I jumped headlong into politics and policy when I joined THSC as a member of the THSC Watchmen in 2013. Until that point, I had been a homeschool graduate who enjoyed competitive debate, cared about political issues, and had no particular expectation of being where I am now as Director of Public Policy.
Something I realized early on in the political forum is that, conservative or liberal, people often disagree.
The Importance of Healthy Debate In Politics and Policy
In debate class, one of the first things that I was taught and now teach my students is that disagreement should always be productive first, not competitive first.
What differentiates productive disagreement from harmful disagreement is focusing on what the parties agree on rather than what they disagree on. When the focus is on disagreement, debate can turn into angry attacks.
Accusations Against THSC
I’ve recently been asked why THSC bans certain individuals from our platforms such as blogs, social media, and events. In fact, I read a recent online accusation that THSC “bans those we disagree with” and that we refuse to allow dissenting opinions on our pages.
A dissenting opinion is productive when a person offers perspective from another side of an issue. As with any organization, if you were to visit THSC’s social media pages, you would find some commenters who do not necessarily agree with us. We do not see this as threatening or problematic if discussion remains civil.
However, when a person crosses the line from healthy disagreement and discussion to attacking or slandering, folks, the buck stops there. THSC will not be a platform for disrespect, bullying, slander, or attacks, no matter what the subject is.
The policy displayed on our Facebook page states in part:
This site welcomes family-friendly comments and posts and encourages respectful discussion on all sides of the issues. We reserve the right to remove content including that which is disruptive, disrespectful, repetitive, abusive, inflammatory, or that which contains personal attacks or information unrelated to or misrepresenting topics of discussion… THSC values our supporters and it is our duty to maintain respectful conversations.
I’ve never heard anyone disagree with this policy, but few people would acknowledge when they are attacking someone personally or being abusive and inflammatory.
The U.S. Constitution does entitle each person to freedom of speech, but it does not protect the right to launch personal attacks from simply any forum one wishes. Administrators of online forums play an important role in facilitating productive conversation and discussion, just like teachers in classrooms, preachers in pulpits, and parents in homes.
Where THSC Drew the Line Why:
Contrary to some online accusations, THSC rarely blocks people from using our platforms.
Since 2011, of nearly 25,000 followers, THSC has banned 18 people or pages from commenting. Here is the breakdown:
- 2 banned for vulgar comments that were obscene, sexual or racist
- 7 banned for spamming or advertising other pages
- 5 banned for personally attacking other commenters, THSC or THSC staff members
- 4 banned for a combination of the above
Banning 18 individuals over a seven-year period is hardly the onslaught that some dissenters have suggested.
Why not allow everyone to just say anything?
When issues turn personal or combative, every pretense of productive conversation is lost. THSC has a responsibility to ensure that our pages are used for productive discussion and that people who wish to comment on our pages feel safe voicing their opinions. We will not be used as a platform for attacking anyone.
The social media mentality that you are “censoring” someone when you don’t indulge their inflammatory or abusive language on any forum they wish has no end but mayhem. If someone plans to reduce a conversation to inflammatory statements, personal attacks, or factually loose accusations, then they will have to find a platform that allows such statements.
That said, options may be limited since nearly every reputable platform has similar controls.
THSC will not allow the civil and serious nature of engagement on our platforms to be compromised. As we remain faithful in the protection of the family, we will not provide a platform for abusive and destructive communication.
Standing for Truth
The family of today is under attack in the courts, in the legislature, and even in the court of public opinion. Let’s welcome healthy discussion, share the truth, and work together.
Do you appreciate the work of THSC? Consider signing up to become a member today.
I jumped headlong into politics and policy when I joined THSC as a member of the THSC Watchmen in 2013. Until that point, I had been a homeschool graduate who enjoyed competitive debate, cared about political issues, and had no particular expectation of being where I am now as Director of Public Policy.
Something I realized early on in the political forum is that, conservative or liberal, people often disagree.
The Importance of Healthy Debate In Politics and Policy
In debate class, one of the first things that I was taught and now teach my students is that disagreement should always be productive first, not competitive first.
What differentiates productive disagreement from harmful disagreement is focusing on what the parties agree on rather than what they disagree on. When the focus is on disagreement, debate can turn into angry attacks.
Accusations Against THSC
I’ve recently been asked why THSC bans certain individuals from our platforms such as blogs, social media, and events. In fact, I read a recent online accusation that THSC “bans those we disagree with” and that we refuse to allow dissenting opinions on our pages.
A dissenting opinion is productive when a person offers perspective from another side of an issue. As with any organization, if you were to visit THSC’s social media pages, you would find some commenters who do not necessarily agree with us. We do not see this as threatening or problematic if discussion remains civil.
However, when a person crosses the line from healthy disagreement and discussion to attacking or slandering, folks, the buck stops there. THSC will not be a platform for disrespect, bullying, slander, or attacks, no matter what the subject is.
The policy displayed on our Facebook page states in part:
This site welcomes family-friendly comments and posts and encourages respectful discussion on all sides of the issues. We reserve the right to remove content including that which is disruptive, disrespectful, repetitive, abusive, inflammatory, or that which contains personal attacks or information unrelated to or misrepresenting topics of discussion… THSC values our supporters and it is our duty to maintain respectful conversations.
I’ve never heard anyone disagree with this policy, but few people would acknowledge when they are attacking someone personally or being abusive and inflammatory.
The U.S. Constitution does entitle each person to freedom of speech, but it does not protect the right to launch personal attacks from simply any forum one wishes. Administrators of online forums play an important role in facilitating productive conversation and discussion, just like teachers in classrooms, preachers in pulpits, and parents in homes.
Where THSC Drew the Line Why:
Contrary to some online accusations, THSC rarely blocks people from using our platforms.
Since 2011, of nearly 25,000 followers, THSC has banned 18 people or pages from commenting. Here is the breakdown:
- 2 banned for vulgar comments that were obscene, sexual or racist
- 7 banned for spamming or advertising other pages
- 5 banned for personally attacking other commenters, THSC or THSC staff members
- 4 banned for a combination of the above
Banning 18 individuals over a seven-year period is hardly the onslaught that some dissenters have suggested.
Why not allow everyone to just say anything?
When issues turn personal or combative, every pretense of productive conversation is lost. THSC has a responsibility to ensure that our pages are used for productive discussion and that people who wish to comment on our pages feel safe voicing their opinions. We will not be used as a platform for attacking anyone.
The social media mentality that you are “censoring” someone when you don’t indulge their inflammatory or abusive language on any forum they wish has no end but mayhem. If someone plans to reduce a conversation to inflammatory statements, personal attacks, or factually loose accusations, then they will have to find a platform that allows such statements.
That said, options may be limited since nearly every reputable platform has similar controls.
THSC will not allow the civil and serious nature of engagement on our platforms to be compromised. As we remain faithful in the protection of the family, we will not provide a platform for abusive and destructive communication.
Standing for Truth
The family of today is under attack in the courts, in the legislature, and even in the court of public opinion. Let’s welcome healthy discussion, share the truth, and work together.
Do you appreciate the work of THSC? Consider signing up to become a member today.
