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(May 23, 2016 at 3:26 am)TheRocketSurgeon Wrote: I keep getting messages (which ping my phone to let me know I have a message), and have been having to reply to queries in several formats, so I'll come say this here to get it all out of the way.
I don't give a rat's ass (am I allowed to say that?) about the behavior of a troll. By the way, I don't think this is a troll; I've lived in Oklahoma, and this is really how most (white) people there think and speak.
What I do care about is the heavy-handed behavior of moderators on this board, a pattern I have noticed and been chafing at for some time.
Whether or not the post was directed at me (and I don't see how it could have been otherwise, since I too was arguing with this person who was so willing to slander us), we have a sudden and almost random "application of the rules", after this person has already started up several aggressive and libelous threads, only to start up another one in the introductions section that immediately sets about trying to flame us... and NOW it's off-limits to respond in (as Thump kindly called it), a "detailed and civil reply", just because this time she happened to pick the Introductions section for her, what, fifth thread?
Well, I don't use the sections; I use the "New Posts" button, which makes it hard to notice what sub-forum it's in when I open a new topic. The last thing I want to do with my time is worry about whether this particular thread I open up is going to draw a moderator's censorship, especially when the only thing I ever see anymore is long-time atheist members getting called out/constrained, and these vile bigots just left to run essentially rampant. That is why I said "enjoy your Christians".
For most of the previous year, I was spread too thin with my small amount of "spare" time, trying to keep up with the posts on AF and TTA at the same time, so I chose between them. I chose AF because of its smaller membership numbers; I figured it would hurt TTA less to lose the active participation of a member than it would, here. I have been questioning that decision, as I watched the pattern develop, and have instead decided to return to TTA. I like and/or respect a great many of you. So if any of you are members of TTA, or wish to post there, I will be glad to keep talking to you all.
If-and-when AF decides to get a new crop of less-heavy-handed moderators, and issues an apology for the constant Big Brother oversight that has been the case in the last couple of months, I will return. If this cannot be, then I wish you all the best.
- Rob (aka Rocket)
I wish you don't leave, but you do what you need to do.
BTW, the staff is not what you accused them of. You got personnally touched by the speedbump and throed a fit. Now you are just banking on pride and made the above post to try to justify that. A sad day indeed
I'm more than happy with the staff for freely giving their time together with Tibs.
They've made this the best place on the net.
Ironically, what I admire most is their fairness and leniency towards those less than genuine.
Yeah, they're idiots, but hey, free entertainment! Everybody wins.
May 23, 2016 at 5:49 am (This post was last modified: May 23, 2016 at 5:52 am by Alex K.)
(May 23, 2016 at 3:26 am)TheRocketSurgeon Wrote: I keep getting messages (which ping my phone to let me know I have a message), and have been having to reply to queries in several formats, so I'll come say this here to get it all out of the way.
I don't give a rat's ass (am I allowed to say that?) about the behavior of a troll. By the way, I don't think this is a troll; I've lived in Oklahoma, and this is really how most (white) people there think and speak.
What I do care about is the heavy-handed behavior of moderators on this board, a pattern I have noticed and been chafing at for some time.
Whether or not the post was directed at me (and I don't see how it could have been otherwise, since I too was arguing with this person who was so willing to slander us), we have a sudden and almost random "application of the rules", after this person has already started up several aggressive and libelous threads, only to start up another one in the introductions section that immediately sets about trying to flame us... and NOW it's off-limits to respond in (as Thump kindly called it), a "detailed and civil reply", just because this time she happened to pick the Introductions section for her, what, fifth thread?
Well, I don't use the sections; I use the "New Posts" button, which makes it hard to notice what sub-forum it's in when I open a new topic. The last thing I want to do with my time is worry about whether this particular thread I open up is going to draw a moderator's censorship, especially when the only thing I ever see anymore is long-time atheist members getting called out/constrained, and these vile bigots just left to run essentially rampant. That is why I said "enjoy your Christians".
For most of the previous year, I was spread too thin with my small amount of "spare" time, trying to keep up with the posts on AF and TTA at the same time, so I chose between them. I chose AF because of its smaller membership numbers; I figured it would hurt TTA less to lose the active participation of a member than it would, here. I have been questioning that decision, as I watched the pattern develop, and have instead decided to return to TTA. I like and/or respect a great many of you. So if any of you are members of TTA, or wish to post there, I will be glad to keep talking to you all.
If-and-when AF decides to get a new crop of less-heavy-handed moderators, and issues an apology for the constant Big Brother oversight that has been the case in the last couple of months, I will return. If this cannot be, then I wish you all the best.
- Rob (aka Rocket)
Since my spare time is too thinly spread to frequent a second atheist forum, and the mod policy isn't likely going to change, this is good bye then. I've enjoyed talking to you, and your insights into microbio etc.
The fool hath said in his heart, There is a God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
So... hum..... Welcome, Janice.
Maybe I'll see you around, in some other part of the forum... for now, enjoy the place.
I hope you're not the troll some are claiming you to be.
Sorry to see Rocket go out like this...
I appreciate his input on everything.
That said, the speedbump was called for. The thread's title is "warm greetings", it's in the intro part of the forum... this part has this rule where older members should be welcoming and nice... instead of confrontational and insulting... Rocket, you weren't insulting, I think... but confrontational... and that is best left for elsewhere.
TheRocketSurgeon Wrote:It is hardly surprising to me that, coming from such an insular society, in which everyone you know thinks just like you, that you'd have a hard time grasping why atheism makes any sense. However, if you really want to know, there was an atheist group that met weekly at a restaurant/bar in the Paseo Arts District (it's called the Picasso Cafe, now, but was called something else, back in 2002 when I was there). If you'd really like to get to know some nonbelievers as people, you might drop by some of their meetings.
According to their website, they now have a larger number of activities, with a schedule. You can contact them via the website, and attend the meetups scheduled on the site.
I think you'll find, when you actually meet and get to know some of us, that many of your preconceived notions about us are simply wrong, peddled by preachers who have an agenda in making us look like The Enemy™.
"Insular Society" "God's country", call us what you will, but Oklahoma is one of the grandest places in the USA.
Atheists are not the enemy? Excuse me? You take prayer out of schools, want to remove "Under God" from our pledge, and want to forbid the putting up of nativity scenes and merry christmas. Why aren't you the enemy?
Those things all have to do with secularism, and more Christians support them than atheists.
Prayer has never been taken out of schools, only the authority of government employees to lead a captive audience of other people's children in prayer.
'Under God' is still in the pledge, but it wasn't in the original version of the pledge. It was inserted in the 1950s during the Red Scare. It doesn't belong in the pledge of an officially secular nation, and the only reason it got by the Supreme Court is that it was argued that the 'God' in the pledge wasn't specifically the Abrahamic God.
We heartily support your right to a nativity scene: on your own property. Government property belongs to everyone and the government shouldn't endorse a particular religion when everyone is supposed to be equal in the eyes of the law.
Atheists aren't trying to get rid of 'Merry Christmas'. Some stores, desiring to be more inclusive and welcoming of customers, have their sales staff say 'Happy Holidays' instead of 'Merry Christmas'. Your ability to say 'Merry Christmas' is not hindered in any way by this.
It is best for all concerned in the long run if government is as neutral as possible regarding religious matters. The same rules would apply if it were Muslims, atheists, Buddhists, or Wiccans trying to use the government to endorse their views on religion.
If someone were trying to take your Bibles, shut down your churches, or forbid your protests; I would be on your side. So no, I don't consider myself the enemy of Christians. I do oppose Christianists, though. A Christianist is to a Christian as an Islamist is to a Muslim; someone who wants special privileges from the government for their religion.
TheRocketSurgeon Wrote:I keep getting messages (which ping my phone to let me know I have a message), and have been having to reply to queries in several formats, so I'll come say this here to get it all out of the way.
I don't give a rat's ass (am I allowed to say that?) about the behavior of a troll. By the way, I don't think this is a troll; I've lived in Oklahoma, and this is really how most (white) people there think and speak.
What I do care about is the heavy-handed behavior of moderators on this board, a pattern I have noticed and been chafing at for some time.
Whether or not the post was directed at me (and I don't see how it could have been otherwise, since I too was arguing with this person who was so willing to slander us), we have a sudden and almost random "application of the rules", after this person has already started up several aggressive and libelous threads, only to start up another one in the introductions section that immediately sets about trying to flame us... and NOW it's off-limits to respond in (as Thump kindly called it), a "detailed and civil reply", just because this time she happened to pick the Introductions section for her, what, fifth thread?
Well, I don't use the sections; I use the "New Posts" button, which makes it hard to notice what sub-forum it's in when I open a new topic. The last thing I want to do with my time is worry about whether this particular thread I open up is going to draw a moderator's censorship, especially when the only thing I ever see anymore is long-time atheist members getting called out/constrained, and these vile bigots just left to run essentially rampant. That is why I said "enjoy your Christians".
For most of the previous year, I was spread too thin with my small amount of "spare" time, trying to keep up with the posts on AF and TTA at the same time, so I chose between them. I chose AF because of its smaller membership numbers; I figured it would hurt TTA less to lose the active participation of a member than it would, here. I have been questioning that decision, as I watched the pattern develop, and have instead decided to return to TTA. I like and/or respect a great many of you. So if any of you are members of TTA, or wish to post there, I will be glad to keep talking to you all.
If-and-when AF decides to get a new crop of less-heavy-handed moderators, and issues an apology for the constant Big Brother oversight that has been the case in the last couple of months, I will return. If this cannot be, then I wish you all the best.
- Rob (aka Rocket)
So you're convinced this is all about you and has nothing to do with the post where she was invited to set herself on fire? Even though it was specifically said that it wasn't directed at you personally. I have to say, I'm disappointed. At least you probably made Janice happy. Best of luck.
(November 14, 2018 at 8:57 pm)The Valkyrie Wrote: Have a good day at work. If we ever meet in a professional setting, let me answer your question now. Yes, I DO want fries with that.
