Prayer requests and the Community Guidelines - should they be allowed?

Question

Technically, requests for prayer are considered chatting or personal correspondence and do not follow the question and answer format intended as a pursuit of knowledge. On the other hand, some ask what harm do they cause? What do you feel about prayer requests on this board? Should they be allowed?

I personally feel there are far better sites for posting prayer requests and it would be difficult to allow some posts of a personal nature but not others. What's your take on the issue?

Answer 1

They don't belong here. I'd like it if they assigned a special hamster to sniff them out and delete them.



The ONLY one that hasn't irked me is the one for Debra yesterday. Perhaps because it was more newsy than requesty.



What bothers me about them is that although they may technically be questions, they are NOT requests for information. Which is what this place is about.

Answer 2

I think it depends on the prayer request. In this case, I definately think it should have been left up there. It wasn't hurting anything and it was nice to see all the positive answers wishing Debra well. The same with one of God's Kitty's questions about her friend with cancer. It was just cruel to remove that.



However, I think the reason they made posting prayer requests against the TOS is because you will get some Christians who post insulting prayers that are nothing more than trolling. Example praying for certain "unbelievers" on R&S to "find the Lord". I have seen questions like that before. Those shouldn't be allowed.

Answer 3

Well..I don't see why it's ok for people to post questions in the R&S section that don't even pertain to the subject but it's NOT ok for people to ask for prayer requests...my opinion is..they should be able to ask whatever they want to ask. Prayer goes along way..no matter if it's on here or on another website. Yes, there are far better websites but I don't see the reason why prayer requests should be banned from YA answers when people don't even know how to put their questions in the right categories.

Answer 4

i feel they are harmless

and they are not rude or cause any hurt

and so many other posts here are allowed that do cause hurt



on a forum that is about religion and spirituality

I cant imagine a better place to ask for prayers or spiritual support of any kind



lets face it actually

when prayer requests get deleted

it isnt because they are prayer requests and not following guidelines

but prayers from the wrong sect or religion

most people are aware of this

Answer 5

If you believe in the power of prayer, wouldn't you naturally gravitate to the R & S Section? It seems a natural thing to do. And, when a fellow person is in need, or needs help in a desperate situation, everyone who claims that people aren't compassionate enough should be the first to respond. Reporting a prayer request from someone who may be at the end of their rope is being intolerant of their beliefs, IMHO.

Answer 6

My take is, they don't hurt a thing. If you don't want to read a prayer request, just skip the question and keep scrolling. I skip lots of questions that don't interest me, whether they fall into 'guidelines' or not.



I guess I'm not clear on why they're so bothersome to some people. Again, just scroll by it.

Answer 7

I have seen far worst things than a prayer request on this Yahoo Answers.

Answer 8

Technically, prayers are about religion and spirituality, and since this is R&S......



I never ask them, but seriously, do they really bother you that bad? And I see A LOT of chatting, spamming and trolling from people from all types. Noboby says anything about that-if they think it is funny or humorous.



People only get up in arms when they personally don't agree with something. And that just isn't American.

Answer 9

Loka pwned this question, lol111eleventyone!!



No, seriously, it's behavior like that (I've seen it too) that's getting prayer requests hammered upon.



It's chatting, yes, and technically against the TOS, but it's also something with the ability to be abused.



There are other places for it, places where people have the capacity to deal with nasty people.

Answer 10

Certainly not. We are not Pharisees. If a prayer request is made, it should be made privately, or on a forum where such things are common-place. There are no lessons in derision, especially in something so delicate as a plea to our Creator.

Answer 11

When I first found this site I was doing research so I find it wonderful not to have to search through prayer requests. However, I think that questions such as, "Elvis just appeared and drank my Mountain Dew, what should I do?" should be violations too. And, "R&S Marriage...who would you want to marry?". I mean, are we 12?

Answer 12

i don't mind them, and i'm pagan. but, if they were "allowed" i think we'd get pounded with them, and that would be annoying.



you're right, there are far better places to be asking for prayers, especially considering that this is not a christian only forum.



so for now, i won't report them, in fact i always offer some positive energy, but i don't want to be overrun with them

Answer 13

There are people respected by the "community" we have here like Debra M that I believe there should have allowances made for.



I'm amazed that someone would go out of their way to try to delete those many posts last night.

Answer 14

According to the TOS, they are not allowed. It is against Yahoo regulations. I think they have good reason for doing that. This site is for questions and answers.

Answer 15

Absolutely. Asking another user or users to do ... anything ... is a violation. Games of any sort are violations. A valid question to ask on this site is one that seeks knowledge or advice. Anything else is against the rules. Your example would be a violation for solicitation and/or chat.

Answer 16

I think that there is no problem with it. Its better to see that then...seeing racist and sexist post their crap, or christians and atheist going at it.



I do want to add this...why shouldn't it be allowed in R&S...praying is what religion is about right...you can go look at other categories if R&S isn't what you like.

Answer 17

Regulations, dear!



Discordia lives en is among us.

Answer 18

They should not be allowed.

Answer 19

I think its what church and emails are for. I agree they have no place here.

Answer 20

only if god logs on and answers them.



until then, um...no