Hi All,
I am a skeptic, and here is my view on this question.
I agree whole-heartedly with friend Indigo that there is a big problem with behavior on this forum right now. Name calling, flaming, & open hostility are all rampant here now.
I think that membership in this forum should be contingent on behavior, not on viewpoints. This forum is essentially claiming the intelectual high ground with it's stated purpose. Excluding people based on philisophical grounds will bring that claim into serious doubt.
A person's viewpoint can be valuable, even if you do not personally agree with it. Limiting the forum membership to certain viewpoints will almopst certainly limit it in value as well.
On the other hand, making a strong effort to eliminate counterproductive behaviors will only increase the quality and volume of discussion here.
The best way to eliminate those behaviors is with a clear & objective set of rules that define what is acceptable and what is not. These rules should be designed to promote a free exchange of ideas and civil discussion. They must be prominently posted for the membership to see, and enforced by the staff. There should also be a clear & objective process set up that outines what steps are taken when infravctions of the rules occur. It also helps to instill in the general membership a spirit of community and helpfulness in keeping the forum clean.
Those are my thoughts, but I have one last thing to say; where I have made statements that are critical of the state of this forum, I do not mean that to be an indictment of the staff here. Since I have joined this forum, I have found the staff to be fair, hardworking & friendly.
Regards, Canis