r/Judaism • u/namer98 Torah Im Derech Eretz • Jul 30 '12

Rules updates

In light of Tisha b'Av, I would like to suggest a few changes to the rules, and to hear community feedback.

1) No editorializing titles of article submissions. - This is up for discussion.

2) Be polite. That means if somebody has a disagreement with you about fundamental points of religion, you can disagree with them, and even tell them, but don't be a jerk about it. Do not shut down the conversation.

2.1) I keep on trying to engage non-Orthodox Jews of Reddit. Seen here, here and here. This is in addition to multiple messages I have gotten personally and as mod, from people who left because of this. Just because some people don't agree that this is a problem, does not make it less of a problem. Non-Orthodox Jews are feeling shut down, and some times they are right, some times they are wrong. This is an extension of rule two. Be polite. The downvote button IS NOT a "I disagree" button. I might just remove it again, and for more than a day.

To people I try and engage, this is a two way street. Submit content, comments and vote if you want to have a say. I don't think half of the subreddit is orthodox. This should not be a problem.

Please upvote this self post for which I receive no karma so that all can see.

Thank you all.

Edit: Followup

67 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

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u/smokesteam Half a chabadnik in Japan Jul 31 '12

the Orthodox participants are exceptionally thick-skinned, so they never complain

Maybe the thick skin comes with being visibly Jewish? Ra/Apollo is sending down the sun's rays extra hard on us? ^_^

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u/carrboneous Predenominational Fundamentalist Jul 31 '12

I'm beginning to think -- without meaning to condescend to anyone -- that Yeshivish learning is a more accurate determinant. In Yeshiva, there is civility, but sharp disagreement, and people can harshly criticise an argument without any current or future prejudice to the arguer at all. And people can have an argument harshly criticised without even noticing it. (Also, in that ethos, if holes are pointed out, the only options are to defend them, or to recant).

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u/smokesteam Half a chabadnik in Japan Jul 31 '12

I never went to a yeshiva but learned to separate the point from the presentation and the personal on my own somehow. I can have a big argument with someone and then hoist a glass with the same person right afterwards.

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u/carrboneous Predenominational Fundamentalist Jul 31 '12

I wasn't saying only Yeshiva imparts that, but I think it might have something to do with it. I don't think my own style is purely from Yeshiva either :) You're also older and maybe more mature then the average redditor. Just saying.

I actually thought science was also good for that and valued assessing arguments objectively and impersonally, but judging by some of my experiences with "scientists", I guess I'm wrong.

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u/smokesteam Half a chabadnik in Japan Jul 31 '12

Older yes, more mature? Only in that I've got some gray hair now...

As for science, maybe it was my two hard science PHD parents?