Okay, so while I admire Arouet's commitment to bringing
everyone together, we shouldn't lose sight of the many people who already manage to get along. My idea is to have a place for reasonable discussion which skips over the Stuck-on-Stupid animosity, in much the same way that the mod+ designation skips over the prove-it-from-the-ground-up discussions in the rest of the forum.
I've put together a description of what this means which can be included (or linked to) in any mod+ discussions in CD, Other Stuff, and Guidelines (anywhere there is likely to be proponent/non-proponent interaction). Please note that I am not dictating anyone else's actions or the form that discussion must take on this forum. I simply wish to carve out a space where anyone who is willing can participate in relative peace. And other members may have better ideas to try out. And of course there will continue to be plenty of other places on the forum for people to exercise their animosity.
"Please do not join in the discussion if you are not interested in critical discussion, or if your intent is to attack "skeptics". Please address the actual issues raised and be civil, or you will be asked to leave."
"For anyone who isn't clear on online civility in discussions...
Name calling
Attack on a person (e.g., idiot, you’re dumb, Obamamama)
Aspersion
Attack on an idea (e.g., that policy is asinine, what a stupid idea)
Lying
Implying disingenuousness (e.g., liar, dishonest, not trustworthy)
Vulgarity
Use of vulgar terms (e.g., crap, hell, bitching)
Pejorative for speech
Disparaging the manner in which someone communicates (e.g., bellyache, blather, crying)
Hyperbole
Massive overstatement (e.g., makes pulling teeth with pliers look easy, like superman on cocaine)
Noncooperation
Discussion of a situation in terms of a stalemate (e.g., immovable, polarizing, rigid, gridlocked)
From:
http://nicd.arizona.edu/research-report/patterns-and-determinants-civility"
I've already run this past Andy, since he would be responsible for the "asked to leave" part for those who do not honour the mod+ tag, and he says it seems fair.
Thanks,
Linda