This topic originally began as Message 115. --Admin
Forum Guidelines:
7. Avoid any form of misrepresentation.
Geeze I wonder when that will be enforced?
1. Please stay on topic for a thread. Open a new thread for new topics.
I answer the posts as they are posted. IOW if I stray off topic it would be because I answered someone who strayed.
2. Debate in good faith by addressing rebuttals through the introduction of additional evidence or by enlarging upon the argument. Do not merely keep repeating the same points without further elaboration.
Is further elaboration always necessary? If someone can't or shows no signs of understanding the basics why get more indepth?
3. Respect for others is the rule here. Argue the position, not the person. The Britannica says, "Usually, in a well-conducted debate, speakers are either emotionally uncommitted or can preserve sufficient detachment to maintain a coolly academic approach."
When evos start doing this others may follow.
4. Make your points by providing supporting evidence and/or argument. Avoid bare assertions. Because it is often not possible to tell which points will prove controversial, it is acceptable to wait until a point is challenged before supporting it.
see response to #3
5. Bare links with no supporting discussion should be avoided. Make the argument in your own words and use links as supporting references.
OK I can do that.
6. Never include material not your own without attribution to the original source.
I try very hard to do that.
7 is covered above.
8. Please do not participate as more than one ID. You can change your user ID by going to your Profile Page and creating a new alias.
John Paul- no need to change.
9. When introducing a new topic, please keep the post narrowly focused. Do not include more than a few points.
OK I can do that.
10. Do not cut-n-paste long excerpts into message boxes. Please instead 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.
I don't understand this rational but I can do that.
If I am guilty of violating #2 then many evos are guilty of violating #7. Even if I am not guilty they still would be.