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Post by alon on Dec 3, 2017 16:34:12 GMT -8
I've been asked to restore the Private Message function here. It was disabled because one of our posters used it to draw at least two members who were relatively new believers away into a ditheistic forum. Another case I know of a "sleeper" who was signed up but lurking for a long time started trying to lure members into Orthodox Judaism. People do not always answer our questions honestly when we vet them either, so this can be a problem. You can still contact me by PM if you need to discuss a forum issue off the main boards, however members cannot discuss things privately with each other at this time.
Another problem with PM's is too often they are used to discuss things which could be done on the open forum. If you are having a problem or need to know something, chances are that others can benefit from an open discussion of the topic. That is what the forum is about. Also things you are told in PM's cannot be challenged or corrected by the forum members at large.
On the plus side, some members may form friendships and just want to talk with each other away from the open forum. This is not a "chatty" forum, so PM's could provide an outlet for socializing.
What do you think? Should I enable PM's, or not? Note that policy isn't decided on polls alone. They are just a tool. So please post why you voted as you did and I'll take those comments into consideration as well.
You may pick up to 2 answers. Please indicate whether you would like to see PM's reinstated, and if they are would you report abuses such as (but not limited to) asking you to join another forum, asking you to go to other websites (if they can't put those on the forum they shouldn't be PMing about them), teaching (again, if they can't say it on the forum they shouldn't be saying it in a PM), continuing conversations which have been shut down on the open forum, and especially trying to pull you away into another faith or another type of MJ.
Thanks.
Dan
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Post by Elizabeth on Dec 7, 2017 14:34:12 GMT -8
This is tricky I think.
At first I thought no, but then I am not sure for several reasons.
We are told to address each other directly if there is an issue between us that needs to be addressed. In that way, personal messaging can help people clear up any miscommunication or hurt feelings in private, without making a public scene or creating a non- existent problem simply because we can't talk face to face. I have read some previous posts of mine and regret the harshness here and there. There is at least one member I worry I may have offended who no longer participates here. I would hope people would let me know when I have offended them. Not only may that be more comfortable for some people in personal messaging, but it's how we are told to deal with hurts, and also less public drama generally I would think.
Yet, we do have an obligation to new believers who are vulnerable not to set them up as a target for anti-missionaries.
On the other hand, if they have been here long enough and know Yeshua, Who He is, the choice He gives them,and what the goal is here, I would rather there become a point where they leave. That's not regarding those who strait-forward present the truth of themselves as non-believers and their purpose here is just to understand or contribute to conversation and learn. This is regarding undecided people who came here to learn and to choose. When after a course of time and their choice is made, at least we know where they stand. The fact these were new believers is the concerning part, but they did have a choice and so it doesn't bother me so much they left. It actually causes me to question if they were ever actually believers. In that way, the adversary may have been helping us according to G-d's will in terms of our own learning and those who come to the forum and learn by simply reading. It could help them avoid confusion. This verse came to mind.
"They went away from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us."
1John 2:19-20
With that in mind, I am leaning toward allowing the PM's but in an effort to avoid them being exploited by anti-missionaries, is there a way to have a criteria to meet before people gain access to personal messaging. I am thinking a certain amount of posts within a certain amount of time that indicates sincere intent and seeking.
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Post by zionlion on Dec 7, 2017 17:37:39 GMT -8
So please post why you voted as you did and I'll take those comments into consideration as well.
Oooops, sorry, I forgot about this part. I voted "Yes" because I think the benefits outweigh the potential negatives.
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Post by alon on Dec 7, 2017 18:17:08 GMT -8
... With that in mind, I am leaning toward allowing the PM's but in an effort to avoid them being exploited by anti-missionaries, is there a way to have a criteria to meet before people gain access to personal messaging. I am thinking a certain amount of posts within a certain amount of time that indicates sincere intent and seeking.
Dan C |
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Post by alon on Dec 7, 2017 18:19:56 GMT -8
So please post why you voted as you did and I'll take those comments into consideration as well.
Oooops, sorry, I forgot about this part. I voted "Yes" because I think the benefits outweigh the potential negatives.
 !
Dan C |
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Post by alon on Dec 7, 2017 18:27:10 GMT -8
We had eight posters on in one 24 hr. period (not counting me) after this post was up, yet only three have voted. That's more logged in traffic than we've had in a while! So should I have put an "I Don't Care" category on the poll? 
Dan  C
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Post by zionlion on Dec 7, 2017 18:34:08 GMT -8
Well, I would say increased personal fellowship can be beneficial. For example, believers can share prayer requests that they might feel uncomfortable with putting up on the board. I've had that experience.
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Post by Elizabeth on Dec 8, 2017 7:36:11 GMT -8
I changed to yes because we have to trust G-d to do some weeding out and growing for our sake. I also think we cannot control choices and circumstances in this way generally. We have more chance to be successful by not limiting true and sincere people's opportunity to engage with each other. G-d works through individuals, and so as in face-to-face fellowship, someone seeking G-d may want to sincerely talk with another poster simply because they can relate to their life and know that person is a source of encouragement or vice versa. The truth is that this may be their only place to fellowship with likeminded believers.
I am thinking a fair warning to new forum members about the potential of being targeted. This thread has been good in informing me and I am more aware of others and their needs. However, generally, we should feel confident that if they have a heart being lead by the Spirit, they will find their way back to Yeshua eventually if they leave. If they're His, they're His and He will keep them.
I am being lead to perhaps prayerfully reach out more to members after thinking this through. I am naturally wary, but asking Him to lead me to be more useful to anyone I can be and this is my believing community. I would worry about stifling new or struggling believers more than losing them. Maybe that falls on us as a community to be more prayerfully engaged and encouraging of members generally, but new members specifically. This requires G-d's leadership, however, as we aren't here to teach and we can't really know the intentions of anyone on here unless they are posting and honest.
There is a need for fellowship of unconnected believers that this forum can meet, but to keep it holy and good we have to depend on each other's sincerity in seeking to be like Yeshua and good intentions. That's the tricky part, but maybe there is room for us regular posters to step up more and do the messaging and outreach. This is kind of against my natural bend, but then that causes me to think G-d is the one putting this in my heart, to prayerfully consider the responsibilities we have to each other and specifically new members on this forum.
"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil by good."
Romans 12:21
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Post by garrett on Dec 8, 2017 13:54:40 GMT -8
I vote yes. I think it would be a good idea for now. And...if anyone crosses some unwanted boundaries, we could bring it to the attention of the forum moderator?
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Post by alon on Dec 8, 2017 23:29:06 GMT -8
I vote yes. I think it would be a good idea for now. And...if anyone crosses some unwanted boundaries, we could bring it to the attention of the forum moderator?
And yes, you actually should bring any abuses to the attention of a moderator.
Dan C |
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Post by garrett on Dec 9, 2017 18:21:12 GMT -8
I vote yes. I think it would be a good idea for now. And...if anyone crosses some unwanted boundaries, we could bring it to the attention of the forum moderator? So were you going to vote in the poll then? And yes, you actually should bring any abuses to the attention of a moderator. Dan C Oops! Sorry about that...I just voted yes. My ballot is now officially cast. Hope you're well (and everyone else). Swamped with work but hope to contribute more. I still think about you guys and pray for you too. garrett |
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Post by alon on Dec 10, 2017 17:10:13 GMT -8
Discussing it with admin. The poll will be closed soon, so if you want to weigh in now is the time.
Dan C
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Post by alon on Dec 10, 2017 22:03:00 GMT -8
OK, thank you to all who responded. We've discussed it and, even though the vote was unanimous to allow PM's they will remain closed except to Admin and Moderators. As I indicated, policy is not decided by a vote, but your thoughts on the topic were considered. However we have a responsibility to those who come here who may be either new to their faith or to Messianic Judaism. These are easily drawn away into deception. The book of Galatians was written because one group of mostly Gentile converts were being convinced by a radical sect that they had to become Jews first and keep the whole of  before they could be saved. So someone laying in wait to ambush new believers by PM here could have a devastating effect on them. And this is not a hypothetical. PM's were disabled precisely because it did happen at least twice on my watch here. It could have happened more than I know of, and I have no idea how many times it happened before my time as moderator.
R Reuel and I think this is a discussion forum, so if there is anything to be discussed the open forum is the place to do it. But this is a forum with a responsibility before The Most High God, and thus to those who are just coming to really know Him. Allowing the convenience of PMing each other had to be weighed against this responsibility. I hope you can understand, but they will remain closed.
Dan C
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- there are 70 faces to 
C
