# Calling All Atheists and Interested Parties **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 26, 2006, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-atheists-and-interested-parties/385575 "2006-12-26T01:23:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2006, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-atheists-and-interested-parties/385575/41 "2006-12-26T02:34:47Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] You started a thread to prove \*\*PRR \*\* wrong. [/QUOTE] And for the third time, you are wrong. You have no fucking idea why I started the thread. Call Randi. Win the million. I have told you twice that I will go where the results lead me. You ae being insulted because you insulted me, and continue to do so. How about you provide some actual evidence to support your assertion, or, again, shut the fuck up? ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2006, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-atheists-and-interested-parties/385575/42 "2006-12-26T02:38:27Z")
Deist Unitarian, recovering Catholic, married to an atheist. No. I’ve found this place supportive of all questions I have or opinions I hold, and the resident Christians respectful of my choice to no longer be Christian. Particularly our “active Catholics” tomndebb and Bricker. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2006, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-atheists-and-interested-parties/385575/43 "2006-12-26T02:42:48Z")
Atheist. Not oppressed, and certainly not by moderators. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2006, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-atheists-and-interested-parties/385575/44 "2006-12-26T02:46:55Z")
[QUOTE=Contrapuntal] And for the third time, you are wrong. You have no fucking idea why I started the thread. Call Randi. Win the million. I have told you twice that I will go where the results lead me. You ae being insulted because you insulted me, and continue to do so. How about you provide some actual evidence to support your assertion, or, again, shut the fuck up? [/QUOTE] You admitted why you started the thread above. That was a pretty fair description of dedicated. Maybe I should call the good James Randi. While I was not attempting mind reading, I believe you find my statements eerily close. You knew I could read minds across the Internet via posted messages. Nope, I would chalk this one up to a decent cold reading with plenty of information. So I will not shut up to appease you. Again, if you did not want any grief, you should have just admitted what inspired you up front and/or start it in IMHO. Are you now claiming you did not post? > [@](#): > > It is not dedicated to him, so that is why I did not say so. It is intended to elicit evidence with regard to his position. Hijacking the other thread seemed to be poor form. If you can read minds, or at least my mind, why don’t you say so and win a million dollars? Jim ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2006, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-atheists-and-interested-parties/385575/45 "2006-12-26T02:49:41Z")
[QUOTE=pseudotriton ruber ruber] Both could be true, and both are true. [/quote] Wow, it is like seeing the birth of the old Trinity tripe. Just by the input of virtually all atheists so far, I can say your “this site bias” is not true. > [@](#): > > There is a large, general pervasive flaw in the design of the SD site, in that it is dedicated (thanks, Jim!) to fighting ignorance but is selectively tolerant of Xian ignorance, and permits Xians to spout nonsense and then slink away from discussing it in a manner simply not allowed for other purveyors of superstitious views. I don’t know what can be done about this, other than to hope that Cecil can be appealed to, and the burden of proof be made to be shared equally by all. That is because after they lost “burning at the stake” as their best argument, they are like de-fanged tigers. As I came from them, I can tell you there are better but specific reasons when we should bring the rack and Iron maiden to them: like when they attempt to impose their faith on us. Complaining about transubstantiation and Santa Claus is at the level of “this thread is too stupid to live” > [@](#): > > There is also a specific problem in **Tom** ’s confusion of his role as GD Mod, where he’s supposed to be defusing problems, preventing personal attacks, warning violators of Forum tone, etc. in an unbiased manner, and his role as GD participant where he’s free to go apeshit on anyone he chooses, within (so to speak) moderation. No one is perfect, but I defer to others in saying your personal experience is not evidence enough. (you know, the old and accepted in this circle of ignorant fighters saying that **the plural of anecdote is not data** ) > [@](#): > > May I have the next dance? Tap dancing usually is a solo activity you numbnuts. (and even in a group, usually no touching) ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2006, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-atheists-and-interested-parties/385575/46 "2006-12-26T02:51:19Z")
Strong atheist when it comes to human made cults/religions. Don’t really have a clue about Genesis. Guess anything is possible. Hassled on the SDMB? Only by the very people that oppose my views. Hardly surprising. Other than that —and a couple of “cool it” suggestions by mods – no problem at all. Must say though, as any other particularly knowledgeable poster on any number of topics, I like **Tom**. Would he’d get his shit (or considerable brain-power) together and come to the only logical, fact-based conclusion. Funny though, I’ve had a few posters praying for my “salvation.” Shit, they manage to do that, and I’ll fuckin’ guarantee there’s no hell. Regardless of the fact that I can say the same thing right now. Yet another absurd religious concept out the window. But hey, I’m not in the indoctrinating business. Figure it only makes makes me angrier and firmer in my beliefs. Works both ways I guess, any time anyone tries witnessing to me they get a lump of coal. And then some. Ironically I’ve recruited some atheist/agnostics that way. OTOH, whne I get witness on, I mostly keep my trap shut – mostly 'cause it’s members of my family that try. I am of a mind that a tight family relation is far more valuable than religious differences – much like politics, BTW . ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2006, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-atheists-and-interested-parties/385575/47 "2006-12-26T02:57:35Z")
Ya know, I have could have saved some time and trouble, if you;d only asked me what I thought this poll would show. I understand that many people think **Tom** is a fine fellow. Hell, I used to think so myself. Maybe now that I’ve pointed out how I feel Tom moderated immoderately a couple of my posts, and a couple of other selected hard-atheists’ posts, he’ll start behaving better and you’ll never have cause to come into my camp. That’s just fine with me. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2006, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-atheists-and-interested-parties/385575/48 "2006-12-26T03:02:45Z")
LDS here: Do I feel that the moderators oppress those with religious beliefs? No. Do I feel that the moderators oppress those without religious beliefs? No. Do I feel that the board policy is weighted towards one or the other of the above groups? No. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2006, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-atheists-and-interested-parties/385575/49 "2006-12-26T03:03:22Z")
Atheist who thinks all forms of belief about the non-physical are fundamentally delusional. No. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2006, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-atheists-and-interested-parties/385575/50 "2006-12-26T03:03:32Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] Are you now claiming you did not post? Jim [/QUOTE] You cannot be this stupid. You really cannot be this stupid. Tell me you are not this stupid. It is not dedicated to him. It is not dedicated at all. It is an attempt to elicit opinion. While it is indeed > [@](#): > > - Designed for a particular use or function: “The satellite beams the information down to Earth, where it is sent through dedicated telephone wires to the Space Telescope Science Institute” \*key phrase “designed for a particular use or function”, it is not _dedicated to **prr** _. \*\*prr \*\*_is not the function_. The function is _gathering information._ Christ, do I have to spell it out for you? \*\*prr \*\*is a poster on the Dope. _Gathering information_ is a process. The two are not the same. The two are not similar. The two are not remotely related. Was this thread \*inspired \*by the posts of **prr**.? Yes. Do I suspect that the results will provide a \*counter \*to his assertions? Yes again. Is this in any way remotely like _dedicating a thread to him_? Apparently, in your mind, it is. I urge you to disabuse yourself of this train of thought. It is without merit. However the poll goes, so goes the poll. I seek information. Thanks awfully for your input. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2006, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-atheists-and-interested-parties/385575/51 "2006-12-26T03:05:26Z")
[QUOTE=Contrapuntal] You cannot be this stupid. You really cannot be this stupid. Tell me you are not this stupid. It is not dedicated to him. It is not dedicated at all. It is an attempt to elicit opinion. While it is indeed\*key phrase “designed for a particular use or function”, it is not _dedicated to **prr** _. \*\*prr \*\*_is not the function_. The function is _gathering information._ Christ, do I have to spell it out for you? \*\*prr \*\*is a poster on the Dope. _Gathering information_ is a process. The two are not the same. The two are not similar. The two are not remotely related. Was this thread \*inspired \*by the posts of **prr**.? Yes. Do I suspect that the results will provide a \*counter \*to his assertions? Yes again. Is this in any way remotely like _dedicating a thread to him_? Apparently, in your mind, it is. I urge you to disabuse yourself of this train of thought. It is without merit. However the poll goes, so goes the poll. I seek information. Thanks awfully for your input. [/QUOTE] Congrats, you win, I will back out. **Bites When Provoked** , you were correct. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2006, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-atheists-and-interested-parties/385575/52 "2006-12-26T03:10:50Z")
[QUOTE=pseudotriton ruber ruber] Ya know, I have could have saved some time and trouble, if you;d only asked me what I thought this poll would show. I understand that many people think **Tom** is a fine fellow. Hell, I used to think so myself. Maybe now that I’ve pointed out how I feel Tom moderated immoderately a couple of my posts, and a couple of other selected hard-atheists’ posts, he’ll start behaving better and you’ll never have cause to come into my camp. That’s just fine with me. [/QUOTE] Oh please. This poll is not about whether \*\*Tom \*\*is a fine fellow. Frankly, I think he has yanked me around a couple of times, and wrongly. This poll is about whether as _a matter of policy_, the SDMB, and its moderators, are strongly biased against atheists in favor of Christians, a claim you have made on numerous occasions. Now your complaint is that he has been \*immoderate \*with you and a couple of other posters? On a \*couple \*of posts? How fast will that bike go in reverse, anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2006, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-atheists-and-interested-parties/385575/53 "2006-12-26T03:14:51Z")
[QUOTE=Bites When Provoked] (And while I think your rudeness is out of line, **Contrapuntal** , [/QUOTE] Care to expound on that, o ye of the ironic username? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2006, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-atheists-and-interested-parties/385575/54 "2006-12-26T03:21:03Z")
[QUOTE=Contrapuntal] Oh please. This poll is not about whether \*\*Tom \*\*is a fine fellow. Frankly, I think he has yanked me around a couple of times, and wrongly. This poll is about whether as _a matter of policy_, the SDMB, and its moderators, are strongly biased against atheists in favor of Christians, a claim you have made on numerous occasions. Now your complaint is that he has been \*immoderate \*with you and a couple of other posters? On a \*couple \*of posts? How fast will that bike go in reverse, anyway? [/QUOTE] You really can’t read, can you? it’s okay. Tell us, and we’ll find you some help. Or is it that you think that “a couple of posts” means the same thing as “a couple of posters”? The words look similar, but examine the endings. They’re different, aren’t they? That might mean that the words “posts” and “posters” mean different things. Now “immoderate” is harder. It might denote a mild form of “non-neutral behavior” but (and here’s the difficult part) it might also mean an understated form of extreme non-neutrality, as in “Pol Pot behaved immoderately towards Cambodian intellectuals” to mean that he slaughtered millions of them. English is funny that way, but I promise you if you study hard, it will pay off, and you will be able to understand people much better. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2006, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-atheists-and-interested-parties/385575/55 "2006-12-26T03:25:01Z")
[QUOTE=pseudotriton ruber ruber] You really can’t read, can you? it’s okay. Tell us, and we’ll find you some help. Or is it that you think that “a couple of posts” means the same thing as “a couple of posters”? The words look similar, but examine the endings. They’re different, aren’t they? That might mean that the words “posts” and “posters” mean different things. Now “immoderate” is harder. It might denote a mild form of “non-neutral behavior” but (and here’s the difficult part) it might also mean an understated form of extreme non-neutrality, as in “Pol Pot behaved immoderately towards Cambodian intellectuals” to mean that he slaughtered millions of them. English is funny that way, but I promise you if you study hard, it will pay off, and you will be able to understand people much better. [/QUOTE] Indeed, now check the meaning of **the plural of anecdote is not data**. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2006, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-atheists-and-interested-parties/385575/56 "2006-12-26T03:29:57Z")
[QUOTE=pseudotriton ruber ruber] English is funny that way, but I promise you if you study hard, it will pay off, and you will be able to understand people much better. [/QUOTE] Not sure if I want to. OK, so he was immoderate with you a couple of time, and with a couple of other posters an unspecified number of times? Did I get it? And this relates to a systematic policy of abuse against atheists, and in favor of Christians, exactly how? Does the fact that no so far no one, including **badchad** , believes this to be true suggest anything to you? Your Pol Pot example is a joke, right? Do you use language that way? When you want to be understand? Genocide = immoderacy? Your audience is supposed to understand that? ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2006, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-atheists-and-interested-parties/385575/57 "2006-12-26T03:33:23Z")
I’m an atheist, and while I don’t think that atheism is treated poorly here, I do think that it’s a bit of a double-standard that christianity is treated any differently than scientology here. Debates about scientology usually involve a large measure of calling beliefs of scientologists stupid and delusional, and that’s considered to be pretty much all that’s necessary. Debates against christians here are not accepted if the main component of the argument is that it’s delusional and/or stupid to believe in what’s in the bible. Why the difference? I think that in huge portions of the US and some other parts of the world, the christian monotheistic god is taken as a fact, and that has leaked over here, when really there’s no more reason to take christianity or judiasm or islam any more seriously than scientology. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2006, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-atheists-and-interested-parties/385575/58 "2006-12-26T03:37:26Z")
[QUOTE=catsix] I’m an atheist, and while I don’t think that atheism is treated poorly here, I do think that it’s a bit of a double-standard that christianity is treated any differently than scientology here. Debates about scientology usually involve a large measure of calling beliefs of scientologists stupid and delusional, and that’s considered to be pretty much all that’s necessary. Debates against christians here are not accepted if the main component of the argument is that it’s delusional and/or stupid to believe in what’s in the bible. Why the difference? I think that in huge portions of the US and some other parts of the world, the christian monotheistic god is taken as a fact, and that has leaked over here, when really there’s no more reason to take christianity or judiasm or islam any more seriously than scientology. [/QUOTE] Amen 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2006, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-atheists-and-interested-parties/385575/59 "2006-12-26T03:38:50Z")
[QUOTE=catsix] I’m an atheist, and while I don’t think that atheism is treated poorly here, I do think that it’s a bit of a double-standard that christianity is treated any differently than scientology here. Debates about scientology usually involve a large measure of calling beliefs of scientologists stupid and delusional, and that’s considered to be pretty much all that’s necessary. Debates against christians here are not accepted if the main component of the argument is that it’s delusional and/or stupid to believe in what’s in the bible. Why the difference? I think that in huge portions of the US and some other parts of the world, the christian monotheistic god is taken as a fact, and that has leaked over here, when really there’s no more reason to take christianity or judiasm or islam any more seriously than scientology. [/QUOTE] I think it’s mostly because there’s so many different versions and varieties and denominations of Christianity-it’s a pretty broad umbrella. Whereas Scientology is one very specific little group. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2006, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-atheists-and-interested-parties/385575/60 "2006-12-26T03:41:43Z")
[QUOTE=catsix] Why the difference? I think that in huge portions of the US and some other parts of the world, the christian monotheistic god is taken as a fact, and that has leaked over here, when really there’s no more reason to take christianity or judiasm or islam any more seriously than scientology. [/QUOTE] I see a reason to take them more seriously, just as you’d take a threat from someone in your home more seriously than a threat from someone on the internet. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-atheists-and-interested-parties/385575.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-atheists-and-interested-parties/385575.md?page=4)