# Der Trihs: the stomach ulcer of atheism **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 16, 2007, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-the-stomach-ulcer-of-atheism/430184 "2007-12-16T10:45:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2007, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-the-stomach-ulcer-of-atheism/430184/101 "2007-12-17T00:57:55Z")
[QUOTE=Mtgman] This is a phenomenon which never ceases to amaze me. I’ve seen it repeated across history and cultures. The following question iss probably more suited for GD, for it may well be unanswerable, but since the post was here I’ll ask it here. Why do extremists tend to get the credit for the actions of masses of moderates? Enjoy, Steven [/QUOTE] Because it is the masses of moderates that stand by and do nothing when the barbarians are storming the gates. Enjoy/Regards, FluffyBunnyBalls ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2007, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-the-stomach-ulcer-of-atheism/430184/102 "2007-12-17T00:59:45Z")
[QUOTE=Sapo] For normal atheists, it is not, of course but for raving loons like DT, it certainly is. Look at him, he has all the trappings of a religious zealot. The same old sayings he repeats endlessly without stopping to reason them out, the need to get on everyone’s face to preach them, the absolute deafness to outside views, the name calling. He is a religious atheist. He may not believe in a god, but he has a religion with his own traditions, dogmas, beliefs and formulas. [/QUOTE] That pretty much nails DT. He seems to be the type who has more bile reserved for those who are close to him politically and religiously but slightly deviate from his zealously absolutist perspective. His existence pretty much puts to rest the notion that, unlike theists, atheists are unified in their non-beliefs. I generally try to avoid getting into angry internet confrontations about religion and politics with Der Trihs mainly because I got the impression from his postings that he’s some snotty 15-year old know-it-all (which I now know isn’t true). In any case, I think everybody in this thread should chip in and, as a Christmas … uh … I mean … random gift, get Der Trihs a subscription to [this magazine.](http://www.fstdt.com/funnyimages/uploads/403.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2007, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-the-stomach-ulcer-of-atheism/430184/103 "2007-12-17T01:00:05Z")
I’ll drink to that. Antiseptic, that is. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2007, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-the-stomach-ulcer-of-atheism/430184/104 "2007-12-17T01:00:06Z")
[QUOTE=askeptic] I agree with DT and I am glad somebody stands up to religio-fascists. I don’t have the inclination or the eloquence needed to tell you religious freaks to just shut the fuck up every time you start spouting drivel. [/quote] Seems like anyone who is religious falls in that category, based on what you reacted to. > [@](#): > > What scares me is that someday people like you will turn this country into a Christian version of Afghanistan under the Taliban. The only thing stopping you is people like DT. People willing to take a stand and say fuck you and the horse you rode in on. Oh, puh-leeez. There are plenty of non-asshole atheists who aren’t going to let that happen. And there are plenty of theists who value the establishment clause in the constitution, for that matter. We don’t need the ass-hole atheists to protect us from anything > [@](#): > > I was in the store the other day and a little old lady said Merry Christmas I smiled and said Merry Christmas back to her. Then she said “Jesus loves you” I wanted to scream fuck you and hit her with a brick. Make no mistake, the path from “jesus loves you” to stoning people in the streets for wearing the wrong head scarf, is amazingly short. Amazingly short? :rolleyes: I’m much more concerned about someone like you than of an old lady saying “Jesus loves you”. Sounds like street stoning would be more likely in your world than in hers, based on your own admission. ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2007, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-the-stomach-ulcer-of-atheism/430184/105 "2007-12-17T01:02:39Z")
Let’s be fair– **askeptic** is an advocate of grocery bricking, not street stoning. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2007, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-the-stomach-ulcer-of-atheism/430184/106 "2007-12-17T01:03:57Z")
I have come to expect better from you John, I guess religion just brings out the inability to comprehend in the best of us… ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2007, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-the-stomach-ulcer-of-atheism/430184/107 "2007-12-17T01:08:22Z")
[QUOTE=askeptic] Because it is the masses of moderates that stand by and do nothing when the barbarians are storming the gates. [/QUOTE] Yeah, like in the most recent example of folks trying to get ID (Creationism) out of the schools in Dover, PA. Oh, wait, those were all mild-mannered religious people who started that lawsuit. ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2007, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-the-stomach-ulcer-of-atheism/430184/108 "2007-12-17T01:10:32Z")
That’s not “storming the gates”, that’s protecting children from religious nuttery in science class. Science class is for science. Period. Public school is for education. Period. There’s plenty of time for Bible stories in Sunday school. ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2007, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-the-stomach-ulcer-of-atheism/430184/109 "2007-12-17T01:10:41Z")
[QUOTE=askeptic] Because it is the masses of moderates that stand by and do nothing when the barbarians are storming the gates. Enjoy/Regards, FluffyBunnyBalls [/QUOTE] If you believe this then why don’t you take up arms and conquer the world? Take out a few extremists who oppose you and you’re golden. All the others will just roll over and let you institute whatever you want. Let me know how that works for you, 'kay? Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2007, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-the-stomach-ulcer-of-atheism/430184/110 "2007-12-17T01:10:41Z")
[QUOTE=askeptic] I have come to expect better from you John, I guess religion just brings out the inability to comprehend in the best of us… [/QUOTE] If you’d like, I’ll start a GD thread: **Resolved: Without people like DT, the US would be a Christian Theocracy, on par with Afghanistan under the Taliban.** I’d be interested in seeing what facts you would bring to the table to support that thesis. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2007, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-the-stomach-ulcer-of-atheism/430184/111 "2007-12-17T01:12:41Z")
[QUOTE=Hostile Dialect] That’s not “storming the gates”, that’s protecting children from religious nuttery in science class. Science class is for science. Period. Public school is for education. Period. There’s plenty of time for Bible stories in Sunday school. [/QUOTE] Exactly. And if these same mild mannered people will get riled up over that, they’re not going to just sit by when there is some actual storming of the gates. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2007, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-the-stomach-ulcer-of-atheism/430184/112 "2007-12-17T01:17:44Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] If you’d like, I’ll start a GD thread: **Resolved: Without people like DT, the US would be a Christian Theocracy, on par with Afghanistan under the Taliban.** I’d be interested in seeing what facts you would bring to the table to support that thesis. [/QUOTE] In all honesty, hyperbole aside, I guess I would have to disagree with your thesis as stated. I don’t really think it is the DTs of the world that save us from domination by religious zealots. Nor do I really believe most people of faith are religious zealots. I respect many of people of faith. I guess I just get tired of Lib and people like him who wear it on their sleeve and live up on a cross. So maybe it is not religious people I don’t like, maybe it is just Lib. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2007, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-the-stomach-ulcer-of-atheism/430184/113 "2007-12-17T01:18:24Z")
Darn it, John. You stole my post. I am having trouble reconciling the two views expressed by (a relatively small number of) atheists that, on the one hand, the (mostly Christian) theocrats are apparently in complete control of this country, and on the other hand the U.S. continues to fail to become that theocracy despite the large number of theists who comprise the legislatures, courts, and executive offices of this nation. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2007, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-the-stomach-ulcer-of-atheism/430184/114 "2007-12-17T01:20:02Z")
On review: OK. Personal animosities I am more than will to avoid. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2007, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-the-stomach-ulcer-of-atheism/430184/115 "2007-12-17T02:09:06Z")
Here’s a relevant web article to chew on: [“10 Things Christians and Atheists Can (and Must) Agree On.”](http://www.cracked.com/article_15759_10-things-christians-atheists-can-must-agree-on.html) ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2007, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-the-stomach-ulcer-of-atheism/430184/116 "2007-12-17T03:10:36Z")
The Christian theocrats took their shot a little too soon. They found a way to capture the media back when they pushed to eliminate the equal time clause from TV and radio. They actually convinced some people it was a fair and just thing to do. That brought us RIGHT radio ,Fox and numerous other one sided media outlets. They attacked the press they saw as liberal relentlessly ,somehow convincing many that they were not instigating the fight when they were. They pushed for media consolidation a long time ago. They are still doing that,even though there are 5 media organizations who have their tentacles in every media market and have control of all phases of the market.(save the internet). They are after that and will get it too. They started declaring the supreme court was too active and out of step with the people. It took awhile but they did take it over. Now it is more active than it has ever been,but since it is conservative they love it. There is an argument about that the voting system has been tampered with and is no longer reliable. There is a good argument there. There is however no argument for who it favors. \ We have christian organizations like Robertson and Falwell getting tax dollars. That is new .They claim somehow that funelling money through them is for charity and social betterment. They ignore the church /state separation . I think the Iraq war undid a plan that was going to change America in a fundamental way. I hope they failed ,but they are still trying very hard. ---
**Author:** ![FordPrefect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@FordPrefect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordPrefect)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2007, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-the-stomach-ulcer-of-atheism/430184/117 "2007-12-17T05:02:52Z")
[QUOTE=Lobsang] I don’t agree with this statement. [/QUOTE] Why not? As Douglas Adams once said, “People are the problem.” Why is that wrong? ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2007, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-the-stomach-ulcer-of-atheism/430184/118 "2007-12-17T05:05:14Z")
[QUOTE=Linty Fresh] Why does this guy continue to rile people up? Why is he not yet on everyone’s ignore list? [/QUOTE] Why he riles people up, I don’t know. But why should he be on everyone’s ignore list? I think it’s ridiculous to even HAVE an ignore list. If you want to ignore someone, ignore them. If you think their statements aren’t worthy of a response, don’t respond. But to pretend a prolific poster doesn’t exist because you don’t like the things he says goes against the spirit of this board, in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2007, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-the-stomach-ulcer-of-atheism/430184/119 "2007-12-17T05:34:40Z")
[QUOTE=Sarahfeena] Why he riles people up, I don’t know. But why should he be on everyone’s ignore list? I think it’s ridiculous to even HAVE an ignore list. If you want to ignore someone, ignore them. If you think their statements aren’t worthy of a response, don’t respond. But to pretend a prolific poster doesn’t exist because you don’t like the things he says goes against the spirit of this board, in my opinion. [/QUOTE] Plus, he makes many very good posts on many other subjects. If we had a filter where one could specify block all posts from DT that contain the words Bush, Iraq, God or Religion, that would be great. Blocking him altogether you would be missing out many good posts. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2007, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-the-stomach-ulcer-of-atheism/430184/120 "2007-12-17T05:37:07Z")
[QUOTE=Sapo] Plus, he makes many very good posts on many other subjects. If we had a filter where one could specify block all posts from DT that contain the words Bush, Iraq, God or Religion, that would be great. Blocking him altogether you would be missing out many good posts. [/QUOTE] That’s a good point, but it misses mine. **DT** is who he is…you can’t have the “good” posts without the “bad.” If he hasn’t said anything that’s earned a banning, then he has as much right to be heard on this board as any of us. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-the-stomach-ulcer-of-atheism/430184.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-the-stomach-ulcer-of-atheism/430184.md?page=7)