Criticism of other religions on a Buddhist forum?

[Peter_Durham]

@silence

I would agree as long as such individuals remain exceptions. In today’s volatile climate, what if there happens to be a large number of them, so that they team up, even infiltrate the mod team and render such ideas mainstream on the forum, so that they creep even in discussions on Dhamma topics?

I guess you a thinking of Dhamma Wheel, silence.

[Jhana4]

I have never seen anything good come from people of one religion criticizing another religion.

I go to Buddhist forums to read about Buddhism, not other religions.

[Coemgenu]

@Vstakan

The Buddha did criticize other religious teachings so why cannot we? I think it is, however, important to criticize ideas and practices and not people.

Also criticize them correctly.

Inept and lackluster critiques of X religion are a dime-a-dozen on “Buddhist” forums. There is nothing more anti- than an ex-, even if that ex- was only ever a nominal “-”.

There is nothing more presumptuous about a religion than an ex-member of X religion. Ex-members of X religion always have a thorough grasp of X religion. Don’t you know? They converted away from it, obviously they completely understood it.

[Coemgenu]

@Peter_Durham

@silence

I would agree as long as such individuals remain exceptions. In today’s volatile climate, what if there happens to be a large number of them, so that they team up, even infiltrate the mod team and render such ideas mainstream on the forum, so that they creep even in discussions on Dhamma topics?

I guess you a thinking of Dhamma Wheel, silence.

Too savage!

#whenthealt-rightisyourmoderation

[silence]

Speaking of unmoderated inappropriate speech on a Buddhist forum that is enabled by the volatile climate… I just came across these

Vast stretches of America are deserted … how is one going to stay at the house below (6:28) without a gun?

Not my country … not my problem … but how is the man in that house going to defend himself from a nutcase meth addict who breaks in … by throwing the Dhammapada he was reading?

I fully support killing in self defense and would do so without any hesitation if I or any one else was in danger.

Killing nutcases and malevolent people who threaten others is “wholesome and profitable”.

Yes of course I am a Buddhist … I would spare no enemy who threatened the Dhamma … that kind of Buddhist

I would protect the Dhamma by slaying its enemies if needed

if a meth head broke in and threatened my child … I would blow his brains out with a shotgun. It would keep me in a more neutral state than any harm to my child.

This is what happens when the partisan worship of “free speech” is considered more important than right speech.

[awarewolf]

That posting I regard as an attempt to just stir it up, and not ill will. And it’s also from a part of the forum which gives anybody a decent chance to make a fool out of one self, so it’s actually a bit sweet in a hysterical way …

[ERose]

Fortunately, wise people can make them shut up with insights from an objective impression

/endsarcasm

Can we agree, there are opinions about religions in everyone? If one is careful about speaking from experience, and qualifies that speech as only one’s opinion, it can be more useful than any tacit knowledge. It is all conditioned, neh?

[awarewolf]

Heartily agreeing

[Thanuttamo]

@silence

In today’s volatile climate, what if there happens to be a large number of them, so that they team up, even infiltrate the mod team and render such ideas mainstream on the forum, so that they creep even in discussions on Dhamma topics?

Dear Silence,
I’d like to share in this connexion a related approach set out in the vinaya. If one finds oneself as a bhikkhu against a transgressing majority of bhikkhus one may simple state to oneself: “This is not allowable”, and remain silent …

Mettā

[dharmacorps]

I don’t want to make this thread about another forum, but I disagree with the characterization of the moderators on DW. There is more room under the terms of service there for all sorts of speech, even outlandish speech, which is often mistaken for moderator support of that kind of speech. It has to be said, also, that political or ideological bias is hardly confined to DW. All forums have their own flavor. If you don’t like it, don’t log in. Or ignore it. Or start your own forum.

[Kalia]

@dharmacorps

All forums have their own flavor. If you don’t like it, don’t log in. Or ignore it. Or start your own forum.

Well spoken, dharmacorps.

.

[silence]

@dharmacorps

mistaken for moderator support of that kind of speech

Not if some moderators are openly among those who support, for example, the use of violence and the others refuse to do anything about it. You are preaching to the choir here, except that I think that, due to the deleterious effect it has on the community at large, the appropriateness of such speech, if not fit to be discussed where it happens, can and should be addressed elsewhere.

[dharmacorps]

@silence

if not fit to be discussed where it happens, can and should be addressed elsewhere.

That is where we disagree. I think it would be better that you speak to the person you have a disagreement with directly rather than doing it here.

[silence]

What is or is not right speech is an appropriate discussion to have on a Buddhist forum in my opinion, of course by discussing ideas, not people. I have not named anyone nor any place in this entire discussion.

Also, as a side note, it is in good taste to stick to discussing ideas and avoid giving unsolicited personal advice to our interlocutors, all the more without knowing if they haven’t already unsuccessfully tried what is being suggested a long time ago.

[awarewolf]

I adore your name!

[Kalia]

@awarewolf

I adore your name!

Well you know what they say: “Silence is Golden…”

.

The Tremeloes - Silence is golden (German TV 2016)

[silence]

You might know what they also say… duct tape is silver…

[edit:] I think that discussions about whether “free speech” should be deemed more important than right speech on a Buddhist forum, as well as the question to know where the line should be drawn to keep a community spiritually healthy, is something fit for a Buddhist community to talk about and need not be silenced (which made me think about the above silver duct tape, as in the jocular saying: ‘silence is golden but duct tape is silver’).

[Kalia]

@silence

You might know what they also say… duct tape is silver…

Your image of a roll of duct tape appears to be a dark and threatening response to a light hearted video.

I am reminded of reports of abused women being gagged and tied up with duct tape…

[Cara]

Hi friends,
Please remember that this is a civilized platform provided for discussion on the Dhamma among good friends.
Please avoid even the appearance of any kind of aggression or ad hominem attack.
Our guidelines contain lots of useful information about using this forum and how you should post here for further reference.

Universal Rules of Dhamma Discourse

This is a friendly place for Dhamma discussion Participating in this forum should be taken as an opportunity to practice Right Speech. As such, please show the forum and your fellow practitioners the same respect shown in a temple. We, too, are a community spiritual center — a space to share Dhamma ideas, understandings and questions in a supportive atmosphere. We are delighted to have you participate in this forum, but if you choose to do so please note that we will understand your participat…

With metta

[Kalia]

Thank you Cara. Silence has now changed the wording in his post to something completely different to the one I flagged and objected to.

Interestingly, I also discovered that ‘silence is golden but duct tape is silver’ is the title of a song and the last verse is:

"Out of control and you’ve shivered my timbers, tell us to shut up
and we’ll give you the finger, yea silence is golden but duct tape is silver
silence is golden but duct tape is silver OBEY!"

[http://www.plyrics.com/lyrics/againstallauthority/silenceisgoldenbutducttapeissilver.html]

Have a happy, peaceful day .