As a result of several recent incidents, I'm adding the following new principle to the list of the Soap Box principle.
8. Members are entitled to being treated as honest in their statements, opinions and beliefs.
The overwhelming majority of posts made by Soap Box posters are honest statements of their own, very real opinion, and their equally real belief. They may be wrong, of course, but they are not, as a general rule, actual attempts at lying and being dishonest. Being treated as a dishonest or lying person, when you are expressing something you really believe, is an extremely frustrating experience, and one that I feel is rather similar to "needlessly antagonizing" (already a principle).
What this means, practically, is threefold.
1)Generally, not calling other posters "liars", "dishonest" and the like.
2)Accepting that players belong to the groups they claim to belong to. If someone says they are a Catholic, you do not get to tell them they're not.
3)Related to the above, you don't get to imply they are not (eg, "How can you call yourself a Catholic?", or use the "In name only" line. (You can call senator McCain a RINO, but not your fellow members).
8. Members are entitled to being treated as honest in their statements, opinions and beliefs.
The overwhelming majority of posts made by Soap Box posters are honest statements of their own, very real opinion, and their equally real belief. They may be wrong, of course, but they are not, as a general rule, actual attempts at lying and being dishonest. Being treated as a dishonest or lying person, when you are expressing something you really believe, is an extremely frustrating experience, and one that I feel is rather similar to "needlessly antagonizing" (already a principle).
What this means, practically, is threefold.
1)Generally, not calling other posters "liars", "dishonest" and the like.
2)Accepting that players belong to the groups they claim to belong to. If someone says they are a Catholic, you do not get to tell them they're not.
3)Related to the above, you don't get to imply they are not (eg, "How can you call yourself a Catholic?", or use the "In name only" line. (You can call senator McCain a RINO, but not your fellow members).