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From the guidelines (https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html ): "Be civil. Don't say things you would

From the guidelines (https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html ): "Be civil. Don't say things you wouldn't say in a face to face conversation." "Please avoid introducing classic flamewar topics unless you have something genuinely new to say about them." ... The sentiment 'religion is bad' is neither civil nor genuinely new/enlightening/informative. Please refrain from making such comments in the future.

beejiu 12y ago
> The sentiment 'religion is bad' is neither civil [...] That depends on entirely on where you live/your culture. What staticelf said isn't offensive and he shouldn't be made to feel like he cannot express his opinion. Perhaps he addressed it in a blunt way, but there is a genuine concern about how such software will be used to 'monitor' or 'peer pressure' church goers, particularly children, who are ushered into religion. Having a 'social network' so that religion permeates even further into people's lives should be a concern for everybody, religious or otherwise.
- lotharbot 12y ago
  My original criticism stands -- what he said was neither civil nor new/insightful. He absolutely should be made to feel that his comment was unwelcome. Your effort is better. It's even ostensibly on topic. Though I think your concern is overblown. In my experience, the vast majority of church "monitoring" in this way is pretty reasonable, in the "hey, haven't seen you in a while, is everything OK? Can we help?" sense. Complaining about it is kind of like complaining about sports fans having a facebook group -- yeah, it's possible that someone can get upset because you're not showing proper loyalty, but practically speaking that's not how it's used. (Except by cults, who don't need this kind of software to control you anyway.)
  - beejiu 12y ago
    > Except by cults, who don't need this kind of software to control you anyway. Religion is a cult, at least by the dictionary I am using. I don't really understand the entire religion/church environment, but of the few churches I have visited (I'm not religious) I was never asked to 'check in'; they keep no database of their attendees.
    - lotharbot 12y ago
      Most of the churches I've been to have not had a formal "check in" process, but they do have a membership process (people can be added to the member list, and are then allowed to vote for church leadership committees and such) and cards for guests to fill out if they want to be contacted. Childcare (nursery) often has a check-in process specifically relating to who is and isn't allowed to pick up your children.
    - tptacek 12y ago
      You just said you don't understand the market this software addresses. Maybe now's a good time to opt out of the conversation. Lots of other conversations are happening on the site, right now, and it looks like all of them are a better fit for you.
      - deleted 12y ago
        [deleted]
    - alinajaf 12y ago
      I'm about as militant an antitheist as you're going to meet (even for the UK) and wish we had something like this to organise e.g. BHA Humanist meets/community.
- koenigdavidmj 12y ago
  > What staticelf said isn't offensive What staticelf said is only slightly nicer than "your work is evil, but it was technically well-executed". How is that not offensive?
lmartel 12y ago
'Religion is bad' is no more or less civil a comment than 'religion is good.' I agree with the second point, though.
tptacek 12y ago
Yes. And even if that wasn't in the guidelines: we're in "Show HN", and the "Show HN" guidelines apply, and they're even stricter.

beejiu 12y ago

> The sentiment 'religion is bad' is neither civil [...] That depends on entirely on where you live/your culture. What staticelf said isn't offensive and he shouldn't be made to feel like he cannot express his opinion. Perhaps he addressed it in a blunt way, but there is a genuine concern about how such software will be used to 'monitor' or 'peer pressure' church goers, particularly children, who are ushered into religion. Having a 'social network' so that religion permeates even further into people's lives should be a concern for everybody, religious or otherwise.

lotharbot 12y ago
My original criticism stands -- what he said was neither civil nor new/insightful. He absolutely should be made to feel that his comment was unwelcome. Your effort is better. It's even ostensibly on topic. Though I think your concern is overblown. In my experience, the vast majority of church "monitoring" in this way is pretty reasonable, in the "hey, haven't seen you in a while, is everything OK? Can we help?" sense. Complaining about it is kind of like complaining about sports fans having a facebook group -- yeah, it's possible that someone can get upset because you're not showing proper loyalty, but practically speaking that's not how it's used. (Except by cults, who don't need this kind of software to control you anyway.)
- beejiu 12y ago
  > Except by cults, who don't need this kind of software to control you anyway. Religion is a cult, at least by the dictionary I am using. I don't really understand the entire religion/church environment, but of the few churches I have visited (I'm not religious) I was never asked to 'check in'; they keep no database of their attendees.
  - lotharbot 12y ago
    Most of the churches I've been to have not had a formal "check in" process, but they do have a membership process (people can be added to the member list, and are then allowed to vote for church leadership committees and such) and cards for guests to fill out if they want to be contacted. Childcare (nursery) often has a check-in process specifically relating to who is and isn't allowed to pick up your children.
  - tptacek 12y ago
    You just said you don't understand the market this software addresses. Maybe now's a good time to opt out of the conversation. Lots of other conversations are happening on the site, right now, and it looks like all of them are a better fit for you.
    - deleted 12y ago
      [deleted]
  - alinajaf 12y ago
    I'm about as militant an antitheist as you're going to meet (even for the UK) and wish we had something like this to organise e.g. BHA Humanist meets/community.
koenigdavidmj 12y ago
> What staticelf said isn't offensive What staticelf said is only slightly nicer than "your work is evil, but it was technically well-executed". How is that not offensive?

lmartel 12y ago

'Religion is bad' is no more or less civil a comment than 'religion is good.' I agree with the second point, though.

tptacek 12y ago

Yes. And even if that wasn't in the guidelines: we're in "Show HN", and the "Show HN" guidelines apply, and they're even stricter.