Thoughts on lds.net forum?

[_zeezrom]

I get newsletters from lds.net and just noticed in my latest mail today that they have a forum. it is found here in case you didn't know: http://lds.net/forums/

What do you think about it? Have you spent time there? Is it full of apologists like the old MDD (www.mormondialogue.org) board?

Thanks,

Zee.

[_cwald]

I was banned from LDS.net long ago. They will not tolerate doubt, questioning or criticism of any kind.

In other words, it's a BS forum for devout fundamental discussions only.

[_Maureen]

I go there regularly. They are very pro-lds. They have a set of rules. If you word questions or statements in a respectful way many posters will take the challenge and contribute to the thread likewise. The majority of posters are great and just a handful that are extremely faithful to the "church".

M.

[_Jesse Pinkman]

I was banned from LDS.net long ago. They will not tolerate doubt, questioning or criticism of any kind.

In other words, it's a b***s*** forum for devout fundamental discussions only.

[_Some Schmo]

In other words, it's a BS forum for devout fundamental discussions only.

So basically, it's the religious version of a Star Trek convention.

[_cwald]

I go there regularly. They are very pro-lds. They have a set of rules. If you word questions or statements in a respectful way many posters will take the challenge and contribute to the thread likewise. The majority of posters are great and just a handful that are extremely faithful to the "church".

M.

That was not my experience at all. Of course things may be different today. ...itv was 3 or 4 years ago since I was banned from the site. I was struggling, but active stayLDS EQP at the time.

[_Ceeboo]

Hey Z!

Ohhhhh the memories!

Many moons ago, lds.net is where I first began my journey into Mormonism. (And really it's where I began frequenting discussion boards)

I have no idea what it is like now (I am banned for life at lds.net and thus - it has been years since I last participated on that forum) but I have nothing but extremely fond memories of that place.

It is where I fist met our beloved penguin (moksha) and there are many more who bring a sincere smile to my face as I type this (Elphaba - Bytor - HJolly - Misshalfway - Pam - to name a few)

For me - a lot of really good memories and I owe many there for the time they took to share with me.

Peace,
Ceeboo

[_sock puppet]

I was banned from LDS.net long ago. They will not tolerate doubt, questioning or criticism of any kind.

In other words, it's a BS forum for devout fundamental discussions only.

Ban the doubters so they don't infect the believers.

[_sock puppet]

Hey Z!

Ohhhhh the memories!

Many moons ago, lds.net is where I first began my journey into Mormonism. (And really it's where I began frequenting discussion boards)

I have no idea what it is like now (I am banned for life at lds.net and thus - it has been years since I last participated on that forum) but I have nothing but extremely fond memories of that place.

It is where I fist met our beloved penguin (moksha) and there are many more who bring a sincere smile to my face as I type this (Elphaba - Bytor - HJolly - Misshalfway - Pam - to name a few)

For me - a lot of really good memories and I owe many there for the time they took to share with me.

Peace,
Ceeboo

Gentle Ceeboo got banned for life from lds.net? I've never lurked, registered or posted there. But this tells me why it would be a complete waste of time to do so.

[Guest]

You generally get three stages of response at LDS.net:

1) The informative stage. You continue to get this stage as long as you accept without critical analysis the things you're being told about the church. When you start engaging in critical analysis on the board about core Mormon truth claims and cultural bugaboos you'll find things moving on to the next stage relatively quickly depending on just what time of day it is and who just happens to be online.

2) The argument stage. Particular posters see themselves as champions of orthodoxy (to be fair I saw myself like that at one point) and will go head to head with you. You don't have to necessarily agree with the things you were told, but if you critically question, doubt, or analyze them, unless the conclusion is favorable, things will move to this stage. This starts fairly gently and gets increasingly energetic. The battle cry is mostly, "If you're offended by what I post it's because you're offended by the truth." If your question isn't diplomatic and/or innocuous enough for some, you'll go directly to this stage.

3) The "You're anti-Mormon" Stage. If the argument stage persists long enough those particular posters and a fair few of the moderator staff will conclude you're either actively anti-Mormon or that you're there under 'false pretenses', those of the moderator staff will start combing through everything you say looking for a way to infract you off the board or try and smack you into behavior more to their liking.

There are many fine individuals on the board, even those who I'm talking about above as particular posters, but the end result is that unless you walk a perfect tightrope and aren't just looking to uncritically accept (or at least not engage in analysis on the board) you end up shouted down by the champions of Mormondom who have the tacit support of the moderating staff to do so. Then if you rub some of the moderator staff the wrong way they will work to get you off the board, they'll comb everything you say with a fine tooth comb, hunt down your contributions to other boards (so they can justify vendettas easier to themselves), and if necessary do their best to bait you into violating the rules. If you rub enough of them the wrong way a consensus among the mods will get you banned without the pretense of infracting you out through the process laid out in the ToS.

If you want a place to either observe or engage (using kid gloves or as skilled tightrope walker) with Mormon orthodoxy it's a great place. Otherwise you can find yourself in for a rough ride, and the Champions of Orthodoxy don't only aim themselves at non-Mormons, they'll happily cook off at Mormons who aren't sufficiently orthodox for their taste (though for 'teaching false doctrine' rather than being 'anti-Mormon').