A powerful quote

[Gooders1002]

I read this and was stuned, what do you think?

[Gilgamesh]

Nope. Logic requires no rudeness. In fact, it's best served, paired with kindness, or by itself.

[John V]

The size of that image gives tl;dr a new meaning.

[Confused Ape]

Nope. Logic requires no rudeness. In fact, it's best served, paired with kindness, or by itself.

I agree. Any atheist who is downright obnoxious in their dealings with religious people shouldn't be surprised that some religious people regard atheists as the root of all evil.

[Cyberman]

The size of that image gives tl;dr a new meaning.

Agreed. Please, people, give in to the power of the [imgfit] tag!

As to the quote itself, I agree that rudeness serves to undermine whatever point is being made, as well as giving one's opponent an excuse to claim the high ground. On the other hand, sometimes it can feel justified even when it isn't.

[Zone]

Young children believe in Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy anyway so I don't think God and a belief in the afterlife would do them much harm. As long as you're not teaching them that infidels burn forever in hell or something.

[Violet]

I'm rude plenty often, but I'm not going to pretend it's for anything but myself... ever

[Angrboda]

For a lot of people, their first love is what they'll always remember. For me it's always been the first hate, and I think that hatred, though it provides often rather junky energy, is a terrific way of getting you out of bed in the morning and keeping you going. If you don't let it get out of hand, it can be canalized into writing. In this country where people love to be nonjudgmental when they can be, which translates as, on the whole, lenient, there are an awful lot of bubble reputations floating around that one wouldn't be doing one's job if one didn't itch to prick.

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My own opinion is enough for me, and I claim the right to have it defended against any consensus, any majority, anywhere, any place, any time. And anyone who disagrees with this can pick a number, get in line and kiss my ass.

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Christopher Hitchens

A common point of contention between atheists and religious theists is whether it's legitimate, appropriate, or advisable to mock, ridicule, or satirize religious beliefs. Religious believers object to this, which is no surprise, but they don't object so much when nonreligious opinions are mocked or satirized. They don't allow that mocking and satire can be legitimate tools of criticism.

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Austin Cline, About.com guide to Atheism/Agnosticism

‘It’s now very common to hear people say, “I’m rather offended by that”, as if that gives them certain rights. It’s no more than a whine. It has no meaning, it has no purpose, it has no reason to be respected as a phrase. “I’m offended by that.” Well, so fucking what?’

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Stephen Fry

“Under certain circumstances profanity provides relief denied even to prayer.”

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Mark Twain

And I can't find proper quotations for them, the first likely being anonymous, "If you don't like me laughing at your beliefs, don't have such funny beliefs," and, paraphrasing, "Some ideas are so absurd that the only appropriate response is ridicule."

Oh, and for what it's worth, I think Dennett may be getting over the hill.

[genkaus]

Rudeness, obnoxiousness, kindness etc are such subjective terms. Some people consider anything but complete acceptance of their views and beliefs to be rude.

For example, my extended family is not only deeply religious, but also very conservative regarding what career I should have, what kind of girl I should marry and what kind of lifestyle I should have. When confronted with these ideas, I always reject them summarily. But according to my mother, doing so to their face is being rude and obnoxious.

My position is, as long as you are being honest, don't give a damn about being polite.

[Confused Ape]

Rudeness, obnoxiousness, kindness etc are such subjective terms. Some people consider anything but complete acceptance of their views and beliefs to be rude.

Maybe some of us are defining it as making the kind of comments which are generally regarded as insulting. If others take politeness as rudeness just because we disagree with them there's nothing we can do about that.