Forum Rules

How the administration of this board expect you to conduct yourself.

Moderator: MrBenn

Forum Rules

Postby Bondi » Fri Aug 12, 2005 9:13 am

Forum Rules

1 / Apply the Golden Rule
Remember this forum is open to Masons and non-Masons alike. You and your post are somebody’s impression of what a Freemason is. Stand up for what you believe, but consider the feelings of the other poster. When you communicate online, all the poster sees are words on a screen.

2/ Remember Where You Are
This is a forum for and about Freemasonry. While it is not a Masonic lodge, nor a substitute one, the same conduct you would engage in while in your lodge is expected here. While “flaming� may be the order of the day on some forums, it is not acceptable here, nor will it be tolerated. Respectful debate on issues concerning Freemasonry is accepted; heated exchanges are not.

3/ Respect Our Bandwidth and Others
Please keep your posts to as few words as needed to get across your thoughts. There are many posters on the forum and many topics to be viewed. If your post is essay length, we would be happy to publish it on our main web site and you are welcomed to link to it, inviting comments on the essay. Linking to an article online is permitted. Displaying images on our forum, which are pulled from other web sites, not your own is referred to as “hot-linking� and is not acceptable here.

4/ Help Keep Flame Wars Under Control
Flaming is what happens when people express strongly held opinions without holding back their emotions. While flaming is common on most forums, it is to be kept in check here. If you read a post that is the spark of a potential flame war, please send a PM (Private message to the poster whispering wise council in their ear.) Failing this, contact the moderator of the forum to have the post removed. Do not under any circumstance add fuel to the fire, by arguing. Debating an issue = Good. Arguing and flaming = possible banishment from the forums.

5/ Be Forgiving Of The Shortcomings of Others
It is a fact that on this forum we have Masons from around the globe. These members will have varying degrees of experience and come from lodges with customs that may be foreign to you. Perhaps you have travelled extensively, while your fellow poster may have never been to a lodge other than his own. Perhaps you are conversant in all the degrees of Masonry, while your Brother is but an apprentice. We are here to learn from one another, to teach and to share our ideas. Patience is a virtue.

6/ Taboo Topics

A/ Politics and Religion:
Freemasonry makes much of the notion that politics and religion are never to be discussed in lodge. The actual prohibition is on Partisan Politics and Sectarian Religion. It would be impossible to discuss Freemasonry, its issues, traditions and customs without mentioning politics and religion, however there is no need to debate partisan political matters or sectarian religious dogma. Just as not everyone in your lodge is a Democrat and or a Christian, likewise here, not everyone is of the Jewish Faith or a member of one political party or another. Therefore, while it is acceptable to discuss matters of faith and political thought in general terms, it is unacceptable to discuss matters of a religious or political nature, which might lead to heated exchanges. And only where it relates to Freemasonry please.

B/ Masonic Class:
There are no two topics that can insight greater debate and lead to an escalation of heated exchanges than the topics of Prince Hall regularity or One Day Masons. This forum is open to all “Regular� Masons and regular “Prince Hall Masons.� It is also open to those who have taken “One Day Classes� and those who have gone through the traditional route. We will not tolerate any discussion or opinion, which suggests that any one class is superior or inferior to another. There is but one class on this forum and that is the class, which we all attend here to learn from one another. This does not mean that these issues cannot be discussed, but we must ensure that they are kept as harmonious as possible.

C/ Criticisms Of Specific Grand Lodges
While it may be reasonably argued that some Grand Lodges are losing site of the purpose of Freemasonry, it is unfair to point fingers at any one Grand Lodge. We have members of virtually every Grand Lodge on the forum. Thus an attack on any one grand lodge is an attack on our forum member from that Grand Lodge. We also have several Grand Lodge officers here who are trying to make a difference, both on the forum and in their Grand Body. If you have issues with a specific Grand Lodge, please take it up with that Grand Lodge via your lodge secretary.


7/ Copyrighted Materials
You are not permitted to reprint or post any material on the forum that is under copyright. It is permissible to post up to 200 words from any article and a link to where the originating article may be found online
Fraternally

Freemason Bondi

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Bondi
LRUK Grand Supreme Master
LRUK Grand Supreme Master
 
Posts: 1950
Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2004 1:49 pm
Location: United Kingdom

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