Argument #1: Transitional Fossils

[Mister Agenda]

Hold on just one cotton pickin' minute! You guys are putting me in a no win situation here.

1. I present an argument and it is ok for everyone to quote any source they want. I use AIG and I get lambasted.

And it's okay for anyone to criticize your source. Using reliable sources known for integrity is a good way to reduce this.

2. I put down a link with info to address an issue and I get a warning.

That's between you and the Mods.

3. I use quotes from Darwin and other scientists and I'm quote mining and called a liar.

I don't think the Darwin quote about eyes counts as a quote mine because you included his comments about why their evolution isn't a problem for the theory. Someone may have jumped to conclusions on that one because it's so frequently used for quote mines by leaving that last part out to make it seem like Darwin thought eyes reaslly were a problem for evolution. You didn't do that well with the other scientists though. Do you understand why quote-mining is a form of lying? Do you understand that we're saying that part of a quote was taken out of context to make it seem the person meant something that it's clear wasn't what he was really saying when you read the full quote?

4. I share my beliefs and I'm called a nut and a ignoramus

You might want to ignore those posts. There are a lot of people posting here and not all of them are going to be kind or patient.

5. I make a slight joke and I get raked over the coals

A good way to soften up this audience is to demonstrate that you're participating in the discussion in good faith. Any comic will tell you that you need to know the room. There are Christians here who are well-received. They treat us differently than you have. Do you think that all you have to do to be courteous is not use 'bad' words?

6. One of your atheist buddies tears me down and they get kudos and high fives

I happen to know you've gotten kudoes on this thread yourself. If you want kudoes, be smart, funny, or wise; or put into words what other posters are already thinking. Or just exceed expectations. Theists often get kudoes for posts that wouldn't rate a kudo for an atheist just for making a post that's not as bad as we thought it would be, although if you make a habit of it we will adjust our expectations accordingly.

what gives?

You're not dealing in good faith, and you're being treated in the fashion discourse in bad faith earns. Whining about it won't change anything. Changing your approach, will.

For instance, You've been accused of quote-mining. Your good faith options are as follows:

1) Apologize for the quote mine and retract it, perhaps citing that you did not know your source only had part of the original quote and that when read in it's entirety, it's clear that the person quoted actually believes something very different than what you quoted suggests.

2) Defend the quote mine by showing that it really is an accurate reflection of the original speaker's intent. You should only attempt this if you are confident it is actually the case.

What reason would someone who values honesty when attempting reasoned discourse have for respecting any other courses but those?

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God is all knowing and powerful, I am a servant in training. hock:

If there is a God, there's no sign it has any servants who can demonstrate that any of their claims about what they say they are following are actually true. If there is a God, it would be trivial for it to provide its servants with what they need to show they are following something real. The only possible conclusions one can come to is that what they think they are following doesn't exist in reality, or it doesn't want them to be able to show it exists. Why then, try to show something which, if God exists, it doesn't want you to be able to show?

Perhaps you're going about this wrong. Maybe the only tool you really have is how you conduct yourself. Is trying to convince people of creationism really going to get you anywhere?

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I believe it because God said so.

How do you know that?

Jesus said He is coming back and every eye will see Him.

How do you know that? What I expect to happen if I continue to ask these question is that we will reach a point where the only thing you have to cite isn't a reasonable basis for claiming to know something, you will know that is the case, an at that point, if you haven't already, you will start being evasive. I would love to be disappointed on that count

No one has proven to me that "molecule to man evolution happened" a lot of smoke and mirrors though.

Then surely you can cite one of these posts composed of 'smoke and mirrors' we've offered instead of evidence for evolution, right?