Welcome to Hernando's, and thanks for stopping by.

Hernando's Hideaway? If you're as old as I am, you might have heard that slow tango advertising a place (in Iowa, as it turns out) which was a home for alcohol and prostitution. Surprise! That's not what I'm promoting here. (Well, not so much the prostitution, but there will be alcohol at Duffy's.)

Wiki has a second reference.

"Hernando's Hideaway" also became a nickname for the smoking room for British parliamentarians in the House of Commons. The Labour Member of Parliament, Stephen Pound, told the House during a smoking debate on February 14, 2006:

"I refer the House to the dystopic hell – 'Hernando's Hideaway' – that is the Smoking Room on the Library Corridor. It is like the Raft of the Medusa most nights, with great groups of people crammed into it."

THAT's more like it. (Although "Dystopic hell is a bit redundant.)

All are welcome at Hernando's, but some will not feel welcome.

Our Hernando's Hideaway doesn't rely on imposing rules, rather it hopes to attract the type of people who already have the rules imprinted on their hearts.

THE ZEROTH RULE: Have fun and help the other posters to have a good time.

1.) The care for a fellow Hernando is far more important than winning a debate, or even a war. People who are willing to treat people as less than human in order to gain some advantage, are less than human themselves and not fit to join with us.

1. a.) All people are fallible, cut your brother or sister some slack.

2.) Reason can lead to truth. Reason should not be used to attain the humiliation of another Hernando. We are helping each other to truth and knowledge.

3.) Getting angry at an Hernando means something has gone wrong. A break from the keyboard is suggested.

4.) Hernandos try to get information and understanding before they say something is definitely true or false.

4. a.) We will never have 100% complete scientific proof. It is perfectly acceptable to present an opinion based on what information is available, as long as there is a willingness to change when better information is presented. It is perfectly acceptable to say, "Blast! I don't know nearly enough. Let's take this up a week from now."

4. b.) Evaluate the information. Don't reject anything solely because of the source, but it can be considered.

5.) There is nothing wrong with saying "This is as close to agreement as we can get. Let's set it aside for now."

We are a family. Not a dysfunctional one, but one in which we care, at least slightly, for each other. We search for truth. Yelling at one another doesn't further either goal.

"OK, got it, now what?"

"Easy, we talk."

The search for truth in friendly surroundings is the goal of this site. You can't go wrong if that is what you are doing, and doing it with respect.

What is human life? How do we find true information? Is the West dying? Is it moral for a nation to use violence in certain situations? What are they? Have they changed in the last 50 years? What does the Russian activity in Ukraine mean for international law and balances of power? Is Islam a different civilization, or just a religion with a few minor differences. There are short-term topics like Ferguson and long-term topics like the Creation.

What is the importance of man compared with nature? Can torture be used to advance a cause?   What is the purpose of government?

I honestly believe that answering these questions will lead us to an understanding of some definite truths about humanity. At Hernando's Hideaway we may find bits of truth and weave them together to form a true wisdom.

I don't think the subject matters as much as getting started.

With respect for those to whom this thread is addressed,

Charles1952

Here's a post from a member saying what we DON'T want. I will do my very best. Let me know if this ever falls short of your expectations. This site, honestly, is for you, not for me. hernandoshideaway.boards.net/post/11/thread