or others) it could make a difference.

that works up to a point.
and it assumes that if a person walks away from a potential conflict in a thread that the conflict will disappear.
it doesn't.
it just goes into hiding, waiting till the next time it can spring into action once again.
many of us have been victims of this.

but let's take your offer, and presume that half of those who normally post here would be willing to walk away from a conflict.
those who would take up the offer are those who are not causing the problems.
so other than a dead forum, what have you gained?

 

[Davidnic]

Walking away does not mean you stop posting. It means you stop feeding the problem. If someone becomes unreasonable you just don't respond to them you respond to the people being reasonable.

Eventually you affect the culture. That's what used to happen in OBOB. Yes people fought. But not as if the other person was the poster child for everything wrong with the world.

We used to get two or three anti-catholic trolls a day that the staff have to deal with. Now it's unusual to get that in a month. But while we were concerned about protecting our safe haven for others we never fought like this among ourselves.

I think if people walked away from that kind of conflict it wouldn't result in an empty forum. It may for a bit. But in the long-term a healthy area would grow.