I have been devoting the bulk of my attention to the issues arising at What biblical reasons are there to accept the scientific view of the earth as billions of years old? and thus have not been able to follow this thread closely. It seems to be a discussion between EC’s/TE’s (or you could say “BL regulars” - we’ll say BLR’s) about how to interact with YEC’s. Since I am currently sitting on the YEC side of the fence I didn’t feel comfortable joining the conversation. Since, however, this is the second time @Swamidass has invited my participation, I will offer some thoughts - though with the reluctance I just described.
First of all, I’m not sure I properly understand the question. Second, it seems one’s answer is going to turn on one’s perspective. That is, an EC/TE/BLR is going to answer this question, all other things being equal, differently than a YEC is going to answer it. This is because, of course, the EC/TE/BLR thinks the YEC is wrong and the YEC thinks he is right. Since this is a thread started by an EC/TE/BLR, and answered mainly by EC’s/TE’s/BLR’s, I shall attempt to answer as an EC/TE/BLR.
As a EC/TE/BLR: Even here, there are differing perspectives. If I am 100% sure that YEC’s are wrong I will have a different perspective than if I think there is a chance, however small, that they are right - or that we’re both wrong (or that neither one of us is 100% right in our declarations on the issue at hand). We’ll call the first group “close-minded” and the second “open-minded.” I am not employing these terms for pejorative purposes, as there are many subjects on which God desires us to be close-minded (e.g. “the benefits of idolatry” or “the wholesome aspects of adultery”). As a close-minded EC/TE/BLR, I want to deal gently but firmly with YEC’s, leading them out of falsehood into truth at every opportunity. The YEC, however well-intentioned - is harming the witness of Christ and my responsibility is to diminish that harm by helping the erring brother, if he’s willing, find the truth as quickly as possible. As an open-minded EC/TE/BLR, however, I want to listen to YEC’s and exchange views with them with the hope of both of us incrementally getting to a better understanding than what we have now. That may mean that the YEC eventually becomes an EC/TE/BLR, or that the EC/TE/BLR becomes a YEC, or that both together become something that supersedes their previous categorizations.
The yin and yang of this thread (at least the parts I’ve read) seems to turn on the axis I just described. In other words, in order to come to one mind on the subject you have to first decide just how wrong you think the YEC’s are. Either way, they are worthy of dignity but your communication strategy, and particularly your listening strategy, are going to differ based on your perception of how much truth, if any, their YEC view may hold. Are they children in need of correction or are they fellow adults with differing perspectives that deserve to be heard? When you answer that, you put yourself in a better position to support God’s purpose for them.
Again, I say all this as one on the outside looking in - as one who in the moment (note figurative usage) is trying to decide if he’s a child in need of correction or an adult with doubts he ought not be entertaining.