There are occasional concerns from members that they’re being attacked when in fact, they’re beleifs are being challenged and they take it personally.
 
So I wrote something to address the issue, and I think it speaks to some general issues that are helpful for all of us. So I’m sharing it with you as well….
 
𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗧𝗦 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗗 𝗨𝗣𝗦𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚:
 
Yes, it is my intention that this group be a place where we feel safe to share what we want, and have a good laugh without things becoming personal.
 
I’m atheist and poke fun at religion a lot. I also lean liberal and poke fun at other points of view. Now, I also realize I need to allow those with opposing views to do the same. It’s only fair play. That’s why I encourage you all to keep scrolling if something bugs you (𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦).
 
Can I promise others won’t be bothered and engage those posts – NO, I can’t control other members? Nor do I want to sift through posts flagged because someone found them “𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦”.
 
What won’t be tolerated is a personal attack on someone because of the post (𝘦.𝘨. 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘥, 𝘢 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘱, 𝘦𝘵𝘤.). I’ll give someone a chance to self-correct, and delete the post with the personal criticism.
 
We each deserve a chance to do better – which includes learning to choose our battles, and choose our responses.  𝗜𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝘀𝗼 – 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆’𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁, 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲.
 
This group is, and can be a respectful place, without it becoming an echo chamber for what I or anyone else believes. We aren’t here to reinforce our comfort zones. We’re hear to bond over the catharsis of laughter, and the healing benefits it provides us.
 
This group isn’t a forum to convince anyone to think, act or believe differently – there are other forums for that. Being able to appreciate that other perspectives exist – whether you agree with them or not, is a reality of human society it makes more sense to accept than continuing to go to battle against at every turn. Especially at the expense of a good laugh.
 
Considering I have a Master’s in Social Work – I’m highly cognizant of issues surrounding the various “𝘪𝘴𝘮𝘴”, I’m a staunch advocate of inclusion for disenfranchised segments of our population.
 
With that, there have been posts I felt crossed a line for me personally. When I measure those posts against the guidelines of this group – they usually don’t break one of the rules – and don’t demand removal just because they bothered me. If anything, they serve as data for some of the attitudes I can address in other areas of my life (𝘦.𝘨. 𝘮𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬, 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘨 𝘦𝘵𝘤).
 
If you find yourself routinely triggered, emotionally reactive because you saw something that challenged a belief  that’s very personal for you, I encourage you to reflect upon whether you have a belief that says, “𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯’𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦” 𝘰𝘳 “𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘱𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨”.
 
In a world as diverse as ours, those beliefs are going to leave you feeling like you’re being threatened at every turn.
 
I hope what I’ve written here will suffice in providing clarification of my/the group’s position and purpose in regards to what we can and can’t post here.
 
If this doesn’t work for you – it may be best for us to part ways so you can spend time where its best for you at this time. No hard feelings.
 
Thanks for the joy, camaraderie and respect you bring to this group – when you embrace the spirit in which it is intended.
 
Thanks for being you,
 
Brian R. King, MSW
𝙀𝙭𝙚𝙘𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙛𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙡