Arguments you're tired of hearing from fundies?

[kaylasdad99]

Ben, I have tampered with the fragment below, by inserting labels for the four questions you asked me. It just seems neater to me that way, since I’m not that comfortable with nested quotes. My responses follow the body of the fragment.

*Originally posted by Ben *

** People have stated elsewhere that they perceive you insisting on higher standards of etiquette from others than from yourself.

**

{A) Who, other than pldennison and astorian?

**
I’ve never really believed that the perception is well-founded (which may reflect wishful thinking on my part),

**

(B) Wishful thinking how?

(C) BTW, do you think astorian has fairly represented your position?

“Even your staunch defender Kaylasdad sees through you on THAT score. You’re easily as foul-mouthed, snotty, immature and sophomoric as anyone on these boards, including me.”

(D) So, do I really swear like a sailor? ;)**

(A) I said “people,” so any number greater than one qualifies. FTR, I’m not prepared (or inclined) to go looking around for others who may have echoed or endorsed the accusation. There may be none, but I don’t recall seeing an overwhelming consensus to either endorse or decry the accusation in the Pit thread where pldennison flung it at you.

(B) I have seen your work in debates before. You are conscientious, well-informed, sharp-eyed, quick-witted, and generally the kind of no-nonsense, suffer-no-fools-gladly badass my mother warned me about. I might add that I’ve always found your posts to be eminently readable, informative, and entertaining. My own observation is that you always play fair, but I also note that, I usually have an emotional investment in wanting to see your side of the debate prevail. This [investment] may color my observations as to whether you do. I would also note that I haven’t read every debate you’ve posted to. Further, I have always thought of pldennison as an astute and thoughtful poster, and I’ve not noticed that he is in the habit of forming opinions in a vacuum. In short, I might have missed it. I’ve certainly seen you aggressively advocate for your position, and my objectivity may be clouded by the esteem I have for you. I’ll stop gushing now.

(C) Absolutley not.

(D) Probably not. Actually, we were more prone to kvetching on the boats I served on.

Thank you for your time. Now I’m going to print out your response to me and hang it on my refrigerator.

[kaylasdad99]

astorian’s a SHE? :eek:

I’m not sure whether I should be embarassed about having missed it for so long or ask for a cite.

I suppose I can do both, if need be.

Cite?

[kniz]

*Originally posted by Ben *
That’s only one possible interpretation of what I said, and (as I indicate above) not even the most appropriate or obvious one.

You still admit that it is a possible interpretation (as opposed to a misinterpretation), right?

Well, I take particular offense to your willingness to accuse me at the drop of the hat, both here and in the “When will blacks let go of the past?” thread. You completely misunderstood what I said, and zeroed in on the worst possible misinterpretation. Instead of asking for a clarification, you decided to show contempt first and apologize later.

Here is the only post of mine that I could find on the “When will blacks let go of the past?” thread.

I will elaborate for you (kniz in post subject)

quote:

Originally posted by Ben
Perhaps when rednecks quit putting the Confederate flag on their cars, T-shirts, and state flags?

Using the term “redneck” shows that you are only selective in the derisive slurs you use against people, not that you don’t use them.(kniz)

Is there some type of misunderstanding here?

**If it were a simple misunderstanding, an apology would be more than enough. As is, you’ve graciously apologized for the pence while failing to mention the pounds.

-Ben **

You should never look a gift horse in the mouth

[jab1]

You wanna hear a weird argument I once heard from a fundie? Try this exchange:

“No one really understands electricity, so how can anyone understand the God Who created electricity?”

“Electricity is a flow of electrons! They go from positive to negative. It’s been verified experimentally countless times. The existence of the electron was confirmed more than 100 years ago.”

“No man has ever seen an electron, so how can anyone say they exist?”

“We know they exist because of the effects they have. We can make them do what we want.” (We were in a room with a TV and fluorescent lights.) “Do you think the people who made these lights and that TV and the power that makes them work were just guessing at it?”

“Since they don’t always work, sure. If they knew what they were doing, they could create things that NEVER fail, like God does.”

“You said no man has ever seen an electron. Have you ever seen God?”

“Seen God? No.”

“Then how do you know He exists?”

“I have felt Him; I have felt His glorious love…” He got this weird, blissful look on his face like someone on drugs. I didn’t say any more to him; I figured it would be pointless; he would not have listened. Besides, I was so frustrated at that point, I could barely keep from calling him a fucking idiot. Had I done that, I might have been kicked out of the homeless shelter we were in.

And then there was the guy who said, “What scientists call ‘gravity,’ I prefer to call the Will of God.” Oh, so the “Will of God” can be measured? :rolleyes:

There are other arguments like Fred Hoyle’s comparing abiogenesis to a tornado assembling a working 747 from a junkyard. How can someone as undeniably brilliant as Hoyle get it so wrong?

Oh, and how about the belief that the Bible is reliable because it never changes?

BTW: There’s a new Chick tract out. See a con man convert after hearing the story of Esau and Jacob! He’s the sister of Janet, the former believer of evolution! And Moustache Bob returns!