Participation in the discussions posted to this site is open to everyone who can and will adhere to one very simple rule. We reserve the right to remove and block the content of anyone who just isn’t “getting it”.
The One Rule is “never treat another merely as a means to an end but always as an end unto themselves.” You can thank Immanuel Kant for this. He called it “the Kingdom of Ends”.
Translation: Posting content with the intent to demean, offend or injure others is treating them merely as a means to an end. The “end” is a need or desire to amuse or aggrandize one’s self at the expense of or without regard to others. Name-calling and hate speech toward anyone or any group of people for any reason will not be tolerated.
Disagreement is integral to the process we seek to facilitate, so be prepared for it. You are entitled to your opinion. By the same token everyone else is entitled to their opinion of your opinion and that’s how vitriolic disagreements get started. Please keep in mind that we are trying to evolve the species here, so what we are really interested in and asking for is your perspective:
- Snark–asm is welcome and encouraged, but petulant name-calling is not. No matter how strong the desire to call someone an idiot or a Nazi or whatever, we suggest you take a step back and find a more constructive way to express your disagreement.
- Ditto for profanity. This is not a simple matter of prudishness. If you think about it you’ll realize that use of gratuitous crudity is a way of treating others as a means to an end. Its only purpose in discussion is to shock the sensibilities of the audience, even when it is being used to indicate strong feeling about something. It actually does nothing to emphasize or legitimize a point and indicates emotional and/or intellectual immaturity. Try to think of more eloquent ways to get your point across.
If you feel that this is taking the fun out of it, then you aren’t “getting it” and this site may not be for you anyway.
- We are not responsible for your feelings. Ideas will be expressed here which may challenge your fundamental beliefs. That’s the whole point. If that is too far outside your comfort zone, best move along. So long as those ideas are presented in accordance with The One Rule, if you choose to take offense that’s your choice. No one else has the power to make that choice for you. Only you do. You also have the power to choose not to be offended, and instead to consider why you disagree with a position and offer a rational (but snarky!) counter-argument.
Cogent disagreement ≠ Hate speech or closed-mindedness
What we’re trying to do is get people to REALLY stretch their minds both inward and out. Greater understanding of others is achieved through greater understanding of ourselves. Taking offense is intellectually lazy. Thinking about how or why something makes you feel offended is a wonderful exercise in introspection which (hopefully) will lead to greater understanding of yourself and others, which will lead in turn to a lesser inclination to take offense.
There may be additions and changes as needed from time to time. Just remember to play nice and have fun!
