Do you think it is right to ban religion on a website?

One website/forum that I am a PAYING member of has recently adjusted their rules to where you are no longer allowed to speak about religion. People are having their PAID memberships suspended for simply telling someone that they will pray for them if they are going through hardships, waiting to get pregnant, or have endured a loss.

I believe you get three warnings before your entire account gets banned. This site makes every single person pay to be a member of it, you can not even view the website unless you are a paying member.

I personally am not a religious person by any means of the imagination, but I have no issues with someone else having faith in a specific relgion. It doesn't offend me, and I don't get my panties in a bunch if someone tells me that they will pray for me. However, I am very angered by the fact that people are being told what they can and can't discuss on a website that they are paying THEIR own money to be a part of.

I understand having rules, that isn't the issue here, but to ban religion being spoken about (mind you nobody is pushing their religion on anyone on this site) when there are other issues to be concerned with is just down right ridiculous. I mean what harm is it if someone has a religious blinkie in their siggie, or if someone says that they are thankful to God for being blessed with a healthy child?

I am just having a hard time wrapping my mind around this new rule. I believe that we all have a right to our own beliefs and shoudn't be told that we aren't allowed to be thankful to whatever higher power we believe in.


Thoughts, feelings, anything.

I completely agree with you...I always tell someone I will keep them in my prayers after then endure a hardship or loss...and I will state that I am grateful for God's blessings...but I don't throw my religion on anyone..I think it's all a matter of freedom of speech

I would ask for my money back. I don't think religion should be banned by any means .. especially in a forum.. in public places it may make people feel uncomfortable but in a forum? come on .. if someone doesn't like it .. they can easy leave that forum. I would never push my religion on anyone.. but I DARE someone to tell me I can't pray or thank God for my blessings..

I agree with you. Freedom of speech and freedom of religion, anywhere, everywhere.

But....do you see how some girls on here, like in the drama corner, cause a bunch of shit over silly things?Over one word someone said andmaybe they take it the wrong way?Its the same way with religion. If someone tells another Ill pray for you, and maybe that person is not religious he or she may take offense. Im not religious, and when someone tells me that I thank them for the nice thoughts. Some people are pricks though, and have to cause trouble for everyone else by complaining. But... I guess they have their rights too, to not have to hear about religion so therefore it seems easiest to eliminate it completely to prevent any problems.

if you're a paying member then you should be able to do what you want.

Quoting TACO:“ One website/forum that I am a PAYING member of has recently adjusted their rules to where you are no ... [snip!] ... shoudn't be told that we aren't allowed to be thankful to whatever higher power we believe in. Thoughts, feelings, anything.”

I think if you disagree with the rules, you should resign membership and ask for your money back.

Any website has the prerogative to ban anything they feel like.

Who are you to tell the owner of a website what they can and can't demand of the people who use THEIR website?

C.

For instance, on gaga the rules state that you can't have multiple accounts.

Who are we to tell Mara and Nick that they can't demand that of their members? It's their website. If we do not like it, we can exercise our option to go to another site that is more suitable to our needs.

C.

Quoting HeadoverHeels:“ I agree with you. Freedom of speech and freedom of religion, anywhere, everywhere. But....do you see ... [snip!] ... too, to not have to hear about religion so therefore it seems easiest to eliminate it completely to prevent any problems.”

The site is set up a lot differently than gaga. There truly isn't any drama, and if there is it's a very rare occasion. There are live chats, and seperate forums pertaining to specific needs (similar to gaga in a way) with options to block, or ignore members who are perhaps aggitating you.

I do understand that religion is a sensitive subject with some, but the fact of the matter is this, we are all entittled to believe in what we want, I don't judge someone for being deeply religiou, and I don't judge people who don't believe at all. I do think that it is messed up that we are paying our money to be members of this site but are very restricted as to what we can say. We aren't allowed to post links to ANYTHING, we can't use outside tickers, we can't post polls on when we think our babies will be born. The whole site has just become this annoying burden because of this huge list of things you can't do or else you will get your account suspended.

is it stated upfront that you can't talk about religion? if not, is it stated at some point in the process of signing up?? and if not, can you at least get your money back if you don't agree with their policy?
i think if a website is going to ban you from talking about something (and i believe they have every right to do so) and you have to pay to be a member of this website then you have the right to know what it is they're banning you from BEFORE you pay

Quoting TACO:“ The site is set up a lot differently than gaga. There truly isn't any drama, and if there is it's ... [snip!] ... just become this annoying burden because of this huge list of things you can't do or else you will get your account suspended.”

You're missing the point. It doesnt bother YOU, it wouldnt bother ME, but who knows, maybe some people have been secretly complaining about the issue. Its hard for people like us to understand this because we are understanding, and believe people should have the right to voice their opinions/matters of religion, whatever. Quit paying though seriously

Quoting TACO:“ The site is set up a lot differently than gaga. There truly isn't any drama, and if there is it's ... [snip!] ... just become this annoying burden because of this huge list of things you can't do or else you will get your account suspended.”

Then leave the website instead of complaining about it.

Better yet, start your OWN forum, then YOU can make the rules.

C.

Quoting God:“ I think if you disagree with the rules, you should resign membership and ask for your money back. Any ... [snip!] ... feel like. Who are you to tell the owner of a website what they can and can't demand of the people who use THEIR website? C.”

So I should be told what I can and can't do AFTER I paid MY money to join their website??

Doesn't matter either way, the women on that site are very pissed about these newly enstated rules, and are gathering together and requesting their money back.

It's almost as if the owner of that site is trying to mold everyone to be exactly alike. I don't understand what the harm is in posting a link to a baby blog, posting tickers, or even being expressive about how you feel. Hell there are even limitations on vents that have nothing to do with other members, but rather just members releasing some steam after having a bad day or whatever.

Quoting amanda due in may:“ is it stated upfront that you can't talk about religion? if not, is it stated at some point in the process ... [snip!] ... have to pay to be a member of this website then you have the right to know what it is they're banning you from BEFORE you pay”

When I joined, no there was no such rule about not speaking of religion. It is a newly enstated rule that has just been set within the last couple of days.

Also you can't get your money back after a certain time period. I have been a member for a while now and two months ago renewed my membership because of the fact that it was such a great site, but it has gone down hill but my timeline to get my money back has ended already.

Quoting God:“ Then leave the website instead of complaining about it. Better yet, start your OWN forum, then YOU can make the rules. C.”

I am allowed to vent about something that I personally don't feel is right. You vent about things you don't agree with, so what is the difference between you doing it and me doing it?

Quoting TACO:“ So I should be told what I can and can't do AFTER I paid MY money to join their website?? Doesn't ... [snip!] ... that have nothing to do with other members, but rather just members releasing some steam after having a bad day or whatever.”

If you read the fine print, just about everything you've ever agreed to, and to sign up for a forum you'll have had to agree to terms of service (even if you didn't, like 99.999% of people read them), says that they reserve the right to change their policies at any point.

They all say that.

Bottom line is that someone else owns that website, and they are the ones that set the standard for behavior. If you do not like the standards they have set, then you exercise your rights as a paying patron to say "I do not like this, I am withdrawing my money" and leave.

While it might be good business sense to listen to your customers, businesses are not OBLIGATED to do so.

C.