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Post by Professor Q on Feb 18, 2017 5:37:25 GMT
I'm putting this out here for democratic decision, because I'm not the Pope. Pros: 1) Rational discussion of current affairs without name-calling ("Racist!", "SJW!", "Nazi!", "Radical feminist!"). 2) An opportunity to discuss current affairs using the perspective of the Church's social teaching, stretching back to Leo XIII and before. 3) A chance to highlight positive, uplifting or otherwise encouraging news that would not make it into Catholic News. Cons: 1) Troll bait. People might join the forum simply to bash a particular political figure, party, country or position. 2) Media bias. If Pope Francis says "God is love" and the mainstream media reports it as "Pope Francis Says Church Not Needed For Salvation", then we have a problem, Houston. ("Conservative" news sites also suffer from this problem, because they tend to view things through a left/right paradigm rather than as the Catholic faith sees it.) 3) Diversion of energies that are best spent elsewhere. We see this on other Catholic forums where the latest Pope Francis, President Trump or ISIS story generates pages of (often fruitless) discussion, while things like devotions, Scripture, Saints' lives and spirituality wither on the vine. What do y'all think?
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Post by Beryllos on Feb 18, 2017 7:15:05 GMT
Wow. That question raises some uncomfortable issues.
I am going to vote Yes, but not because we're big boys and girls and can manage it. I say Yes because we can't run away from it. Better to meet it head on. We can take the bull by the horns.
First of all, there will be trolls and trolling. In this imperfect world, it's only a matter of time. The best scenario might be to establish a sensible system for minimizing and repairing the damage — for maintaining order in a disordered world.
Second, if there is no designated forum with a well-crafted set of expectations and rules, news articles will land in other forums, and members will have to sort it out. I'm thinking it will be better to have a structure in place. It's like an isolation ward at the hospital.
How are we going to make this work? I have no idea, but let's discuss it!
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Post by Professor Q on Feb 18, 2017 7:19:25 GMT
Wow. That question raises some uncomfortable issues, but let's face them. I am going to vote Yes, but not because we're big boys and girls and can manage it. I say Yes because we can't run away from it. Better to meet it head on. We can take the bull by the horns.First of all, there will be trolls and trolling. In this imperfect world, it's only a matter of time. The best scenario might be to establish a sensible system for minimizing and repairing the damage — for maintaining order in a disordered world. Second, if there is no designated forum with a well-crafted set of expectations and rules, news articles will land in other forums, and members will have to sort it out. I'm thinking it will be better to have a structure in place. It's like an isolation ward at the hospital. How are we going to make this work? I have no idea, but let's discuss it!Well, we could have a temporary embargo on a certain world leader whose name rhymes with Bump... But leaving jokes aside, this is exactly the kind of spirit I'm looking for. Let's see what our companions have to say.
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Post by Irishmom on Feb 18, 2017 13:28:40 GMT
I was going to say yes at first. But then, I had one peek over at the-place-that-shall-not-be- named... One thread, and I change my vote to no.
Honestly, to come here and have no political talk is fine with me. I know that people say it will find its way to some thread, but it will happen far less, and be less appealing to "rude people" to just not have news at all, except Catholic news. I don't come here for news, I come to be with other common sense Catholics.
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Post by sirach on Feb 18, 2017 16:27:46 GMT
It can be too tempting to cross over into arguments / flaming.
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Post by oralabora on Feb 18, 2017 17:09:42 GMT
I say we hold off for now, as sirach says it's too tempting for flaming etc., and moreover, we all can read the news and get news feeds from elsewhere and have our flame wars elsewhere. So let's keep it Catholic except for the general non-religious discussion thread section for not specifically religious things, where I think we should proscribe politics. it should be a place to discuss things like a great recipe, our hobbies and interests, vacation spots, the price of gas, environmental issues (in a NON political way! Instead in a Laudato 'Si way!), who makes the best single-malt whiskey (my wife gave me a delightful one from the isle of Islay at Christmas, and a repeat at St. Valentine's, since I loved it so much! The name is unpronounceable of course...nor easy to remember the spelling, I must post it at some point though, but too lazy right now to move from the computer to get it... sorry for the long digressive parenthesis!), whether Campagnolo or Shimano make the best bike components (Campagnolo, all the way!)... in short not specifically Catholic related, but more towards in a community-building way, the community being us, and the idea being getting to know each other better. A gather-in-the-kitchen-around-the-roaring-pot-belly-stove-with-a-nice-coffee kind of place. We have that section already, and I think it's enough for general chit-chat and we should use that. I think it's potentially a great section for building friendships in the group. But let's avoid a section for a certain person who's name rhymes with Bump... and moreover from what I've seen lately on the Other Place is that "news" sources quoted are dubious at best, most are agenda-laden commentaries, not news. It used to be well regulated... alas it no longer is, hence here we are.
Plus, I'd rather not keep our esteemed super-moderator up all night pulling out his hair trying to herd his cats...
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Post by Beryllos on Feb 18, 2017 17:25:15 GMT
You know what? I changed my vote. I agree with previous posters that this forum has a purpose, and World News/General News is neither essential nor particularly harmonious with that purpose. It's also not inevitable as I earlier suggested.
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Post by CatholicFireman on Feb 18, 2017 17:46:38 GMT
Originally I was going to vote yes, but with a "scortched earth policy" (you troll/start trouble, you're toast ). But you know what? If you want to troll and be uncharitable, I know of another forum that will welcome you with open arms. I vote no.
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Post by CatholicFireman on Feb 18, 2017 17:52:21 GMT
I was going to say yes at first. But then, I had one peek over at the-place-that-shall-not-be- named... One thread, and I change my vote to no. Honestly, to come here and have no political talk is fine with me. I know that people say it will find its way to some thread, but it will happen far less, and be less appealing to "rude people" to just not have news at all, except Catholic news. I don't come here for news, I come to be with other common sense Catholics. Exactly. IMHO this should be a Catholic oasis and if someone insists on derailing a thread, then the Professor will deal with them.
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Post by pianistclare on Feb 18, 2017 20:40:14 GMT
I would say no.. Mind you, I'm NOT saying that as Catholics we don't live in the world and witness in the world. But part of the reason why everyone wanted to come here and we are so content here is that it it a place of peace. We frolic yes, but we keep our focus on our faith.
Another thing to keep in mind, is that when the other place finally breathes it's last...where do you suppose the flamers, haters, bile spewers and trolls will come? Here. And although I am convinced that they will not find a place here, and it should be clear by the topics and the discussions that we don't engage in all that junk. I feel like there can be plenty of lively and intellectual discussion within the faith, the Dicoceses' and the problems that we all encounter within our faith communities, Catholic and non-Catholic.
I think it's time to rise above. I too, went out and perused the old place....incredibly sad, violent, and hate-filled. I have no desire to return to that level of dialog. I never really participated in those fora, but it always saddened me to know that visitors thought that was what Catholics foster or condone.
Just my two cents.
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Lou
New Member
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Post by Lou on Feb 18, 2017 21:25:23 GMT
I voted undecided, because although I think it would be nice to discuss world news, it really hasn't been working out so well...elsewhere. I think that the issue is mainly that so much of the news linked to on fora is political, which is bound to cause and continue arguments. I think a massive problem of it is that it's not like arguing with a friend or family member - there's no established respect, and it's not face-to-face, so really, anything goes unless someone else picks up on it. Politics has alienated in real life enough, and I wish it had been limited online. On the other hand, I love learning about news I maybe wouldn't have heard otherwise, such as a maybe-new continent. If all news reported on fora was like that, I'd be all for it . Alas, this is the internet... I'm hoping that if ever there is a News forum here, all discussion would be respectful and insightful. I think all of us here have seen too much discordant, closed off discussion and clashes between certain camps to want otherwise.
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Post by Professor Q on Feb 21, 2017 10:45:03 GMT
In view of the overwhelming "not placet" response above, I think we'll hold off on the World News forum for a while, at least till the smoke over the Trump presidency and The Papal Document That Shall Not Be Named has settled down. However, this is always open to revision if a large number of us want it later on.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2017 23:55:15 GMT
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
If I see one more discussion about how wonderful President Trump is and what great things he will do for our country I'm going to scream!
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Post by tawny on Feb 24, 2017 5:58:50 GMT
Far too risky. It may turn into "the other place" very quickly.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2017 16:22:05 GMT
Far too risky. It may turn into "the other place" very quickly. AMEN!!!
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