Posting Guidelines

[savage_carrot]

These are some general guidelines people might find helpful while posting, not only in getting their point across more effectively but also useful in having more constructive debates. This would lend to a better forum experience with minimal problems overall.

• Don’t set out to win or lose. The forum should not be taken as a contest but as a place to exchange views and learn from each other.

• We all learn something new everyday. This can change the way we perceive things, thus, it is not prudent to make our understanding of any given subject static but that it should be subject to change with more information.

• Even a wise man can learn something from a fool as the saying goes. Therefore, it behooves us to try and be humble while looking at different points of views to glean every last bit of information that we can to further our own understanding.

• We should think carefully about what we write and how we write it before posting. Well constructed posts go a long way in clarifying things and avoiding misunderstandings. Hasty and poorly constructed posts can have a detrimental impact on what we are trying to convey.

• In other situations, if things get heated, we should take time to cool off and then post so that our posts are not emotionally charged.

• Before starting a debate or posting to seek information, it would be advisable to use the search function as it might have been discussed before and there might not be any need to post or start a debate about it again.

• Please post in the correct category. It would receive more replies in the proper category, as people who are interested in a particular category, would sometimes be going through it more often than the others. This way the topic might actually get more relevant replies. For example, something to do with politics or the effects of an organization globally might do better in the “Discuss Latest News/Events” section, than the “General Section”.

Some debating guidelines in particular:

• Avoid logical fallacies. Some people might be using them unknowingly so it would be preferable if when we see it is so, we try to acquaint them with the rules of good debate.

• Any point a poster is trying to make should be backed up with facts whenever possible.

• If debaters have approaches which are diametrically opposed to each other, it would most times result in a clash with no outcome except frustration. Thus, one should think carefully before debating to see if it is worthwhile. If this happens during a debate, one can agree to disagree and end it.

• When thinking of debating emotionally charged topics (or topics that are known to be sensitive issues), one may wish to only do so if they can remain calm/detached and deal with the issues in an intelligent and tactful manner.

• Once our points are made and the debate seems to be going in circles, we should quit the debate.

[Wakas]

To add:

We have removed the automatic censoring of swear words using the forum software, as it had some flaws. Thus, please ensure one's language is polite/respectful at all times.

Thanks.

[savage_carrot]

Please be careful when posting sarcastic/satirical/tongue-in-cheek comments. They can be taken the wrong way very often, as it is difficult to determine the context/tone/intentions behind them on a forum, thus losing their impact and generally useless if misunderstood. Kindly ensure that it is kept to a minimum, and made clear as to what it was that is/was being posted for the benefit of the readers and the forum.