The way that "philosophy" is defined is not at all strict, discussions on politics are allowed, discussions on raw logic puzzles are allowed, discussions on religion are allowed...pretty much everything is allowed. — ProtagoranSocratist

I think if the site has a value, it is to encourage critical thinking. Philosophy is not about establishing answers as much as learning how to think about questions. Good answers may be a by-product. But better habits of thought are of general value.

And the more cosmopolitan the thought styles, the more one would have to get out of one’s comfort zone to engage.

So yes to the variety of subject matter allowed. But also yes to even the different ways of arguing that people bring to the table.

It is then up to the mods where to draw a line between creative friction and disruptive or blinkered responses.

Are you just having a bad day, Jamal? Or has this been brewing for some time? :chin: — Outlander

@Harry Hindu has been discussed previously on the mod forum. This was not unexpected by any of the team and has nothing to do with @Jamal's or anyone else's mood.

Anyhow, banning isn't personal. @Harry Hindu, along with others who have been banned, have their good points (and there are members that got banned that I really miss, in fact). I was not a fan of Harry's style and I support the ban, but I wish him the best.

Thank you and others for the support.

If we are not allowed to question the sexual ethics of Western Europe, then we will not question the sexual ethics of Western Europe. But that sort of a rule should be made explicit. I don't see how those who question the sexual ethics of Western Europe can simply be threatened or banned for "abandoning reason." There are lots of people from other regions of the world on TPF. — Leontiskos

Questioning the sexual ethics of Western Europe is one thing; stating that gay people are degenerate and immoral (or that they behave immorally) is something else. Debating sex and gender is one thing; denying the identity or dignity of transgender people is another.

We won't tolerate intolerance. We want to ensure we have a shared foundation of mutual respect and the equal dignity of all participants regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Well, I say we don't tolerate intolerance, but in reality sometimes we do. I am inclined now to be more strict.

I banned @Pieter R van Wyk for self-promotion and crackpottery.

Jeez. And that guy knew how to write and read proofs.

I think I'll be staying in the Shoutbox for a while. Juust in case. :eyes:

I think I'll be staying in the Shoutbox for a while. Juust in case — Outlander

You have one thing the crackpots don't have, which is humility. You don't claim to have all the answers, so don't worry.

I don't claim to have all the answers either - just the right ones. :cool:

I don't claim to have all the answers either - just the right ones. :cool: — unenlightened

:lol: And when I am sure my writing is inspired by God, it is really disappointing the next day, to realize I was deluded.

I would say that quoting yourself, from a book as if the book were right simply out of merely existing, shows that in a doubletime fashion. I've been learning to just let people have their crazy thoughts. For the sake of not being banned, but still wanting to contribute on occasion when I finally catch something pertinent to me, and my life, then I decide if it's even worth my time discussing with people depending on who those people are. Which everyone is fair game after a certain cool down period. Some people have longer cooldown cycles than others.

Jamal...so if i'm understanding you correctly, you don't tolerate any type of self-promotion? Could you be more specific about the self-promotion you can't deal with?

@Jamal

I noticed that @Pieter R van Wyk’s account has been deleted. Are you deleting all accounts for banned people now or was that a request by him?

Jamal...so if i'm understanding you correctly, you don't tolerate any type of self-promotion? Could you be more specific about the self-promotion you can't deal with? — ProtagoranSocratist

For example, if you fill your posts mainly with quotations from a book you have written, and mention that book in every post, that counts as self-promotion. But in fact, Pieter was banned not just for self-promotion but also for evangelism and crackpottery, since he appeared to believe that his book held all the answers.

Generally, putting links to your work in every post is the main thing we don't allow.

Site guidelines

There is a large number of bright interesting people here.

I noticed that Pieter R van Wyk’s account has been deleted. Are you deleting all accounts for banned people now or was that a request by him? — T Clark

I don't usually do it unless I'm asked to do so but on this occasion I wanted to remove as many traces of him as possible without actually removing his posts, which woud be unnecessarily destructive.