[aquameez]

1. Abortion, Homosexuality, Race, Religion, Labeling/stereotyping, obesity, drugs/drinking, and gay marriage are very popular topics. Before posting a new topic about any of these, please check both the first and second pages of the forum. If there is already an active topic about it, you don't need to create a new one - just reply to the existing one.
2. Something that people have different ideas on isn't necessarily controversy. Pepsi vs. Coke, or anything of the sort isn't controversy. Please don't create threads about the 'Pepsi Vs Coke' controversy, or the 'Vanilla Versus Chocolate' controversy. As a rule of thumb, this forum is meant for serious topics (like political, religious, medical, legal, moral, etc disagreements)
3. Do not use any form of computer language that is hard to read, ie, "1337 sp33k", "ch@sp33k", or "ne srt 0f dffclt shrtcts" because it is hard to read, and messages which are hard to read are usually ignored. Try to make your posts as easy-to-read as possible.
4. Don't get mad because people disagree with you. Don't even get mad if they say something you think is rude. Stay calm at all times.
5. Do not reply to threads where the last post in the thread was made more than two weeks ago.
6. If you post a poll, make it fair and impartial. Do not write any bias into the poll choices. For example, if you're asking about peoples' views on Abortion, it would be OK to have the choices "I'm Pro-Choice", "I'm Pro-Life", "I don't feel strongly either way". It would NOT be acceptable to have the options "I'm for killing babies", and "I'm against killing babies", because that wording is biased. Similarly, it would not be acceptable to word the question as "I'm in favor of rights for women" and "I'm against rights for women". If it is obvious which way the poll's creator wants you to vote, then the poll creator probably did not do a good job of making the poll impartial.
7. Don't post anything that belongs in another forum. Such threads will likely be deleted or moved. This includes replies. If you want to chat with your friends from Controversy, do it in, say, Open Board. Keep Controversy for the threads about controversies.
8. Don't bring a debate to the personal level. It is not acceptable to introduce any of the following into a debate:
   1. Your opponent's personal flaws, e.g: "Of course you're against term limits on abortion. You always leave things too late!"
   2. Anyone's opinions on irrelevant, inflamatory topics, e.g: "Of course you're against gay rights. You don't support an independent Tibet, either."
   3. Other people's personal situations, e.g: "Of course you're against suicide, you're a Christian"
   4. Claims about other peoples' stupidity/immorality/etc, or your own goodness/smartness/etc. This includes saying anyone else is stupid, evil, etc, as well as any claims that you are smarter, more moral, or otherwise better than them. If what you are about to say comes across as "I'm better than you", then you shouldn't say it!
9. Don't ever let a debate (a polite disagreement about ideas) turn into an argument (a persona, often rude disagreement), or turn into a fight (a rude confrontation). Remember:
   1. Discuss the ideas, not the people.
   2. Keep it polite.

Above all, be considerate and nice to your fellow Controversy fans.

If you have suggestions for improving this list, send me a PM