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Of late the Off Topic section has gone from a place where we could talk, share jokes and interact in a friendly manner away from the constraints of staying on a gun related topic to one of constant bickering, fighting, name calling and nonsense. Where once we had conversation and discussion we now have feuds between ideologies, religion bashing, conspiracy wars, anti-government diatribes and personal baiting.
While personal freedoms are one of our driving forces here and we try our best not to engage in censorship, rules are still necessary to allow a free flow of ideas, conversation and input. So these are the new Off Topic rules.
1) Religious discussions must be kept civil and respectful, no attacking someone’s beliefs. *
Religious discussions are welcome; insulting or denigrating someone’s religion is not. Posts that are insulting or demeaning to Christianity will be treated just the same as derogatory posts about Muslims or other religions. There will be no religion that is 'okay' to mock or denigrate. Posts or threads that are not discussions but simply negative comments will be seen as having no value and will be removed as listed below. You are more than welcome to disagree with someone’s beliefs or Faith. If you can civilly and respectfully debate why you disagree that is fine. If you can not your post will be removed, repeated removals will cause your account to be closed.
2) Political discussion is welcome, partisan bickering and insults are not.
Politics are inescapable on a board such as this, however that does not mean it has to devolve in to a donnybrook every time the subject comes up. Calguns is a firearm’s enthusiast/grassroots Second Amendment site, not a Republican booster club nor a Democrat rallying point. Denigrating someone who is trying to work with us on restoring our Second Amendment rights because of party affiliation or ideological beliefs is destructive and will not be allowed. We are here to work together not tear each other down. Debate of non-Second Amendment politics is welcome if you can do it in a calm and courteous manner. If you can not your post will be removed, repeated removals will cause your account to be closed.
3) Anti-Government posts while not forbidden are expected to maintain a civil and respectful tone.
Anti-Government sentiments always seem to attach themselves to the firearms culture, this is in part due to the fact that we see the erosion of our 2nd Amendment rights as a Government intrusion and rightly so. However trying to claim that everything the Government does is evil or part of some grand diabolical design is not only overly suspicious it is detrimental to us as well. It makes all firearms owners look slightly off center. Calguns is not about being anti-Government; we are about being Pro Second Amendment and that is the focus we wish to keep. Non-Second Amendment political discussion will be kept civil, polite and respectful just as Second Amendment political discussion has been expected to be. Sarcastic or insulting terms or images used in regards to elected officials will not be allowed. It doesn’t matter if it is Bush, Clinton, Cheney, Pelosi or our own State Senators, the clever names and sarcastic comments do not make us look anything other than childish. You do not have to respect the person but we expect you to respect the Office. If you can not your post will be removed, repeated removals will cause your account to be closed.
4) Conspiracy theories, 9/11 theories and topics such as this are also not banned but will be limited.
Conspiracies, 9/11 and topics such as these are nothing but divisive and detrimental. Views on these topics are very polarizing and there is little if any middle ground for discussion or debate. Either you believe what is being said by ‘Source A’ or you do not and vice versa with ‘Source B’. Simply put the amount of useful information in relation to the amount of fighting and bickering does not make this worthwhile, arguing about whether or not the Dollar is valid money, taxes are legal or similar such topics has too low of a ‘signal to noise’ value. There are entire forums dedicated to these subjects and they are not that hard to find. Phrases such as ‘sheeple’, ‘kool-aid drinker’ and ‘tin foil hatter’ will be viewed in the manner they were intended, rarely is that other than as an insult. These topics will not be ‘outlawed’ but they will be severely restricted. Repeated thread hi-jacking with these subjects will result in first a warning, then time off and finally closure of the account.
5) Racist comments of any type are not allowed, this includes commonly acknowledged 'Hate' references.
Racist comments of any type are not allowed, This includes any comments commonly considered to be Hate oriented. For example quotes or links to sites such stormfront.org or noi.org. We have worked hard to become the site we are and will not allow this kind of vulgar commentary to be attached to our reputation.
You will be warned once with time off, a second occurrence may lead to the closure of your account.
6) The suggesting or advocating of illegal activities is not allowed.
The suggesting or advocating of illegal activities is not allowed. It is understood that some things may be said in jest, if there is a question of intent your post will be removed until we can make sure it was in jest.
Repeated suggesting or advocating of illegal activities will result in first a warning, then time off and finally closure of the account.
7) Outright insults, name calling, denigrating comments and ‘baiting’ is not allowed.
Comments of this nature are not allowed, if you do not like someone simply do not post in their thread. This rule applies regardless of the root cause, be it religion, orientation or something specific to the individual. This does not refer to joking, ribbing or friendly teasing; these are things friends do. Neither does this rule give anyone free rein to be obnoxious and claim it as a specific trait. This rule refers to comments and post intended solely to offend, antagonize or hurt. If a trend appears of repeatedly posting not to add to the thread but to antagonize a particular member it will result in first a warning, then time off and finally closure of the account.
8) Berating or insulting based on ethnicity, sexual alignment, or religion is not allowed.
Calguns is a site dedicated to firearms ownership, we do not exclude or favor anyone. The intent is to be a place that all types of California gun owners can come to, converse and help to restore our rights. As such derogatory comments or insults directed towards members based on these aspect will result in first a warning, then time off and finally closure of the account.
On the opposite side of this if you feel you are in a minority position due to views or opinions do not hold that up as protection from people differing or disagreeing with you, it is not. Just because you're [fill in the blank] does not make you a special category, we do not have those here. Attempts to push your views in others faces or insult others like you have impunity will result in first a warning, then time off and finally closure of the account.
9) Rules for picture posting
Nudity, partial nudity or porn of any fashion is not allowed, either as a displaying image, as a hot link or as links of any fashion.
Pictures that do not meet the above descriptions but are suggestive or revealing while still maintaining a 'PG-13' level can be posted as clickable (hot) links.
If it looks like hard or soft core porn, don't post it.
If it looks like the over-sensitive office tattletale would get offended by it but it is not pornographic, link it.
If it is a more tasteful image then it can be a displaying image.
*
This rule does NOT mean that current events and news stories can not be discussed, it simply means that these discussions need to be conducted in a civil manner.
For example, citing a news story about the L.A Diocese making payments to settle a lawsuit is not uncivil. Calling Catholic Priests 'homo-rapists' or all Catholics are **** is uncivil and insulting.
Another example would be posting a story and commentary about a bombing by Muslim extremists as opposed to claiming all Muslims are 'goat-loving baby-killers'. The former would not be disrespectful, it is simply discussing what has happened, the later would be rude and disrespectful and obviously intended to be so.
A final example of what would be unacceptable would be telling someone 'Your belief/faith/religion is fake and BS'. This applies whether it is Judaism, Islamic, Christianity, Atheism or others. You don't have to agree with someone's faith but you also do not need to denigrate it.
While personal freedoms are one of our driving forces here and we try our best not to engage in censorship, rules are still necessary to allow a free flow of ideas, conversation and input. So these are the new Off Topic rules.
1) Religious discussions must be kept civil and respectful, no attacking someone’s beliefs. *
Religious discussions are welcome; insulting or denigrating someone’s religion is not. Posts that are insulting or demeaning to Christianity will be treated just the same as derogatory posts about Muslims or other religions. There will be no religion that is 'okay' to mock or denigrate. Posts or threads that are not discussions but simply negative comments will be seen as having no value and will be removed as listed below. You are more than welcome to disagree with someone’s beliefs or Faith. If you can civilly and respectfully debate why you disagree that is fine. If you can not your post will be removed, repeated removals will cause your account to be closed.
2) Political discussion is welcome, partisan bickering and insults are not.
Politics are inescapable on a board such as this, however that does not mean it has to devolve in to a donnybrook every time the subject comes up. Calguns is a firearm’s enthusiast/grassroots Second Amendment site, not a Republican booster club nor a Democrat rallying point. Denigrating someone who is trying to work with us on restoring our Second Amendment rights because of party affiliation or ideological beliefs is destructive and will not be allowed. We are here to work together not tear each other down. Debate of non-Second Amendment politics is welcome if you can do it in a calm and courteous manner. If you can not your post will be removed, repeated removals will cause your account to be closed.
3) Anti-Government posts while not forbidden are expected to maintain a civil and respectful tone.
Anti-Government sentiments always seem to attach themselves to the firearms culture, this is in part due to the fact that we see the erosion of our 2nd Amendment rights as a Government intrusion and rightly so. However trying to claim that everything the Government does is evil or part of some grand diabolical design is not only overly suspicious it is detrimental to us as well. It makes all firearms owners look slightly off center. Calguns is not about being anti-Government; we are about being Pro Second Amendment and that is the focus we wish to keep. Non-Second Amendment political discussion will be kept civil, polite and respectful just as Second Amendment political discussion has been expected to be. Sarcastic or insulting terms or images used in regards to elected officials will not be allowed. It doesn’t matter if it is Bush, Clinton, Cheney, Pelosi or our own State Senators, the clever names and sarcastic comments do not make us look anything other than childish. You do not have to respect the person but we expect you to respect the Office. If you can not your post will be removed, repeated removals will cause your account to be closed.
4) Conspiracy theories, 9/11 theories and topics such as this are also not banned but will be limited.
Conspiracies, 9/11 and topics such as these are nothing but divisive and detrimental. Views on these topics are very polarizing and there is little if any middle ground for discussion or debate. Either you believe what is being said by ‘Source A’ or you do not and vice versa with ‘Source B’. Simply put the amount of useful information in relation to the amount of fighting and bickering does not make this worthwhile, arguing about whether or not the Dollar is valid money, taxes are legal or similar such topics has too low of a ‘signal to noise’ value. There are entire forums dedicated to these subjects and they are not that hard to find. Phrases such as ‘sheeple’, ‘kool-aid drinker’ and ‘tin foil hatter’ will be viewed in the manner they were intended, rarely is that other than as an insult. These topics will not be ‘outlawed’ but they will be severely restricted. Repeated thread hi-jacking with these subjects will result in first a warning, then time off and finally closure of the account.
5) Racist comments of any type are not allowed, this includes commonly acknowledged 'Hate' references.
Racist comments of any type are not allowed, This includes any comments commonly considered to be Hate oriented. For example quotes or links to sites such stormfront.org or noi.org. We have worked hard to become the site we are and will not allow this kind of vulgar commentary to be attached to our reputation.
You will be warned once with time off, a second occurrence may lead to the closure of your account.
6) The suggesting or advocating of illegal activities is not allowed.
The suggesting or advocating of illegal activities is not allowed. It is understood that some things may be said in jest, if there is a question of intent your post will be removed until we can make sure it was in jest.
Repeated suggesting or advocating of illegal activities will result in first a warning, then time off and finally closure of the account.
7) Outright insults, name calling, denigrating comments and ‘baiting’ is not allowed.
Comments of this nature are not allowed, if you do not like someone simply do not post in their thread. This rule applies regardless of the root cause, be it religion, orientation or something specific to the individual. This does not refer to joking, ribbing or friendly teasing; these are things friends do. Neither does this rule give anyone free rein to be obnoxious and claim it as a specific trait. This rule refers to comments and post intended solely to offend, antagonize or hurt. If a trend appears of repeatedly posting not to add to the thread but to antagonize a particular member it will result in first a warning, then time off and finally closure of the account.
8) Berating or insulting based on ethnicity, sexual alignment, or religion is not allowed.
Calguns is a site dedicated to firearms ownership, we do not exclude or favor anyone. The intent is to be a place that all types of California gun owners can come to, converse and help to restore our rights. As such derogatory comments or insults directed towards members based on these aspect will result in first a warning, then time off and finally closure of the account.
On the opposite side of this if you feel you are in a minority position due to views or opinions do not hold that up as protection from people differing or disagreeing with you, it is not. Just because you're [fill in the blank] does not make you a special category, we do not have those here. Attempts to push your views in others faces or insult others like you have impunity will result in first a warning, then time off and finally closure of the account.
9) Rules for picture posting
Nudity, partial nudity or porn of any fashion is not allowed, either as a displaying image, as a hot link or as links of any fashion.
Pictures that do not meet the above descriptions but are suggestive or revealing while still maintaining a 'PG-13' level can be posted as clickable (hot) links.
If it looks like hard or soft core porn, don't post it.
If it looks like the over-sensitive office tattletale would get offended by it but it is not pornographic, link it.
If it is a more tasteful image then it can be a displaying image.
*
This rule does NOT mean that current events and news stories can not be discussed, it simply means that these discussions need to be conducted in a civil manner.
For example, citing a news story about the L.A Diocese making payments to settle a lawsuit is not uncivil. Calling Catholic Priests 'homo-rapists' or all Catholics are **** is uncivil and insulting.
Another example would be posting a story and commentary about a bombing by Muslim extremists as opposed to claiming all Muslims are 'goat-loving baby-killers'. The former would not be disrespectful, it is simply discussing what has happened, the later would be rude and disrespectful and obviously intended to be so.
A final example of what would be unacceptable would be telling someone 'Your belief/faith/religion is fake and BS'. This applies whether it is Judaism, Islamic, Christianity, Atheism or others. You don't have to agree with someone's faith but you also do not need to denigrate it.
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