Religious, Racial and Political topics.

MattVortex · **Posted:** February 18th, 2007, 5:12 am

I recently made a topic in Non-rs discussion about a wierd philosophical group who believes the earth is flat. Now, I admit that I was criticising them somewhat, but I think it was relatively healthy criticism.

Trekkie locked it on the basis that it was religious. Now, i know that some religious, racial and politial topics can spark flame wars, but in most cases, I dont think they do. There have been some very politically charged debates in non-RS media that have not turned into flame wars.

Now, I dont support flaming or insulting of any religious, racial or politial group, but there is a difference between some charged criticism and flaming. I heavily criticise fundamentalist Christianity, but i dont say 'oh duh you're all stupid' - I just point out some flaws in their beliefs, state some science, have a nice, healthy debate.

Right now, topics that may spark a flame war are being locked, even before there's a hint of any flaming. I dont think this is right - some of us here are good, intelligent people, who would just like to have a good, intelligent discussion, but we're not allowed to.

I have a few suggestions for this:

Stop locking the threads. Let us discuss, if a flame war appears, then warn us, and we'll probably calm down. If a flame war appears again, then lock it.

Maybe make a sub-forum of non-RS discussion designed for debating and us intellectuals to discuss things. At the moment, the only place I can have a good old rant about religion is in the comment section of Brad's blog, and while he probably doesnt mind it, I would like to be able to talk about it on the forums.

There are a fair number of people on the RSBandB forums who do have the self control to not flame, and the intelligence to put decent comments into sensitive debates. I think we should be allowed to without being silenced.

Adbot · **Posted:** February 18th, 2007, 5:12 am

CreepyPirate · **Posted:** February 18th, 2007, 6:02 am

I dunno why it was locked, there not banned...there just adviced against because they tend to end in arguing.

I usually do leave topics open to see how it goes then lock if everyones flaming. o.0

Brad · **Posted:** February 18th, 2007, 10:49 am

Yes I don't see why it was locked either, There is nothing in the rules that forbids religious topics, but there is a sticky in non rs discussion saying to be careful when posting on the subject. I would only lock a religious topic if it happened to get out of hand or looked to be heading that way.

Anubis · **Posted:** February 18th, 2007, 2:42 pm

Am I the only one who doesn't see any religious reference n believing that the world is flat? :\

CreepyPirate · **Posted:** February 18th, 2007, 2:52 pm

It's the people that believe in it..that is the religious part of it..

Anubis · **Posted:** February 18th, 2007, 5:43 pm

Eh? If someone believes that the Easter Bunny is real, that wouldn't be counted as religious.

Sorry, there's not much left in that thread to distinguish what the group was calling themselves. If it was "Church of Flatness" then okay, gotcha. XD

Adbot · **Posted:** February 18th, 2007, 5:43 pm

CreepyPirate · **Posted:** February 18th, 2007, 5:56 pm

If trekkie wasn't such a noob and removed the links you would have seen it was a site about Christians that believe bush was sent in the name of god, or some crap like that.

It was religious.

The Haysta · **Posted:** February 18th, 2007, 7:44 pm

http://www.bushfish.org

There you go.

Trekkie needs a hiding...

Mushroom Queen · **Posted:** February 18th, 2007, 7:55 pm

Yeah, I agree. Topics that turn into flame wars should be locked. I think (and hope) that we're all mature enough to discuss politics and religion from a more objective view.

Rune Beast0 · **Posted:** February 19th, 2007, 6:50 pm

I do agree here. I mean, flame wars can be avoided. I believe that there are enough mature people in RsBandB to hold a political or religious discussion. As for the racial, I really think it should stay the same way. I do not accept any kind of racist behavior. I just do not agree with anything that is racist. Nor will I hop onto a topic broadcasting racist stuff, and bash the author. I stay away.

Basically, I think that there are enough intelligent people here to hold an intelligent discussion thread, even if it is on a sensitive topic such as the ones mentioned in this thread.

I also think the world is flat thread could've stayed up, but I'm not a mod, so I really can't say much there.