Restructure the rooms?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
just-me

just-me

Banned
Mar 4, 2013
7,761
107
0
Since we have a Bible study room, and a Simple Bible room, I think they should be used for that. There is a lounge and a random room that can be used for chit-chat. We could use a debate room separate from the Bible study rooms so people can discuss and explore the Bible without the room being taken over by a few who want to argue their point to death. Newcomers come in expecting to be able to learn in a room called Bible study or Simple Bible, not hear endless, recurring arguments over predestination, rapture, an unfair God, speaking in tongues, and is the Mosaic Law of any use any more.
Furthermore, we have seen banned that I would personally agree with concerning Christian principles, but they were agitated to the point of raising their voice. And we have seen people banned because other people were banned trying to state their outlook was unfair to those who were banned. I agree that presenting oneself who is obviously drunk, or one who uses potty words, or curses should be banned.
As far as moderating the rooms, 2 or 3 people who are arguing should be escorted to another room to give the rest of the people some peace and if they refuse to go, whether they are trying to get their personal beliefs across or not, they should be banned. Now there is no way to identify the undermining of certain individuals which we have noticed also, but I believe that moderation should be exercised through Biblical principles concerning foolish and unlearned questions that gender strife and doubtful disputes.
 
Amen, just-me. Unfortunately, I don't see anything changing in the rooms. The site is too short staffed to exercise such constant moderation.

God bless, brother, and thanks for the suggestion - it expresses your concern. :)
 
Yeah, moderators are volunteers who come on during their free time. There is no schedule for moderators, so sometimes there are no mods on at all. So when arguments flare up, there is no always someone on to deal with them.

I'm not sure, but i don't think the site wants to encourage debates by having a debate room or forum. That would likely on encourage more problems. And it would do nothing to stop people from debating in the bible rooms anyways. People share their beliefs, and someone disagrees with that belief and it turns into a debate. And most of the time people are not willing to leave the room to finish a conversation or debate, even at the request of mods. They usually just keep going until mods threaten action.
It would be a great idea if people would abide by it. But my experiences on here is that people just plain won't go where they should.
 
I'm usually hesitant to reply to suggestion threads because I want folks to feel like they can suggest stuff openly without fear of getting grief for the suggestion. Yet I want to respond to this one, just so I can maybe elaborate further on certain complexities that spawn off of issues you've brought up.

Since we have a Bible study room, and a Simple Bible room, I think they should be used for that. There is a lounge and a random room that can be used for chit-chat.
Click to expand...

Modding this site is much like being a married couple or raising children. We have to in a sense choose our battles. We can't address every micro-situation that arises.

We could be more buttoned down, and keep each room to its own specific purpose. But if we choose that battle, the result is upset people who are asked to change rooms, or change topics. If the BSR is quiet without a topic, and a handful of folks start talking about the news or weather or whatever, under the buttoned down focused model, they would immediately be requested to change topics and/or move it to another room.

Now on paper, that sounds so nice and tidy. And it is, until you bring actual humans into it.
Many people don't like being asked to move or change. Which means more battles for us to deal with. Which may mean more bans if said people fight back against it.

Sure, folks could say..Well just ban them then. Well that's easy to say, but again, we're the ones who have to deal with the drama and fallout. So given our time and energy we have to decide is this the type of battle worth taking on as far as keeping all rooms strictly buttoned down and on topic.

We could use a debate room separate from the Bible study rooms so people can discuss and explore the Bible without the room being taken over by a few who want to argue their point to death.

Newcomers come in expecting to be able to learn in a room called Bible study or Simple Bible, not hear endless, recurring arguments

As far as moderating the rooms, 2 or 3 people who are arguing should be escorted to another room to give the rest of the people some peace and if they refuse to go, whether they are trying to get their personal beliefs across or not, they should be banned.
Click to expand...

Defining what is, and what isn't an "argument" can be a highly subjective thing.
Defining what is and isn't arguing a point to death can be a highly subjective thing also.

At times mods have tried to step in during these beating a dead horse type discussions.
And you want to know which complaint we hear from some?
It goes something like this.
"We can't get too deep into a discussion in here, because every time we do, some mod steps in because he thinks it's getting too heated."


To many people some of these discussions are just in depth back and forths.

The battles we fight over things that are so clear cut, like banning people for playing sexual videos and encouraging sexual behavior, the battles we even have to fight over something as clear cut as that is unbelievable for us. Imagine the battles we'd be in if we had a heavier footprint on these highly subjective things such as what is and what isn't arguing/debate/in depth discussion.
 
I sent this to just-me in a cc mail. I'm posting it here too..

----

Hey. There is something I forgot about, and now I feel really stupid!
I guess with so many things going on with helping a chat site run, I can forget some things from time to time.

I made the Youedify room mostly for the very things you want.
Namely an argue free, debate free, silly talk free, chit chat free, non-hogging the mic free, environment. Unfortunately the room doesn't get used much because people love to argue, debate, silly talk, chit chat, and hog the mic!

Here is a link that describes the parameters and scope of the Youedify room. Notice the post date is June 2011

Link --> http://christianchat.com/christian-chat-announcements/18500-youedify-room-guidelines.html

And at one time I was trying to gather some official Youedify room sessions. Notice the post date is August 2011

Link --> http://christianchat.com/christian-...-silly-talk-mic-hogging-annoying-you-try.html
 
Just because I know someone is going to ask this, I'll answer.
Someone is going to ask, "Why is keeping the youedify room on topic different than keeping the Bible Study room on topic as far as battles you have to choose to fight?"

Basically because many folks don't congregate regularly in the youedify room like they do in the BSR. In more simple terms....There ain't as many unwilling people to move around and get under control. Hence keeping the youedify room within intended scope is more doable.
 
just-me said:
Furthermore, we have seen banned that I would personally agree with concerning Christian principles, but they were agitated to the point of raising their voice.
Click to expand...

I have seen that several times myself. Someone in conflict with another in the forums and chat rooms that lost their cool and crossed the line. The sad thing is, the one that made them do it stays to argue another day, & usually does. I think those who set the pattern for that behavior ought to be banned as well. It doesn't seem right that one stays simply because they're sneaky. That's just my 2 cents on it.
 
Stephen63 said:
I have seen that several times myself. Someone in conflict with another in the forums and chat rooms that lost their cool and crossed the line. The sad thing is, the one that made them do it stays to argue another day, & usually does. I think those who set the pattern for that behavior ought to be banned as well. It doesn't seem right that one stays simply because they're sneaky. That's just my 2 cents on it.
Click to expand...


This is why moderating can seem like such a no win scenario.

On one hand someone is calling for a heavier moderator footprint to deal with conflict.
So a moderator steps in, and someone gets dealt with/infractioned/banned for losing their cool/attacking/etc.
So we do exactly what said person called for.

And then the one who called for the heavier footprint is finding objection to said ban. Why? Because someone they perceive as a sneaky instigator wasn't banned. They want the perceived sneaky instigator banned even though they didn't attack someone or lose their cool.

But if we dealt with/infractioned/banned someone who didn't lose their cool, but who was perceived as a sneaky/instigator, then someone else may say something like..."Wait. That person didn't lose their cool. They didn't attack anyone. How do you know the intent of their heart? Now I'm afraid to bring up a topic for discussion out of fear that I'll be viewed as a sneaky instigator and get banned!"

This whole thing is so intricate, delicate and basically no-winnable!

Each action, or inaction results in one person perceiving and saying one thing and being uncomfortable, and in another person perceiving and saying another thing and feeling uncomfortable.
 
Last edited:
This is why I avoid the BSR. Yes, people are passionate about their opinions and that's okay (until it comes to heresy)...BUT people are also more than capable of getting off the computer and taking a break for a while until the argument dies down. If something is getting THAT emotional to you to where you are losing control, you need a break for a while.
 
This is my thought........



If such person has been banned already for the same things, their reputation goes before them. They are already known, not suspected. I don't see anything "delicate" about that.
 
Stephen63 said:
This is my thought........



If such person has been banned already for the same things, their reputation goes before them. They are already known, not suspected. I don't see anything "delicate" about that.
Click to expand...
But but Stephen...Christians are to be forgiving...and loving...and shouldn't we just grin and take it so we can minister to them and show them the love of God?? huh huh huh huh?:P
 
1still_waters said:
But but Stephen...Christians are to be forgiving...and loving...and shouldn't we just grin and take it so we can minister to them and show them the love of God?? huh huh huh huh?:P
Click to expand...

Sure Stilly, absolutely. Until they start acting like this:

Matthew 7:6 [SUP]6 [/SUP]Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Then we have to do this:

NASB Ephesians 5:11 [SUP]11 [/SUP]Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;
NLT Ephesians 5:11 [SUP]11 [/SUP]Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.

This is what my complete Bible teaches me. Should I be found lacking by not following it?
 
Maybe I get on the BSR at the wrong times, but I normally sit there for an hour or so listening to two people argue the same point (which usually isn't bible related). And these two people will argue just for the sake of argument. And the topics turn into paradox's were they go between 3 topics and always say the same things...

I also find that 2 people kind of hog the mic and stay on it just to stay on the mic... They just ramble and spurt words out of their mouth often counterpointing themselves. Finally I will get bored of waiting for the Bible Study part to take place and leave...


I know the word 'argue' can give the wrong impression I just take it as an argument, but most would describe them as; reasoning, discussing, and talking about the topic...

I'm just giving my view of how the rooms work, I perceive them as high-school, the rooms are the class rooms but the people are the student. If you have too much of one group in a setting they will take over the class, whether they be nerds jocks or band geeks. It is inevitable... And whenever the room gets taken over no one learns...
 
funny how everyone see's an argument except the people in the argument. then its a debate. : P
 
I confess, whenever I get involved in any passionate exchange on the Word, I do continue longer than I should. My problem specifically is that I cannot rationalize or justify leaving if I feel something must be shared, not in the sight of Yeshua anyway. I pray the family in Christ have patience with me, and forgive me if I have offended. It has never been my intention. May Yahweh bless all in Yeshua, Jesus, amen.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back