Eternal Student Disses Polycarp -- Is ES Just Ignorant, Or Is He An Asshole?

The BBQ Pit
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Y’know, I was going to do this in Great Debates, but the more I read of the following post, the madder I got. I encourage other posters to read it, and add their thoughts.

In this thread ETERNAL STUDENT posted the following dreck, totally without provocation of any kind:

Here is my response:

ETERNAL DIMWIT –

Let’s get one thing straight: You don’t know jack-shit about POLYCARP. So let me just give you a small run-down: Yes, he is a dedicated Christian. He is also a paragon of tolerance and restraint, an extremely well-read and thoughtful man, and probably hands-down the best-loved poster on this entire Board. Why? Because he lives his faith through civility and caring for everyone – atheists and theists, gays and straights, happy and sad, good and bad – even insulting fuckwits such as yourself. I am unaware of one single person on this Board who does not admire him and respect him, regardless of whether they agree with him. And while I do not generally attempt to speak for anyone other than myself, I guarantee that if you continue to insult him, we will line up to take turns kicking your ass.

You, Mr. Eighteen Posts, do not have the first idea of what he does, how he does it, or why he does it. If what POLYCARP does is the bare minimum necessary to get to heaven, then most of the rest of us are surely damned, 'cause if they’ll only barely take him, they sure as hell won’t take those of us who are incapable of greeting the world with an open hand and an open heart the way he does. You insult his faith by posting this offensive, belittling shit, and you have no right to do so. But just for your information, POLY’s views of his faith are not “relaxed;” they are exceedingly well-thought out and adopted only after deep thought and much study. They ask a heck of a lot more of him that the fundies you seem to admire, who stand around smug in their assurance of heaven and discriminate against what they don’t approve of because “the Bible told them so.”

See, I ask myself if you’re just ignorant or if you’re an asshole, and then I read this and it seems so clear that “asshole” it is.

Do my ears deceive me? Did you just call POLYCARP a coward? You truly don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about. If your idea of defending whatever belief system you ascribe to includes unprovoked attacks on a man you do not know and have no right to judge, then you’re an idiot as well as an asshole. I know and respect many atheists on this Board, and I guarantee they would not be happy to count you among their ranks.

See guys? Not all the assholes are on our side.

Go fuck yourself. You are such a blazing moron, and have so little idea of the dynamics of this board, that you don’t even realizing you are going after the single poster who is the least deserving of censure or attack, making yourself look like a first-class prick in the process.

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The correct link

I’d code better if I wasn’t so fucking mad.

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Do we have to choose? He could be an ignorant asshole.

THIS atheist (well, in my more mystical moments, I might claim to be agnostic) has nothing but great respect for Polycarp. His arguments are (in my limited experience) always well reasoned, and he does not allow his faith to interfere with intellectual honesty. His wisdom and tolerance set an example for all of us, Christian and non-.

Eternal Idiot needs to get a clue.

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{SPUTTER!}

I just saw the world’s biggest jackass, and it had Eternal Student written in big blazing letters across it. Had a huge festering puckering asshole, too, that kept talking and talking and running and running and just wouldn’t shut the fuck up. I think it needs to be taken out and hacked into small pieces.

Esprix

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WTF is with all these newbies jumping Polycarp lately?? This is why lurking is your friend… Polcarp has been here for years. He has a long and distinguished track record of civilized discussion, careful reasoning and unfailing courtesy. He has explained what he believes in a nonconfrontational style to anyone who asks, and if you’ve read any of his posts you can tell that he is neither a fundamentalist nor a religious hypocrit. But no, goddammit, you just joined the Board today and somehow you’ve seen what has escaped our notice for three years.

–John

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These are the same dildos who know how to run the board better than the Mods do after 10 posts. :rolleyes:

One wonders if there are any unpaired socks in one’s drawers anymore…

Esprix

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Not that Polycarp needs me to defend him, but based on what I’ve seen, I’d have to agree.

ETERNAL STUDENT, it is possible for someone to have the courage of their convictions, and yet have convictions that differ from what you think they should be.

Based on his posts, I would have to say Polycarp is a very thoughtful Christian, who has put enormous time, effort, intelligence, and research into his beliefs. Don’t mistake his gentle attitude or tolerant stance for laziness or a lackadaisical belief system. I’d bet a lot of money you’d be dead wrong.

If you think Polycarp is taking the easy way out, you’re very much mistaken. Christianity in general couldn’t have a much better representative.

And BTW, I’m a fairly strong agnostic leaning toward atheism, and have little use for religion in general. It’s basically all mythology to me. But that is very much different than characterizing someone’s beliefs according to your own narrow minded standards, and calling them a coward because of it.

You’re a twit, nit. Grow up or bugger off.

Ugly

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More hatred for those who think differently than you, Esprix? Sad.

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But… why Polycarp? He’s like the… noble gases of the board, doesn’t react and he glows! (Okay, I’ve been reading the “assign me a chemical thread” too long).

I’m glad you ripped him a new one, Jodi, cause somehow I doubt Poly woulda done it himself. Even though I have never (in my recollection) been in a debate with him, every post I have read by him has commanded my respect in so many ways.

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It occurs to me that a huge crowd defending Polycarp is akin to forming a human shield around a mountain, to keep it from being broken up and carried away by a quadruple amputee armed with a plastic toothpick.

D

N

F…ah, fuck it. Carry on.

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Just want to chime in as well concerning Polycarp. I’m an atheist as well and I haven’t been here too long. I have been here long enough to know that Polycarp is a great intellect and more importantly, a gentleman. The true definition of practicing what one preaches.

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Someone should introduce Mr. Eternal twit to the Pit :slight_smile:

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Hmmm, so he’s trashing Polycarp’s faith too, eh? He also seems to think Hinduism is assinine: Ask the Hindu / Indian Guy ….

He seems to have a bug up his ass about religion. Another candidate for Libertarian’s Aggressive Atheist thread?

Hodge

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My Muse is now muttering something about a needed story about a world where atheism is caused by tapeworm/centipede/“tingler”-esque critters. It’s especially excited about a potential scene of a Messiah driving out the athsites from one into a herd of swine, rendered in gratuitously lurid technicolor.

This kind of thing is why I usually restrain it from getting full access to the bit of my brain that does typing for me.

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Cool! Do I get an “inspired by…” credit?

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You got it.

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Drastic, that’s remarkably well said, but at the same time, I see this thread as having two purposes: one, to toast Infernal Stupid to carbon, but much more importantly, to affirm how valuable we all consider Poly. Yeah, he may not need it, but being told “Hey, you’re important, respected, and liked/loved” is always welcome. And worth doing.

In that vein, I’ll refrain from flamethrowing, but I will say: Poly you’re one of my best friends on the SDMB, I enjoy all our conversations (even in those rare instances where we disagree!) and to quote…someone…“Don’t let the assholes get you down!”

Fenris

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Well, I can’t hope to improve on Jodi’s rant, so i shall confine myself to saying that Polycarp’s intelligence, honesty, and compassion make him an exmeplar of what a follower of Jesus should be. As Festus said to Paul in Acts, “Almost thou persuadest me.”

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Polycarp doesn’t need my defense (although if he ever did, he’d have it in an instant), But I’d like to point out something:

Eternal Student, too, can be saved. He’s young and apparently angry. All that’s necessary is for him to ask forgiveness, go forth, and cease sinning. Here on the board, as well as elsewhere.

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Fuck being rational and reasonable and FUCK ALL OF YOU! So fucking insular, so fucking inbred! So a new guy made a poor call about your dear dear friend? So what? GET A FUCKING HOBBY! I read his post, and he seemed to be making a point based on what he had read so far of Polycarp’s posts. Guess what - this happens all the time when new people enter debates! Was his point too finely directed at Polycarp? Perhaps, but it wasn’t offensive. Was it lacking a certain foundation based on long-term knowledge of this member? Sure. But, as always, you fucking pederasts have a jolly gangbang over this guy! Libertarian responded with class, a simple response saying, “Hey, I think you might be wrong about Polycarp b/c you don’t know him as well as some of us do.”

You dumb fat twats can’t stand your zones of comfort being invaded can you? Well, shit, why don’t you just lock out the new members. And Fenris - Jesus, I’ve read some intelligent posts of yours, but you are a complete fucking prick! To me, you’ve been juvenile, mocking my diction and misinterpreting arguments for the sake of your “cool, witty” remarks. Now you join in to protect Saint Poly. Fuck you, you “gifted” little piece of shit.

Thanks for all the great fucking understanding on this site, you colon-poking necrophiliacs. God forbid your fucking saints get questioned. OH MY GOD YOU ARE ALL THE BEST FUCKING SPECIMENS OF HUMANITY POSSIBLE! YOU ARE THE GODS OF MENSA! FORGIVE THE REST OF US UNCLEAN BASTARDS!

Fuck you, you self-rightous pricks. Here’s wishing you all a nice, hot Dirty Sanchez. Fuckheads.