asbestosman wrote:AmazingDisgrace wrote:It's a pretty ridiculous double standard if believers can state their position on the existence of God as a blunt fact while non-theists have to wrap theirs in cushiony softness.
Keep in mind the context of MADB--you are a guest in the home of believers. If I were a guest in a Jewish place of worship, I think it would be rude of me to bluntly state that I think the Jews are wrong and that the Messiah has already come even though I would not take offense if they said the opposite in their there. I might take offense if they said it in my church without wrapping it in cushiony softness ("I don't believe . . . ").
If we were talking about a board like Nauvoo or Bountiful, that exists for discussions between like-minded believers, then I would agree with the synagogue analogy. But MAD is a group of Mormons inviting non-Mormons over for a debate about Mormonism.
Being guests in someone's house, the debaters should be respectful of other people, but a debate shouldn't presuppose that one position is true, and then allow the host to boldly proclaim its truth while those who disagree have to tiptoe around to state a contrary position.
Of course, the hosts have every right to make up and enforce whatever rules they want, and throw guests out for any infraction. It's even to their advantage to do so, if they want their side to have an advantage through sheer volume. I just think it's silly to have that kind of double standard when the whole point of the forum is for to people to tell each other that they're wrong about certain ideas, and why they're wrong.