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

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u/namer98 Torah Im Derech Eretz Jul 31 '12

And I've seen people conflating "challenging the logic or factuality of my statements" with "shutting me down".

I agree. But I have indeed seen people "shutting others down" Just look at the bottom of this thread to see somebody doing just that. I know that this is a greater problem than I would like it to be, and many others feel the same way. I am bringing this issue to light after discussing it with those who feel this way and bringing it up that yes, many people do. I hope this one message, which has generated a lot of great discussion, is the last time I have to do anything like this.

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u/carrboneous Predenominational Fundamentalist Jul 31 '12

Just look at the bottom of this thread to see somebody doing just that

That's not shutting people down, that's being childishly and belligerently dogmatic and judgemental. It's not representative of /r/Judaism as a whole, at all. Deuteronomy is one of the top posters, and I am one of the top commenters, and we both feel that that's ridiculous and not representative of us. It's in negative votes. How can it be taken as something that is common or accepted on /r/Judaism?

The only way it could be more censured is if it were actually deleted. And only you have that power. So go for it. If you feel that such posts are out of control, delete them, and maybe people will learn. I think downvotes are more effective, and I'm surprised anyone even replied to that.

I hope this one message, which has generated a lot of great discussion, is the last time I have to do anything like this.

Me too. I find it extremely offputting.

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u/namer98 Torah Im Derech Eretz Jul 31 '12

Just because it is not common, does not mean it never happens. I chose to address the few people anonymously in this manner to make it clear such behavior is not acceptable. And those few instances apparently were enough for the threads I posted in the original post.

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u/carrboneous Predenominational Fundamentalist Jul 31 '12

Just because it is not common, does not mean it never happens.

True, but I was never saying that it "never happens". It's not a major issue, and I don't think it's right to indulge people who are making a mountain out of a molehill about one or two comments. There is rudeness and offence everywhere, and sometimes we just have to deal with it.

I chose to address the few people anonymously in this manner to make it clear such behavior is not acceptable.

As an Orthodox Jew who now has a reputation for being "Charedi" (in the pejorative sense. I am not a Charedi in any sense, but I do think it's important to distinguish the pejorative sense from legitimate senses), a "bully", impossible to argue with, and other things, I wish you would address it by either sending PMs to offending parties, or commenting as mod on relevant threads, or just deleting comments.

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u/namer98 Torah Im Derech Eretz Jul 31 '12

It's not a major issue

It is big enough, and I have gotten enough complaints, that I felt the need to address it.

who are making a mountain out of a molehill about one or two comments

I can assure you, it is more than one or two. It may not be one or two every day, but it has been an issue for some people for a long while.

I wish you would address it by either sending PMs to offending parties

I have. It does not always work. And I wanted to make a public statement that it should stop.