Disclaimer and Introduction to the Memphis Freethought Alliance Public Forum
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Jason
Dec 7, 2010, 11:35:22 PM12/7/10
to Memphis Freethought Alliance Public Forum
PUBLIC VIEWING:
The MFA Public Forum is a public forum. All postings can be viewed by
any member of the public with access to the internet regardless of
membership status. Keep this in mind when you post especially if your
real identity is known on the forum.
GENERAL DISCLAIMER:
Information presented on this website is considered public information
and may be distributed or copied. Use of appropriate bylines, photos,
images is requested. Please report any abuses to
memphisfr...@yahoo.com.
The views expressed in this public website discussion forum by non-MFA
members and MFA members does not necessarily express the views or
opinions of the Memphis Freethought Alliance.
SITE PURPOSE:
The purpose of this MFA Google Group discussion site is to allow
members of the freethoughtcommunity and general public to engage in
relatively unfettered but respectful and honest discussions about
sacred cows, including religion, the paranormal and so forth. The
views on this site do not necessarily reflect the views of MFA, MFA
members or affiliates of MFA. Many people who post on this site are
not members of or affiliated with MFA.
People frequently have very strong emotional attachments to many
beliefs analyzed on this site. When emotions have run high, there have
been a few "ad hominem" attacks in some of the posts. Please refrain
from referring to someone as "stupid," "insane," etc--not that those
adjectives were necessarily used. If these “ad hominem” (personal)
attacks create a hostile environment or discourage people from
exchanging ideas, you will be banned from this MFA site. If you want
to attack an idea, you can type "that is a stupid, bullshit idea,"
which is appropriate. However, do not call the person names such as
"you are stupid (as opposed to your ideas) for thinking that way".
This is a subtle but important point. In addition, if you call a
person's idea stupid, bullshit, insane, etc, please do your best to
explain why you think that his or her idea (not him or her) is stupid,
bullshit, insane, etc.
We are discussing sacred cows so people will naturally get upset and
frustrated; however, do not attack someone because they think your
way of looking at something is stupid. Feel free to counter-attack
their supposedly stupid opposing ideas with clear explanations--as
clear as you can muster.
Note: Some of the people on this site are friends and like to badger
each other. So the decision to ban will be based on (1) whether or
not the personal attacks are uninvited or just playing around and (2)
whether or not the attacks are seriously hampering the amount of
discussion about the ideas/concepts/etc, that is, the posts have
digressed to a name calling, insulting match. Plus, I will talk with
other members of the MFA board before anyone is banned.
What is the definition of "ad hominem"? It is appealing to personal
considerations (rather than to fact or reason); "ad hominem arguments"
are personal, that is, concerning or affecting a particular person or
his or her private life and personality instead of the ideas/
concepts.
PURPOSE OF THE MEMPHIS FREETHOUGHT ALLIANCE:
1) Foster an environment suitable for free speech and exchange of
ideas.
2) Provide a forum for educational films and lectures.
3) Defend the constitutional separation of church and state as well
as oppose government sponsored religious events.
4) Defend the teaching of scientific theories over non-scientific
theories in public school science classes.
5) Oppose pseudoscience, flim-flam, fraud, myths, misleading
information, and hoaxes in the media.
6) Recognize the civil rights of atheists, agnostics, secular
humanists and others who do not believe in god(s) or other
supernatural forces.
7) Seek to improve society through secular humanism, science and
critical thinking, and rational philosophical discourse.
8) Provide a fellowship for people who share this mission.
The MFA Public Forum is a public forum. All postings can be viewed by
any member of the public with access to the internet regardless of
membership status. Keep this in mind when you post especially if your
real identity is known on the forum.
GENERAL DISCLAIMER:
Information presented on this website is considered public information
and may be distributed or copied. Use of appropriate bylines, photos,
images is requested. Please report any abuses to
memphisfr...@yahoo.com.
The views expressed in this public website discussion forum by non-MFA
members and MFA members does not necessarily express the views or
opinions of the Memphis Freethought Alliance.
SITE PURPOSE:
The purpose of this MFA Google Group discussion site is to allow
members of the freethoughtcommunity and general public to engage in
relatively unfettered but respectful and honest discussions about
sacred cows, including religion, the paranormal and so forth. The
views on this site do not necessarily reflect the views of MFA, MFA
members or affiliates of MFA. Many people who post on this site are
not members of or affiliated with MFA.
People frequently have very strong emotional attachments to many
beliefs analyzed on this site. When emotions have run high, there have
been a few "ad hominem" attacks in some of the posts. Please refrain
from referring to someone as "stupid," "insane," etc--not that those
adjectives were necessarily used. If these “ad hominem” (personal)
attacks create a hostile environment or discourage people from
exchanging ideas, you will be banned from this MFA site. If you want
to attack an idea, you can type "that is a stupid, bullshit idea,"
which is appropriate. However, do not call the person names such as
"you are stupid (as opposed to your ideas) for thinking that way".
This is a subtle but important point. In addition, if you call a
person's idea stupid, bullshit, insane, etc, please do your best to
explain why you think that his or her idea (not him or her) is stupid,
bullshit, insane, etc.
We are discussing sacred cows so people will naturally get upset and
frustrated; however, do not attack someone because they think your
way of looking at something is stupid. Feel free to counter-attack
their supposedly stupid opposing ideas with clear explanations--as
clear as you can muster.
Note: Some of the people on this site are friends and like to badger
each other. So the decision to ban will be based on (1) whether or
not the personal attacks are uninvited or just playing around and (2)
whether or not the attacks are seriously hampering the amount of
discussion about the ideas/concepts/etc, that is, the posts have
digressed to a name calling, insulting match. Plus, I will talk with
other members of the MFA board before anyone is banned.
What is the definition of "ad hominem"? It is appealing to personal
considerations (rather than to fact or reason); "ad hominem arguments"
are personal, that is, concerning or affecting a particular person or
his or her private life and personality instead of the ideas/
concepts.
PURPOSE OF THE MEMPHIS FREETHOUGHT ALLIANCE:
1) Foster an environment suitable for free speech and exchange of
ideas.
2) Provide a forum for educational films and lectures.
3) Defend the constitutional separation of church and state as well
as oppose government sponsored religious events.
4) Defend the teaching of scientific theories over non-scientific
theories in public school science classes.
5) Oppose pseudoscience, flim-flam, fraud, myths, misleading
information, and hoaxes in the media.
6) Recognize the civil rights of atheists, agnostics, secular
humanists and others who do not believe in god(s) or other
supernatural forces.
7) Seek to improve society through secular humanism, science and
critical thinking, and rational philosophical discourse.
8) Provide a fellowship for people who share this mission.
Martin Atkins
Apr 25, 2012, 6:55:32 PM4/25/12
to memphisfreeth...@googlegroups.com
Also, read http://www.memphisfreethought.com/DiscussionForum.html for more information on the rules and guides.
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