2nd question first. I participate in the following other boards:
Catholic Answer Forums -- I have met some Muslims on this forum. But I do not think I would recommend it. It would be a good place to learn what Catholics believe, and while the forum administrators seems very tolerant of all manner of questions and comments, the participants themselves are a more conservative type of Catholic than I meet in day-to-day existence and are less tolerant of other ideas of attacking Protestantism, Mormonism, and particularly Islam with strawmen characitures. You get some of that with certain posters here on LI, but thankfully that is not the dominant response.
Christian Forums, is undergoing a transition. It was established as a Christian Forum, but it became open to all varieties of ideologies, many decidedly non-Chrsitian. Many Christians actually left the forum for that reason, as they often felt attacked by non-Christians on what they thought was a place for Christians to come together and talk. I, myself, have rarely participated in the larger forum community there, preferring to stay within a subform group located within it (Wesley's Parish) that is designed specifically for United Methodists, Nazarenes, and others that have our roots in the teachings of John Wesley. We rarely have even Christians of other denominations visit that sub-forum and so hardly ever have any conflict within it, as it is not a group that debates much. On the rest of the forum there are many debates of all types. I think a Muslim could post there, but would face the same type of response that a Christian would here who would say that the Qu'ran was not a message from Allah to Muhammed.
I also participate in
Youth Ministry Exchange -- this one is designed to be a place where folks involved in youth ministry can come and converse with one another about a whole range of topics. So, of course, some theological discussion take place there. But mostly it is about practical and personal issues. Anyone can join, there is a subscription fee, and not everyone who is a part is a Christian, let alone a youth worker. But that calling is how the board began and what it continues to center around. I believe that anyone who came there and showed respect for the others with whom they were debating would be well received. Those who came just to stir up trouble, to troll, or otherwise create dissension would find themselves quickly ostracize regardless of theological views. We have only a few theological debates, but all manner of political ones. They can get heated, but we try to remain free from attacking the person. One of the former owners of the forum was recently kicked off for violating that spirit.
Now, as to why I am here. I came because I have a love for Muslim people and an interest in being sure that I correctly understand Islam -- not just as a static book, but as a living faith by knowing and learnig from the people who practice it. My motivation for that is that I have a daughter who is Muslim. One day, in the above forum, some people were speaking poorly of Islam speaking in ways that I took to be falsely characterizing the religion as a whole as violent. They specificially put to me questions about why Muslims were not speaking out against some recent violent acts done by a man who claimed to do them in the name of Islam. Well, I knew that those acts did not truly represent Islam, but I also didn't have much to say in response. So, I came here to learn more so that I could answer those who were objecting. I have stayed because I enjoy the intellectual stimulation provided by those who challenge my beliefs, or who ask questions about Christianity that I might be able to answer. I find so many operating under preconceptions as to what Christianity is, what the major tenets of the Christian faith are and with other characterizations of the Christians faith that just are not true to my experience that where I can provide a different response than perhaps the stereotypical response, I am glad to stay and be a part of that continuing discussion.
