So did Atheism + bite the dust?

[Thumpalumpacus]

I think the OP in that thread has a point about evidence because some people in every group demand magical, impossible to fulfil evidence but the mentality of "either you agree or you're against us" is tremendous and I dislike that.

I agree that trolls will often set the evidence bar impossibly high. But actively campaigning for the banning of several members because they don't share the views of the majority -- and having that campaign supported by several moderators -- bespeaks a fragile mindset, an impression reinforced by the "safe place" rhetoric. They want to appear as if they're open to all views, freethinkers, but they also pull out the "safe spot" trump card in order to silence contrary views.

I don't understand the whole civility thing, what's wrong with asking for civility and rational debate?

Nothing wrong with it -- hell, I asked for it the first couple of times I got into a tussle here, until I realized that it wasn't going to happen and instead decided to reply in kind. I prefer civility and rational debate.

But you cannot have rational debate when you silence one view a priori. In order to have rational debate, you must first permit debate. Appealing to a "safe spot" concept is the PC way of shouting down one's opponent.