Freedom

[magoo]

You can't imagine how pleased I am to see it all fall back into good hands. Phew.

 

[Clarke123]

All things fall from grace and into the gutter. All it takes is time and a few self abuse jokes

 

[boxcar]

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Thank you, Ken, really. Good thoughts, expressed very well, imo.

Now, from the SOH FAQ:

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Dealing with Troublesome Users

Can I block posts, emails and messages from specific users?
If there are particular members that bother you and you do not want to see their posts or receive Private Messages and Emails from them, then you can add these members to your 'Ignore List'. There are several ways to do this:

Through your User Control Panel: User CP, Settings & Options, Edit Ignore List. Then, type their name into the empty text box and click 'Okay'.

What if I see something offensive? <--- !!!
You will find 'Report' links in many places throughout the board. These links allow you to alert the board staff to anything which you find to be offensive, objectionable or illegal.

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That's how to deal with posts we find objectionable & members whom are continuing to disrespect the peace of our virtual home here that we are privileged with, not by disrespectfully writing on another's post that is clearly disturbing us for any reason. Some would also do quite well to respect the saying found at the top of the forums here:

Let Being Helpful Be More Important Than Being Right!
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There was no religious proselytizing & no preaching going on in Ken's Easter thread. There was thankful celebration & many of us chose to share in the spirit of this. A few members went out of their way to muddy up the thread. That was disrespectful. It is lightly going on even in this thread, accusations & trying having their own way continuing. Fine... after repeated behaviors by some whom are apparently never able to admit any offense, am heading to the "ignore list" & place a few on it here now...

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...after thanking Ken again for standing for what he knows & executing it. Am honored to know you, friend.
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[Bjoern]

I'm glad it's not just me.

It's a common thing. Most men just can't admit it because they're married (and wives are *everywhere*!). :d

a few self abuse jokes

"Self abuse".

 

[Clarke123]

"Self abuse".

Remember, good boys sleep with their hands above the covers. :mixedsmi:

 

[boxcar]

For the believers among you, if someones getting a kick out of winding you up over this try and ignore 'em, I know it's not easy but look what happened when you responded, a harmless thread was closed and they got what they wanted. next time let them have their little dig and when nobody responds they won't be able to have their fun. At the end of the day it's freedom of speech for everybody, whether they share your views or not.

Am liking this... a lot. You have my respect, Clarke.
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[Ken Stallings]

I'm an outright atheist to the core and I had a nosey at the Easter thread just for the hell of it. I found absolutely nothing offensive whatsoever. If someone is that terrified of another belief system it says more about them than the one who originaly posted. What this comes down to is two completely different passions colliding and spiralling out of control. We're all adults here and extending a common courtesy to others shouldn't be too difficult, if you don't want to read a thread about god then don't. For the believers among you, if someones getting a kick out of winding you up over this try and ignore 'em, I know it's not easy but look what happened when you responded, a harmless thread was closed and they got what they wanted. next time let them have their little dig and when nobody responds they won't be able to have their fun. At the end of the day it's freedom of speech for everybody,
whether they share your views or not. Hope everyone had a happy easter, regardless.

And simply to prove that I can act what I advocate ... I genuinely respect your philosophy. I really do. I appreciate we live in a free world where each adult can form his or hers own path and be genuinely respected and appreciated as a human being in good standing among men.

Cheers,

Ken

 

[Ken Stallings]

I generally avoid threads dealing with religion and politics...both topics are sure to come to a quick boil as differences of opinion collide. But I will post in this thread....not my opinion, but a true story of acceptance, tolerance, and brotherhood from two unlikely sources.

Back in 1987, I was a Freshman at Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio. One day at lunch, I was joined by two guys who were Juniors. Roommates for three years, these two men had been forced together by an unseeing housing department (or what ever you call the people who assign college students to their dorm rooms). These two men had a choice, kill each other or over come their differences and live in peace. These two chose to over come their differences, and as a result had become best of friends, brothers in spirit. Both of these men were approaching the US Government for the right to remain in this country once their education visas were no longer valid. Neither wanted to return to their home nation, as doing so would mean that they would once again become sworn enemies and would likely face each other across the barrels of their military rifles.

One of these guys was from Isreal. The other was a Palastinean. Jew and Arab. Sworn enemies at home.

But there on the campus of ONU, these two men were able to break through the generations old hatred and find that, deep down, they had much more in common than they had that was different.

These two men had become more than best friends, they had become brothers. And neither wanted to return to their home land, where their brothers (through national bent) would once again become their enemy.

I don't know if these two were able to stay in the US as they wanted. I don't know if they were able to be god-father to each other's children. I hope they were able to. I hope that all these years later that their families are getting together for cook outs and birthday parties and movie nights.

OBIO

If this thread served no other purpose, the fact that it elicited that personal story was a magnificent result!

Thank you for elevating this thread in poignancy, integrity, and value more than my feeble efforts could have ever done!

Ken

 

[Henry]

And simply to prove that I can act what I advocate ... I genuinely respect your philosophy. I really do. I appreciate we live in a free world where each adult can form his or hers own path and be genuinely respected and appreciated as a human being in good standing among men.

Cheers,

Ken

yes you do but sadly others do not
i really do not think you did anything wrong in fact you did not
but my concern is greater and wider
H

 

[Ken Stallings]

well we got into birthdays
this is a test the sky is blue
should i make a poll?
H

Well, it can be red when the sun rises or sets!

Ken

 

[Ken Stallings]

yes you do but sadly others do not
i really do not think you did anything wrong in fact you did not
but my concern is greater and wider
H

I appreciate that, Henry. I certainly do not wish to destroy the forums, nor even materially harm them.

But if in the desire to avoid all conflict we create an environment deemed by some as stiff or stiffled, then unfortunately that could achieve the same end result that the desire for rules sought to avoid. It's a catch 22 and ultimately one of the most difficult things about running a forum.

I guess the best option is to let people be genuinely themselves and respect that.

Ultimately every human belief system can be termed a religion. Every human action has at one time or another been deemed a religious expression. With certainty, there were many eons in human history where the act of a human flying was considered not merely a religious act, but the stuff of miracles and direct evidence of diety.

Icarus, anyone?

Yes, I realize that's ancient history and things change. But, that's kind of my point. For example, if someone posted photos of his attendance at "Hedonism Week," I'm not going to launch into a negative rebuke or try to belittle the person. I'll ignore it, or I'll join in with something humorous or insightful. Or, at least I'll try.

If the people here at SOH are just genuinely being themselves, without any overt intent to cause something, or rebuke someone, then I cannot see how that can justifiably upset the apple cart. Let's disagree over the factual stuff, like how did this aircraft or car get tested and sold. The concepts that form human value systems should be celebrated if genuinely held.

Cheers,

Ken

 

[Toastmaker]

Unbelievable ! 8-9 pages of this. I think this thread itself has become a religion !

As Magoo rightfully pointed out, the solution is blindingly simple here - no politics, no religion - period.

And, contrary to some popular belief, The Quarter Moon Saloon is not a trash dump. It is a place where there are no subjects rejected and can be debated in a seriously frank manner. It is a place for adults who will behave as adults. But, if you think that the liberal subject matters also indicate a place where you can abuse and insult others - you will be quickly dealt with in perhaps a more direct way than happens here.

Bring politics and religion to the Saloon. They are both interesting and dynamic subjects and deserve a good examination and debate. All are welcome. Respect the original rules of Newshawks.

 

[jmig]

As one of the two assigned moderators to this forum and the one who closed the Easter thread, I would like to state my views.

The Easter thread was not closed because of what Ken started it with. As far as I am concerned on Easter Sunday, it is appropriate to state, "He is Risen." Ken was not stating a "fact" as someone pointed out, but, he was making a statement of belief or affirmation. In my mind there was nothing wrong with that on Easter, the most Holy day of Christendom. If a devout Muslim had started a thread at the end of Ramadan and said, "Allahu Akbar" I would have seen his statement appropriate for the time.

Nor was the thread closed because some non-Christians made statements which the Christians might disagree. That, in my mind, is their right. I personally considered most of them (Piglet's an exception) cheap shots and over reactions. However, I am sure they thought differently. Still, it was their right to make such statements.

No, the thread was closed because the Christians and Non-Christians got into a pissing contest as to who was more disagreeable. That is why I closed it. If anyone had an agenda to close it, congratulations, you succeeded. You succeeded only because the other side chose to argue rather than ignore.

I purposely stayed out of this discussing. I see much arguing about should Religion and Politics be allowed in Newshawks. I believe that if they are News, yes, they should. A Easter thread on Easter Sunday was news worthy.

I had hopped that news worthy threads such as Easter could have been discussed without getting into a flame war. As one moderator here, and a very good friend pointed out to me, I wear rose colored glasses.

I work for Henry and the other Admins. If they say close all Religion and Political threads, I will do so. If not... well I still have those colored glasses and I am an optimist.

 

[tigisfat]

And simply to prove that I can act what I advocate ... I genuinely respect your philosophy. I really do. I appreciate we live in a free world where each adult can form his or hers own path and be genuinely respected and appreciated as a human being in good standing among men.

Cheers,

Ken

Just because you can conduct religious conversations in peace and respect for the non-religious doesn't mean that everyone else at SO can.

A few months back I told a story of a sticky situation and was given a bunch of Christian advice. I politely said no thank you, and that I wasn't likely to go church to seek help or pray, and the response was about how wrong I was. I was then treated like I was being offensive for saying that I didn't think jesus or god or whatever existed.

Just last week a moderator decided that we should pay more respect around here by capitalizing the 'G' in god.

Ken,

I can handle a "he is risen" thread where believers share a moment together. The above shouldn't happen, and makes it a very unfriendly place. I didn't get my underwear twisted over it, but new guys just won't come here.

Cheezyflier has one of the better attitudes around regarding his faith. We've calmly discussed this kinda thing via PM.

 

[Ken Stallings]

Just because you can conduct religious conversations in peace and respect for the non-religious doesn't mean that everyone else at SO can.

A few months back I told a story of a sticky situation and was given a bunch of Christian advice. I politely said no thank you, and that I wasn't likely to go church to seek help or pray, and the response was about how wrong I was. I was then treated like I was being offensive for saying that I didn't think jesus or god or whatever existed.

Just last week a moderator decided that we should pay more respect around here by capitalizing the 'G' in god.

Ken,

I can handle a "he is risen" thread where believers share a moment together. The above shouldn't happen, and makes it a very unfriendly place. I didn't get my underwear twisted over it, but new guys just won't come here.

Cheezyflier has one of the better attitudes around regarding his faith. We've calmly discussed this kinda thing via PM.

Hey, I got no disagreement with that post.

That thread wasn't an invitation to have a debate. That's why I didn't post it in Quarter Moon, nor is the fact I chose not to a sully against that forum.

But, not everything is posted for a debate point.

My joy at purchasing my airplane wasn't a debate point. I just wanted to share something special that I feel good about.

What if someone posted in reply, "Yeah, that's great, burn a bunch of fuel for a $100 hamburger and spoil the environment on a childish fancy!"

My point is that anything can be turned negative. It ain't the religion folks! That's an excuse.

Ken

 

[Quixoticish]

A few months back I told a story of a sticky situation and was given a bunch of Christian advice. I politely said no thank you, and that I wasn't likely to go church to seek help or pray, and the response was about how wrong I was. I was then treated like I was being offensive for saying that I didn't think jesus or god or whatever existed.

Just last week a moderator decided that we should pay more respect around here by capitalizing the 'G' in god.

And herein lies the problem, or so it would seem.

 

[Henry]

look im tired
this is not going anywhere constuctive
H