Refugee thread!

[I_am_not_mafia]

I am safe to say that the only reasons this forum could go down, was if Tibs suddenly died. This forum is his 10 yo baby. For my part I will forever hold the fort down. I know for a fact that he holded it with his own money in rougher times. That should mean something.

He's not going to suddenly die, but the forum wouldn't close even if he did.

That's sounds like you already have his death planned out!

[LastPoet]

I am safe to say that the only reasons this forum could go down, was if Tibs suddenly died. This forum is his 10 yo baby. For my part I will forever hold the fort down. I know for a fact that he holded it with his own money in rougher times. That should mean something.

He's not going to suddenly die, but the forum wouldn't close even if he did.

Well yeah, but who would keep the machine purring like it is now?

[Alan V]

As far as destroying the historical record, or burning the library, I wouldn't be so sure about that.  For all convenient practical purposes that's the way it may be for us.  But TTA had international participation.  All those posts went through a lot of servers to circulate among the members.  It would be hard to believe that most, if not all of the content hasn't been backed up dozens, if not hundreds of times, in multiple places.  We may never see any of it again, but it's not too difficult for me to imagine some future digital archeologist unearthing the bulk of my posts on, say, single malt -- replete in all their glorious misspellings and typos -- at some distant future date.

Unless one of TTA's members became famous for some reason -- or infamous -- no future scholar would likely be interested.  Our information, even if it still exists somewhere, will be buried in mountains of the stuff.

If climate change and population collapse are humanity's most likely future, future people will be busy doing other things.  Plus all of our present accomplishments will be seen in a very different light given their likely context.

I was more concerned about saving TTA's discussions for participants who would be interested in reading or rereading them themselves.  We covered a lot of interesting perspectives and ideas.

[Dr H]

As far as destroying the historical record, or burning the library, I wouldn't be so sure about that.  For all convenient practical purposes that's the way it may be for us.  But TTA had international participation.  All those posts went through a lot of servers to circulate among the members.  It would be hard to believe that most, if not all of the content hasn't been backed up dozens, if not hundreds of times, in multiple places.  We may never see any of it again, but it's not too difficult for me to imagine some future digital archeologist unearthing the bulk of my posts on, say, single malt -- replete in all their glorious misspellings and typos -- at some distant future date.

Unless one of TTA's members became famous for some reason -- or infamous -- no future scholar would likely be interested.  Our information, even if it still exists somewhere, will be buried in mountains of the stuff.

Well, true enough.  Not many people are interested in meticulously researching the life of Caesar's third cousin's second butler.

Except for doctoral students.  Someday a Ph.D. candidate somewhere is going to be handed a research topic by their advisor, on "Atheist Angst in Early 21st Century Web Fora" -- and boom!   We're all famous.

Posthumously, of course, but famous nonetheless.

If climate change and population collapse are humanity's most likely future, future people will be busy doing other things.  Plus all of our present accomplishments will be seen in a very different light given their likely context.

They won't be able to exist outside; they'll have nothing to do but sit at home in front of their computers and data mine the past.

I was more concerned about saving TTA's discussions for participants who would be interested in reading or rereading them themselves.  We covered a lot of interesting perspectives and ideas.

That we did.

I bet we can do it again.

[I_am_not_mafia]

Well, true enough.  Not many people are interested in meticulously researching the life of Caesar's third cousin's second butler.

Except for doctoral students.  Someday a Ph.D. candidate somewhere is going to be handed a research topic by their advisor, on "Atheist Angst in Early 21st Century Web Fora" -- and boom!   We're all famous.

Posthumously, of course, but famous nonetheless.

Well in terms of history we could well be living in a very brief and important transition that would be of interest to historians. What's the difference between 1620 and 1650 for example? Or 1810 and 1840?

What's the difference between 1990 and 2020?

In terms of women's rights, LGBT rights, the decline of religious power etc there have been absolutely massive changes. And the internet has played a big part in this as it's allowed people to talk and show that they are not monsters. The same goes for atheism and there aren't too many atheist forums out there.

[Dr H]

Well in terms of history we could well be living in a very brief and important transition that would be of interest to historians. What's the difference between 1620 and 1650 for example? Or 1810 and 1840?

What's the difference between 1990 and 2020?

Oooh!  OoH!   I know this!

30.

<ducks>







(sorry   )

[The Valkyrie]

Well, true enough.  Not many people are interested in meticulously researching the life of Caesar's third cousin's second butler.

Except for doctoral students.  Someday a Ph.D. candidate somewhere is going to be handed a research topic by their advisor, on "Atheist Angst in Early 21st Century Web Fora" -- and boom!   We're all famous.

Posthumously, of course, but famous nonetheless.

Well in terms of history we could well be living in a very brief and important transition that would be of interest to historians. What's the difference between 1620 and 1650 for example? Or 1810 and 1840?

What's the difference between 1990 and 2020?

In terms of women's rights, LGBT rights, the decline of religious power etc there have been absolutely massive changes. And the internet has played a big part in this as it's allowed people to talk and show that they are not monsters. The same goes for atheism and there aren't too many atheist forums out there.

And, of course, we’re living in the end Times, as we have been for the past few thousand years.

#anytimenow(maybe)!

[I_am_not_mafia]

Well in terms of history we could well be living in a very brief and important transition that would be of interest to historians. What's the difference between 1620 and 1650 for example? Or 1810 and 1840?

What's the difference between 1990 and 2020?

Oooh!  OoH!   I know this!

30.

Damn it. I underestimated you all.

[Joods]

Hmmm atheism isn't nearly as profitable as religion, that is certain.

True but atheism has one thing religion doesn't have:  Integrity

[Dom]

https://web.archive.org/details/http://w.../index.php