Feigned indignation and false maryterdom complex

[Brian37]

I'd like to point out that often in a discussion with an ideologue, you are as much making a case for your position to the ideologue as you are making a case to the audience.

Another reason to be less "You're an idiot" and more "You show a poor understanding of X,Y,Z. Perhaps you should inspect things more carefully before mouthing off."

Our personal attacks clause is often relaxed when the poster engages in clever aphorisms and displays an understanding of wit.

The clause, consequently, is strongest against "You're a douchebag loser crack addict."

If I may, and I am not sure if I have used this example on this board before.

In my entire history of posting on several board over the past 11 years there has been only ONE person who initially made a demand that that board boot him. And admittedly my blood was boiling because of an insult he had made about my x-wife.

He had started a thread about the Japanese Tsunami. 13, thousand people died in that event. He'd had already in prior posts at that board been making DIRECT insults about atheists, calling us all sorts of names.

But he hit close to home because what he did not know, was that my x was Japanese. The thread was about how god allowed it as a warning to America to find god.

Now my x was not directly affected, but her home nation was and her family knew people directly affected. Not to mention that my x has TWO degrees and a PHD in microbiology. Not to mention that Japan has no crime rate compared to America.

The name calling prior to that I lived with. I have been called every name in the book merely for not believing. But he picked on a completely innocent person and a nation that sets a much better example than America.

I initially demanded he be removed because of that "insult". But someone pulled me aside and said "no Brian, let him hang himself". And that person was dead on right. So now when he posts his bullshit, he still uses his standard insults about atheists, but every time he posts I remind everyone about that thread. It doesn't shut him up forever, but it becomes something that "let the reader decide" and most of the time he stops posting in that thread.

I want people like that to put on display it allows me to use their own weight against them. So while he is an asshole and still insults us, it doesn't bother me like it did at first. I simply ridicule him. He is quite useful to that board and brings that board lots of attention.

[Whateverist]

What I hear from you, however, are poorly reasoned excuses to stoop to their level while attempting to hold onto the idea that you are merely trying to change their mind.

Exactly. When you try to coerce opinion by intimidation or trickery, you show the same contempt for reason and autonomy as Christianity.

Wait, Brian won't respect me unless I insult him. "Brian, you're a dick."

[Minimalist]

Just saying "Jesus freaks" even if you leave out "I am sick of their shit", "Jesus freaks" alone would insult them.

Good. But I don't want to take any chances. Some of them are thick as shit and might miss the point.

Really. I am not here to make them happy. If they don't like the heat let them stay out of the kitchen. There are plenty of jesus-freak boards where they can go and smear their syrupy shit all over the landscape and have other assholes "bless" them for it.

[Tempus]

There are plenty of jesus-freak boards where they can go and smear their syrupy shit all over the landscape and have other assholes "bless" them for it.

I misread that as "broads" - paints a totally different mental image...

[Minimalist]

I like the way you think.

[Godscreated]

@ Brian37 you are wrong about Christians being offended by the word atheist or any of the other things you mentioned. We for the most part are offended by language that we see that is in direct moral odds with us. I do try to over look it till it is directed at me, it disagrees with me, especially when one really knows little about me. I do on occasion return an insult when insulted or at least I feel I've been insulted, it's not what I should do, it's the human response that comes out as a defense, I do not like it when I do, but I'm not perfect and never will be. I enjoy sensible debate with many on this site and hope to for awhile. I do not know about others here, when I'm told to shut up that's offensive, saying I do not have a right to express my thoughts here seems senseless to me.

[Angrboda]

[Brian37]

@ Brian37 you are wrong about Christians being offended by the word atheist or any of the other things you mentioned. We for the most part are offended by language that we see that is in direct moral odds with us. I do try to over look it till it is directed at me, it disagrees with me, especially when one really knows little about me. I do on occasion return an insult when insulted or at least I feel I've been insulted, it's not what I should do, it's the human response that comes out as a defense, I do not like it when I do, but I'm not perfect and never will be. I enjoy sensible debate with many on this site and hope to for awhile. I do not know about others here, when I'm told to shut up that's offensive, saying I do not have a right to express my thoughts here seems senseless to me.

You get stuck on the word Christian. I deal with Christians because I am surrounded by them. I never said ALL Christians. But there are always going to be many, not all, that your mere presence is an offense. And since you have not lived my life, you have no clue whom I've run into.

Our species has ALWAYS produced a degree of "fear of the outsider", people who are offended by your mere existence. And the more people recognize evolution for what it is and not get stuck on labels the less that has the opportunity to happen.

Now as far as being told to shut up, that to is in context. I don't believe I have ever personally told anyone to shut up on this website. I have wished people would shut up. The people I want the most to shut up are the bigots and fear mongers. Simply saying something that makes me want to pull my hair doesn't make me think that.

But as far as this website, no one but the owner has rights. I have no right to demand to post here, neither do you. This is private property and only the owner gets to decide what the rules are and who posts here. Free speech only applies to the government. The government cannot have you arrested for merely saying something unpopular or offensive.

As far as people not knowing you personally, why do you think I make it clear that there is a HUGE difference between a person, and what a person claims. I judge the claim, not the person. I do not like any claim in human history that postulates invisible friends. But not just that, ANYTHING that makes claims that has no lab tested independent verification.

I am an equal opportunity offender. If you make an absurd claim, god or not, I am going to jump on it. It is nothing personal to me, nor should it be for the person I am jumping on.

[Whateverist]

@ Brian37 you are wrong about Christians being offended by the word atheist or any of the other things you mentioned.

You get stuck on the word Christian. I deal with Christians because I am surrounded by them. I never said ALL Christians. But there are always going to be many, not all, that your mere presence is an offense. And since you have not lived my life, you have no clue whom I've run into.

Brian is a dick. Now wait a minute. I never said he was a dick every minute of the day. Just because I make a completely general statement doesn't mean I don't mean to imply some qualifier or other.

So when Brian says "Christians are X" there is no reason to read that as "All Christians are X" instead of "Some Christians are X". Give the guy a break.

It may not be the word "Christian" GC is getting stuck on. He, like myself, may be getting stuck on your casual -bordering on eccentric- phraseology.

[The Grand Nudger]

@ Brian37 you are wrong about Christians being offended by the word atheist or any of the other things you mentioned. We for the most part are offended by language that we see that is in direct moral odds with us. I do try to over look it till it is directed at me, it disagrees with me, especially when one really knows little about me. I do on occasion return an insult when insulted or at least I feel I've been insulted, it's not what I should do, it's the human response that comes out as a defense, I do not like it when I do, but I'm not perfect and never will be. I enjoy sensible debate with many on this site and hope to for awhile. I do not know about others here, when I'm told to shut up that's offensive, saying I do not have a right to express my thoughts here seems senseless to me.

(italics my own)

You've had one of those recently........?