BANNING religious deals in the hotdeals forum?!?...UPDATE: BAN HAS BEEN LIFTED

[MarkM]

While I personally have little interest in the religious-themed hot-deals, I felt I just needed to bop over here a minute to register my amazement at the moderators' extrreme action over there. They are banning hot deals taht are TOTALLY legitimate (eg free bibles) not on the basis of any fault of the deal to meet the criteria to be posted, but because someone MIGHT post an inappropriate REACTION to it. Or so I understand it. What the ???

Almost like banning interracial marriages because it bothers some bigots, isn't it? If the action by anandtech moderators had to be held to any legal/constitutional measure, it would almost certainly fail. Simply pu, YOU ARE DOING THE WRONG THING.

Meanwhile people keep posting way OT thread subjects something like "Hotter than the Olson twins in a shower together" and they don't care (need I remind you the olson twins are somehting like 13 years old).

 

[Fantome]

Unfortunately, along with the freedom the internet provides, it also provides anonimity to those who are juvenile and cannot have an adult discussion, follow simple rules, or simply be polite to others. As a result of the inappropriate actions of a few, everyone pays the price of censorship. It is sad to see this occur, but since the forum is a private enterprise, it is up to the mods to define the terms of its' use.
I understand why they have turned off the tap on religion related deals, but censorship is never a good solution and I hope the mods will discuss amongst themselves a better solution with due diligence.

Might I suggest a policy of reducing *status* of members who don't play nice. If someone makes inappropriate/rude remarks or breaks the rules, give them a warning and provide a new status for them like "Probation" to remind them everytime they see their name to think before they speak. If they persist, reset them back to a Junior no matter how many posts they have. I'm sure there are some senior, diamond, elite, etc. members who will not take kindly to a reduction in the prestige of their on-line persona. Banning people will just make them sign up under a different alias anyway. A probationary status should not go away based on posts, but rather time (30 days?).

Perhaps until a better solution is worked out, the mods could create an off-topic thread for those who wish to post and/or discuss religious deals and provide a direct link to it from the top of hot-deals forum. This would provide an outlet for those of us wishing to view religious deals while minimizing the thread crappers (or at least exposing them in one location for easy enforcement).

My 2¢ Thanks for the forum!

 

[boa]

So many are absolutely correct. This is not my forum. I do not pay for it. In fact, I do not pay to watch FOX, ABC, NBC, and CBS. But if I have a problem about the shows I can bring it to the attention of the SPONSORS.

That is what I just did with Crucial. I KNOW sponsors care what we think.

If you have a problem with this discriminatory policy, I would suggest you let the sponsors know about it.

 

[badpacket]

This is not up for discussion, bring it up again, and you will earn a hot deal on a one way ticket out of here.

Geez, nothing like not having the balls to bounce the people actually crapping on threads.

Of course, sure is easy to threaten to bounce everyone else?

Very logical.

fatwallet, here I come.

 

[Crank]

How very dissappointing, Mods.
You have shown what cowards you are.
Giving in to the thread crappers instead of punishing them, limiting the ability of legitimate deal posters to post deals that ARE APPRECIATED BY SOME MEMBERS, well....it's shameful.

I stumbled on to the Hot Deals forum at Anandtech about a year ago - never knew anything like it existed before. I've greatly enjoyed my time here, but Anandtech isn't the only game in town. If this cowardly decision isn't reversed soon, I'll simply go elshewhere.

Come on, Mods, grow up and enforce the rules fairly to ALL people. If you don't, you just might find that a number of members here will give YOU a permanent vacation.

 

[FelixDeCat]

>Well, I am an Atheist, although not a super reactionary one.

You are also one who seems to see people of opposite views as 'ignorant'.

>I can tell you that many Atheists feel that it's their duty to keep people from being converted... this is often the reason for such responses.

This is the first time I have ever heard of such a thing. Keeping people from being 'converted'. Converted? From what? A non believer?

"....OMG I believe ! Im 'converted'....arrrgghhh!!!!" Thanks for a good belly laugh.


>Also, many times Atheists mean well, they respond to someone's ignorance (evolution is phony, etc) trying to educate them and get slapped down for ripping on someone's religious beliefs (which is often not what they really intend, they just want to clear up the mis-information being propogated by the more ignorant members).

"Ignorance" ? "Educate"? Again, a dim view of opposite opinion. (I happen to see God as the reason for evolution).


Perhaps a cooling off period for thread crappers via temporary thread banning is necessary. Ive said it before and Ill say it again : I feel that certain elements of the non belief movement are rather discontent with their status and feel it necessary to lash out at anything Christian. No matter what; even a free Bible. Petty little people arent they?

FDK.

 

[badluck]

I, for one, do not want to see every follower of every religion in this world pimping their crap on the forum.....If you allow one type of religion, you allow it all. And yes, there is probably free literature about every religion and every atheist org out there....

Get a life and get over it...If you have to complain about something so small you should probably get out and get some air....It's their forum, leave or enjoy it the way they want it to be....

 

[keystroker]

2 gods for the price of 1!

 

[dragonlord2112]

OK, I wasn't that crazy about these threads in hot deals at first. I admit I have a severe distaste towards organized religion. Really, the Mods are left to make the call on this, and whatever it is, is OK by me. If they want them back - that's fine.
Wow, I haven't seen so many fired up people since the days of when you could freely post coupon codes. :Q
A proposal: a religion thread in hot deals... much like the <Iwanna> thread. Somebody probably already mentioned this, but I dunno.

 

[SilentRunning]

Two words to the people on both sides of this issue:

GROW UP

I think the moderators should consider creating two Hot deals categories,

HOT DEALS: Computer Hardware, Software, and Electronics

and

HOT DEALS: Other


Because while I appreciate the posting of other items, when looking for a deal on computer related items you often have to wade through magazine, toy (yes jokersmoker I like your deals ), and various other items. I think this would help to streamline the forum. Sadly it will not prevent the bitter feuding that some subjects create. (I hate the AMD & Intel crapping too)

 

[Johnnie]

It is like "blame the gun..not the individual" mentallity here ... so sad.
Why not treat this like a post in the FS/FT forum..when someone craps..ban them...and not the post!!!

 

[dragonlord2112]

<< (I hate the AMD & Intel crapping too) >>


Now that is something I really cannot understand. I buy what's cheaper at the time. Now Cyrix crapping on the other hand is very appropriate.

This thread is gonna be 20 pages by tomorrow, isn't it?

 

[taserT]

Why is it that if you don't bellieve in christianity that you are labeled an athiest? There ARE other religions, of course, and not all of them have just one god or a god like yours in any number of ways. And of course many christians are quick to tell believers of any other religion or athiests and agnostics that they are going to hell unless they believe in their god. I'd like to see people trying to post religous deals on any of the eastern religions, witchcraft, paganism, American Indian religion, judaism, islam...and i bet you'd see some thread crapping by christians about it. It just seems christians want to push it down your throat and then condemn you if you don't convert.....of course, they stilll love you, but you're going to lhell so it doesn't matter i guess. Go ask native indiginous peoples in the past and present history....American Indians, Incas (may be a bad example), what happend/s to them and their religions when they didn't change to christianity.

I'd be all for a forum on religous deals. You could even divide it into different religions. Then whoever can go and share their religous deals. Of course, those that put their religion in your face anytime they want or think they can will not like it. That's the nature of the beast. They achieve justification for their beliefs by trying to convert as many people to their way of thinking that they can to legitamize themselves and their god. If they can't convert you then you are of no use to them and mean diddly squat to them. Just think of what it would be like in our country if one particular religion was the state-run religion that was fused with the state (government). We'd have all kinds of laws based upon that religion....and heaven help those that didn't believe that religion. I bet we'd see them disappear little by little (or lots by lots depending on how much actual power they had). I personally do believe there are good things that religion can offer people, however most....not all...religions have demonstrated throughtout history they can't be trusted with power.

 

[poopaskoopa]

<< Come on, Mods, grow up >>


WTF? You seem to grasp why those threads will be locked, but you also seem to think the mods are paid employees who'll do nothing but click on every thread to ensure that no threads are locked but not violate the 1st amendment(which doesn't apply here), while banning "thread crappers of the bible deals". Instead of having a few individuals(mods) examine every thread in these forums, how about some people just learn not to crap on other peoples bible posts? The mod who commented on this issue did state that the ruling might be reversed later.

 

[chrisjor]

Wow,

it is good to see that you guys are not keyboarding in tongues and have survived the handling of serpents at tonights services!!! Your faith is strong!! I am dissapointed to see that several of the elderly people left the services with some of their Social Security checks still in their possession. No worry, there will soon be a mailing which will get that final dollar from them!!!!

How fast can your rig download porn?




By the way,

I completely agree with your right to practice and propagate your religious beliefs. I would fight, kill, and die to protect your right to do so. Anadtech is wrong in banning religious posts that offer a free or hot deal. I am personally looking for one of those deals with the Virgins and Paradise that the Muslims are offering!!!

 

[TechDreamer]

I do not believe that the flaming of religous deals is appropriate, but I also do not think that religous deals are deals at all. I don't think that religous stuff should be posted at all. I was not one of the flamers, but I sure do agree with what most of them said. I just don't think the hot deals forum was the place to say it.
The web and our society are so full of religion. Why do religous people make this so hard. The hot deals forum is not rocket science. I could post links to all kinds of free Atheist information, but I don't, It is not appropriate.
I am so tired of joining boards that focus on certain subjects and yet are unreadable because of all the off topic crap. One of the reasons I joined the board was because the moderators try to keep things on topic. I actually wish they were more harsh. They let some stuff go too long.
Too many people try to make a social life for themselves on these boards. Post you're deals and move on. I also have one last thing to say to all the religous people who think life is so hard for them...Try growing up as an atheist in this society. Atheists take more crap than anybody.

 

[luv2chill]

yawn... not that big of an issue. Religious hot deals can easily be found at other hot deals sites. As badluck said, if you allow one religion you must allow all of them. So that means no bitching if someone posts a "deal" for a pamphlet of satanic verses. A blanket policy works. Ideal? Nope... but is this an ideal world? Nope.

I think a lot of people are caught up in the principle of the whole thing, which is fine and dandy... but the real-world significance of this decision is minimal at best.

l2c

 

[CKDragon]

I think some people here are getting 'thread crapping' confused with respectfully disagreeing with someone's views.

If someone has a real theological point to make, then it's not a big deal if they make it.

If someone uses the tired old joke "Hey, thanks for the extra toilet paper." and then laughs at his own brilliance behind his keyboard, then that is rather disrespectful and in MY OPINION that type of rude behavior shouldn't be allowed.

CK

 

[SinnerWolf]

so maybe we need a controversial hot deal sticky thread. ya know...tattoos, cigars, body jewelry, bibles, crosses, condoms, etc....every time i see a post about any one of these it starts a debate/war/arguement/mod intervention. Lighten up people....the mods really didn't have a choice when there were 4 threads all flamed to heck. They are moderators, not mediators. Maybe putting the words "religious & banned" in the same sentence gave people alarm, but it's not like they are trying to enforce any form of belief or lack thereof. They are trying to keep our community organized, and i for one thank them for it.

 

[boa]

SilentRunning's idea of 2 hot deals threads is really great.
I come here for the computers, sw, electronics not for the dishes, chocolates, etc.

The problem will still exist. The only real solution is to ban those individuals abusing the forum.

 

[paths]

TechDreamer....



<< I could post links to all kinds of free Atheist information, but I don't, It is not appropriate. >>



showing my ignorance here (how unusual heheh)..

but couldn't you still do this if you desire? The BAN is on religious posts and I did not believe Atheism was a religion, therefor link away...


.. now back to looking for a hot deal on a cdrw...

 

[doorguy]

I support the decision of the moderators. Perhaps thread crappers "ruined" things for everyone else... but especially in this situation I think the decision to let things settle down is the wise choice. With hot heads on both sides, an intelligent decision is impossible to reach.

At the same time, I have my own opinions on such threads, and thus do not read them. I perused the most recent one to see what all the hubub was about. I don't see why the "anti-religious types" can't do the same. And I don't see why the "religious types" can't just settle down a bit; you need to realize that your dogma absolutely implies that all other religious beliefs (or lack there of) are absolutely wrong; that is why some people will immediately dislike you. Don't forget this is a public forum and there are some members who have yet to reach their intellectual maturity.

If you find hostility here (from either side) you're best bet is to simply take your discussions elsewhere. To think that the forum should be modified to fit your exact needs and desires is grossly egocentric.

Is that fair? That's life.

 

[chibchakan]

My thread was locked, and I kinda understand why they did it. But I would prefer the mods ban the people who thread crap on religious deals.

 

[gsaldivar]

I also support the mods decision with the ban. There are too many people bumping a handful of religious "freebie" threads debating religion when this is supposed to be a forum for Hot Deals.

Maybe the free bible, free tapes, or free book really was a Hot Deal to begin with... who cares anymore -

The point is, that every single one of these religious threads turns into a debate on religion within minutes.

Why oh why can't we just keep the forum on topic?

 

[DAWeinG]

Because every religious thread becomes a flaming holy war....