Matthew
Level 5
Group: moderator
Posts: 9,208
Joined: Aug 18, 2006
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CathInfo has a new cardinal rule:
You may not post on CathInfo as an "outsider", or visit CathInfo as as "missionary". We are not a group of hell-bound heretics waiting for you to convert us with your bitter arguments and denunciations.
You need not agree with everyone (or even most people) here, and you are free to disagree with the moderator. However, you have to consider CathInfo members your "fellow Catholics" -- you may strongly disagree with some of them, but you have to have enough humility to "live and let live" and "agree to disagree".
The rules of CathInfo can be reduced to:
In necessary things, unity.
In doubtful things, liberty.
In all things, charity.
(from St. Augustine)
To explain in more detail:
1. In necessary things, such as the dogmas of the Catholic Faith, there is no room for discussion. Mary is the Mother of God. Jesus Christ is God. The Blessed Sacrament is the Real Presence of Jesus Christ. There are Seven Sacraments instituted by Christ to give grace. Christ founded a visible Church with a priesthood, with a hierarchy and Pope at the head. Men, after death, are judged by Christ and are sent to Heaven, Hell, or Purgatory. Etc. Heretics who persist in their error(s) have no place on CathInfo, because this is a forum for Catholics. On this heading, blasphemy or cursing other members will not be tolerated.
2. The Crisis in the Church is considered a "doubtful" matter, or one that is fraught with confusion. It is NOT crystal clear what a Catholic should do in this unprecedented situation, or EVERYONE would be in the same "camp". It is noted that the Church has had similar crises, such as the Great Schism. In that crisis, good Catholics were found on every side. The same is likely true today. CathInfo's position is that Catholics of good will CAN arrive at different conclusions regarding the Crisis. Aside from a special revelation from God, none of us know who is/isn't "of good will". So the benefit of the doubt should be given to all, except those who violate rule #3.
3. In all things, charity -- we can never dispense ourselves from the law of Charity. Christ desires that all men be saved, and no one on earth is worthy of our hatred. Only the devils in hell may be hated. Since the Church does not declare anyone to be in Hell, we may only pray for the deceased -- not hate them. When disagreeing with other members of the forum, we must keep in mind that we will be judged on how much we loved God, and by extension our fellow men. God loves us with the highest kind of love, so the closer we draw to God, the more WE will love our fellow men as well. This was displayed again and again in the lives of the Saints. On this heading, telling other members that they are hell-bound, or other egregious uncharitable behavior, is not tolerated.
In addition to these main rules, CathInfo requires members to use the "Crisis in the Church" subforum for all discussion regarding the Pope, conciliar church, Vatican II, sedevacantism, etc. Why? Some members are happy and stable where they are as Catholics, and have no desire to shake up their whole life (constantly) by going back to the drawing board. They have moved on, and wish to devote their time to other matters, including such lofty and necessary topics as the spiritual life, and Catholic life in the modern world. Such Catholics will have their wishes honored here. Any Crisis-related posts found outside the "Crisis" subforum will be moved at the moderator's discretion.
Catholics who don't want to argue about sedevacantism, etc. are encouraged to avoid the Crisis in the Church forum, so that you will enjoy your time here at CathInfo!
As a footnote, the "official position" of CathInfo regarding the Crisis in the Church is the SSPX position. (Not that it really matters -- see Rule #2) CathInfo is also officially behind Bishop Williamson, and has no disagreement with anything he has said publicly or in private.
ADDED 10/12/09:
CathInfo no longer allows user names ending in ".com". For example, if you run a website named "CNN.com" you are welcome to join as CNN, but not "CNN.com", "CNN-com" or "CNN_com". Having a name that ends in .com is just silly. You're not a website, and even if you want to "identify" with your website (as I used to), you can AT LEAST take off the ".com".
You may put a link to your website in your signature line. But please don't spend most of your time on CathInfo trying to get more hits for your website -- I WILL see through that, and moderate your posts and/or ban you. If you want to advertise on CathInfo, e-mail or PM me and I'll give you my advertising rates.
The subject matter of your website doesn't matter. It could be the most beautiful or holy website -- I still don't want excessive advertising on CathInfo. This is a message board, not a billboard.
Besides St. Augustine's Big Three, there are also small, practical rules that must be enforced to maintain a useful discussion forum.
For example,
No duplicate accounts are allowed. It skews an argument when one side can sign up 5 "sock puppet" accounts and attack his opponent with an apparent "group", swaying opinion in his favor. Common sense dictates that this would ruin any discussion board.
You can use a proxy service (IP masking website) if you wish, but you forfeit your right to complain if your IP matches up with another member's and you get banned! Why use a proxy service anyhow? I can understand a person wanting to hide his name, address, and identity -- but why would he hide his IP unless he's up to no good? I'm not in the CIA, so I can't link a member's IP address to his full name and billing address. AT&T can do that. The FBI can do that. I (and most civilians) cannot.
(As an aside, there is no such thing as truly anonymous surfing. The NSA, FBI, CIA, etc. can get your actual IP address from the proxy service, and then link the IP address to your identity. So you can't beat them. If they want you, you're theirs.)
CathInfo must be a board where intelligent discussion and controversy can take place. Anything that hinders this goal (bashing the whole forum, posting foul material, posting spam, holding duplicate accounts -- you name it) must -- and will -- be dealt with.
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Start your Amazon.com session by clicking this link, and my family and I get a commission on your purchase! It costs you nothing extra.
Buy from Amazon.com and support CathInfo
Thank you,
Matthew
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| Posted Jun 30, 2009, 8:15 pm |
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Ignored by: 0
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Matthew
Level 5
Group: moderator
Posts: 9,208
Joined: Aug 18, 2006
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In general, the rules are "enforced" in a lenient manner -- but like an old-fashioned, down-to-earth judge, I know a violation when it stares me in the face. I go by common sense when deciding who to moderate/ban.
"Is he destroying the forum, or just arguing vehemently with one person?"
"Does he have an ounce of humility?"
"Is his online behavior at all civilized?"
"Is he malicious about what he is doing?"
"How did he react to my warning?" (note: a warning is always given)
And so forth. In other words, I'd never have a computer "enforce" the rules because some good people might get moderated or banned. All the circumstances have to be taken into account by a human being with common sense.
Matthew
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Amazon.com sells just about everything, and they have excellent prices.
Start your Amazon.com session by clicking this link, and my family and I get a commission on your purchase! It costs you nothing extra.
Buy from Amazon.com and support CathInfo
Thank you,
Matthew
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| Posted Jun 30, 2009, 9:33 pm |
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Ignored by: 0
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Matthew
Level 5
Group: moderator
Posts: 9,208
Joined: Aug 18, 2006
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More detail about CathInfo and moderator activity:
We've had a flurry of new users sign up here, many of whom are here only to defend Fr. Cekada, Bishop Dolan, and St. Gertrude the Great parish at any cost. I'm sorry you joined at such an inauspicious time. But, although you may be an exemplary Catholic, you WILL be put under a certain amount of scrutiny just because you are new. We all have to "bear wrongs patiently" and offer up sufferings for the love of Christ. You may get plenty of opportunities for this.
I've had to ban many users, particularly those who fanatically supported Fr. Cekada, once they step over the line and criticize the forum rules, owner, the forum itself, and/or the mass of its members. When a member won't live here in peace, there is one place for them: the door.
The idea that I ban anyone who disagrees with me doesn't even make it out of the gate. Look around the forum, and see all the Sedevacantists. You might be surprised to learn that I am NOT a sedevacantist. I fervently support the SSPX, and I attend one of their chapels. So my tolerance is plain for all to see.
You will forgive me for holding that a brand-new, untested member is worth far less than the entire forum which I have built up over 2 1/2 years, with the help of many long-standing members. Anyone who makes the forum unbearable for those members WILL be banned.
I do have rules (see the original post) but this isn't a democracy where people can exploit written laws to get away with stuff. This is a monarchy, where a single man rules by reason and common sense. Written laws you can snake around; common sense you cannot. Why do you think there are few monarchies left in the world? Because the men who control the world can easily do so once a democracy is set up.
What is unacceptable or ban-worthy behavior? It's hard to define. But I define it like a famous man once defined pornography: You know it when you see it!
I don't mean to be rude, but I will say this: any new members these days are on de-facto probation. That's just the way it is. Blame the messed-up world we live in. Blame SGG and Fr. Cekada.
I hope this whole SGG thing gets taken care of, and you spend many happy years here on CathInfo.
God bless,
Matthew
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.........................
Amazon.com sells just about everything, and they have excellent prices.
Start your Amazon.com session by clicking this link, and my family and I get a commission on your purchase! It costs you nothing extra.
Buy from Amazon.com and support CathInfo
Thank you,
Matthew
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| Posted Nov 18, 2009, 4:13 am |
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Ignored by: 0
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Raoul76
Level 4
Group: Banned
Posts: 3,005
Joined: May 10, 2009
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ChantCD_said:
| Quote: | | What is unacceptable or ban-worthy behavior? It's hard to define. But I define it like a famous man once defined pornography: You know it when you see it! |
I think, if I may try to interpret your mindset, that what bothers you about certain members is a lack of respect. I must say that you are more bothered when this lack of respect is shown towards yourself than when it is shown towards others -- if Caminus talked to you the way he does to me, would he still be here? -- but that's okay. Like you say, it's a monarchy.
Actually, is Caminus still here? JustCatholic, Caminus, and Robert Rawhide all blur together for me. That is odd since Rawhide was a sedevacantist. I think it's the general impression of having an agenda that they give off. Others on this board fluctuate and have emotions and change opinions but those three have a firm, if sometimes hard to pinpoint, party line.
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| Posted Nov 18, 2009, 5:10 am |
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roscoe
Level 5
Group: Members
Posts: 4,043
Joined: Jan 6, 2008
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Now I have heard everything. Raoul accusing others of 'fluctuating and changing opinions'. 
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No one has ever presented Any evidence from the Bible, a Pope, Church Council, Father, Doctor, Saint, historian, INQ, Bps Pastoral Letter, nor Catholic Encyclopedia or Dictionary that there is or ever has been such a person as a 'sede vacantist' or such a state of affairs known as 'sede vacantism' before the V2 era.
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| Posted Nov 20, 2009, 10:13 pm |
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