To Forum Members.
We try very hard to keep this Forum open and lightly moderated, but there are times when we feel we may need to close a thread. Those who started the topic or participated in the thread should not feel offended or “disciplined” in any way. But since this Forum is sponsored by a Grand Lodge, we are obligated to keep our focus a little tighter than you might find in a different type of forum.
We may close a thread for a number of reasons, including the following:
1) Contentiousness: We expect everyone to be civil on the Forum—even if the topic itself is controversial we expect participants to be cordial. We will close threads that look like they are getting out of hand.
2) Off Topic Threads: If a thread goes down a direction that is too far from our intended purpose, we may close it. This does not mean we are saying the topic is not important—it should just be discussed elsewhere.
3) Beating Dead Horses: Sometimes we simply cannot answer a question—either because we have taken an obligation not to in our degrees—or the questions we do give do not satisfy the person asking the question. All of the Ambassadors on this Forum are volunteers, and we all do our best to give honest answers. That’s the best we can do. So we may close a thread if someone just keeps asking the same question in a different way. Once a thread is closed, if someone does have a new answer that they think is relevant to the closed thread, they can send a private message to me or to one of the other Ambassadors and we will be happy to consider reopening the thread.
4) Long Personal Discussion: The questions and answers on this Forum are designed to be seen and read by everyone. A back and forth discussion that goes on too long between just two members should be taken into the private message area or done by email.
5) Research or Substitution: This Forum is designed to help men become Freemasons—it is not a substitute for Freemasonry—nor is it a place to do research on the Fraternity for purposes other than learning how to join or whether to join. Threads that go on too long in this area will be closed.
6) Multiple threads: A thread may be closed if quesions are duplicated or started in differnet areas of the Forum. This is often a ploy of those looking to disrupt the Forum and addtional action beyond thread closing may also result.
7) Anti Masonic Propaganda: There are thousands of places people can go to read things about the Fraternity written by non masons. This is a place where someone comes to learn from those who are actual Freemasons, and we try to be very liberal in this regard. It is not, however, the purpose of this Forum to defend the Fraternity from detractors or even to defend it’s existence or rules of membership. Threads will be closed that wade to far into this water.
In addtion to the closing of threads, these threads may also be deleted at the discression of the moderaters.
Thanks to all.
Please feel free to post any questions about these rules in this thread.
Bob Heruska
Forum Administrator
