The Newly Departed thread: announcements (departures)

[Whateverist]

What am I reading

In my case, sarcasm.  I'm not impressed by MK's attempt to justify the prophet's pedophilia, though admittedly I may be old fashioned that way.

[Cod]

What am I reading

In my case, sarcasm.  I'm not impressed by MK's attempt to justify the prophet's pedophilia, though admitted I may be old fashioned that way.

You're not alone, I myself am a little old fashioned... This just goes to show that these cult celebrities can do no wrong in the eyes of their fan club.
Makes me laugh how drawing a picture of the dirty old man is offensive, but his actions were perfectly acceptable.

[Pat Mustard]

During the past year (maybe a bit more), I've noticed this place becoming more hostile towards theists.
Some people tend to be respectful, like whateverist and Tiberius.... Some people are engaging, like khem or jorm...
But some people are just nasty, like kit and tizheruk.

All too often the theists (and I include CL as all too typical in this instance) bring it on themselves by being rude, condescending and ignorant towards others. An example in point, the fairly recent "discussion" by the theist members. This quickly devolved into a whine about how the christians deserved special treatment on the forums, where they'd get the usual protections but the rest of us woudn't be protected from them.

Yes I know I am abrasive and can be very insulting at times, but I am reactive in nature and rarely if ever instigate an argument, both in real life and online.

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There's always going to be a range of attitudes and engagement styles on the atheist side, just as there is going to be a range of styles on the theist side, from the thoughtful and engaging, like Neo, Steve, and alpha, to the shitters, like snowtracks, CDF47, and Little Rik.  To expect one side not to express the variety of human nature and not the other is unrealistic, IMHO.  I'm sad that we have seen a growing silence or departure from the more thoughtful theists, but I don't trace it to any change in behavior of atheists.  I think the discussion the theists had about their purposes in being here recently may have contributed some to that growing silence, but others, like Mystic and CL, clearly have their own reasons for departing.

I wouldn't include alpha in that list of thoughtful simply because he's an admitted troll. He doesn't want thoughtful and engaging posts. He wants the complete opposite.

Nor Wooters, he's expressed neo-fascist tendencies on a number of occasions in the past and is only interested in making pronouncements of his rightness. Stege, while a lot more polite, is as uninterested in debate or meaningful discussion.

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Of course we're assholes! We're atheists, aren't we?

[GrandizerII]

I would say Steve loves a good debate, and he's got ok critical thinking skills (compared to other Christian apologists that have ever posted here), but he's clearly here to reinforce his currently held position through debate, and doesn't show much evidence that he's willing or ready to adjust his worldview in light of newly acquired information. But as a debating opponent, he's ... alright.

[Angrboda]

I would say Steve loves a good debate, and he's got ok critical thinking skills (compared to other Christian apologists that have ever posted here), but he's clearly here to reinforce his currently held position through debate, and doesn't show much evidence that he's willing or ready to adjust his worldview in light of newly acquired information. But as a debating opponent, he's ... alright.

In fairness, most of us are in the same boat and are far from eager to grant the opposing position much lattitude or credibility. I don't think being attached to your own view makes you any less thoughtful or any worse a contributor to a forum such as this one. I singled out those three because unlike other theists who post on this forum, they are both respectful and genuinely engage the substance of your argument, instead of either shitposting or just repeating their beliefs ad nauseum.

[LadyForCamus]

I would say Steve loves a good debate, and he's got ok critical thinking skills (compared to other Christian apologists that have ever posted here), but he's clearly here to reinforce his currently held position through debate, and doesn't show much evidence that he's willing or ready to adjust his worldview in light of newly acquired information. But as a debating opponent, he's ... alright.

Personally, I enjoy Steve’s presence here.  He’s good for someone like me to practice with.  He poses enough of a challenge that I always learn a little something from a debate with him, even though it’s obvious he’s here to push an agenda rather than truly learn.  I’d take ten Steves over one Drich any day.

[DodosAreDead]

Who's steve? AM?

[LadyForCamus]

Who's steve? AM?

God, no, lol.

[DodosAreDead]

God, no, lol.

Then who? (I'm thankful, lol. I dislike AM)

[Angrboda]

Who's steve? AM?

https://atheistforums.org/user-6272.html