[Note: The majority of this information has been taken from the original H2O forum's information, with minor adjustments made to accommodate the current site.]
Dear brothers & sisters,
Requests for clarification on key points relating to this site and its contents has prompted those running Hourglass2 Outpost (H2O) to respond with a few questions and answers.
Friends, we know you are likely eager to investigate the board. However the few minutes you spare to read this posting (and reply in accordance with our Forum Participation Policy if you like) will be well worth your time, and could help you steer clear of possible problem areas.
[ 1 ] Question:
Are apostates allowed to post on H2O?
Answer:
H2O is unable to judge hearts and has no authority from Jehovah God to brand anyone "apostate."
However, we do advise caution. If you see a post by a known apostate, we advise extreme caution. You must decide, however, what to do when seeing a post by someone who is a known apostate.
Sometimes, apostates are difficult to spot. Consider how we allow the world to enter our place of worship, and how we go to the world with the message of hope and everlasting life in God's approaching Kingdom. Sometimes, we run into "apostates" at the door.
After spending considerable time listening to someone who seemed sincere, we may discover their intentions are to subvert our faith in Jehovah God and his provisions for life in a world free from the problems we face today. Even home Bible studies can reach a crossroads where we discover our "student" is really attempting to be our teacher is disguise.
What to do? Walk away from the territory and abandon all hope for those ones? Not at all. We simply mark those who we have decided can benefit no further from the good news we once shared with them, leaving matters in Jehovah's loving hands.
H2O is no more inspired or able to protect you from apostates, than is the Watchtower Society. The Society never has said you will not encounter apostates in your territory or everyday affairs. You are armed with the complete suit of armour from God to protect you, based on the fact you love God and accepted his provisions for salvation. (Compare Romans 13:12; Ephesians 6:11, 13)
Did you know apostates at times want to be banned from a public forum for Jehovah's Witnesses? This strategy stimulates public sympathy, and causes the world to view Jehovah's Witnesses as violators of human rights, specifically, freedom of speech. The historical facts speak clearly that we champion human rights around the world. We also allow opposers to attend our meetings, assembles, even visiting their homes periodically to see if their heart condition has changed favourably.
H2O recommends you mark ones who are not upbuilding, and not select their posts in the future.
[ 1 . 1 ] Question:
Is H2O an apostate site, or cloaked apostate "shill" as some have charged?
Answer:
No human is able to judge hearts and has no authority from Jehovah God to brand anyone administering, funding or backing H2O as "apostate." The Bible is even silent on whether the "faithful and discreet slave" has authority to judge mankind during these last days. God fearing Christians who have studied their Bible have come to realise that only Christ Jesus was given authority to judge by his father Jehovah God. H2O is not an apostate site, and those Jehovah's Witnesses in good standing with their congregations backing it are not apostates.
However, we do advise caution. If you see a post by a known apostate, we advise extreme caution. You must decide, however, what to do when seeing a post by someone who is a known apostate. H2O cannot violate Caesar's laws on freedom of speech by prohibiting apostates to speak. Jesus set a precedent for modern-day Christians by not prohibiting his enemies from vocalising their misguided and often hatefully motivated opinions and beliefs against him and in contradiction to his teachings during his ministry on earth.
What did Jesus do when confronted with aggressive apostates in the countryside during his ministry? Walk away from the territory and abandon all hope for those ones? Not at all. He simply mark those who he decided were "goats" and could benefit no further from the good news he and his apostles once shared with them, leaving matters in Jehovah's loving hands.
H2O is no more inspired or able to protect you from apostates, than is the Watchtower Society. The Society never has said you will not encounter apostates in your territory or everyday affairs. You are armed with the complete suit of armour from God to protect you, based on the fact you love God and accepted his provisions for salvation. (Compare Romans 13:12; Ephesians 6:11, 13)
Did you know apostates at times want to be banned from a public forum for Jehovah's Witnesses? This strategy stimulates public sympathy, and causes the world to view Jehovah's Witnesses as violators of human rights, specifically, freedom of speech. The historical facts speak clearly that we champion human rights around the world. We also allow opposers to attend our meetings, assembles, even visiting their homes periodically to see if their heart condition has changed favourably.
H2O recommends you mark ones who are not upbuilding, and not select their posts in the future.
[ 2 ] Question:
I see posts that are not upbuilding, but the board says H2O is, and I quote, "For Jehovah's Witnesses & Other Interested Ones." What weight or meaning does this statement carry?
Answer:
By being very selective you can find precious gemstones scattered throughout the board.
As you see from the answer to the first question, H2O faces the same predicament the Watchtower Society faces in deciding where to draw the line when apostates attend meetings or conventions. As the Society doesn't use high tech surveilance equipment at meetings or conventions to determine if conversations in the foyers (before, in-between or after public discourses) is of wholesome and approved content, so too, H2O cannot devote fulltime resources to reading over every post every day.
This is a resource that must be treated in the same manner as attending the summer District Conventions. Become a selective reader and skip posts you know are written by unwholesome types. This requires effort, and Jehovah's Witnesses are not lazy, but willing to put forth this effort to improve the quality of their board experience at this site.
[ 2 . 1 ] Question:
I see posts that give the appearance of Jehovah's Witnesses posting, even containing links to the Watchtower Society's web site at www.watchtower.org. Some of the posts give the world a very dim representation of Jehovah's Witnesses, by attacking, accusing, condemning, and then offering the Watchtower Society's web site link as an alternative to H2O. How can I be certain these are real brothers and sisters?
Answer:
By being very selective in what you accept as the truth, you can find precious gemstones scattered throughout the board from true baptized brothers and sisters who have cultivated the fruitages of the spirit.
The ugly truth, brothers and sisters, is that many ex-Jehovah's Witnesses pretend to be in good standing in an attempt to discourage you from continuing your worship of our loving God. Some attempt to stumble you by impersonating brothers and sisters in good standing, even giving the Watchtower Society's web page link to add credibility and convince you they are "for real." Some attempt to behave like weaker ones they observed in their congregation, a form of impersonation intended to "prove a point." They want everyone to get turned-off to Jehovah's Witnesses and give the Society's link to create an association between their reprehensible impersonations and information provided at the Society's site, with the intent of subtly discouraging ones from going there. Don't be fooled.
HIGHLY CRITICAL NOTATION: No person affiliated with H2O will ever ask you for personal information that can identify who you are or even your congregation name (which can be easily used to track you down), in a chat room, on the board, or by private email. Please report anyone claiming to represent H2O by emailing security@hourglass2outpost.com immediately. Never divulge this information to anyone you have not verified! Insist on first getting their congregation name, and Presiding Overseer's name, and call their Kingdom Hall between 1 hour and 30 minutes prior to meetings. Speak with the Presiding Overseer first and then ask to be put on the phone with the person. THIS ADVICE ONLY APLIES TO THOSE WHO ASK YOU FOR PERSONAL INFORMATION. Never offer this information to those pressuring you to give them this information, and please, never pressure anyone to provide this information unless they first pressure you.
This is a resource that must be treated in the same manner as attending the summer District Conventions. Become a selective reader and skip posts you know are written by unwholesome types. This requires effort, and Jehovah's Witnesses are not lazy, but willing to put forth this effort to improve the quality of their board experience at this site.
[ 3 ] Question:
Does H2O remove posts that violate its Forum Participation Policy?
Answer:
Yes!
[ 4 ] Question:
What should I do if I see a post that violates the Forum Participation Policy, and it's still there?
Answer:
No matter how many moderators we have, we all have personal lives and commitments. Sometimes abusive posts slip through the net of detection.
H2O has installed an early detection system to filter posts and remove obviously bad language. However, some language that is inappropriate slips through this automated sentry.
After carefully reviewing the Forum Participation Policy, if you determine a post should be removed, contact H2O immediately by email.
In emergencies where material of highly illegal or damaging content is up, please post a new topic such as "MODERATORS, HELP!!!!!" and give the post number, date, topic, screen name. This will expedite removal.
Send email reporting emergencies to the first address, then "cc:" the email to the second address as backup:
security@hourglass2outpost.com
[ 5 ] Question:
Can I volunteer to become an H2O moderator?
Answer:
Actually, you already are an H2O moderator. We believe that through regular participation and involvement, the forum can self-moderate itself except in the most extreme situations. That means that you have every right to redress problems personally, and to persuade others to become involved in any perceived problems, resulting in resolution of the majority of problems which may arise in a public forum. In the event that more serious action must be taken, H2O Administrator will act appropriate to the issue.
May your visit to Hourglass2 Outpost be an upbuilding a positive experience, as it has been for many others.
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