Arguments, Debates, and Heated Discussions

[salana]

Sometimes, threads on this forum get heated. We welcome intelligent debate, but have a few simple guidelines for these discussions.

Have an actual topic to debate
Simply picking a fight with someone because you don't like them or because you're having a bad day is unacceptable. Debating with someone because you agree and/or disagree with something they say or do is perfectly fine.

Debates belong in the Kitchen
If a debate starts in another forum, please alert the mods so we can move the thread.

If you can't take the heat, stay out of the Kitchen!
While name-calling is not allowed, people will disagree with you. If you post in the Kitchen, you should expect this. Don't complain that people are debating when you started a debate thread!

No Name-Calling
If you disagree with someone, say, "I disagree with what you said, and this is why." Do not say, "You must be sick to believe that." Do not say, "You are obviously an idiot." If you disagree with their actions, e.g. breeding, say, "I think you're doing something terrible." Do not say, "You're a terrible person." Remember two things: people have different experiences from you, and may come to different conclusions about the world. Also, we are communicating through text, not face-to-face. People may not word things exactly perfectly.

Calm Down!
Nobody is attacking you as a person. (If they are, report the post to the mods.) If arguments get out of hand, the mods will close the thread, either temporarily or permanently. This is your cue to go calm down. Remember, you have a life outside of the forum. Go make dinner, pet your guinea pigs, love up your significant other, call a friend...basically, do something other than stew over an argument on the internet.

Stay on Topic
If another debate starts on the thread, please start a new thread for that topic! It saves the mods having to move things around.