Has Steve Epley gone crazy thread??

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Try the "Deep Waters" sub-forum.

http://www.apostolicfriendsforum.com...isplay.php?f=4

By the way, the thread with the "underlying sexual overtone" was started by a conservative, and rescued by the ladies and turned into a shoes/shopping/romance thread, and thank goodness for small favors.

It isn't so much that Apostolic issues and viewpoints are not welcome here--because they obviously are. It's just that most of the conservative Apostolics have gone to a different forum. So then it's unfair to complain about the lack of conservative viewpoints when there's only a handful of conservatives left on the forum. (Or else they're just lurking and aren't posting.)

People are only going to express who they are. If you want conservative or UC viewpoints on this forum, then gather up some friends and convince them to come over (or come back). Otherwise, there's nothing that can be done.

I do think it's a shame that anyone would feel pressured to not post here by their fellow ministers.

I DO understand the discomfort with expressing conservative views, because it does seem that the most active members don't agree with said views, so it can be somewhat discouraging to post a belief only to have 9 out of 10 people disagree with what you've said. But that's the nature of the forum. It's not a matter of not being able to "handle" disagreement. It just gets tiresome after awhile. On the other hand, other forums where everyone agrees with everyone else are just plain BORING.

There needs to be a balance between the two. FCF had it. I will agree that this forum isn't as balanced as it should be. (As far as presenting all viewpoints in fairly equal numbers.)

I am NOT intimidated one against the rest however YOU guys stick it where no one reads it doesn't take a genius to figure out you really don't want it discussed. YOU read the 5 pages and tell me. There MIGHT be 5 or 6 threads that has anything to with Apostolic doctrine or practice and some of them are negative.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

I am NOT intimidated one against the rest however YOU guys stick it where no one reads it doesn't take a genius to figure out you really don't want it discussed. YOU read the 5 pages and tell me. There MIGHT be 5 or 6 threads that has anything to with Apostolic doctrine or practice and some of them are negative.

Well, I'm not an ADMIN, so it wasn't technically me who "stuck it" where no one reads it.

And I know you're not intimidated, but there HAVE been some men who have been pressured into not posting here, and that is a fact.

I think I probably see more of a variety than you do, because my bookmark is on "New Posts" which brings up the new posts/threads in ALL forums, rather than just in the fellowship hall.

I'm not really disagreeing with you about the lack of conservative Apostolic content, though. I just don't know how it can be any different if conservatives choose not to post here????? Some left and stayed away when the FCF became the NFCF. Then there were few who left when the AFF replaced the NFCF. It seems to me, though, that the biggest exodus of conservative posters coincided with the launching of the WPF.

Is that coincidence?

[Theresa]

[QUOTE]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Try the "Deep Waters" sub-forum.

http://www.apostolicfriendsforum.com...isplay.php?f=4

By the way, the thread with the "underlying sexual overtone" was started by a conservative, and rescued by the ladies and turned into a shoes/shopping/romance thread, and thank goodness for small favors.

It isn't so much that Apostolic issues and viewpoints are not welcome here--because they obviously are. It's just that most of the conservative Apostolics have gone to a different forum. So then it's unfair to complain about the lack of conservative viewpoints when there's only a handful of conservatives left on the forum. (Or else they're just lurking and aren't posting.)

People are only going to express who they are. If you want conservative or UC viewpoints on this forum, then gather up some friends and convince them to come over (or come back). Otherwise, there's nothing that can be done.

I do think it's a shame that anyone would feel pressured to not post here by their fellow ministers.

I DO understand the discomfort with expressing conservative views, because it does seem that the most active members don't agree with said views, so it can be somewhat discouraging to post a belief only to have 9 out of 10 people disagree with what you've said. But that's the nature of the forum. It's not a matter of not being able to "handle" disagreement. It just gets tiresome after awhile. On the other hand, other forums where everyone agrees with everyone else are just plain BORING.

There needs to be a balance between the two. FCF had it. I will agree that this forum isn't as balanced as it should be. (As far as presenting all viewpoints in fairly equal numbers.)I agree that it isnt balanced but it's not the fault of the forum at large....it's the conservative posters who LEFT and tipped the scales...

you made some great points MsB...I just wish others would come back and let their voices be heard instead of hiding out with the "yes" men.


What's wrong with a little disagreement?

[rgcraig]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

I am NOT intimidated one against the rest however YOU guys stick it where no one reads it doesn't take a genius to figure out you really don't want it discussed. YOU read the 5 pages and tell me. There MIGHT be 5 or 6 threads that has anything to with Apostolic doctrine or practice and some of them are negative.

Bro. E,

It's all in how you look at it. We organized the forum.

Before, the complaint was that a great discussion thread was stuck in the middle of the fluff threads, so we separated them to keep all the discussions from getting "lost" in the fluff.

Now, you present that as the problem. As a pastor, you know that you can't please everyone, but I do wish you'd stop and look at this a little more objectively.

I agree with Miss Bratt there is some balance missing here, but not by design.

[Steve Epley]

I do NOT know of any pressure on any men not to post here. For a season there was a couple of posters who attacked everything the Apostolic church has stood for and got a free reign to do so. If we handed it back to them WE were scolded and threatened. So this forum became less Apostolic friendly. Some of us have continued those posters who caused the issue are gone or rarely posts. YET there is a tone where Apostolic issues are not really wanted so stick them where they die. So now NEITHER libs nor cons are active which have been active since FCF because y'all have chosen to make this a knitting and cookie making forum. That is fine y'all are the boss but it is dying and it's death will be at your own hands. Again I am not trying to offend I like the folks who post on here. This is the Straight talk express.

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

You are a kind person and always have been so I am not personally attacking you. If you think I am unfair characterizing the forum just go and look at the last 5 pages and look at the topics my topics I posted in jest were more in line than Apostolic subjects. Top me y'all want to stick Apostolic doctrinal subjects in another area other than the generall discussion because you want them to die because folks do not go over there. That is your right but that is why this forum is becoming more a chat room type forum than an Apostolic forum. Some discussions I have casually looked at even make me feel somewhat uncomfortable the undertone is off. Even the libs which have something to say hardly posts but y'all are so busy with your 'knitting' type threads you don't even notice. I am not saying this to get banned nor to insult y'all but you are going to kill your own forum with boredom. Sorry but that is how I feel. I know many ex-posters who may rarely lurk but never post anymore.

I understand what you are saying, Steve, but even the discussion about "Apostolic doctrines, can and have become very boring. I mean how many times do we need to argue those points. As you know I believe that God will redeem all of his creation, but at some point it has been thoroughly argued. I will only bring it up now as I see a new point that hasn't been discussed before, or maybe a sound bye to smack some newbie that comes in breathing hellfire and brimstone. However, as you I don't post every often, though I check the subjects most every day.

Are you still traveling and preaching or have you found a church that needed straightening out and settled down a spell?

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by rgcraig

Bro. E,

It's all in how you look at it. We organized the forum.

Before, the complaint was that a great discussion thread was stuck in the middle of the fluff threads, so we separated them to keep all the discussions from getting "lost" in the fluff.

Now, you present that as the problem. As a pastor, you know that you can't please everyone, but I do wish you'd stop and look at this a little more objectively.

I agree with Miss Bratt there is some balance missing here, but not by design.

Every topic that winds up anywhere but the general discussion DIES that is not balance it is a funeral. Again you are a kind person. But look at the last 5 pages and you tell me what would make someone busy come here and post?

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by crakjak

I understand what you are saying, Steve, but even the discussion about "Apostolic doctrines, can and have become very boring. I mean how many times do we need to argue those points. As you know I believe that God will redeem all of his creation, but at some point it has been thoroughly argued. I will only bring it up now as I see a new point that hasn't been discussed before, or maybe a sound bye to smack some newbie that comes in breathing hellfire and brimstone. However, as you I don't post every often, though I check the subjects most every day.

Are you still traveling and preaching or have you found a church that needed straightening our and settled down a spell?

Case in point here is a person that we agree on nothing yet he was a regular poster always was wrong but post now by his won words does not post much. Can you folks see?
Nope still traveling and loving it.

[rgcraig]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

Every topic that winds up anywhere but the general discussion DIES that is not balance it is a funeral. Again you are a kind person. But look at the last 5 pages and you tell me what would make someone busy come here and post?

If you look at New Posts - you won't be seeing what you are.

Click on New Posts and see.

[StMark]

Renda,

Here's the deal. Conservatives believe there was some type of plan or conspiracy to drive the cons out.

Now, I know you didn't do that, but they do believe this was done so by design.


I think there are just not enough preachers/ conservatives here anymore to create the atmosphere that Epley misses.

However, I don't think they were purposely driven out.