ASBESTOS SUIT REQUIRED
For the R&P forum, there are no moderators to put out fires. This is a place intended to discuss topics that are by their very nature highly controversial, often uncomfortable, and potentially emotional in nature, such as religion, politics, and other social and economic issues. Therefore, it is agreed between the forum staff and those that wish to enter the R&P forum, that the forum will be mostly self-moderated by the users of the forum.
The usual types of things that members would expect to be moderated --significant personal incivility, trolling, off-topic thread crapping, etc, are not in the purview of forum staff moderation for this forum only. Members must moderate such activities by themselves. Reporting these types actions to the forum administrators will be ignored.
This does NOT mean that the forum administration wants or intends this forum to be a cesspool of intolerance. We are providing a mostly unmoderated forum to create an environment where both majority and minority viewpoints can compete in the marketplace of ideas, without fear or favor from authority. Having tried multiple methods to do so over the years, we've come to the conclusion that this is the manner best able to meet everyone's needs and interests, while providing "informed consent" for potential new members by making them agree to the terms described here before they can see and participate in this forum.
The R&P forum of has a long history of intense discussions on the topics of the day. If you bruise easily, go somewhere else. If you can not hear a word against a generic label like "American", "the French", "Neocons", "Liberals", etc. without perceiving a vicious attack on your sainted grandmother who was a member of that label group --go somewhere else. On the other hand, if you like to debate the issues of the day with a bunch of intelligent, and often funny, people from across the world and political spectrum, and don't mind the occasional sucker punch to the groin . . . then enter and be merry.
Please note that the forum rules that are still in effect for the R&P forum will be posted as an announcement thread in that forum. Please read upon joining.
To join the
R&P usergroup, please post your intention to do so in this thread. I will add you as soon as I see the request. Once you can see the R&P forum (in the General Discussion section), then you will know that you've been added (you'll also receive an e-mail to the account that's listed in your profile). If you are currently a member of the usergroup and wish to opt-out, please post here as well. To discuss this method of running the R&P forum, please use
this thread. Any post in this thread that does not involve you joining or leaving the R&P usergroup will be deleted.
Edit on 11-Nov-2015: Given that Kevin no longer actively participates in the TR forums, the "I" referenced in the above paragraph is actually "just brew it!", the first opt-in R&P subscriber and current TR forum admin. Carry on!
This description was inspired and copied with permission from the Beyond3D Forum FAQ.