Where are the Forum Policies/Guidelines... and more

by Marvin Shilmer 32 Replies latest forum tech-support

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  Marvin Shilmer

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  I’ve been posting here from more than ten years. I’m not a prolific poster, but based on my ongoing participation I thought I knew participation policies, by firsthand experience if nothing else.

  Recently I had need to consult the forum’s policy and posting guidelines looking for position statements, definitions and explanations. It is my intent to always stay within participation boundaries. But when I needed to consult the forum’s policies/guidelines I could not find them.

  Recently I looked again, and again could not find these.

  Am I the only participant here who cannot find the participation guidelines? What am I missing?

  I realize here and there in discussions there are statements made of the forum’s policies and/or guidelines. But where are these to read in full?

  In my particular case I was looking for what it means to be “on-topic” and/or “off-topic.” My impression was/is that anything addressing the substance or discussion of the subject at issue is on-topic. But then something happened and it made me wonder if I was wrong and if so how. By “how” I mean precisely how.

  For instance, in normal productive dialogue when substantive questions are asked it’s considered on-topic to point out when those questions are not being answered precisely for what they ask. Yet, in my case, I’ve had participants fail to answer precise questions and after pointing this out I’m admonished for being off-topic as though I’m trying to discuss technique rather than substance. This was one thing I wanted to learn more about, and do so without interrupting anything.

  It dawned on me today that I should start a topic in order to get a better understanding of this, and to find out where the forum’s policy/guidelines are published.

  Marvin Shilmer
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  jgnat

  The posting guidelines are posted below each reply screen close to where you submit. There is no other.
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  cofty

  Right below the box

  down there

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  Simon

  Posting Guidelines

  To ensure all users feel safe and keen to participate, please avoid:

  1. Insulting, threatening or provoking language
  2. Inciting hatred on the basis of race, religion, gender, nationality or sexuality or other personal characteristic.
  3. Swearing, using hate-speech or making obscene or vulgar comments.
  4. Breaking the law
     This includes libel, condoning illegal activity and contempt of court (comments which might affect the outcome of an approaching court case). You may post a small amount of third party material, but please help us to avoid breaching copyright by naming its author and publication. We are unable to investigate all third party material, so where possible, please provide a link instead.
  5. Spamming
     Please don't add the same comment to more than one forum.
  6. Advertising
     You can mention relevant, non-commercial websites as long as they support your comment.
  7. Impersonating or falsely claiming to represent a person or organisation.
     Please don't mislead other users by abusing our registration procedure.
  8. Posting in a language other than English.
  9. Invading people's privacy
     Please don't post private addresses or phone numbers, including your own. You may post email addresses so long as you make it clear who they belong to.
  10. Posting an off-topic comment.
  11. Publicly disputing or arguing about moderator decisions
      If you disagree with any action taken then please raise it via email or PM.

  Forums may be moderated to make sure they stay friendly and welcoming, legal and relevant. We reserve the right to edit or delete posts at own discretion and without notice, which we consider to be unacceptable. If you repeatedly break these guidelines, you may be prevented from posting.

  An off topic comment is like porn - it's hard to provide an exact description of it but you know it when you see it.

  It's impossible to provide prescriptive rules in advance for every single case which is why we have posting guidelines.

  Off topic generally is something that isn't to do with the topic being discussed - it could be blatant or it could be more subtle, but it's diverting or disrupting things nontheless.
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  Marvin Shilmer

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  “The posting guidelines are posted below each reply screen close to where you submit. There is no other.”

  jgnat,

  You know what? I was torn about asking my question for fear they were probably published in plain sight I was not seeing them.

  Now we know I’m blind, but my gut is working just fine.

  Thanks. You too Cofty!

  Marvin Shilmer
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  rip van winkle

  Lol!!! Marvin, you are too funny!!! You have uncovered so much and I love your blog:You helped to awaken me!!!!

  But, here the guidelines were under your nose the whole time!!!!
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  Marvin Shilmer

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  Simon,

  Thanks for responding to my need and for bothering to copy and paste the info. It’s evident what was right in front of my eyes for years had not been discerned.

  It’s understandable that policies/guidelines cannot get into minutia and I don’t expect this. I was only looking to see what is actually written to better understand what I was doing wrong and how I was doing it wrong.

  Given this is, essentially, a write-only forum where words and word usage is everything, I’d like discussion of when and whether it’s off-topic to point out when respondents to questions fail to give precise answer to questions for what is asked in precise terms. To me it’s part of normal productive discussion to analyze a response to a precisely worded substantive question, and if it’s a non-answer response to then say so. But recent events have me wondering if this is, here, considered off-topic.

  In general terms there are two usages of “argument”. One usage of “argument” speaks to bickering. The second usage of “argument” speaks to reasoning. What I speak to now is of the latter.

  Substantive discussion is ultimately a discussion of viability, which is a determination made by reasoning. Viability is determined by an examination of evidence and reasoning. A key factor in reasoning is having precise answers to precise questions. This is because conclusions are only as good as the precision of premises supporting those conclusions. If a precise question cannot be answered with precision then the proper response is to say this and to give reason for the assertion that can be verified as true. But to avoid giving a precise answer to a precise question and say “I answered the question” is non-responsive when an aspect of the question is demonstrably unaddressed and/or ignored.

  Hence, in my mind, it’s essential in substantive discussion to ask precise questions and to insist on precise answers to those questions. Am I wrong for thinking both the substance and discussion* of the subject at hand is on-topic?

  Marvin Shilmer

  * Questions asked and answers given are part of the discussion of the subject and not the substance of the subject.
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  Simon

  If it's 'missable' then I should make it clearer.

  A better posting interface is long overdue.
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  Marvin Shilmer

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  “But, here the guidelines were under your nose the whole time!!”

  rip van winkle,

  All the more reason to understand one of my not-so-endearing traits. I ask lots and lots of questions; precise questions. It’s a big part of how I learn.

  And, yes, now everyone sees that sometimes I need help the next person does not understand. Oh, well. What’s life if we can’t ask questions and laugh at ourselves?

  Marvin Shilmer
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  rip van winkle

  Marvin!!!