Prohibition on a certain topic.

[Retired 83]

Hello everyone!

 

It has come to my attention the increase of religious topics here in the forums. Personally, I have no problem with these, however, I--and I'm sure others as well-- would love it if these topics could be prohibited due to the increase of its discussion on the site, and due to its possible offensive content to religion followers. I have no problems with discussing faith with anyone here, but it is really a subject that should be avoided in any forum. I've been to forums that the discussions of these topics are strictly prohibited. I'm not only referring to Christianity, but to any and all types of religions being discussed. I, and many other religion followers, would greatly appreciate this. I come to this site to talk about ponies, art, imagination, and to relax, not to have a religious debate with anyone. [And please, don't tell me to ignore--I've ignored this topic in general for all my life, and I think it is time to speak up.] I want this site to have an aura of respect around it because I love it, but this little fact has been bugging me for a while. Thank you!

[GenderIsAnIllusion 2,177]

Prohibiting religious topics would be insensitive and potentially offensive to anyone with an opinion on religion..... Let's not limit free speech shall we.

[Retired 83]

Prohibiting religious topics would be insensitive and potentially offensive to anyone with an opinion on religion..... Let's not limit free speech shall we.

As its discussion is offensive to everyone that do believe in it. If a topic is offensive to a group and you can avoid the topic (just like in work and other environments), then why bring it up in the first place?

[CheeryFox 23,821]

Yeah...just ignore those topics should you not like 'em. 

[GenderIsAnIllusion 2,177]

As its discussion is offensive to everyone that do believe in it. If a topic is offensive to a group and you can avoid the topic (just like in work and other environments), then why bring it up in the first place?

Religious topics that are offensive blatantly can be taken down..... But not all religious topics are bad, and actually provide great discussion and intellectual stability.

[Ezio Auditore 702]

I must respectfully disagree.

 

Of course if something is blatantly offensive toward a religion it should be taken down but as for debating, etc. I think it's good.

 

For starters the debates on this site are fairly tame, and rarely get out of hand. 

 

Secondly I think it is very important for people to discuss/debate religious matters. It deals with some of the biggest questions in life. Who are we? Why are we here? What is good and bad? Is there an afterlife? I think that these are questions people need to seriously think about, and I say this as a person who often gets involved in religious debates here and in other places, they're healthy. They benefit people by encouraging them to think.

[Retired 83]

Religious topics that are offensive blatantly can be taken down..... But not all religious topics are bad, and actually provide great discussion and intellectual stability.

I know not all of them are bad, but as I said, I come from sites that prohibit its discussion entirely just like other places prohibit so. Sometimes opinions are best kept privately, and I speak with my own experience. However, this is just a suggestion for a better forum enviornment, so you can either take it or leave it. I dob't mind. Just wanted to let the staff know that it is something that can be considered as well.

[Jeric 46,852]

I normally wouldn't touch a topic like this with a 40 foot pole, but I think I can ignore the personal and social aspects by focusing on the logistical nightmare this would pose for staff. By banning religion as a topic for discussion, I think it would increase the workload for the overall overworked moderation team.

 

Where is the line drawn on this? What about topics on movies and books that have obvious religious allegory. Matrix, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Narnia, Life if Pi, Fault in our Stars, etc all have associated themes people connect to faith based views. Religion can cone up in this and it can and does invite productive conversations. What about current events? A new Pope chosen? A new law that is intolerant toward a faith passed?

 

I can see this being a nightmare to enforce. Too much room for inconsistency and subjectivity.

[Retired 83]

I must respectfully disagree.

 

Of course if something is blatantly offensive toward a religion it should be taken down but as for debating, etc. I think it's good.

 

For starters the debates on this site are fairly tame, and rarely get out of hand. 

 

Secondly I think it is very important for people to discuss/debate religious matters. It deals with some of the biggest questions in life. Who are we? Why are we here? What is good and bad? Is there an afterlife? I think that these are questions people need to seriously think about, and I say this as a person who often gets involved in religious debates here and in other places, they're healthy. They benefit people by encouraging them to think.

Its just that I'm tired to see that where ever I look in the Internet, there is a religious debate. And it is mentally draining for me, really. Sometimes only looking at the title can irk me, and even if it is an innocent, tame, necessary debate, I get uncomfortable and find it hard to ignore. I dunno why. This is why I felt entitled to post this, but only because I feel like topics like these should be held in private conversations or something. Dunno. I'm sorry if this offended anyone, as I said, this is just a small suggestion.

I normally wouldn't touch a topic like this with a 40 foot pole, but I think I can ignore the personal and social aspects by focusing on the logistical nightmare this would pose for staff. By banning religion as a topic for discussion, I think it would increase the workload for the overall overworked moderation team.

Where is the line drawn on this? What about topics on movies and books that have obvious religious allegory. Matrix, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Narnia, Life if Pi, Fault in our Stars, etc all have associated themes people connect to faith based views. Religion can cone up in this and it can and does invite productive conversations. What about current events? A new Pope chosen? A new law that is intolerant toward a faith passed?

I can see this being a nightmare to enforce. Too much room for inconsistency and subjectivity.

Hmm, putting it this way it makes much sense. Like I said it was just a small suggestion, no harm intended at all. It is up to the admins to consider it or ignore it. I don't mind, I am open minded about it. ^.^ Thank you all for being nice about it.

[NavelColt 22,881]

FAQ relevant, since no one's linked it yet: http://mlpforums.com/page/faq/_/moderation/do-you-have-any-restrictions-on-religious-or-political-debate-r10

 

People should be here to discuss ponies, not their religious BS, anyway x) It's not like this a debate site where the purpose is to have detailed discussions and debates over any topic you can think of, predominantly religion and politics rising to the top as they always do. Increase in the amount of them or no, I don't ever see there being so many religion topics that an entire policy would need to be made around them. Same goes for politics. Individual topics that go bad can be sniped out, rather than nuking the entire realm and killing all the inhabitants, and then dealing with the radioactivity poisoning afterwards.

[Luna 831 466]

i disagree we don't need any prohibition topics at all.

[King 5,625]

I think I can say for certain that Religion won't be a topic that we prohibit anytime in the near future. We trust people to at the very least attempt to have civil discussion on matters such as this. We even have a dedicated section for topics that have the potential to spark arguments and whatnot.

If it gets to the stage where we feel that discussion on religion will always cause problems, then we may consider prohibiting that type of discussion. For now, however, It won't be happening.