(October 16, 2013 at 10:33 pm)Vincenzo "Vinny" G. Wrote:All I get is that you are trying to impose a definition that we disagree with. Maybe every atheist out there uses that definition, but everyone that I have encounter does.(October 16, 2013 at 8:30 pm)Lemonvariable72 Wrote: How is that a inaccurate representation, I mean its not like there was a huge conference or anything, it is just that nearly every atheist you speak to defines it this way
Maybe you genuinely don't see the problem so I will lay it out for you.
1. Can you speak on behalf of the "whole community"? No.
2. When you refer to the "whole community" your statement suggests that nobody in the atheist community disagrees with the definition. Can you know that for certain? No.
3. When you claim the whole community has decided, you must know that deciding something involves deliberation. Can you really say that the whole community deliberated on this decision? No.
4. The "community of nonbelievers" are not just atheists. They include agnostics, deists and even the religiously unaffiliated. Can you speak on behalf of this larger group? No.
5. Technically, I am a part of the "community of nonbelievers". Did your claim represent me in any fashion? No.
I know it looks like I'm being nitpicky here, but you used such a poor choice of wording in your statement that at worst, you can be accused of being a dishonest revisionist.
But I know you didn't intend that. Maybe you just didn't phrase the sentence in the best way, and thus suggested something very different than was actually the case. It's still irresponsible, and I'm still mystified that you don't even get it. Perhaps English is not your first language, in which case, I'll be a lot more understanding.
But I'm not so disappointed in you. I'm more disappointed in the other people here who saw the claim and didn't even bother to correct it. They sat idly by as lies were being told and instead of correcting the statement decided to defend it to score argument points. To me this is ethically questionable character.
Anyway, I'm sure you're tired of discussing this. If you really still don't get it, there's nothing else I can do to help.
However I fail to see why you reject our usage of it.
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
