Atheism Kills Off the Ambition of the Lower Classes and Makes them Anti-Social

[Annik]

Stop crying. You're not going to be banned for being a cunt, relax.

[TaraJo]

Why would I get banned? Have I broken some forum rule?

I'm not a mod, so I don't get final say. That being said, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if you don't even get to 50 posts before it's "So Long Blackrook."

Anyway, as for the rules, here's a thread with the rules and, IMO, the part you seem to need emphasized.

http://atheistforums.org/thread-3469.html

Avoid Flame Wars

We are an atheist forum that is welcoming to theists of all brands as long as they don't preach. Even among the atheists and agnostics here, there's a lot of idealogical disagreement. As such, heated discussions often happen. While it's against the rules to personally attack someone, we do permit some incendiary language as long as it doesn't become a flame war. Flame wars are usually between two people, but it can be more, where they constantly insult each other with long vitriolic rants. The point is to insult and it adds little conversational value. That is forbidden here. We are a group of snarky people, but we do try to keep a level of decorum here, and hope you do too. Attacking a person's argument and calling it idiotic is one thing; to do so to a person is another. Understanding the difference can help you get along well in here.

Tone Matters

Because the internet is text based and we cannot hear the person speaking, we lose the tone of voice. Text is very matter of fact, and therefore one person can misunderstand what another person is saying if they don't know it is intended to be sarcastic or witty. Try to think about what tone your text has by considering word choices and maybe using certain cues to convey a specific tone.

One way to do so is to use smilies. However, overusing smiles can make you seem smug or just annoying. (At least to me.) It ultimately depends on how you use them. Adding a smiley face to the end of a post can help make the post seem more positive. Adding a wink can convey sarcasm. We have a great selection of smilies to convey lots of moods. Use them wisely, but remember you can also come off as a smart ass if you use them too much, or inappropriately. It's all about balance.

Another way to convey emotion is to end a statement with /sarcasm or /rant. These internet cues inform people that you were being sarcastic or you ranting in general and not necessarily yelling at them. Since sarcasm and general ranting can be easily misconstrued as personal attacks, it's always good to use them, especially if you're not sure the person will get it. Better safe then sorry.

Similarly, typing in all capital letters is associated with shouting. IF YOU TYPE LIKE THIS, PEOPLE WILL FEEL LIKE YOU'RE SHOUTING AND IT WILL ALSO MAKE IT HARDER TO READ BECAUSE PEOPLE THEN READ IT WORD FOR WORD INSTEAD OF AS A FLOWING SENTENCE. If you want to convey shouting, that's fine, and it can be appropriate in some cases. If I'm making a sarcastic comment, I sometimes use the caps lock button myself. However, typing in all caps is not necessary and nobody really likes it.

Also

http://atheistforums.org/rules.php

No Personal Attacks
As a discussion based forum, the ability to interact civilly is very important. Attacks made in jest (with the understanding of both/all parties - tacit or otherwise) are allowed, as are off-handed comments that do not escalate into flame wars. Staff will take the context of each insult into consideration before taking action. Provoked insults (as determined by staff) will not incur a warning, but they are not encouraged. In the case of unprovoked insults, staff will attempt to ascertain if an attack was in jest, and will discuss the attack with both parties where possible and then decide what action to take. Members are encouraged to use the "report post" button if they find a post offensive and believe it violates this rule. This rule does not cover attacking someone's argument. It's perfectly reasonable to say "That argument is stupid", but it is recommended to back it up with sound reasoning.

This also means trolling, flame wars, and intentionally harassing other members with offensive material is strictly prohibited. Offensive language, images, or jokes are not specifically covered by this rule, unless it is done with the intent of attacking another member. If something is posted that is generally offensive to many members of the board, it may be removed pending staff discussion and disciplinary action may be taken.

Penalties for breaking this rule will include verbal warnings, official warnings, post moderation, and potential banning based on the severity of the infraction. No ban will be made without staff discussion first, unless the infraction involves deliberate trolling or gratuitous flaming.

You people claim to be "free thinkers" and yet already there are calls to ban me for the crime of giving you something to think about.

What have you given us to think about? I'll admit, most of the theists who come in here don't really get me thinking especially deeply, but all you've done is come in here and yell every hostile term you can think of at us.

And anyway, I am not the person who started the rude behavior and insults.

Really? Who did start them? I mean, nobody got rude with you before your very first post calling all of us jerks.

[Darkstar]

Trolling is not against the rules, I just looked it up. There's no rule against trolling.

And if there were, that would simply be a "catch-all" rule that would allow the moderators to ban anyone who gets unpopular because he posts unpopular opinions.

And if that's what you atheists want, I guess you will ban me.

And then you can have a circle-jerk, and no one will interrupt your love for one another as you agree that all Christians are backwoods hillbillies who marry their sisters and have inbred children.

But I'm not trolling.

You atheists should go to my political forum and you will see the atheists are even worse than anything I'm doing here.

One atheist started a thread claiming that Jesus was a rapist, and he was not banned or even warned.

Oh, so they're opinions now. No wonder you have no evidence.

You are entitled to your opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts -Daniel Patrick Moynihan

[Faith No More]

But I'm not trolling.

Perhaps not, but you aren't contributing either. You blame all of the world's problems on atheists with nothing other than your say so, and everything you say is a negative generalization. At the very least, please, try to constructively contribute here.

[Blackrook]

But I'm not trolling.

Perhaps not, but you aren't contributing either. You blame all of the world's problems on atheists with nothing other than your say so, and everything you say is a negative generalization. At the very least, please, try to constructively contribute here.

How do I constructively contribute? Shall I be polite as atheists put up blasphemous cartoons of Christ and accuse every priest in my Church of being a pedophile?

I'm really acting just the same as you guys, not even as bad.

The only reason you guys notice my alleged rudeness is because you disagree with what I'm saying it.

If I was an atheist, I would fit right in.

[System of Solace]

We're acting that way because you are.

[Blackrook]

We're acting that way because you are.

Really? One guy comes into a forum and makes a little noise and suddenly everyone else has a drastic personality change?

Yeah, I don't think so.

[Darkstar]

How do I constructively contribute? Shall I be polite as atheists put up blasphemous cartoons of Christ and accuse every priest in my Church of being a pedophile?

I'm really acting just the same as you guys, not even as bad.

The only reason you guys notice my alleged rudeness is because you disagree with what I'm saying it.

If I was an atheist, I would fit right in.

1. We disagree becuase you are makeing sweeping, false, claims about atheism.
2. We didn't accuse all of your priests of being pedophiles. It's just the fact that the pope tends to cover for them that worries us.
3.You were rude to us from post 1.
4. Who am I to suppose you should blaspheme against to offend us? How about you look at this before being so easily offended and accusing us of doing so.

---

We're acting that way because you are.

Really? One guy comes into a forum and makes a little noise and suddenly everyone else has a drastic personality change?

Yeah, I don't think so.

Towards you! Who else have we taken issue with who hasn't been rude?

[TaraJo]

How do I constructively contribute? Shall I be polite as atheists put up blasphemous cartoons of Christ and accuse every priest in my Church of being a pedophile?

Wait a minute..... priests rape little boys; not all of them, but quite a few. And the church's response was to be more concerned with protecting themselves, including the pedophile priests, than they are with protecting the boys who are being molested and raped. And you're more upset with us for mocking them than you are with them for these committing these atrocities in the first place?

That's mind blowingly callused to those children. Are you actually saying that it's ok to believe in a church that pulls this shit but it's not ok to mock them?

The only reason you guys notice my alleged rudeness is because you disagree with what I'm saying it.

Dude, in case you haven't been paying attention, this forum has several theists in it and none of them have any problems or hostility directed at them. Just you. You might compare your behavior to theirs and try to figure out a few differences in behavior between you and them.

[Annik]

Lol, I will admit to acting more childish than usual this evening. I'm all silly from illustrating for a long while. It was awesome.