The Problem of Evil combined with the problem of Free Will

[The Grand Nudger]

Fair enough.  Ridicule, or the fear of ridicule, may certainly keep them from acting upon those beliefs overtly for a certain period of time.  Whether or not they'll act upon them covertly and/or after the fear subsides will likely depend on their true beliefs, however.  How they act on their true beliefs will depend in large part on those influences that have earned their respect and attention, and it is not just the like-minded that earn people's respect and attention.  It is those who, whether they agree or disagree, are willing to communicate.

Hasn't been my experience, certainly doesn't seem to be at play on these boards.  

Because it's the only way to communicate with him if it's at all possible.  If the only good of ridicule is to show the believer that his faith is not impeachable, then it's already proved useless, because most religious paradigms include antagonists who will find all manner of fault with the belief.  It only serves to prove the holy writ which predicted it.   It isn't that the believer thinks her faith is unimpeachable, it's that she thinks all impeachments are error.  

Yes, yes, we know, believers heads are impervious to facts and prone to confirmation bias...but what about the combination of those two things screams out to you:

"will respond to reason and civil discourse"

.............................?

Yes, ridicule is easy.  No argument there.  The discussion is about it's usefulness.

I don't know..if it stops thick skulled nutters from doing nutty shit..even for a little while, -and- it makes me giggle.......that's pretty damned useful. Much more useful, in my opinion, than affording those same thick skulled nutters undue deference out of some misguided notion that if only I was nicer, they wouldn't be so shitty.

Pro-tip...if you're really doing it right, nutters don't recognize the fact that you're ridiculing them. Which pretty much takes that ridicule out of the causal loop for their nuttery..if it was ever in there..if there's some funhouse mirror version of reality where I'm personally responsible for their nuttiness, because I'm so totally mean. I have an easy suggestion for people who don't appreciate their beliefs being ridiculed. Either stop exposing yourselves to people who have a sense of decency, or get some beliefs that aren't ridiculous.

You can go ahead and take that for whatever it;s worth to you......