I was just reading Marcus Aurelius's Meditations, and he 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."
I'm going to try to follow this better.
I agree Donbodo.
I have the permission of one or two none (mother tongue) English speakers to correct a phrase if it detracts from their good message. Good board etiquette is unobtrusive. When things become too blatant, for too long, then we know something is not being handled well.
Dear brothers in charge,
I have a question about the new guidelines update. I just want to make sure I understand completely, so I don't break the rules.
You said that we do not want to promote "any doctrines or understandings of men, higher criticisms of the Bible...."
1. It is very difficult to figure out what are "understandings of men" and what are not. I mean, there are so many interpretations of the Bible, and almost all of these are men's interpretations. Could you please clarify?
2. As I understand it, "higher criticism" of the Bible is simply the analysis of the authorship, date, and place of composition of biblical books. Do you mean something beyond this?
See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higher_criticism
I would like to speak as one of the team members ... who are trying to make this place an open board and would like to say that this board is not owned by any "Brothers In Charge". It is being supported by many individuals in many different ways. All equally important.
For the record there are "sisters" that are helping as well ... and a mite brighter than some of us "brothers" ... no watchtower chauvinism here. :)
There are no "rules" per say on this board ... they are called "guidelines" and "bible principles" are used to determine how to deal with all situations.
Perhaps Donbodo you need rules in order to control yourself or use tact or learn to agree to disagree ... not always needing the last word ... nit picking like a gnat ... and the like.
As was said the cafe is still making adjustments for everyone's mutual benefit trying to be as open as we can while not dipping the sheep in gravy and saying "here wolfies ... come in and eat us!.
[This does not mean our dear Sis Wolfie] :)
Donbodo you need to learn to discern when to back off, when and how to speak, and when to be silent so as to contribute to betterment of the topic being discussed.
Just so you know Donbodo ... I'm not going to play word ping-pong with you. I believe what I have said should be clear enough.
Just my thoughts after reading some of your posts.
Let's hope we can all just get along. :)
Manirus
Looking over my post, I guess it was worded in such a way as to give a wrong impression.
I don't know why I used the term "brothers in charge." I guess it was a holdover from my WT days. No disrespect intended, either on the "brothers" part or the "in charge" part.
Perhaps Donbodo you need rules in order to control yourself or use tact or learn to agree to disagree ... not always needing the last word ... nit picking like a gnat ... and the like.
Donbodo you need to learn to discern when to back off, when and how to speak, and when to be silent so as to contribute to betterment of the topic being discussed.
I was taken aback by this comment. Wow! I certainly am able to agree to disagree. I have no problem with people disagreeing with me at all. I thought the whole purpose of a discussion board was to discuss. If you look at heated engagements I have been in, you will notice that it is not me who is hostile or calls names or applies scriptures to others in a condemnatory way. When you say I should know when to be silent, do you mean simply that if my view conflicts with someone else's, I should be silent? I have a feeling that it is my views on certain topics that are the problem, and not the way I conduct myself. Show me even one instance in which I have behaved poorly in a discussion, and I will most certainly apologize to the person(s) involved.
If you feel that I am "nitpicking" about the guidelines, you have the wrong impression. I have no complaints about the guidelines. I respect them. I just felt they must have been put there for a reason. Everyone got a note that they should read them. Must have been important. I only want a couple of points clarified, so that I can be a respectable member of the board.
Therefore, my deepest prayer for every single one of us (and boy, I include myself first and foremost, my beliefs are hardly a plumbline y'know:() is that we would spend time firstly, extolling our God, blessing Him, seeking Him, for ourselves too, to try to keep our own focus on Him, to watch out for those pesky planks that get in our eyes when we're not looking. If we keep crying out to God for own own lives, to get ourselves right with Him, to look to where we need changing before we start noticing where other people need changing - then who knows, what we end up saying might be very useful somewhere along the line.
Shalom.
Wow you only have planks in your eyes, i have RAILWAY SLEEPERS!
lol. if i look at where i need changing i`m never gonna have time to look at anyone else.........
Its good to know that one (each of us) is a sinner, not to know...... would be a disaster!
Hugs dissnchntd1.