Moving on.

[tackattack]

That's why most Christian forums I've been to are really much lamer and slower than this one.

[Minimalist]

My position remains unchanged; believers should not be permitted on Atheist forums at all,period.

What a fucking boring forum that would be. You can dream of a place where there is nothing but patting each other on the back if you like, but that sounds fucking lame to me.

I agree but enforced "civility" in the name of...."civility" tends to lame things up, too.

I understand, Paul and like the others hope that you recharge your batteries and come back gunning.

[TheDarkestOfAngels]

Since I'm certain that I am one of the aforementioned arrogant and condescending atheists around here, I feel I should say something... or perhaps I shouldn't (though I've clearly already decided to).

My approach to debating often varies as much as my mood but I often find myself arguing rather aggressively. I understand that this isn't always conductive to a more lighthearted discussion among disagreeing but otherwise friendly individuals but I also don't feel that I need to restrain my arguementation style to appear friendly nor do I feel that I need to give someone's crazy ideas the same lassitude as the proven ones so I don't step on toes or hurt feelings. If I think someone's ideas are inane then I feel perfectly obligated toward pointing that fact out and defending my points.

Despite this, I don't feel animousity toward anyone I disagree with here - not one of them, unless they attack me personally, which hasn't really happened all but maybe once or twice in the time that I've been posting here. The reason I come here at all is because I like hanging out with like-minded people and the sometimes very heated discussions and arguements I can have here - even with the people I have some respect for because one of the things I thoroughly enjoy doing is challenging the ideas of others (especially the rather stupid ones) and having my own ideas challenged to the best of our ability.

In those discussions, it seems to be easy to get condescending and arrogant when you think you're right and the ideas of the opposition appear crazy enough. I don't apoligize for my attitude nor do I expect it from anyone but I suppose I see this more as a measure of verbally showing confidence in your own position in a discussion or arguement than the kind of negativity between a pair of trolls. I believe it's more nuanced than that, but I'm merely telling you my interpretation of what we may have both seen lately from the recent discussions.

This doesn't mean I believe that any jerkish attitude is kosher - I believe there are serious limits as to what is acceptable in a heated discussion, which is why I agree with Adrian's no insults rule, for example, when he first discussed it.

Paul, you've been here long before I got here and I have a good deal of respect for you and I'm sorry if I've been contributing to your hiatus so I posted this in the hopes that you can understand how I see things and why I do the things I do.

If anyone has any questions for me about this topic (because my thoughts above are somewhat disjoined and possibly incomplete) let me know.

[Minimalist]

There is no way that abject stupidity, as shown below, can be addressed without noting that it is in fact abject stupidity. The proponents of abject stupidity will always be insulted when their abjectly stupid ideas are denounced for being abjectly stupid. They interpret such denunciations as someone telling them that THEY are abjectly stupid.

And of course, in that they are correct. They could hardly miss on that one.


http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=176926

PETERSBURG, Kentucky - Ken Ham's sprawling creation museum isn't even open yet, but an expansion is already underway in the state-of-the art lobby, where grunting dinosaurs and animatronic humans coexist in a Biblical paradise.

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

My position remains unchanged; believers should not be permitted on Atheist forums at all,period.

What a fucking boring forum that would be. You can dream of a place where there is nothing but patting each other on the back if you like, but that sounds fucking lame to me.

Yes,that would be lame,if atheists agreed on everything apart from the existence of gods, which we don't.

Some of us are anti theists and anti religion. Some of us are not

Some of us think Messrs Dawkins and Hitchens are great. Some of us do not

We often disagree on politics and economics and a range of other issues.

It has be accurately observed that to get a group of atheists to agree about anything is like herding cats.

I simply don't agree with your perception.

[Cego_Colher]

I see Paul. I understand where you are coming from. maybe come back sometime? that would be nice.

--Cego

[Rayaan]

My position remains unchanged; believers should not be permitted on Atheist forums at all,period.

If believers are not allowed or if they get banned immediately, then, I think the number of atheists coming to the forum will also go down. Why? Because there's going to be less debates and the forum would be less interesting. So, I like the forum the way it is. Tolerance of religion is a good thing. And I think the rules are fair enough for an atheist forum. Only the really stupid ones will be disqualified from the forum while the intelligent and compliant ones are welcome to stay as they wish because they follow the rules.

I'm going to take a hiatus from the forums for a while. I don't know how long... a couple of weeks or so, probably. AtheistForums.org has become quite an unpleasant place lately and I think I need to step away before I begin posting things that I regret.

Try to be a little more patient, Paul. I know it's hard for you but it's better for you to get used to these kind of things. Don't let these online conversations make you feel bad. Sooner or later, the trolls and abusive members alike will get banned anyways. They don't last for too long. Sometimes they might even leave by themselves after being disappointed at their own defeat.

I'm a theist but I hope I didn't contribute to your irritation as of late. More importantly, I hope to see you come back very soon.

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

If believers are not allowed or if they get banned immediately, then, I think the number of atheists coming to the forum will also go down .
Why? Because there's going to be less debates and the forum would be less interesting.

I don't believe that's true ,but I'd like the chance to find out.

I'm neither anti theist nor anti religion per se, although l loathe organised religion as a boil on the arse of civilisation. I'm anti dogma and anti willful ignorance.Those two traits seem to dominate most of the believers who insist on inflicting themselves on atheist forums. I feel no obligation to extend any tolerance to their personal superstitions. They lose my tolerance when they come to my turf. I don't go near theirs.Atheists are simply not tolerated on most theist sites. We owe you nothing.

[Anomalocaris]

.

It has be accurately observed that to get a group of atheists to agree about anything is like herding cats.

That is not accurate.

[Paul the Human]

I'm at work and thought I'd stop in to see what kind of responses my post received. Thanks for all the positive comments... I really appreciate them. I'm just taking a break for a week or two, because I've gotten to the point that most of the discussions are simply pissing me off or frustrating me to the point that it isn't even fun anymore. I'll get over it if I step away for a while... and then I'll be back with a fire under my ass.

Oh... and TheDarkestOfAngels... I wasn't referring to you at all. Heheh. I won't name names, but you are not one of the people that has gotten on my nerves... just so you know.

Okay. That's it. See you guys in a couple weeks.