Consumer survey: Atheistforums.org beats Brand X atheist forum

[Anymouse]

There are conversion stories here, deconversion stories, debate, discussion, and outright silliness, but I have not found a testimonial comparing Atheistforums.org to other atheist fora out there (like a soap powder advert).

This is not the first forum devoted to the discussion of atheism that I came to in my long, slow admission I was really an atheist carrying on with Wiccan trappings. I went to another atheism-dedicated forum, which I will call "Brand X." (Neither will I give advert space to another forum here, nor will I call them out in a place where they cannot respond. 'Tis unfair.)

I went to "Brand X" forum on the suggestion of my wife BethK, and like here, lurked for awhile. That forum is much more "hard-core": that is, there are few religious people on it.

"Brand X" does, as this forum does, ask religious and non-religious people to post how they came to their beliefs, and what brought them to their own forum.

After some time lurking and deciding that it might be worthwhile to create an account there so I might post, I did create one, and introduced myself, much as I did here. (I cannot find that original intro back from May here now, or I would link it to my pithy introduction.)

The entirety of the "Brand X" forum rounded on me in an ad-Wiccan attack. (Ad-Wiccan attacks are ad-hominen attacks, but much like Christian witch burnings without the pitchforks.)

This place, with its range of people from the entirely convinced and outspoken of religious belief such as Statler Waldorf; to the entirely convinced and outspoken against religious belief such as TheSummerQueen, and everyone in between, is much more accommodating of the new person. (Unless the new person makes a total ass of himself.) (And there is a near-first on atheistforums.org: a compliment to both Statler and SummerQueen in the same sentence.)

"Brand X" atheist forum, once they were done with me, almost convinced me to heap the whole of atheists in the same angry lynch mob pot. Fortunately reason prevailed, and after I'd sufficiently wallowed in self-pity, I went searching Ixquick for another forum. (I apparently was suffering from a spate of masochism.)

Ixquick's search engine brought me here. I lurked a lot longer. I saw the real knock-down, drag-out rows between members here that sometimes occur. But it was apparent that there was a set of rules regarding this: generally ad-hominens do not occur here except between people who already know each other well enough to know what they can write; much like friends calling each other names.

Atheistforums.org is much friendlier to all comers than "Brand X." I have, since joining this forum (and completing my admission I was an atheist in Wiccan trappings), referred others here; a few have joined.

"Brand X" however, gets nothing but scorn from me: not because they have a position (atheism) and are not afraid to show the courage of their convictions, but because if you have questions or do not agree with their stance, you "are not worthy." I have never been given reason to feel that way by anyone here.

James.