How to Prove Your Own Position without Trying Very Hard

[Randy Carson]

I bet you are used to debating other Christians, where they don't question your magical premises.

I'm sorry to disagree with you so quickly.

I've been rowing with Randy for quite a long time and Randy doesn't debate or discuss.

Randy repeats himself, usually with even more copy and pasting.  Then he declares himself the winner, accompanied by self-congratulation.

Kaninchen-

If you had ever bothered to interact seriously with any of my posts, then what you claim might have some merit.

But that is not your style. You are a drive-by artist. Queen of the snarky one-liner. And how can we be sure of this? Because the reason you are even here is that your mouth finally got you suspended at CAF.

See my point, kaninchen? The fact that you registered here today proves what I'm saying is true. You got yourself suspended at CAF because you don't actually "debate or discuss". You snipe. And the mods finally took action that was long overdue.

You won't interact with the information anyone presents because you'd rather argue against the man. When pressed, you feign boredom and forum fatigue...like you've done it all before and really don't want to be bothered to get into it again.

Except that no one has ever actually seen you make a real argument. You know, where you do some research, quote a scholar, dig into a passage of scripture and provide alternative exegesis. You've got 8,000+ posts on a Catholic apologetics forum, but you don't actually want to discuss the apologetics arguments themselves. WTH? Why are you even there? Because you're a troll.

You're all talk, and what you say is not too impressive.

Oh, but you are clever, and you have a sharp tongue and a quick wit. I have to give you that. So, you'll fit right in here. And since you never actually talk about G-d anyway, self-identifying as a monotheist should not be a problem for you.

Finally, I am flattered that you followed me here. It's kinda like having my own personal stalker!

[Jenny A]

Randy,

Yes people are making fun of Christians here.  No, I don't think anyone think it's proof that Christianity is wrong.  There's no need to prove wrong what hasn't been demonstrated in the first place.

However, there are lazier ways to "prove" things:

1. Recite an ancient and mythic narrative.

2. Demand people explain it away.

http://atheistforums.org/thread-34162.html

[Randy Carson]

Randy,

Yes people are making fun of Christians here.  No, I don't think anyone think it's proof that Christianity is wrong.  There's no need to prove wrong what hasn't been demonstrated in the first place.

However, there are lazier ways to "prove" things:

1. Recite an ancient and mythic narrative.

2. Demand people explain it away.

http://atheistforums.org/thread-34162.html

Jenny-

Serious question...if you look at the threads posted over the past 30 days or so, you will find dozens mocking Christianity and Christians, agreed? Not all but lots - maybe most, right?

Okay, it's an atheist forum, so I get that. Some of the mockery is deserved, frankly.

But I post this one thread in which I parody the predictable, almost mechanical form that some of these threads follow (I even had one particular forum member in mind as I typed the OP), and I'm the one with the attitude?

Don't think so.

[Pizza]

http://50.22.108.14/showthread.php?t=966727

Interesting, it seems he's an asshole everywhere and it seems some Christians agree with us that his approach isn't very strong.

Randy, Im not sure what you think this proves. Using Josephus is weak, as he wasnt even born by the time Jesus died.

Also, proving that a historical man named Jesus existed and was crucified doesn't prove that he was God. Many people were crucified by the Romans. How does any of that prove that Jesus resurrected, much less proving that he was God?

IMO there is no proof for anything. No evidence. If you go that path of relying on evidence, you may shake people's faith as the evidence isnt good and largely non-existent. People believe due to faith alone, there is no other way. Im not sure why, or even if, you think that is a problem.

I wouldn't say "independent authors." All of the authors of the NT were from the same movement with the same bias and agenda. Not exactly independent or non-partisan.

I do think you should consider asking a Catholic friend or two to look at what you're doing over there and give you some feedback as to how it's going. I can see that you're having great fun, it suits your aggressive approach, but is it doing anything other than confirming their prejudices while you rehash arguments they've seen time after time?

Got him pegged down.

[Randy Carson]

http://50.22.108.14/showthread.php?t=966727

Interesting, it seems he's an asshole everywhere and it seems some Christians agree with us that his approach isn't very strong.

Randy, Im not sure what you think this proves. Using Josephus is weak, as he wasnt even born by the time Jesus died.

Also, proving that a historical man named Jesus existed and was crucified doesn't prove that he was God. Many people were crucified by the Romans. How does any of that prove that Jesus resurrected, much less proving that he was God?

IMO there is no proof for anything. No evidence. If you go that path of relying on evidence, you may shake people's faith as the evidence isnt good and largely non-existent. People believe due to faith alone, there is no other way. Im not sure why, or even if, you think that is a problem.

I wouldn't say "independent authors." All of the authors of the NT were from the same movement with the same bias and agenda. Not exactly independent or non-partisan.

I do think you should consider asking a Catholic friend or two to look at what you're doing over there and give you some feedback as to how it's going. I can see that you're having great fun, it suits your aggressive approach, but is it doing anything other than confirming their prejudices while you rehash arguments they've seen time after time?

Got him pegged down.

First, the name of the poster you are quoting is SonofMan, not SonofGod. The post you quoted is here.

Second, he is not a Christian. He self-identifies as unsure, but he's pretty negative.

Third, further in the thread, other Christians take exception to him AND to Kaninchen including Contarini, who has a PhD in history. He's a Protestant, so we don't always agree, but it's safe to say that he agrees with me more than he does with either of them.

Finally, if you stick around CAF, you'll learn a few things...including who the more respected members of the forum really are.

[SteelCurtain]

And, let me guess, the more respected members are the ones who post praise at your walls of copypasta, and the less respected ones are the ones that show dissent. Amirite?

You know what the irony is? For all your sniping at the staff and your salvos at our integrity, let me tell you that the only reason that you are still a poster here is because of the staff's integrity. You have had, let's say, a nonzero number of reports against you, Randy. Any of them could have resulted in a temp or perma ban because we don't like you and take issue with your continued calling out of the staff in the public forum, but yet you're still here. You have been given more chances than any other user since I've been on staff. That's regular for invested theists here, by the way.

It's funny that you reported Kaninchen for (looking at her recent posts on CAF) what looks to me like nothing, but I know such an offense as calling your ridiculous copypasta "smoke and mirrors" can get a person in trouble for ruffling feathers over at CAF.

You're making me hate Georgia Tech. My college football coach, Paul Johnson, is the HC there now, and I used to have a soft spot for the Yeller Jackets.

[Spooky]

...


Nothing really earth shattering going on with this one...

[Randy Carson]

And, let me guess, the more respected members are the ones who post praise at your walls of copypasta, and the less respected ones are the ones that show dissent. Amirite?

No, Mike. The more respected members of the forum are the ones who know the correct CATHOLIC ANSWERS to the many questions that are posed by Catholics and non-Catholics alike DAILY. It may surprise you, but my rather substantial library of copypasta has a purpose...to enable me to provide solid, orthodox Catholic Answers to real questions - in 6,000 characters or less - in only a few SECONDS. For example, just this week, I got a PM from someone active on an Orthodox board who wanted quotes from the ECF...um, Early Church Fathers regarding the keys given to Peter by Jesus. I had a few dozen that I sent over to him. Because I could.

Now, I don't copypasta as much here because there aren't as many questions being asked here, and because I've chosen to manage my time differently here. There, I can post one thing in a thread and move on, because there are so many other Catholics who are involved in the discussions. It's the Protestants and non-believers who are swarmed. Here I post one thing, and suddenly, I AM the the thread. I'm swarmed, and I have no backup. But it's cool. I'm learning how to manage the load. And I'm quote mining Ehrman, O'Neill, and others so I don't have to re-invent the wheel every time an atheist says, "Show me the evidence." I will. click. click.

You know what the irony is? For all your sniping at the staff and your salvos at our integrity, let me tell you that the only reason that you are still a poster here is because of the staff's integrity. You have had, let's say, a nonzero number of reports against you, Randy. Any of them could have resulted in a temp or perma ban because we don't like you and take issue with your continued calling out of the staff in the public forum, but yet you're still here. You have been given more chances than any other user since I've been on staff. That's regular for invested theists here, by the way.

It's funny that you reported Kaninchen for (looking at her recent posts on CAF) what looks to me like nothing, but I know such an offense as calling your ridiculous copypasta "smoke and mirrors" can get a person in trouble for ruffling feathers over at CAF.

I never said I reported Kaninchen. I said she got suspended. Are you privy to some information about what motivated the mods at CAF? Are YOU Kaninchen?     jk

But yes, as you can see the mods at CAF do run their ship VERY differently. If you think that Kaninchen was suspended for a trifling, then ask yourself how is it that I've managed to NOT get banned or suspended in ten years there? Catholics get banned there, too, ya know...just look through the old threads for ample evidence of that. I've just taken on a different personna here...an edgier style that seems to match the carpet and the drapes. But I always try to mirror the tone of the person I'm talking to. Jenny, Jorm, Nemo...they're nice to me, so I'm nice to them. Others....not so much. And rather than getting into big pissing contests with some, I just ignore them. There are too many other people I'd rather talk to.

I have NO ONE on ignore at CAF. Let that sink in.

But, yes, it took me awhile to get used to the way things are done here, and I was not very happy about some things. But it's all good now. And I have not caused you any headaches recently, have I? (other than all the posts which are undoubtedly reported daily) So, I publicly thank you and all the staff for your forbearance. Hopefully, it was worth it, because I am now providing regular entertainment for all the troops. I mean, if it wasn't for me, you'd be stuck beating up on huggy and how long can you do that without getting bored? (No offense, huggy!)  

You're making me hate Georgia Tech. My college football coach, Paul Johnson, is the HC there now, and I used to have a soft spot for the Yeller Jackets.

Well, that places you at Hawaii, Georgia Southern, or Navy. I have to say, I was not sure CPJ would survive this past year given the season they had two years ago, but they shocked a lot of folks. I absolutely love that offense.

[SteelCurtain]

And, let me guess, the more respected members are the ones who post praise at your walls of copypasta, and the less respected ones are the ones that show dissent. Amirite?

No, Mike. The more respected members of the forum are the ones who know the correct CATHOLIC ANSWERS to the many questions that are posed by Catholics and non-Catholics alike DAILY. It may surprise you, but my rather substantial library of copypasta has a purpose...to enable me to provide solid, orthodox Catholic Answers to real questions - in 6,000 characters or less - in only a few SECONDS. For example, just this week, I got a PM from someone active on an Orthodox board who wanted quotes from the ECF...um, Early Church Fathers regarding the keys given to Peter by Jesus. I had a few dozen that I sent over to him. Because I could.

Now, I don't copypasta as much here because there aren't as many questions being asked here, and because I've chosen to manage my time differently here. There, I can post one thing in a thread and move on, because there are so many other Catholics who are involved in the discussions. It's the Protestants and non-believers who are swarmed. Here I post one thing, and suddenly, I AM the the thread. I'm swarmed, and I have no backup. But it's cool. I'm learning how to manage the load. And I'm quote mining Ehrman, O'Neill, and others so I don't have to re-invent the wheel every time an atheist says, "Show me the evidence." I will. click. click.

Except you haven't. And your insistence on copy/pasting your posts instead of actually having a discussion with people is a large portion of the reason why you have gotten terrible reception here.

You know what the irony is? For all your sniping at the staff and your salvos at our integrity, let me tell you that the only reason that you are still a poster here is because of the staff's integrity. You have had, let's say, a nonzero number of reports against you, Randy. Any of them could have resulted in a temp or perma ban because we don't like you and take issue with your continued calling out of the staff in the public forum, but yet you're still here. You have been given more chances than any other user since I've been on staff. That's regular for invested theists here, by the way.

It's funny that you reported Kaninchen for (looking at her recent posts on CAF) what looks to me like nothing, but I know such an offense as calling your ridiculous copypasta "smoke and mirrors" can get a person in trouble for ruffling feathers over at CAF.

I never said I reported Kaninchen. I said she got suspended. Are you privy to some information about what motivated the mods at CAF? Are YOU Kaninchen?     jk

I didn't get that information from you, jackass. And yes, I am Kaninchen. The very same. I have hoodwinked the entire staff and am posing as the very same Jewess who has plagued you at the other forum until you reported her because she was making you look like a fool in front of the line of people waiting to prostrate themselves in front of you because you confirmed their bias in the form of 6,000 characters of copypasta which half of them didn't even read.

But yes, as you can see the mods at CAF do run their ship VERY differently. If you think that Kaninchen was suspended for a trifling, then ask yourself how is it that I've managed to NOT get banned or suspended in ten years there? Catholics get banned there, too, ya know...just look through the old threads for ample evidence of that. I've just taken on a different personna here...an edgier style that seems to match the carpet and the drapes. But I always try to mirror the tone of the person I'm talking to. Jenny, Jorm, Nemo...they're nice to me, so I'm nice to them. Others....not so much. And rather than getting into big pissing contests with some, I just ignore them. There are too many other people I'd rather talk to.

I have NO ONE on ignore at CAF. Let that sink in.

I don't fault you for having people on ignore. I'd imagine if I deigned to go to a religious forum for some reason, I'd probably have some people on ignore as well, if only to cut the chaff so I could respond. I do, however, fault you for continuously sniping at the staff and making childish, passive aggressive comments directed at the staff because this forum didn't suit you. I fault you for continuing to do it, even after multiple staff members acknowledged your complaint, and said it wasn't going to change. I fault you for whinging about people not being able to take a joke (this thread) when the entirety of your post count to this point has been condescending and officious---and we took this to just be yet another point in the catalog.

But, yes, it took me awhile to get used to the way things are done here, and I was not very happy about some things. But it's all good now. And I have not caused you any headaches recently, have I? (other than all the posts which are undoubtedly reported daily) So, I publicly thank you and all the staff for your forbearance. Hopefully, it was worth it, because I am now providing regular entertainment for all the troops. I mean, if it wasn't for me, you'd be stuck beating up on huggy and how long can you do that without getting bored? (No offense, huggy!)  

All told, Randy, yes, you have caused quite a few headaches of late. I won't post the report count publicly, I'll repeat it's non-zero.

You're making me hate Georgia Tech. My college football coach, Paul Johnson, is the HC there now, and I used to have a soft spot for the Yeller Jackets.

Well, that places you at Hawaii, Georgia Southern, or Navy. I have to say, I was not sure CPJ would survive this past year given the season they had two years ago, but they shocked a lot of folks. I absolutely love that offense.

I played safety for Navy for four years under PJ. (He was, by far, the highest paid person in the DoD) Coach Niumatololo took over for him for the 2007 bowl season. I didn't get to play in the Army-Navy game that year because of a mangled knee from the very last defensive play in the Notre Dame game, where we beat ND for the first time in 47 years in triple OT. (Which I almost lost for us by biting HEAVY on play action then falling down when I tried to recover, and if it weren't for a dropped pass, I would have been the reason we lost.)

[Kaninchen]

But that is not your style. You are a drive-by artist. Queen of the snarky one-liner. And how can we be sure of this? Because the reason you are even here is that your mouth finally got you suspended at CAF.

And yet, Randy, I've managed to remain a member of CAF for over eight years while not giving an inch on my beliefs and without causing uproar whenever I come across people who don't agree with me.

Meanwhile, virtually everything you do turns into an 'omnishambles' and you seem to have an acute ability to annoy even those with similar beliefs.  When it's pointed out that it's what you do, what do you do?  You deny it and then immediately repeat it.

Let's see what the leader of your church said last week:

Such unity is already an act of mission, “that the world may believe”. Evangelization does not consist in proselytizing, but in attracting by our witness those who are far off, in humbly drawing near to those who feel distant from God and the Church, those who are fearful or indifferent, and saying to them: “The Lord, with great respect and love, is also calling you to be a part of his people” (Evangelii Gaudium, 113).

Where's the 'attracting by our witness', Randy?  Let's face it, you could start a fistfight in an amputee ward.

You see, one of the first things I noticed about you is that you don't behave like a Catholic, you behave like a sub-Josh McDowell Protestant Evangelical with all that mechanistic 'evidence' and repetitive apologetics.  You say that I don't discuss your material but your lack of self-awareness is such that you don't appreciate that the reason people don't do that is that they eventually give up trying to do so because of the non-responsive nature of your replies and behaviour.