(May 19, 2023 at 8:55 am)Kingpin Wrote: @emjay I'm sorry you feel that way. I'm not trying to disrespect anyone here, purely taking the logic to its outcome. That's all. I'm not implying, suggesting that non-believers cannot be moral. That's not true at all. I believe quite a few could be more moral than myself. I will say I'm a bit disappointed in seeing so many replies taking offense to "don't tell me what I believe". The irony in that statement when throughout this entire forum is telling theists what we believe. When at the same time you know we are all individuals and have our own beliefs. Unity of belief does not necessitate uniformity. Not all that proclaim to be atheists believe the same things. So I apologize if I painted with any broad brush as there was no intent to do so.
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Look, it's just that certain things push buttons that's all. As I said before, nowadays I'm more of a reader than a contributor on this site, but certain things... like misrepresentation, intentional or otherwise... still get under my skin and provoke me. I wish they didn't... I wish I could rise above it or let it go... more often at least... but as someone who tends to dwell on and overthink things, that is not always possible. So if it's ongoing, sometimes it just builds up in me until it explodes, as kind of happened here.
The thing about misrepresentation imo, is that it can never win hearts and minds, or add any productive value to a discussion, only foster aggression/oneupsmanship etc. I guess you're right, we all do it... paint in too broad strokes sometimes... but I wish we didn't. I do try to be as mindful of that as possible, and use appropriate qualifiers, eg 'some' rather an explicit or implicit 'all'... just that one little word, 'some' can make all the difference in how an argument is received and perceived... but yes, I do fail on that score too sometimes, especially when I'm angry, so I'm sorry for that.
(May 19, 2023 at 8:58 am)Kingpin Wrote: Further, I'm not on any "crusade". I honestly believed this to be a place that encouraged discussion and thought because I believe (like I think some of you believe) these are big questions and require meaningful conversation. If I will just be vilified, for trying to provoke discussion, then I was wrong in my assumption and I will see myself out.
Wish you all the best.
You just came in on the back of someone who did seem to be on such a crusade, so I guess my perception of you was a bit tainted by that. As I said, I tend to overthink things and dwell on things, so the two of you kind of melded a little bit in my mind I guess, so I'm sorry if that was too harsh/inaccurate a characterisation.