** WELCOME NEW SENATORS! ** (Includes Rules and Regs update)

Welcome to The Senate Floor.

So, you found it. At last. You took the left at the Ampitheatre, kept going past the Community Centre and dodged the Census takers till you found us.

Well, now you're here, I need a moment of your time. This place can be a little strange at first, so I'll try and explain it a bit to you.

What is the Senate Floor?

Or - why we're different. The Senate is unlike any other board in the whole of the JCC forums. We are here to discuss politics, economics, religion, sexuality, and just about anything else one mustn't discuss over the dinner table.

Now, we ask a few things of all users. Firstly, we ask you to be civil to each other. We're discussing intensely personal stuff; stuff that almost defines who and what we are. So we know it'll get a little heated sometimes. In fact, we expect it - it means you're passionate about your beliefs. There is, however, a fine line between heated discourse and impolite savagery. If it goes beyond adding to the discussion and just degenerates into the personal... well, you've gone too far.

Secondly - we don't really want one line posts, if you can avoid it. We don't want "I [dis]agree" to be an acceptable response. We want people to post substance, and to back it up. The term "PPOR" - Post Proof or Retract - has become part of the vernacular in many discussions here, and that ain't gonna change. So, if you post simply your opinion, people are going to ask you to back it up. We demand a high standard of ourselves, and of you.

Yeah, it's that kinda place.

Thirdly, we want you to learn something here. Einstein once said, "The more I learn, the more I realise I know nothing." That should be your mantra here too. Even if it's something minor, like how certain people see the world, it's impossible not to come away from a posting spree in the Senate without having your worldview challenged, and hopefully changed a little...

So, as I said, we're here to talk about, debate and discuss, important issues. Before you start, I'd recommend having a look at this thread. It's our Rules & Regulations, which thankfully you only have to read once.

OK... Where do I start?

Watch a few debates and discussions to see how and what people post. Then jump on in. Sink or swim, I say. If you're having issues, you can contact a Moderator, and being friendly blokes, will set you straight.

FAQs:

1) What guidelines should I follow when setting up a new thread?

Aside from checking the Rules & Regs and the topics list in the Archive thread, the best litmus test is, "how much discussion can this point make"? We never like threads which start with an article and people are asked to discuss the information contained within the article; we'd prefer you told us what you think too.

Also, try to avoid being too one-sided in an opening post. Whilst you may feel that way, an attempt at objectivity feels less like it's made your mind up for you and allows people to form their own conclusions. These conclusions form the basis of our longest running, most successful debates and so it's a tried-and-tested formula.

If you're still not sure, find a long running thread and read the opening post. If you can emulate it, you might have success with your topic.

If in doubt, either PM a mod or another user who seems to be active in the Senate.

2) What do I do if someone's attacking me instead of my viewpoints?

It depends. This is a political forum, so you have to expect to take a couple on the chin. It would be too sterile if we didn't have heated exchanges. When it stops being about the issues in the thread and starts being about the people, then it's a problem.

If it gets to that stage, where they're focused on you and not your posts, don't respond. PM a Moderator, and don't engage the person further. The last thing we want is a fight escalating to a flame war. Cooler heads will always prevail so even

 

Senate Floor Rules and Regulations

*Originally created by, and many thanks to-Kimball_Kinnison

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Hello, and welcome to the Senate Floor! Before you begin posting here, we would like to outline for you some of the rules and guidelines that will help make your time here more enjoyable. These rules are in addition to those that apply across all of the boards.

[hr]
[u][b]A. Behavior[/b][/u]

[ol][li][color=FireBrick]Users are completely responsible for their behavior and not anyone else's.[/color] All users are expected to abide by the rules regardless of whatever provocation they may face. If you are being provoked, report it to a moderator. Do not use it as an excuse to violate the rules yourself.[/li][li]Flaming, Baiting, and trolling are not allowed under any circumstances. [color=FireBrick]Avoid negative personal comments about any other users. Keep things to the issues, not the people.[/color] Avoid generalizing about or labeling the beliefs of those who disagree with you. If you see any of the above behaviors, please report them to the moderators immediately.[/li][li]Swearing and other explicit language is not allowed. When in doubt about a word, don't use it. If you choose to star out a word, do so completely using asterisks (****). Inappropriate language will be edited on sight. This includes abbreviations of questionable words.[/li][li]Spam is not allowed in the Senate Floor. Spam consists of any messages or threads posted without promoting the appropriate topic of discussion. [color=FireBrick]This includes the direct posting of news stories or other articles without providing a basis for discussion.[/color][/li][li]Condescending posts are not appropriate here. Each user has his own, unique background and experiences. There is no excuse to talk down to anyone. None of us is any better than anyone else here.[/li][li][color=FireBrick]Warnings may be given to users who misbehave.[/color] These warnings can take the form of an edit, a post, or a PM. If you have any questions about a warning, contact the moderator via PM. [color=FireBrick]Multiple warnings could result in a ban.[/color] Extreme offenses may warrant a ban without warning.[/li][/ol]
[hr]
[u][b]B. Topics[/b][/u]

[ol][li]The Senate Floor is designed to allow mature discussion of more mature topics. These topics can include, but are not limited to, politics, religion, and other social issues. If you have any doubts about whether a thread is appropriate, PM a moderator and they will help you. Inappropriate threads may be locked and/or deleted by a moderator.[/li][li][b]Although this board is devoted to mature topics, some topics still require moderator approval before being posted.[/b] These include sexual and related topics. [b]PM a moderator for approval of any such threads.[/b][/li][li]We invite new threads, but they should be different from current ones. Redundant threads will be redirected and locked. Similarly, sometimes a topic becomes too inflammatory and will be locked for a time. In such cases, do not start a new thread on the same topic without moderator approval. Avoid making multiple threads in a short period of time. [b]If you have any questions as to why a thread was locked, PM the moderator who locked it.[/b][/li][li]Some threads will be designed to allow discussion of a topic while others will be designed to debate a topic. [b]Remember that not everything needs to be an argument between two sides.[/b] Sometimes a thread can be there to simply promote understanding between two positions, not decide who is right or wrong.[/li][li]This is not a social board. If you wish to socialize with your fellow users, go to the [link=http://boards.theforce.net/board.asp?brd=10008]JCC[/link] or participate in the official [link=http://boards.theforce.net/The_Senate_Floor/b10320/13315361/]Senate Floor Social Thread[/link].[/li][li]While this is a Star Wars message board, the Senate Floor is not the place for Star Wars discussion. You can use it as an example within a thread, but no threads