With a few fresh faces here in the Politics forum, now is a good time to reiterate that the forum rules here are more relaxed than in other areas of the message board.

As I'm sure you all know, discussing sensitive issues such as religion or politics can cause intense disagreements and emotions. I would strongly encourage anyone that is getting upset or angry to walk away before posting things that might cause more tension. If necessary, write a response but don't post it, then wait a few hours and decide if the post is a good idea.

Try to remember that discourse is very important, and though we might not agree with what we read on the board, we should be respectful of other's views (even if they're wrong! :-))

I fully expect issues to arise in this part of the boards, and I fully expect a few verbal brawls. All we ask is to keep it "above the belt".

Thank you.

-Fred
SETI Forums Admin
setiforums at ssl.berkeley.edu

I would like to remind all SETIzens that if you find something offensive, use the Red X button and we will review. If you are unable to utilize self control, put the person on ignore. We are not a 24/7 police force so we cannot review every complaint immediately. Engaging with people that have upset you only serves to drag the entire flow of the discussion forums down.

The SETI Mod team thanks you for your understanding and cooperation.

-Fred
SETI Forums Admin

Please note that the moderation team has adopted a near-zero-tolerance approach to negative personal commentary, directed against other forum members, in the Politics forum. Other methods were unfortunately not dissuading of it, so posts that contain such are very likely to be removed.

As has been (too-often) previously mentioned, discuss the topic, not the other people in the thread. If you disagree with them, express disagreement with their ideas or opinions rather than themselves personally, which includes implying that there is something wrong with them for holding such ideas or opinions. And if they annoy you to such an extent that you feel tempted to make personal comments about them, please use the provided forum tools (ie filtering in your profile's Community Preferences) to avoid reading them.

Thank you for your understanding.

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From the date and time of this post there will be a ZERO tolerance of posts that may be read as encouraging or promoting suicide by whatever means.
Such posts will be hidden, and posters banned. If when a poster returns from such a ban they post again in a similar manner their ability to continue to post here will be seriously considered, and a permanent banishment may be enacted.

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Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?