βSeek first to understand, then to be understoodβ
1.) First, please READ THIS ENTIRE THREAD β and the full text of any discussion thread you wish to participate in.
2.) PLEASE STAY ON TOPIC β do not post something unrelated to the specific matter and content of the thread subject. There is ALWAYS a daily open thread available for any subject you feel should get attention. Never place unrelated, βO/Tβ, or βOff Topicβ comments on a thread unrelated to the topic. It is not ok to say: βsorry, O/T butββ¦ or any iteration therein, it is actually quite rude.
The Treehouse operates on the βoldΒ school’ standards and practices of civil discourse amid the original blogging community, long before social media took over.
3.) PLEASE NARROW YOUR THOUGHTS β Quality beats quantity. Please construct your comments to target specific areas and not broad generalizations about the discussion topic at hand. If you have four or five disconnected points, break them up into individual comments; that allows people to respond to the specifics.
4.) PLEASE AVOID GENERALIZATIONS β Do NOT speak in riddles. Words like βhe, she, they, it, themβ should rarely be used. Spell out βwhoβ using the name, spell out who βtheyβ are at the beginning of every sentence in your paragraph; so that there is clarity as to who you are talking about. Please avoid using acronyms.
5.) BLOCK PARAGRAPHS β Do not post huge blocks of text. Think of the reader, and modify your presentation for understanding, not for exclaiming. Do not write to yourself, you are writing to others, so please structure your thoughts so other people can grasp and enjoy. NEVER post massive blocks of text without paragraph breaks.
Do not post huge blocks of text
6.) PARAGRAPHS β Should NEVER be longer than two or three sentences taking up three to five standard lines of text. Again, you are writing to be understood, the emphasis should be on the reader comprehending what you are sharing.
Do not post huge blocks of text
7.) SPELLING AND PUNCTUATION β This is not school, and we do not demerit for poor spelling, nor do we allow anyone to call others out for the same. However, if your construct is too poorly written the context is lost and important details can be missed. Read the comment carefully before you send it. Proofread it again. Does it make sense?
8.) TIME β Everyone βs time is valuable. Many of our discussion threads are 500 to 1,000+ comments long. We try to limit the comments to 500 and then post another related thread, but with some research threads it is challenging because we do not want to break a continuity.
9) CITATIONS β Thereβs a big difference between an opinion and an assertion of fact.Β Obviously, most comments are providing opinions, the discussion expands when we hear them.Β However, if you are making an assertion of fact, you must attach a citation for review. If you do not have a citation β donβt post; this avoids spreading rumors, gossip and unfounded claims. Also related, do not post random links without an explanation of the reason, purpose and content that is behind the link.
10.) THOUSANDS ARE WATCHING β For every person writing a comment, there are easily hundreds of thousands of reading lurkers on every discussion thread.Β Do not disparage our conversation with vulgarity, profanity, or any expressions of any βismβ.
In the modern era of the internet, there are many voices who try to shut down conversation and information sharing.Β We put a lot of effort, more than anyone could imagine, into keeping this little corner of the internet open for you to research, share and discuss some pretty important stuff.Β Please do not provide ammunition to those who seek information control through deplatforming.
11.) MODERATION / FILTERING THE HATE β Because of our honest approach at seeking facts and truth, and openly discussing various analytical theories along the way, we are bombarded by those with ulterior motives which include:
- Intentional efforts to distract
- Intentional diatribes to affix labels to our objectives
- Intentional expressions of rabid hate, vulgarity, and threats.
- Trolling and professional obfuscation.
- Concern Trolling as a tool of distraction and derailing conversation.
- Psy-ops and intentional efforts to diminish fact-finding.
We do our earnest best to stop the agenda-horde at the moderation gates, however sometimes they get through.
If you see something untoward say something. When a new comment surfaces that we view is likely presented only to argue, we watch carefully β but we also are not perfect. You can help. There is a flag feature that helps identify trouble.Β Also, feel free to alert us via email.
12.) MANNERS MATTER β Simple kindnesses and courtesy should always be present in tone and content. When writing, ask yourself before you hit send: does this add value?
13.) NO PERSONAL ATTACKS β Ever. The fastest way to lose commenting privileges is to ridicule, bully or personally attack another personβs opinion or comment. Unfortunately, people, often good people, let their passion interfere with good manners and personal judgement. If you cannot be polite or respectful, pause β and β do not comment.
14.) TONE and HONESTY β Often the information and research CTH provides are about challenges we face and/or events that are hidden from larger review. It can be frustrating to see the scale of corruption; however, only you control how that information is absorbed by you. The truth doesnβt care about our feelings. Try to keep an even keel and optimistic disposition.
15.) DEVICES β It is a reality that many people use their phones to browse information and/or comment. Cellular phones and iPads are okay for reading, but also present challenges in commenting. Please make every effort to avoid the run-on issue of text from these devices. Put extra spaces in your paragraphs. Also remember your service provider (ISP) may have filters to limit the websites they permit you to view. Itβs not CTH, nine out of ten issues are related to your service provider.
This control issue is worse in 2022 for obvious reasons.
SUMMARY: The Tree House community has historically accomplished a lot. Through exhaustive research and analysis our accuracy and reputation for truthful fact-finding, regardless of discomfort, is well regarded. Retain that distinction of intellectual armament.
We are The Conservative Tree House, not because of any political affiliation, but rather because the word βconservativeβ expresses our outlook. We would rather be deep, than wide; we would rather be honest, than popular; we avoid semantics in favor of accurately presenting both intention and meaning.
We are bold in our willingness to go into conversational places where others do not, and we are brave enough to stand firm for principles which are time tested.
We would rather advertise our outlook, so the viewer can understand our perspective on a particular subject, than deceptively claim we are something else and deliver an inherently biased view. The entire spectrum of the MSM is based on the latter.
Every reader knows where we stand on almost any issue, and our opinions -while they may be unpopular- are based on solid research and analytical insight into the subject matter at hand. This is why our predictive analysis is routinely more accurate than others.
Lastly, and most importantly, this Treehouse is a conversation.Β A place to connect and realize you are not alone.Β There really are more intellectually honest, kind and pragmatic problem solvers, than people who choose to be angry and comfortable with perpetual conflict.
Hopefully, a visit to this little corner of the internet is just like sitting on a porch with friends.Β And because the βconversationβ is the reason we are here, this means YOU are important; do not diminish yourself.
[Remember] β¦β However, each of us got here, itβs probably a fact that we have the turmoil of those storms in common, perhaps some unease that we could share and always, we also find fresh ground to cover from day to day.
Weβre developing valuable relationships as we trust one another in our community in the woods. The chatting in the branches encourages, strengthens and equips for some serious walking.
We think the Treehouse is a good intellectual armory for those who doing long distance walking for the sake of our nation. We hope youβll think so, too. Find yourself a good branchβ¦.or just pull up a rock to the campfireβ.
Wolverines faithfully patrol the perimeter.
Humor is also a good way to avoid fear. A laugh in a foxhole is priceless.
Be kind and please be respectful⦠Manners really do matter⦠after all, this is a fellowship.
Love to all,
Truth.
Some may view comments after reading an article in order to discover what type of community lives here.
CTH deserves the best because it provides the best.
Always read at least five times what you’ve typed before posting, is what I would add. Very surprising the edit job that occurs naturally.
heh! I have edited my comments several times. And that’s after I (cough, cough!) proof read it. π
Thanks again. I think you might want to mention that we need to be careful about Doxing too. I think you addressed it before but I do not see it the list. Dog picture always makes me smile. Cheers!
When Sundance reminded us of humor in a fox hole and then to see that photo this old man had a hearty Clarence Thomas βbelly laughβ!
Thanks for the periodic reminders Boss. Many new people needed to see this.
Thank you for the reminder Sundance. I hope you are fully recovered from the covid.
“Wolverines faithfully patrol the perimeter.”
What this country needs, more patrolling wolverines.
Mods here are nice but ruthless when they need to be π
Yes, and that is quite an art to thread the needle between gentle but firm.
I couldn’t do it.
We are blessed with the most long-suffering cat-herders on the ‘net.
Reminded me of a book I want to read of G.K. Chesterton that has a chapter of Civil discourse
Thank you, Sundance for this reminder. ….
This has been a pet peeve of mine for a while to read a thread or an article from Sundance then to go to the comment section and see that it has been hijacked by comments that has NOTHING to do with the subject… very frustrating.
Also, it would be helpful if posters would just post a link and what it is pertaining to instead of copy, paste an entire article. Then we can choose to open or not….
Yes, thank you.
always a nice reminder as to what is expected in the threads….also many new faces and some may be getting this as new material going forward for future posts
Thank you for being one of the very few places to read and discuss news or concerns with honesty. You all have kept me from jumping off a cliff since 2015 so from my heart to yours, love and hugs.
“Humor is also a good way to avoid fear. A laugh in a foxhole is priceless.”
My favorite guideline! π
‘I second that emotion…’ π
When it appears all is lost, that there is no tomorrow, that I might die this day, I will start laughing. I will laugh so loud my brothers and sisters hear me. And they too shall begin to laugh. Let the enemy hear us laugh. Then they will know we understand we have nothing to lose and will do what is needed of us. Without fear. With out Faith strong. And our hearts light as a feather on the morning breeze.
Bad Dog’s foxhole prayer.
I would appreciate that those who post links please leave a sentence or comment about what the link is about.
Too many links are just posted without a reference.
Yes Matrix–At least the title should be with the link!
My pet peeve is links that are from some site one has to pay in order to read the article.
When this is the case I try finding the article or similar one on a free site, even when it is an article I want to post.
Hey there are many places out where the title is just a come on with the printed article or video almost entirely opposite of the title.
I see that on TV alot (when we are foraging for news on the UTube) – I think it’s done to profile us. (As if they don’t do enough of that already.)
#4 was huge for me; To realize that nobody could ‘read my mind’ to understand who was ‘he’ or ‘she’ being referenced through a complex contextual analysis involving many names. Nobody could see when ‘he’ no longer meant the initial ‘he’ I first spoke of.
Always a good time here at the CTH
I cannot say how happy I am to find the site! Itβs great to know youβre not alone! Thx everyone!
Welcome, Will! CTH is the very first thing I read with morning coffee. Sundance is the best, and the Tree House community is by far, the best and the brightest!
I second that!
Best depiction/picture of a troll ever, from the book of Gnomes btw.
Wisdom from Craig Ferguson I try to remember.
1) Should it be said?
2) Should it be said here and now?
3) Should it be said by you?
Also the old one.
Is it true.
Is it necessary.
Is it kind.
Cheers!
Yes, Indeedy!
Reminds me of:
T.H.I.N.K. before you post – is it true, helpful, inspiring, necessary, kind?
Thank you for posting that acronym. Especially with the “is it” prefix.
This is something my kids were taught in elementary school… a good acronym to remember ; )
If you can’t answer YES, don’t say it!
WOW, a pleasant, civil, informative, troll free environment. What a concept. Thereβs no other place online like it. With these guidelines that should never change. Thank you Sundance for all you do.
During my time in undergraduate school majoring the sciences I “discovered” the history department and one professor in particular who insisted that at the beginning of every class he taught (and whether or not you had taken a class with him before) the student had to check out from the library and read Orwell’s “Politics and the English Language.”
I offer a link to the essay as a compliment to Sundance’s words.
Politics and the English Language | The Orwell Foundation
Sadly, our institutions of “higher learning” are nothing more than diploma mills and indoctrinations centers. As are most public schools.
Political language β and with variations this is true of all political parties, from Conservatives to Anarchists β is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.
Excellent read, thanks!
Cool! Now I too can study the classics!
https://www.orwellfoundation.com/the-orwell-foundation/orwell/essays-and-other-works/politics-and-the-english-language/
We get the best suggestions for study materials here!
I can always do better so I welcome the reminders. I have become sloppy in my use of acronyms. I occasionally drift off topic. I also make occasional spelling and/or grammar mistakes, especially when traveling and writing on a small screen.
This has become my favorite discussion forum, in large part due to the rules set forth. Thank you for providing this space and for all your hard work.
Precise, concise and pinpointed sentences?
Laconic?
Hard to do sometimes but I get it.
Excellent reminder. I will personally do my best to abide by these very straight forward rules and concepts. CTH-Great site.
We are living in tumultuous times and it’s easy to get caught up in the negativity of any single moment.
Thank you again for promoting and maintaining civil discourse. God bless!
Now, if only someone would post this on liberal websites…
Well, I prefer the pearls to stay here where there is actual wisdom, than to be cast among the swine.
But there sure is a lack of respect and decorum at those sites. Not to mention a lack of human decency.
Since the (Ed.) had to cancel one of my emotionally ill-advised posts this week β¦ I shall endeavor to behave.
it was a rarity for me β¦ but nonetheless deserved. Sorry SD
Every time I see this one pop up, I mentally review my last ~month’s worth of posts. o.o
It is best to stop, breath deep and re-read your comment before posting. Emotions can run hot and cloud even the most rational of us at times. Been there, got a well deserved time out, and now you know why I call myself Bad Dog! No Biscuit! .
Agreed. But The Apostle Paul might challenge your points #5 and #6. Just sayin’!
Just because you happen to disagree with a certain individual’s comment, does not give you the right to call such individual a “troll”. Trolls do stop by the Treehouse on occasion, but they are best ignored or disposed of by ad min. Everyone should have an opportunity to comment (even if you feel the comment makes little sense) without being called names. Reply and point out exactly how you feel about the comment, but leave the name calling to the Third Graders at your local Elementary school.
I canβt agree with this one enough. For every actual trolling comment we have, there are 99 other people who call someone a troll because they are too lazy to think and reason and debate.
I was once interviewed for a project
And
The interview concluded with a request to fill out a summary
The final question asked:
Would you like to add anything in general,
I responded:
“I don’t have anything in general to add,
Except,
I dislike generalizations
Especially Sweeping generalizations
Although
I don’t mind sweeping
In general”
Thankfully
I wasn’t hired
Ive heard
The place has gone to hell
I say this often but I really mean it every time thank you Sundance
R.D.
This is truly βOur Last Refugeβ. God Bless the Treehouse. Donating.
Thanks for including #10 – “Do not disparage our conversation with vulgarity, profanity, or any expressions of any βismβ. I haven’t shared this site with some I think could benefit because they’d be turned off by the language and insinuations in some of the comments. Hope people here will take these valuable reminders seriously. Thanks for all you do and share!
I’d like to add my two-cents worth to this post.
First, when replying to anyone, I do it as if I was sitting directly across from them. Second, not to belabor Sundance’s many points, but staying on topic with clarity is always important. Rambling screeds are just skipped over.
And last, if you think its over the line and too controversial, it probably is. If you’re not sure, let it sit a moment–or two, or three–before you hit the Post Comment button. (its the same as writing an email to a friend, family member or colleague that is sure to rankle them. Sometimes, discretion is the better part of valor)
hehe…. I’ve always thought the the “reply to all” button should have an “are you sure?” step and a five minute “cooling off period“…
AND, any email that contains the word “SOB” really, REALLY needs the “are you really, really sure?” and “cooling off for ten minutes” steps…
Oh, the stories I could tellβ¦.
Oh yeah, I’ll bet we could write an encyclopedia with such events… π
Some people could do without a nuke button.
“… service provider (ISP) may have filters to limit the websites they permit you to view..”
That’s one very scary thought.
The Internet was NOT built with that kind of censorship in mind.
Hopefully, Starlink will support satellite phones as well. I got a feeling that anything the likes of Musk owns and operates will NOT censor traffic.
Otherwise I’m getting ready to go back to the Dark Web… something akin to what we had in ’94, perhaps running a very simple Mosaic like browser with minimum functionality (to prevent viruses), perhaps two factor authentication (to prevent DDOS) and very strong encryption via proxies (use IP addresses, not DNS).
BTW- I do have proof that gmail and the like filter email (*). I had sent some email to someone I know, including links (one of which was this site). His email address was on on gmail. He replied to me and I noticed that the links were different. Looked like someone had taken a snapshot of the page and provided a link to the snapshot, not the actual link. Consequently, the reader could not know where the link was and the links in the page that were relative to the page proper did not work.
I chased this down to a Microsoft ‘service’ for spam. They were including pages they did not like as “spam”. Misinformation they called it.
I found this out because I run my own web server and I can play around with these filters offered to me by my domain host service.
Needless to say, my friend opened a different email account with a different service.
As a rule of thumb, NOTHING is free. If you want to control your destiny, you must pay.
(*) When I found out, it absolutely sent me bonkers…. that is soooo contrary to the spirit of the Internet.
Spirit of the internet. Where can I read more of this elusive spirit? Is there a wiki page? or perhaps a link d in? I simply must know more.
Something I once learned in a college class that really stuck with me is that boundaries are a sign of love. Thank you Sundance for caring about us.
To the right hind of the curious gray calico sits the wondering chest-nutty buff cavalier spanielβthe spitting image of my Cocoa. Just practicing color commentary.
I really don’t have issue with long posts if it offers incite and is not long rambling opinion. Sir Bacon have been providing good content with some of his long posts.
It helps if there is a summary up front. Same with video like posts. Summary helps.
My email is Comcast. At one time all Treehouse mail was going to my Spam folder. I was able to circumvent Comcastβs effort at censorship by adding a directive on my Comcast email account. It solved the problem.
Please prooofread your comments before posting.
I think I see what you did there. π
Many times my computer has a mind of its own. It really is quite scary, the letters change or word spellings change before my very eyes. I know how to type. I did not have this type problem w/my old computers.
Stoopid AI. One good thing about it is when stoopid AI fills in my intent correctly I know that what I am saying has probably been said a thousand times already so probably best to not post it. Redundant.
This needed to be said.
Thank you, SD
The rambling block paragraphs to me becomes a TLDR, and I don’t.
What’s TLDR?
An inscrutable acronym.
IYKWIMAITYD
π
“Too Long, Didn’t Read”
7/11/22
tcth, well done guidelines. Thank you for publishing this so folks know what’s expected of them. Btw, LOL for the picture with the dog. Excellent way to end the article (i.e., with a laugh & beautiful scenery).
Thank you Sundance and love the doggy picture.
Thanks for the reminder
As someone who reads 3 to 5 hundred comments a day covering a variety of forums, I have to say the Treehouse is the best run comment board I’ve come across.
Thank You Sundance, team, and commenters..
Do not comment while drinking.
A PSA for all of youse.
Amen!
Thank you Sundance! Truth!
This is the best site on the internet.
It speaks volumes about parenting (such as it is these days), education and social discourse that Sundance should have to teach grammar, manners and general good behavior as well as being a platform moderator among other things.
The other day my wife and I were debating something, that years ago might have turned into a heated argument. A little later she commented on how well-behaved I had become in recent years, and after contemplating that for a minute she said “Now that I think about it, you’ve been doing a lot better ever since you started hanging out with your friends at the Treehouse. Yeah, I guess that’s been over 10 years now, huh? They must be doing SOMETHING right, teaching you how to behave, without having to resort to smacking you around.”
Well, maybe… so thanks guys… I think. π π
It’s been a terrific 10+ years Jello. Your contributions in those early Trayvon years were outstanding. π π π
Jello’s the best. I always notice his presence and take in whatever he shares –
We all live by rules of civility. This site is no different. In this age of wokeness, the 1st amendment is under siege and constraint. Opinions and facts are different animals, both should be treated appropriately. Opinions, respectfully presented within the scope of proper decorum, is the spirit of differing conversations. There are solutions offered when there is a plethora of various viewpoints. Facts, however, are not quite so accommodating. Being the nature of its finite conclusions, through research and objectivity, facts state the, sometimes not quite so, obvious. This causes a conundrum of unintended consequences. When properly understood, facts take no prisoners, and present themselves in an unbiased manner. Yes, the writer needs to “think”, before posting a “fact” or an “opinion”. Critical thinking skills must be upheld and encouraged. There is a balancing act between making a point and taking no prisoners. You get bees with honey, not vinegar.
Thank you Sundance for allowing me to connect with the Like-minded. It’s good to chat with people that have the same feelings as me. I guess that’s why you are the Last Refuge. I always save the best for last!
If you start your comment βI know this is off topic, butβ¦β Donβt. Do not post it. Go immediately to one of the daily opens and post it there.
Thank you, Sundance for this reminder. I enjoy the Open Thread and the fellowship of other Christians. God Bless You.
π
A good reminder to use extra clarity when typing, thank you, Sundance and mods.