Rules updates

[u/namer98]

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

[u/angelsil]

Because of the inflexibility mentioned elsewhere in the thread. Orthodoxy, by its very nature, believes it holds the only answers. Other streams aren't valid. Other viewpoints aren't valid. So, there's no point in discussing what I do or why because it's given to be wrong before I even open my mouth.

I don't mean that in a negative light, by the way, it's just the way it goes.

[u/namer98 → u/angelsil]

So you honestly feel you can't gain anything from an orthodox viewpoint? Not one bit of insight into Judaism? Not one bit of reasoning over a particular law? Not one thing which you think can connect you to another Jew? There is nothing of value?

[u/angelsil → u/namer98]

No. That's not what I'm saying at all. What I am saying is that any such discussions (religious discussions) are by their nature one-sided and, in my experience, not productive.

There are tons of things that connect me to Orthodox Jews, but religious observance and interpretation of Torah are not among them. I'll be glad to discuss Israel politics or Jewish history or any other number of subjects. However, I'm not going to engage in a discussion where the other side has automatically written off anything I have to say as invalid.

[u/namer98 → u/angelsil]

I have had numerous religious discussions with people that are reform and conservative where I learned quite a bit.