I have changed the language of rule 15 from

QuoteYou may challenge the issue, but never the person

to

QuoteItems under discussion shall be confined to the subject matter at hand, and members shall avoid taking it personal, or personally

I like the rewording.

May I suggest a slight clarification? 

Is this what you mean???

"Items under discussion shall be confined to the subject matter at hand, and members shall avoid taking them personally or making them personal attacks."

I was trying to make it clever, here's the new version.

15. Items under discussion shall be confined to the subject matter at hand, members shall avoid taking the other users posts personally, and/or posting anything that can reasonably be construed as a personal attack.

If you disagree, attack the argument - not the individual.  A sensible policy.  Not taking things personally is sound advice but visceral reactions are just that - it's the reaction caused by taking things personally one wants to avoid ... but that brings us back to the original tenet: attack the argument, not the individual.

Anyhoo, whatever the wording, it's the right intent.  Mind you, aside from a few chilli peppers, this crowd seems less fractious than some I've encountered

Good good.

It's a good rule, but sad that we even have to say it in any form.

I understood it in the old format, I'm curious to know why it was re-worded?

-Sandy

Quote from: Sandy on September 11, 2009, 08:24:31 AM
It's a good rule, but sad that we even have to say it in any form.

I understood it in the old format, I'm curious to know why it was re-worded?

-Sandy

It's a slight modification of a rule used by the House of Representatives. I liked it's wording better.