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The concept of herd mentality
#21
RE: The concept of herd mentality
I appreciate everyone who has been kind toward me and shown me friendship, given kudos, reputation credit and so on. I have shared my thoughts, opinions, and ideas here on these forums, and for the most part I have remained popular and liked not only because I occasionally have good or funny things to say, but perhaps more so because I have not stirred the waters of controversy with my forum contributions. I have deliberately amended my input on several heated topics specifically to avoid confrontation, and I feel now as though I have in some ways traded my sincerity for popularity, thus following the herd.

From this point on, I intend to continue offering my true and sincere personality as I have done thus far, however, I will no longer hold my tongue when I see bullies ganging up on people and ideas they disagree with, simply for the purpose of posturing and positioning oneself above the other. I realize that there are some outlandish beliefs in the world, and one of them that I have seen is the belief that atheists are in some way better, or intellectually superior to theists, and therefore theists deserve to have their beliefs ridiculed. It goes both ways. To theists, the atheist view is ridiculous, yet many, if not most theists on these boards do not ridicule atheists simply for their differing beliefs. I suspect that many atheists would not jump on the bashing bandwagon if the herd were not already engaged in said behavior.

I suppose I will be addressed for making this post, and perhaps that is what is needed, and I invite those who would inquire, to seek clarification first if I've said something that is unclear or requires greater detail in explaining, rather than simply misconstruing something I've said and therefore start a flame situation. And yes, I realize that atheists don't think they're attacking the person, but rather the belief - I can tell you for certain, that when you ridicule something a person holds sacred, you are ridiculing that person at the deepest level possible.
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#22
RE: The concept of herd mentality
Oh goodness, wouldn't want to hurt anyone's feelings now would we? I have a box of tissues over here, if anyone needs em. Angel

Theistic beliefs deserve ridicule - because they are ridiculous. This whole, "because atheists are better" bullshit is just that, Shaman........and I am disappoint.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
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#23
RE: The concept of herd mentality
(October 10, 2014 at 12:11 pm)Rhythm Wrote: Oh goodness, wouldn't want to hurt anyone's feelings now would we? I have a box of tissues over here, if anyone needs em. Angel

Theistic beliefs deserve ridicule - because they are ridiculous. This whole, "because atheists are better" bullshit is just that, Shaman........and I am disappoint.
I'm disappointed in supposed adults who take an inappropriate and disproportionate amount of pleasure in ridiculing others with whom they disagree. Keep your tissues to wipe the snotty little noses.
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#24
RE: The concept of herd mentality
Ridiculing beliefs. Sigh. Do you know these people? I don't. What else could I possibly be ridiculing - other than the thought droppings they've deigned to grace us with, here at AF?
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
Reply
#25
RE: The concept of herd mentality
(October 10, 2014 at 12:20 pm)Rhythm Wrote: Ridiculing beliefs. Sigh. Do you know these people? I don't. What else could I possibly be ridiculing - other than the thought droppings they've deigned to grace us with, here at AF?
(bold added)

I agree that if someone walks into my home and starts telling me how fairies and pixies are my salvation and that I need to get in line, that is is best to confront the matter head on.

It is quite another thing to throw stones at people who aren't involved with Atheist Forums, like say, starting a belief bashing thread about a Christian who's child just died. She didn't come here selling anything, and yet the fun was had at her expense, and ridiculing her beliefs was a barrel of laughs.

All I'm saying is that the herd has had its run, and I've run along with them. I don't expect the herd to cut me any slack as I move aside and let them now point at me, simply because I think differently. It's inevitable, the herd dictates it.
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#26
RE: The concept of herd mentality
Oh for fucks sake man. Let me carry that cross for you - it's gotta be getting heavy by now. There was probably a more appropriate thread for this. The schadenfraude thread, my friend, would have welcomed such a contribution.

But fuck it, I'm game. No one knows the girl. It's the situation and things that can be extrapolated from it that are being poked fun at. I get that it's a minor sacred cow for you but the thing about humor, is that either everything is sacred or nothing is. Add up all of the things that somebody somewhere might find in bad taste and there won't be a millimeter of room left for a joke about -anything-. A person can consider this, like a "supposed adult"...or they can post some nonsense about the mean atheist herd ganging up on folks...ridiculing them...because -herp derp- herd mentality, and, for a touch of showmanship -- add a little self fulfilling prophecy about their future ridicule at the hands of same said herd.

You know who does deserve ridicule, personally? A ditzy bitch who leaves a kid unattended in a car long enough to fucking die. I'd probably feel worse for her as a mother if I wasn't so busy feeling bad for the dead child she left in her wake. Just my herd mentality talking I guess. Probably makes me some kind of dick atheist.

Jerkoff
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
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#27
RE: The concept of herd mentality
Many Muslims say that most kinds of joking are haram. A Muslim has to be serious
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#28
RE: The concept of herd mentality
(October 10, 2014 at 12:53 pm)DramaQueen Wrote: Many Muslims say that most kinds of joking are haram. A Muslim has to be serious
A Muslim, a Jew, a Catholic, and an atheist walk into a bar...

The Muslim is quite serious, and does not want to be there. The Jew owns the place and is overseeing the watering-down of the booze. The Catholic is scoping out young men, and the atheist is drinking and making fun of the other three. (funny, it doesn't seem humorous)
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#29
RE: The concept of herd mentality
I smirked. I tried not to, but I did.
"Well, evolution is a theory. It is also a fact. And facts and theories are different things, not rungs in a hierarchy of increasing certainty. Facts are the world's data. Theories are structures of ideas that explain and interpret facts. Facts don't go away when scientists debate rival theories to explain them. Einstein's theory of gravitation replaced Newton's in this century, but apples didn't suspend themselves in midair, pending the outcome. And humans evolved from ape- like ancestors whether they did so by Darwin's proposed mechanism or by some other yet to be discovered."

-Stephen Jay Gould
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#30
RE: The concept of herd mentality
(October 10, 2014 at 11:22 am)ShaMan Wrote: I appreciate everyone who has been kind toward me and shown me friendship, given kudos, reputation credit and so on. I have shared my thoughts, opinions, and ideas here on these forums, and for the most part I have remained popular and liked not only because I occasionally have good or funny things to say, but perhaps more so because I have not stirred the waters of controversy with my forum contributions. I have deliberately amended my input on several heated topics specifically to avoid confrontation, and I feel now as though I have in some ways traded my sincerity for popularity, thus following the herd.

From this point on, I intend to continue offering my true and sincere personality as I have done thus far, however, I will no longer hold my tongue when I see bullies ganging up on people and ideas they disagree with, simply for the purpose of posturing and positioning oneself above the other. I realize that there are some outlandish beliefs in the world, and one of them that I have seen is the belief that atheists are in some way better, or intellectually superior to theists, and therefore theists deserve to have their beliefs ridiculed. It goes both ways. To theists, the atheist view is ridiculous, yet many, if not most theists on these boards do not ridicule atheists simply for their differing beliefs. I suspect that many atheists would not jump on the bashing bandwagon if the herd were not already engaged in said behavior.

I suppose I will be addressed for making this post, and perhaps that is what is needed, and I invite those who would inquire, to seek clarification first if I've said something that is unclear or requires greater detail in explaining, rather than simply misconstruing something I've said and therefore start a flame situation. And yes, I realize that atheists don't think they're attacking the person, but rather the belief - I can tell you for certain, that when you ridicule something a person holds sacred, you are ridiculing that person at the deepest level possible.

I understand what you're trying to say. Coming from a Christian background, I remember my identity (and my ego) being wrapped up in my religious beliefs. If someone 'offended' God, I'd get offended. I agree with you here that one's beliefs can sometimes feel like a second skin. But understand though too, that these forums are all about debates. lol And it's a forum whereby atheists are the dominant status. As a religious person, you should know that going in, and respect it for what it is. I post on a Christian forum, but I'm respectful that I'm in the minority there...by a long shot. lol

Having said that, they're pretty gracious and hospitable to atheists, I have to say...but I've seen personal attacks and insults from both sides, on occasion. There are areas where atheists are not permitted at all, and it would be silly for me to protest that. It's a site for Christians. lol

So, if theists come here with a preachy attitude, and desire to go on the offense with atheists...they shouldn't be that shocked as to the outcome. I don't like herd mentality, don't like bullying. I can't honestly say I've seen bullying here. If that happens, it seems like people are temp or perma banned. Idk.

Your views have always seemed reasonable to me, but I had no idea you're not an atheist. Big Grin I thought you were spiritual, but an atheist. Learn something new everyday.
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