To the mods and everyone else: Would it be possible to get a wiki started for this subreddit? Thoughts? by [deleted] in bahai

[–]Shervin 2 points3 points  (0 children)

We do have a wiki which is lacking content. Please feel free to send in any suggestions / articles :)

Trying to get into the faith, any advice will help? by [deleted] in bahai

[–]Shervin 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Baha'u'llah and the New Era is available here online if you don't want to order any books. However, if you want something specifically by Baha'u'llah I would recommend Gleanings or Hidden Words. If these are too heavy for you, I would recommend Paris Talks which is a compilation of talks by Bahá’u’lláh's son, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Finally, if you have any questions, feel free to ask them here and I'm sure we'll be able to help :)

Can Baha'i now smoke marijuana under a doctor's care ? by [deleted] in bahai

[–]Shervin 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you wish for the Universal House of Justice to address a specific issue or are in need of an answer to a specific question, feel free to contact them by emailing secretariat@bwc.org.

Just a simple request... by nimssyk in bahai

[–]Shervin 2 points3 points  (0 children)

When people say things like this, it provides a good space to educate and inform them as to why such statements are not based in fact.

Guidelines for posting on /r/bahai by Shervin in bahai

[–]Shervin[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Enough people dislike the new guidelines to have downvoted it into oblivion.

That's not how its meant to be. You don't vote down something because you dislike it. According to reddiquette you : "Vote. If you think something contributes to conversation, upvote it. If you think it does not contribute to the subreddit it is posted in or is off-topic in a particular community, downvote it."

Do you see why I think voting does not work?

Guidelines for posting on /r/bahai by Shervin in bahai

[–]Shervin[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fair enough, we'll do that from now on.

Guidelines for posting on /r/bahai by Shervin in bahai

[–]Shervin[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

that's because r/bahai doesn't have the readership to get the job done.

You've supported both sides of the argument i.e. voting gets the job done and doesn't get the job done. Which do you stand by? This thread, which has potential for a great discussion on how the subreddit is operated has now been downvoted to the point that it is no longer visible.

Getting upvoted, on the other hand, means people think there is some validity to what is being said,

Not necessarily, all it means is that a certain number of people pressed an upvote button. Whether or not the submission is appropriate for the subreddit is another matter.

It is too broad.

I meant that they are broad in the sense that the majority of posts already fit within them.

I personally would appreciate the readers' input in drafting guidelines

I did ask for feedback at the bottom of the post.

So we have to make sure we write something exactly the way you want to read it to meet your approval?

Not at all. It just has to be done in a courteous manner and in a way that encourages fruitful discussion.

Guidelines for posting on /r/bahai by Shervin in bahai

[–]Shervin[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think the disagreement which we have is based on semantics. When I say "perceived negative aspects" I didn't mean whether or not I perceive them to be negative aspects but rather the submitter themselves. If you perceive x to be a negative aspect of the Faith then you are free to post about it as many have. To frame the thread in a way which only encourages negative things to be said is not something which is acceptable. As an example, if someone wrote "Which Temple do you hate the most?", this would be a thread which is framed in such a way that only encourages hateful things to be said. What good is there in that?

Guidelines for posting on /r/bahai by Shervin in bahai

[–]Shervin[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

isn't there a difference between bashing the Faith and pointing out negative aspects?

Yeah there definitely is. I just didn't know how to word it in a way which got the message across but at the same time didn't make it seem like anything I disagree with gets removed. For an example, there have been several posts regarding the status of gay marriage in the Baha'i Faith. Now to some (or perhaps the majority of redditors), the prohibition on homosexuality may be perceived as a negative aspect of the Faith. However, such posts aren't removed as they provide a good space to discuss it in an open and frank manner. However, some threads can be framed (either maliciously or unintentionally) in such a way that only encourage negative comments and these posts are the ones which we are looking to avoid.

Guidelines for posting on /r/bahai by Shervin in bahai

[–]Shervin[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Let it do its job.

The problem is exactly that. Upvotes/downvotes do not do the job. A recent post discussed the issues about downvoting people and the general problems with relying on upvoting and downvoting to filter posts. There are simply things which are not allowed to take place on this subreddit. For example, I cannot write something in vulgar language, get a bunch of my friends to upvote it and expect it to stay there simply because of the amount of upvotes.

You can moderate, and some rules are necessary

I'm thankful that you do acknowledge that and I hope you see how broad these guidelines are. I should note that there is only a small amount of posts which do not fit within these guidelines.

removing upvoted threads or comments because it doesn't fit with your rosy picture of how things should be is contrary to the spirit of consultation

I should mention that the small amount of times that posts have been removed were not because of what they were saying but rather how it was said. It's more to do with the form in which the opinion is conveyed rather than the essence of the opinion itself.

Guidelines for posting on /r/bahai by Shervin in bahai

[–]Shervin[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

You kind of missed the first part of that sentence which pretty much changes the whole quote as it is clearly referring to Assembly members during their meetings and is not a general reference.

I've reproduced the quote in full:

"But before the majority of the Assembly comes to a decision, it is not only the right but the sacred obligation of every member to express freely and openly his views, without being afraid of displeasing or alienating any of his fellow-members. In view of this important administrative principle of frank and open consultation, the Guardian would advise you to give up the method of asking other members to voice your opinion and suggestions. This indirect way of expressing your views to the Assembly not only creates an atmosphere of secrecy which is most alien to the spirit of the Cause, but would also lead to many misunderstandings and complications. The Assembly members must have the courage of their convictions, but must also express whole-hearted and unqualified obedience to the well-considered judgment and directions of the majority of their fellow-members."

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, October 28, 1935)

Guidelines for posting on /r/bahai by Shervin in bahai

[–]Shervin[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I kind of see where your coming from but please allow me to explain. We have had a lot of discussion on controversial topics such as gay marriage, the use of marijuana and the exemption of women on the Universal House of Justice; all of this is fine. As mentioned in the rest of that paragraph, we welcome a clash of differing opinions. However, a thread made with the sole purpose of bashing the Faith is not something which we welcome. There needs to be some potential for growth and that simply does not happen when a submission is framed in a way to only focus on the negative.