(February 17, 2016 at 12:16 pm)Jörmungandr Wrote: The problem is that the internet also allows people to segregate themselves into virtual communities, and never come across opinions which differ from their own in any radical way.  I'm an example of this.  Is pend a few hours reading the forum each day, but seldom go further than that.  The 'base' of my internet experience consists of a largely closed community of a few dozen people.  It's said that the internet allows you to spend a lot of time never once encountering a foreign view.  In that sense then, I think the internet insulates as much as it broadens.

That is a very good point, Jör!  I spend my time reading here . . . some on Facebook.  I don't go chatting with Muslims or Hindus, and I usually avoid xtian sites unless I'm looking for something laughable to share.  I like to research just about anything, but when it comes to having a conversation, I still stay with "my tribe".

The internet is a tool like any other. How you use it is up to you.

I'd like to point out another factor, to which others have somewhat alluded but not outright stated:

Not only are we gaining in shared experience and information, we're able to support one another in ways heretofore unimaginable. In small communities (as many of us have experienced personally!), atheists and other "misfits" to the social norms of American Judeo-Christian bullshit were previously left to feel alone and isolated, and often had to hide and never admit anything to anyone. Now there are "people who are like me!" circles where such support is offered.

Even to those of us who were brave enough to "come out" and face the social ramifications, it can feel very lonely as an atheist (sorry to borrow your title, Natalie Angier)... I can't count the number of days coming here has "saved me" from some really awful feelings of isolation and hopelessness, especially when I was first trying to get sorted in my new "free" life.

I just wanted to take a moment and say thank you to all of you (most especially you, Dr.Fuzzy, who went out of your way!) for all you have done for me here on the Interwebz.

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Here's the article to which I refer, above. Don't feel like bothering with the linking code:

http://partners.nytimes.com/library/maga...heism.html

(February 17, 2016 at 10:43 am)Excited Penguin Wrote: [responding to Drfuzzy] You know, giving kudos away like candy to anyone posting at all in your thread doesn't exactly make us feel valued for our opinions.

You don't speak for 'us', though.

I feel very valued by Drfuzzy regardless of whether she ever kudoses me.

I think she likes me and my posts. And I like her and her posts.

Also, I discovered thankfully that sometimes after accidentally erasing the entire text in my post, sometimes Ctrl + Z /"right click undo" will return my post

(February 17, 2016 at 4:47 pm)TheRocketSurgeon Wrote:

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I'd like to point out another factor, to which others have somewhat alluded but not outright stated:

Not only are we gaining in shared experience and information, we're able to support one another in ways heretofore unimaginable. In small communities (as many of us have experienced personally!), atheists and other "misfits" to the social norms of American Judeo-Christian bullshit were previously left to feel alone and isolated, and often had to hide and never admit anything to anyone. Now there are "people who are like me!" circles where such support is offered.

Even to those of us who were brave enough to "come out" and face the social ramifications, it can feel very lonely as an atheist (sorry to borrow your title, Natalie Angier)... I can't count the number of days coming here has "saved me" from some really awful feelings of isolation and hopelessness, especially when I was first trying to get sorted in my new "free" life.

I just wanted to take a moment and say thank you to all of you (most especially you, Dr.Fuzzy, who went out of your way!) for all you have done for me here on the Interwebz.  

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Here's the article to which I refer, above. Don't feel like bothering with the linking code:

http://partners.nytimes.com/library/maga...heism.html

Rocketman!!!  Welcome back, I have missed your posts!  Send me a note anytime . . . I hope things are ok and you're having fun with that gorgeous new little guy!

(February 17, 2016 at 4:51 pm)Evie Wrote:

(February 17, 2016 at 10:43 am)Excited Penguin Wrote: [responding to Drfuzzy] You know, giving kudos away like candy to anyone posting at all in your thread doesn't exactly make us feel valued for our opinions.

You don't speak for 'us', though.

I feel very valued by Drfuzzy regardless of whether she ever kudoses me.

I think she likes me and my posts. And I like her and her posts.

Aw, for standing up for me, Turtle guy - - here, this made me think of you . . .     

Fucking ruined picking up chicks at the library!

(February 17, 2016 at 5:18 pm)drfuzzy Wrote:

(February 17, 2016 at 4:51 pm)Evie Wrote: You don't speak for 'us', though.

I feel very valued by Drfuzzy regardless of whether she ever kudoses me.

I think she likes me and my posts. And I like her and her posts.

Aw, for standing up for me, Turtle guy - - here, this made me think of you . . .     

Awww, you're so sweet!

(February 17, 2016 at 4:51 pm)Evie Wrote:

(February 17, 2016 at 10:43 am)Excited Penguin Wrote: [responding to Drfuzzy] You know, giving kudos away like candy to anyone posting at all in your thread doesn't exactly make us feel valued for our opinions.

You don't speak for 'us', though.

I feel very valued by Drfuzzy regardless of whether she ever kudoses me.

I think she likes me and my posts. And I like her and her posts.

Granted, I don't speak for anyone, I think that much is obvious without pointing it out. I can presume to speak for everyone though, if I think at the time that I do. If you disagree you can tell me I don't speak for you, but not for everyone else as well. I still think I'm right about this, though. If you're going to appreciate everything, that doesn't allow for actual value - if everything is valuable, then nothing is.