Forum Guidelines
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Please follow all moderator requests. Concerns about
moderation should be taken to the Report Discussion Problems
Here thread.
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Please stay on topic for a thread. Open a new thread for new
topics.
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When introducing a new topic, please keep the message narrowly
focused. Do not include more than a few points.
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Points should be supported with evidence and reasoned
argumentation. Address rebuttals through the introduction of
additional evidence or by enlarging upon the argument. Do not
repeat previous points without further elaboration. Avoid bare
assertions.
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Bare links with no supporting discussion should be avoided. Make the
argument in your own words and use links as supporting references.
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Avoid lengthy cut-n-pastes. Introduce the point in your own
words and provide a link to your source as a reference. If
your source is not on-line you may contact the Site
Administrator to have it made available on-line.
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Never include material not your own without attribution to the
original source.
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Avoid any form of misrepresentation.
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Do not participate as more than one ID. You may change your
user ID by going to your Profile Page and creating a new
alias.
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The sincerely held beliefs of other members deserve your respect.
Please keep discussion civil. Argue the position, not the person.
Usually, in a
well-conducted debate, speakers are either emotionally
uncommitted or can preserve sufficient detachment to maintain
a coolly academic approach.-- Encyclopedia
Britannica, on debate
Enforcement
The deletion of posts is not practiced here, and editing of posts is
practiced only rarely. The exception is spam, which is usually either
edited or deleted.
Moderators will try to be helpful, but the moderator staff is small and
they do not have the time to coach members toward proper participation.
Persistent violations can result in restricted permissions or even
suspensions that can range from hours to days to permanent. Permanent
suspensions are relatively rare.
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