Who can post here?

Anyone, after registering with ezboard. Registration helps reduce spam and malicious posting. It also  makes it easier to read the posts using the ezboard features (like “Mark Forum Read”).

Is there anything I need to do before I post?

Not really, but for your own benefit, you should probably read some of the SAB itself, or read through the posts here at the discussion board. This will familiarize you with the regular posters, recent topics, etc.

Where should I post?

Generic religious topics, such as free will, or discussion board issues can be posted in the General forum. Specific biblical topics should be posted in the categorical forum most applicable (Balaam’s Ass would go in Absurdities, for example). Current events (even those directly related to biblical matters) should be posted in the Religion News forum. Attempts to “save our soul” or general rantings on religion should go in Just Preaching. Anything else - movies, books, politics, etc. - should go in Off Topic.

(Evolution is an exception. Since evolution and the Science forum are so inextricably tied, articles and thoughts on evolution can be posted in the Science forum.)

If you post in one forum and the moderator feels that it is more appropriate elsewhere, the post will be moved, but a “shadow” will remain directing people to its new location.

If you’re replying to another post, it’s better to click on the “Reply” link under a poster’s screen name. Clicking the “Add Reply” button at the top of the screen will throw your post to the bottom of the thread and not under the post to which you meant to respond. This would make it confusing for everyone.

What about decorum? Will swearing get me edited or banned?

We have a very free society here. Freedoms of speech, religion, et al, are embraced. Swearing will not get you into any kind of trouble. Overuse of “colorful metaphors,” however, may detract from whatever point you’re trying to make. Your decision.

What will get me edited, deleted or banned?

You’d have to be a pretty big jerk.

To be edited, the only situations that come to mind would be if there might be a coding error with your post that caused its display to mess up, or making a link active. It hasn’t happened often.

To have a post deleted, … well, we don’t do that for content reasons. If you’re going to say something so monumentally stupid and/or offensive that deleting the post seems like a good idea, we’ll probably leave the post there so others can marvel at your stupidity/offensiveness. We do, however, delete duplicate posts or posts that were posted in multiple forums without just cause.

To be banned, you would have to be a major spammer or a prolific jackass. If a post of yours causes a big enough ruckus on the board, or if you are being abusive in your tone toward others, you will be admonished by the moderators and could have the thread locked down. Persistent disregard of general decency and violations of these rules could, conceivably, lead to your being banned.

You will be banned if you:

Spam the forums.

Bait and/or engage in persistent, abusive flaming.

Use multiple logins in an attempt to deceive.

How should I present my arguments or make my points?

That’s pretty much up to you, although there are some good guidelines. First off, don’t preach unless you’re in the Just Preaching forum. Next, Don’t be condescending or abusive in your response to others; this will just turn people off. Also, if you’re posting information from another site or book, please list your sources. You wouldn’t want to be accused of plagiarism and the others may want to see the info you posted for themselves.

Be sure you have at least glanced over recent posts. You don’t want to retread the same old arguments when we just finished a discussion on it a week ago. Reading old threads is the best way to go.

What if I have a problem posting or difficulty with another board member?

You can email Steve Wells, the board administrator, or you can send a message to either of the board’s moderators, ety3 or ICharlieBrown, by using the ezboard Inbox message system.