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Hello! Anybody else here a philosophy buff?

SESMeT

SESMeT

Member
Hey, I'm new here. My job is not a philosopher (yet) but I've always been very interested in philosophy and I'm here because I'm interested in where other people think philosophy does and doesn't relate to religion.

I have no religion of my own but I'd always be open to having one if I thought it were rational.

I heard that the current rules need revising. Where can I find more about what it means to say that debates are disallowed outside of the debate forum? I understand that official debates shouldn't be had outside of a debate forum. But do only official debates constitute as a debate? Meaning, would informal disagreements with people be constituted debating and thereby breaking the rules? I assume that not all discussions on the site are going to be in complete agreement. If only because we all have different views and we want to be honest with them.

Anyway, if I am to enjoy this place and stay interested enough to stay, and I hope that's the case (of course) then I want to make sure that I can avoid breaking any of the rules because I have no intention of breaking any of them--and being clear on the rules is part of that! And I may need help with that. Perhaps the fact that I have Autism Spectrum Disorder may be relevant here ... and therefore worth pointing out (I have no problem with being open about that).

Best wishes, and hello, to everyone.
 
lewisnotmiller

lewisnotmiller

Grand Hat
Staff member
Premium Member
Hi, and welcome to RF!

There are some people here with an interest in philosophy.
In terms of debates, vs non debates, if you're putting up a discussion where you're inviting or expecting disagreement, use a debate forum. By no means are they limited to formal debates, and indeed formal debates are rare here. Occasionally you'll see one in the one-on-one thread.

There is a Site Feedback area you can start threads in to talk to staff, if you need to.
 
Fool

Fool

ALL in all
Premium Member
SESMeT said:
Hey, I'm new here. My job is not a philosopher (yet) but I've always been very interested in philosophy and I'm here because I'm interested in where other people think philosophy does and doesn't relate to religion.

I have no religion of my own but I'd always be open to having one if I thought it were rational.

I heard that the current rules need revising. Where can I find more about what it means to say that debates are disallowed outside of the debate forum? I understand that official debates shouldn't be had outside of a debate forum. But do only official debates constitute as a debate? Meaning, would informal disagreements with people be constituted debating and thereby breaking the rules? I assume that not all discussions on the site are going to be in complete agreement. If only because we all have different views and we want to be honest with them.

Anyway, if I am to enjoy this place and stay interested enough to stay, and I hope that's the case (of course) then I want to make sure that I can avoid breaking any of the rules because I have no intention of breaking any of them--and being clear on the rules is part of that! And I may need help with that. Perhaps the fact that I have Autism Spectrum Disorder may be relevant here ... and therefore worth pointing out (I have no problem with being open about that).

Best wishes, and hello, to everyone.
Click to expand...

welcome to RF


@Revoltingest and @ChristineM we got another one!!!! time for a fête
 
Polymath257

Polymath257

Think & Care
Staff member
Premium Member
Welcome to SF.

Take a look at our rules: RF Rules

One way to see the distinction between debate and discussion is that in discussion, you are exchanging ideas, but respect the beliefs of everyone else and not saying they are wrong. Debate is when you are pressing a point and claiming the others are wrong.

Also, be careful of rule 8: trying to 'convert' others to your viewpoint. The viewpoint does NOT have to be a religious one for this rule to apply.

There are also one-on-one debate forums. they are not used a lot, but they are there for deeper discussions.

Enjoy our site!
 
Daemon Sophic

Daemon Sophic

Avatar in flux
SESMeT said:
Hey, I'm new here. My job is not a philosopher (yet) but I've always been very interested in philosophy and I'm here because I'm interested in where other people think philosophy does and doesn't relate to religion.

I have no religion of my own but I'd always be open to having one if I thought it were rational.

I heard that the current rules need revising. Where can I find more about what it means to say that debates are disallowed outside of the debate forum? I understand that official debates shouldn't be had outside of a debate forum. But do only official debates constitute as a debate? Meaning, would informal disagreements with people be constituted debating and thereby breaking the rules? I assume that not all discussions on the site are going to be in complete agreement. If only because we all have different views and we want to be honest with them.

Anyway, if I am to enjoy this place and stay interested enough to stay, and I hope that's the case (of course) then I want to make sure that I can avoid breaking any of the rules because I have no intention of breaking any of them--and being clear on the rules is part of that! And I may need help with that. Perhaps the fact that I have Autism Spectrum Disorder may be relevant here ... and therefore worth pointing out (I have no problem with being open about that).

Best wishes, and hello, to everyone.
Click to expand...
Welcome to the forum @SESMeT ! May I call you Thing 1 or Thing 2?
c40811bbe6ea397d6c2da2f6bcb0cb49.gif

Or are you both?

Anyways! You’re in luck. We do have a resident (professional) philosopher, who is a nice guy too. And he’s also one of the moderators. So you can get all your answers in a convenient one stop shopping. :p
He’ll be along soon. Oh @Sunstone !!

Meantime, look around, get comfortable, and have some Nanaimo bars. ;)
9c1f2bc3-4c8a-4639-951b-5077e790b0d9_ultimate-nanaimo-bar_WebReady.jpg
 
U

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
SESMeT said:
Hey, I'm new here. My job is not a philosopher (yet) but I've always been very interested in philosophy and I'm here because I'm interested in where other people think philosophy does and doesn't relate to religion.

I have no religion of my own but I'd always be open to having one if I thought it were rational.

I heard that the current rules need revising. Where can I find more about what it means to say that debates are disallowed outside of the debate forum? I understand that official debates shouldn't be had outside of a debate forum. But do only official debates constitute as a debate? Meaning, would informal disagreements with people be constituted debating and thereby breaking the rules? I assume that not all discussions on the site are going to be in complete agreement. If only because we all have different views and we want to be honest with them.

Anyway, if I am to enjoy this place and stay interested enough to stay, and I hope that's the case (of course) then I want to make sure that I can avoid breaking any of the rules because I have no intention of breaking any of them--and being clear on the rules is part of that! And I may need help with that. Perhaps the fact that I have Autism Spectrum Disorder may be relevant here ... and therefore worth pointing out (I have no problem with being open about that).

Best wishes, and hello, to everyone.
Click to expand...

Welcome.

Mostly if someone wants to counter some one else's statement, that's usually only allowed in the religious debate section:

God exist
No he doesn't
Verse John 3:16
You have no proof

Sometimes there are more formal debates especially over people who know scripture very well.

Discussions are more

God exist
What does that mean?
This is what that means
Do you think we can see it another way
Yes, that's an interesting way to put it
Agree to disagree

Anyway. You'll get a feel but things. If push comes to shove, you can ask staff. They can explain the context of the rules if there are still questions regarding them.
 
Samael_Khan

Samael_Khan

Goosebender
SESMeT said:
Hey, I'm new here. My job is not a philosopher (yet) but I've always been very interested in philosophy and I'm here because I'm interested in where other people think philosophy does and doesn't relate to religion.

I have no religion of my own but I'd always be open to having one if I thought it were rational.

I heard that the current rules need revising. Where can I find more about what it means to say that debates are disallowed outside of the debate forum? I understand that official debates shouldn't be had outside of a debate forum. But do only official debates constitute as a debate? Meaning, would informal disagreements with people be constituted debating and thereby breaking the rules? I assume that not all discussions on the site are going to be in complete agreement. If only because we all have different views and we want to be honest with them.

Anyway, if I am to enjoy this place and stay interested enough to stay, and I hope that's the case (of course) then I want to make sure that I can avoid breaking any of the rules because I have no intention of breaking any of them--and being clear on the rules is part of that! And I may need help with that. Perhaps the fact that I have Autism Spectrum Disorder may be relevant here ... and therefore worth pointing out (I have no problem with being open about that).

Best wishes, and hello, to everyone.
Click to expand...

Welcome to RF!
 
SA Huguenot

SA Huguenot

Well-Known Member
Welcome here.
Remember:
Your Children are your investment, and your grandchildren your interest.
Or wharrabout this one.
The 2 reasons why businusses goes bancrupt. They sell what they dont produce, and they produce what they cant sell.
or this one.
Evolution is the religion where one believes one's children more human, and ones parents more ape, than you.
Or this one.
My psycologist said I will always have people telling me that I think I know everything. Inform them that your psycologist says the problem lies with them.
 
Revoltingest

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
Polymath257 said:
Welcome to SF.

Take a look at our rules: RF Rules

One way to see the distinction between debate and discussion is that in discussion, you are exchanging ideas, but respect the beliefs of everyone else and not saying they are wrong. Debate is when you are pressing a point and claiming the others are wrong.

Also, be careful of rule 8: trying to 'convert' others to your viewpoint. The viewpoint does NOT have to be a religious one for this rule to apply.

There are also one-on-one debate forums. they are not used a lot, but they are there for deeper discussions.

Enjoy our site!
Click to expand...
You're not going to tell him about the secret rules, the daily double, or whacking day?
I guess it's more fun if newbies discover these for themselves.

Anyway, greetings!
Join us for the free breakfast in the staff lounge.
activity_image.jpg
 
Secret Chief

Secret Chief

nirvana is samsara
Hiya.

Don't get too hung up on the rules. I'm vaguely aware there's some rules somewhere and have yet to find myself on the naughty step. Play nice and you'll be fine. The staff are all very helpful, especially the ones I've paid money to. Or have interesting photos of.

PS. I think there's other members with ASD too, which is probably completely irrelevant.
 
Last edited:
Secret Chief

Secret Chief

nirvana is samsara
Daemon Sophic said:
Welcome to the forum @SESMeT ! May I call you Thing 1 or Thing 2?
c40811bbe6ea397d6c2da2f6bcb0cb49.gif

Or are you both?

Anyways! You’re in luck. We do have a resident (professional) philosopher, who is a nice guy too. And he’s also one of the moderators. So you can get all your answers in a convenient one stop shopping. :p
He’ll be along soon. Oh @Sunstone !!

Meantime, look around, get comfortable, and have some Nanaimo bars. ;)
9c1f2bc3-4c8a-4639-951b-5077e790b0d9_ultimate-nanaimo-bar_WebReady.jpg
Click to expand...

Holy moly, you got a recipe for them beasts?
 
Sunstone

Sunstone

De Diablo Del Fora
Premium Member
Hi, @SESMeT,

Welcome to the Forum! By coincidence, you signed up on the same day of the year that I signed up 16 years ago. Not that it matters much.

The key difference between debates and discussions is that you are permitted to assert someone's views are wrong in debate threads, but you are not permitted to assert someone's views are wrong in discussion threads. For more information on that, see this thread:

Debate vs Discussion: What's the Difference?

Are there any areas of philosophy that you are interested in apart from those areas that have some bearing on religion?
 
Evangelicalhumanist

Evangelicalhumanist

"Truth" isn't a thing...
Premium Member
Welcome to the forums. I for one certainly enjoy philosophy, though I'm no true philosopher, and I also enjoy spiritied debate. I have, as a result, had my hand slapped a couple of times for engaging in debate where I oughtn't, but I think I've learned my lesson now. As long as one stays in a debate forum, and one is at least respectful of others even though you may disagree withe their opinion or argument, one should be pretty safe, and within the rules.

I look forward to whatever you wish to discuss.
 
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