Hello, there are some new rules at a neighboring forum that seem to be good. Should we adopt these rules too, or a variant of them? I would very much want comment on this:
After extensive discussion among the moderators, we have added some language to the FAQ/Guidelines. This language takes effect today. Please review the guidelines linked above (and always available at the top of the page). I’d like to highlight two important additions:
Participate with an aim to gain deeper understanding about orthodox Christian faith and/or mainstream science, and constructively explore the relationship between them. Users whose participation in discussions seems primarily focused on promoting unorthodox religious beliefs, idiosyncratic ideas about faith and/or science, or anti-religious sentiments will be asked to take their proselytizing efforts elsewhere.
Users who appear to be participating in discussions primarily to promote their books, blogs, or other published material will be asked to take their advertising elsewhere.
What the moderators have found is that people who come here primarily to “correct” other people’s ideas end up dragging down the conversation rather than adding to it. This is not meant as a swipe at any particular perspective on faith and science—we have gracious, positive contributors representing many perspectives—but more a statement on the kind of attitude we prefer among contributors. We are indeed raising the bar for contributors here—and perhaps we should have raised it sooner. But this standard is not meant to create an exclusive club or to silence perspectives we don’t like. It’s about fostering a community where our mission and values are consistently reflected. If we turn into a billboard for personal vendettas, then we won’t be this sort of community.
This seems like a good move for them, and as we are forming here, I want to adopt best practices. If this makes sense for them, it might also for us. I very much want comment from the regulars on this: @jongarvey, @Patrick, @deuteroKJ, @Jordan, @Philosurfer, @gbrooks9, @Guy_Coe, @T.j_Runyon, @Revealed_Cosmology, @AllenWitmerMiller, @Agauger, and so on.
[Do not be offended if I didn’t link your name here; there is a limit.]