Ruleset For The HOLYSMOKE Echo 
==============================

Moderator: Ross Cassell {at} 1:123/500 Co-Moderator: Dan Ceppa {at} 1:138/666

[Purpose Of Echo]

To freely discuss both for and against the validity of religion or belief in 
same.

[Decorum]

A. The Cuss Word Rule

The usage of swear words are not prohibited for purposes of exclaimation, 
however the excessive usage of swear words:

* To insult, flame or inflame.

* As the sole or only content of your message or reply.

* For only the sake of using them.

Are prohibited, if in doubt dont do it, else when you cross this line, you
might be cautioned.

--

B. The "I Hate You" Rule

Disputes and personality conflicts that originated in other echoes or elsewhere
are not welcome here. Do not use or enter this echo for the sole purpose of 
carrying out existing grudges. 

--

C. The "Persona Non Grata" Rule

Individuals banned or suspended from this echo are not to be included in debate
within this echo, for purposes of this echo, if a person does get banned or 
suspended, they do not exist for as long as any ban or suspension is in force.
If a banned or suspended person comes into the echo, do not respond to that 
person if their ban or suspension is still in effect. Violation of this rule
can result in being sustended or banned. 

Explaination:

If a person is prohibited from posting in the echo, be that prohibition short
term, long term or permanent, then there should be nothing coming from this
echo to compel that person to want to or have to defend themselves.

--

D. The "I Twit Thee" Rule

The usage of twit filters, assuming your message reader supports it, is 
encouraged in the event you encounter a individual whom otherwise causes you
great irritation. 

However if you do decide on this course of action and you publically announce
that you are twitting someone, you better be sure you live by that 
proclaimation, which includes up to you treating the irritant as if s/he doesnt
exist.

If you announce that you have twit filtered someone and in turn take pot shots
at them in messages to others, either out of the blue or by seeing that persons
messages quoted by others, you are as guilty of being annoying as the person 
you twitted, and may face risk of being suspended from the echo if not worse.

--

E. The "Faith" Advisory Statement

Belief in a religion and belief in science are both forms of faith, please 
remember this and keep your perspective. Everyone has faith in something. 
Many will argue that scientific theories are proven, theories arent proven
if they are theories. Theories are instead accepted or trusted, but to that
end accepting a theory or trusting one is still a form of faith as is the
case with religion.

Keep this in mind!

--

F. The Projection Advisory Statement

When constructing your arguments, do not invent how you think a particular
person of a faith or non-faith should act, then hold someone to that invented 
standard. 

--

G. The "Sins Of The Father" Advisory Statement

Do not hold a individual of a faith or non-faith guilty for the collective 
sins of same committed by any of its past or present fringes.

This does not exclude the discussion of same, just dont word your arguments
so that it sounds like you are blaming your opponent for them.

--

H. The "Legal" Rule

Do not post anything that can be construed as libelous or slander, if you do
not have proof of what you say, dont say it unless you can assert it is only
your opinion and your remarks do not rise to the level of libel or slander.

Do not post messages threatening physical harm or that which would be deemed
illegal.

--

I. The "Liar" Rule

If you are asking for someones opinion on something and they give it, do not 
proclaim it to be a lie, an opinion is what it is. If you can have an opinion
on something, so can others, see how that works?

Someone disagreeing with your viewpoint does not a liar make, if you proclaim
someone to be a liar, be prepared to prove it as such or hold thy tongue by 
not proclaiming someone to be a liar.

--

J. Moderation.

Moderator messages are not open for debate nor are they negotiable, disagree 
then take it private.

Leave the moderating to the moderators.

No moderator baiting, dont ask publically for moderator action, let the 
moderators determine if a rule has been broken. If you feel otherwise do
not escalate the message thread.

Moderators have the option of issuing admonishments, warnings or other actions
either privately or publically, suspensions or bannings will be issued 
publically to allow the echo membership to be aware of same.

Moderators have the option to post moderator messages as coming from either
their full real name or as (co)moderator, when doing so they cannot include 
in their messages that which would be considered off limits for the rest
of the echo membership. (ie swearing, insulting etc)

The moderator of this echo reserves the right to add, subtract or otherwise
amend these rules as necessary up to and including taking action against an
individual for something not currently spelled out within the current rule set.

-The Moderators-
---