05-09-2007, 06:55 PM
The AUC recognizes that everyone is different, everyone is unique, and so not all of our posters will hold the same views. As long as we remember to try to treat everyone with the same respect and courtesy as we would like for ourselves, then we should be fine. But here are a few guidelines to help keep things running smoothly and to avoid causing offense.
1. Make sure your posts are respectful of the AUC principles.
As this is an AUC forum, it is to be expected that it will support the AUC principles and expect members not to trash them. These principles are broad enough to allow a variety of opinions, and it is probable that members of the forum joined because they were already in agreement with those principles, so it is not likely that they will be opposed very often. Nevertheless, we should keep those principles in mind when we post.
2. Treat everyone with kindness and respect.
We can never fully understand the circumstances and experiences that have led someone to certain beliefs. People don't hold differing beliefs to be awkward, or to upset other people. The reasons why people believe as they do cannot just be tossed aside because we might not agree.
We see no problem in people pointing out where and why they differ and asking questions of clarification. We also understand that it is in human nature to want to "help" other people where we feel they're wrong. That's where the problems often start. So let's not get too pushy.
Here are a few words of wisdom from the Bible that are appropriate to the subject.
“Just as you want people to do to you, do the same way to them." (Luke 6:31)
"Let your sayings be always with graciousness, seasoned with salt, so as to know how you ought to give an answer to each one." (Col. 4:6)
"Let a rotten remark not come out of your mouth, but whatever saying is good for building up, as the need may be, that it may impart what is favorable to the hearers." (Eph. 4:29)
Marcus Aurelius, in his book Meditations, says this about something he learned from a literary critic named Alexander:
"Not to be constantly correcting people, and in particular not to jump on them whenever they make an error of usage or a grammatical mistake or mispronounce something, but just answer their question or add another example, or debate the issue itself (not their phrasing), or make some other contribution to the discussion--and insert the right expression, unobtrusively."
3. Keep political discussion to an absolute minimum.
Members of the AUC have a wide array of political views, many of which they feel strongly about. In order to keep an atmosphere of peace, where all feel comfortable, we should refrain from making strong statements that might cause offense to someone holding different views. Our board is a religious one, not a political one.
1. Make sure your posts are respectful of the AUC principles.
As this is an AUC forum, it is to be expected that it will support the AUC principles and expect members not to trash them. These principles are broad enough to allow a variety of opinions, and it is probable that members of the forum joined because they were already in agreement with those principles, so it is not likely that they will be opposed very often. Nevertheless, we should keep those principles in mind when we post.
2. Treat everyone with kindness and respect.
We can never fully understand the circumstances and experiences that have led someone to certain beliefs. People don't hold differing beliefs to be awkward, or to upset other people. The reasons why people believe as they do cannot just be tossed aside because we might not agree.
We see no problem in people pointing out where and why they differ and asking questions of clarification. We also understand that it is in human nature to want to "help" other people where we feel they're wrong. That's where the problems often start. So let's not get too pushy.
Here are a few words of wisdom from the Bible that are appropriate to the subject.
“Just as you want people to do to you, do the same way to them." (Luke 6:31)
"Let your sayings be always with graciousness, seasoned with salt, so as to know how you ought to give an answer to each one." (Col. 4:6)
"Let a rotten remark not come out of your mouth, but whatever saying is good for building up, as the need may be, that it may impart what is favorable to the hearers." (Eph. 4:29)
Marcus Aurelius, in his book Meditations, says this about something he learned from a literary critic named Alexander:
"Not to be constantly correcting people, and in particular not to jump on them whenever they make an error of usage or a grammatical mistake or mispronounce something, but just answer their question or add another example, or debate the issue itself (not their phrasing), or make some other contribution to the discussion--and insert the right expression, unobtrusively."
3. Keep political discussion to an absolute minimum.
Members of the AUC have a wide array of political views, many of which they feel strongly about. In order to keep an atmosphere of peace, where all feel comfortable, we should refrain from making strong statements that might cause offense to someone holding different views. Our board is a religious one, not a political one.