To further reiterate the Admin's debate guidelines:
The debate section, and the entire forum, was set up as a way for us to voice our thoughts, opinions, beliefs on subjects. Under the debate topics there are lots of differing opinions - and there will continue to be.
I (as Moderator) cannot, and will not, restrict people from offering up differing opinions. As the Admin has stated, this is an arena for differing opinions and discussion. Whether you are quoted in a response post, or named by the responder is no different. I will ask, however, that responses be kept general enough that they can apply to all who might hold a specific opinion. This is not to say that you cannot quote a person or respond to them in any way - as long as you have information or research to back up your response.
I cannot, and will not, force everyone to comply with another's opinion. I will not edit or delete posts - unless they are clear attacks on another person. Doing so would mean that I feel everyone should side with me or the prevailing opinion, which is not true.
One thing to keep in mind though is that this is a discussion arena. There is no one on the other side of the computer who is wishing to hurt, condemn, or ridicule you (at least not that I know of
). There is no reason that we should have to guard our words for every possible way that someone might interpret a statement.
Discussions will change at times. Sometimes they might feel personal. Sometimes you might feel like an outsider. But just as you might have an argument, discussion, or disagreement with a person on a face-to-face basis, your words will often be tossed back at you. You will often have to put further thought into what you may have said at an earlier date and then recant or emphasize why you feel/believe the way you do. The same is true in this forum.
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