# "If anyone can go and harass it would be appreciated." **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 11, 2004, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-anyone-can-go-and-harass-it-would-be-appreciated/264086 "2004-09-11T23:46:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-anyone-can-go-and-harass-it-would-be-appreciated/264086/61 "2004-09-12T18:06:38Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Which posts? The one in which I [condemned genocide](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=3154197&postcount=7)? Or the one in which I said that [both Bush and Blair are full of shit](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=3154285&postcount=15)? Or when I said that civilian deaths in the war [pale by comparison](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=3154393&postcount=18) in number to Saddam’s murders? Or when I said that it is not our government that should be [doing the liberating](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=3154480&postcount=22)? Or when I corrected the record about the [terms of the 1991 ceasefire](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=3154502&postcount=25%5B/url)? Or the one I already quoted you, [condemning the invasion by the US](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=3154626&postcount=29)? And you have the nerve to call me deluded. Here’s a shovel with a longer handle. Keep digging. Keep telling yourself that you really were against the war. Winston Smith had nothing on you when it comes to revising the past. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-anyone-can-go-and-harass-it-would-be-appreciated/264086/62 "2004-09-12T18:57:26Z")
How on earth did that happen? Anybody else see **gobears** last post including the stuff that’s usually at the bottom of the page, like the posting rules and forum jump? Of course, me adding this post may change it into something else… ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-anyone-can-go-and-harass-it-would-be-appreciated/264086/63 "2004-09-12T18:59:19Z")
How bizarre. I put in a report from the “report this post” button, I guess the HTML got buggered up somehow. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-anyone-can-go-and-harass-it-would-be-appreciated/264086/64 "2004-09-12T20:34:24Z")
I see it too. WEIRD. :dubious: Just wanted to confirm you aren’t the only one, in case it gets fixed and readers say “What?” Although everything looks normal on the composing-your-repy page. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-anyone-can-go-and-harass-it-would-be-appreciated/264086/65 "2004-09-12T20:35:09Z")
As we said in my day, far out! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-anyone-can-go-and-harass-it-would-be-appreciated/264086/66 "2004-09-12T20:39:10Z")
Yup, the weirdness continues. Including the absence of whatever **gobear** wrote in answer to **Lib**. Now, about this term “hand-stabber”: I’ve always thought it would be a heck of a lot more approriate for someone who’s always playing the martyr. After all, if you’re going to climb up on your own home-made cross, wouldn’t you wind up stabbing yourself in the hand? :: Waits expectantly for pedants to point out that the crucified most likely got the nails through the wrist :: ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-anyone-can-go-and-harass-it-would-be-appreciated/264086/67 "2004-09-12T20:54:11Z")
No, Gobear’s answer is there. He wrote: “Keep telling yourself that you really were against the war. Winston Smith had nothing on you when it comes to revising the past.” It merits no response. The record is documented above. Once again. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-anyone-can-go-and-harass-it-would-be-appreciated/264086/68 "2004-09-12T20:55:14Z")
Let me try an experiment to see if this will undo the damage. Testing [/quote] ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-anyone-can-go-and-harass-it-would-be-appreciated/264086/69 "2004-09-12T20:56:18Z")
Okay… > [@](#): > > Another try ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-anyone-can-go-and-harass-it-would-be-appreciated/264086/70 "2004-09-12T20:57:40Z")
[…shrug…] ---
**Author:** ![Necro\_Romancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/50afbb/32.png) [@Necro\_Romancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Necro_Romancer)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-anyone-can-go-and-harass-it-would-be-appreciated/264086/71 "2004-09-12T21:01:07Z")
[Quote] Bam ---
**Author:** ![kung\_fu\_lola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@kung\_fu\_lola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kung_fu_lola)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-anyone-can-go-and-harass-it-would-be-appreciated/264086/72 "2004-09-12T21:02:22Z")
I think that “hand-stabber” is a perfect image. What springs to mind is a “believer” holding up their hands in a gesture of peace or of concession, and the “atheist” just hacking at them anyway. Theists are ill-equipped to battle to the death against atheists; if you believe, it’s nearly impossible to explain why in terms an atheist can understand, without a lot of wrangling (therefore you are “unarmed”). And trying to browbeat faith out of another person is pretty callous. Throw on top of that our precious SOCAS, and you have a situation where the atheist is overreacting to a nonexistent threat, much like a knife-wielding paranoiac stabbing an unarmed person.\* \*Atheists are not all militant and callous. Not all believers are meek. SOCAS exists mostly in theory only (esp. in the US). I know all this. I am generalizing. I don’t do this all the time. Ooh, maybe the mod could split this thread into one for the purpose of discussing and debating the term “hand-stabber”? ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2004, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-anyone-can-go-and-harass-it-would-be-appreciated/264086/73 "2004-09-13T02:20:58Z")
_What they do!_ They smile in your face But spear your knuckles if you say your grace The Hand-Stabbers! They’re cool as you please Just don’t say nothin’ if you hear them sneeze The Hand-Stabbers! ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2004, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-anyone-can-go-and-harass-it-would-be-appreciated/264086/74 "2004-09-13T09:03:56Z")
This has GOT to be one of the most-hijacked threads of all time! What was the original point again? (and **Otto** , which of the 3 choices I listed would you prefer? Or is there another choice that I missed?) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2004, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-anyone-can-go-and-harass-it-would-be-appreciated/264086/75 "2004-09-13T09:07:11Z")
> [@kung fu lola](#): > > I think that “hand-stabber” is a perfect image. What springs to mind is a “believer” holding up their hands in a gesture of peace or of concession, and the “atheist” just hacking at them anyway. Yes, it’s a beautifully-constructed, bullshit strawman that encourages the faithful to believe they are in the right and taking the high ground against those no-good atheists. PLEASE tell me that’s what you meant. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2004, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-anyone-can-go-and-harass-it-would-be-appreciated/264086/76 "2004-09-13T10:07:14Z")
> [@Astroboy14](#): > > This has GOT to be one of the most-hijacked threads of all time! Maybe that’s why the thread’s all contorted. It’s trying to spawn half of itself into a new thread. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2004, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-anyone-can-go-and-harass-it-would-be-appreciated/264086/77 "2004-09-13T10:09:44Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Yes, it’s a beautifully-constructed, bullshit strawman that encourages the faithful to believe they are in the right and taking the high ground against those no-good atheists. > > PLEASE tell me that’s what you meant. I think it is. And by Bible thumper, atheists mean to use a beautifully-constructed bullshit strawman that encourages the faithless to believe they have the intellectual high ground against those no-brain theists. Right? ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2004, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-anyone-can-go-and-harass-it-would-be-appreciated/264086/78 "2004-09-13T10:18:54Z")
> [@Desmostylus](#): > > “Our favorite resident loon, **Liberal** ,” Fuck you. I’ve been trying so hard for so long to be everyone’s favorite loon! Don’t make me forego that honor for most despised loon. I can get really nuts. I’m so insulted. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2004, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-anyone-can-go-and-harass-it-would-be-appreciated/264086/79 "2004-09-13T10:23:48Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > I think it is. Yes, I think so too on further reflection. > [@](#): > > And by Bible thumper, atheists mean to use a beautifully-constructed bullshit strawman that encourages the faithless to believe they have the intellectual high ground against those no-brain theists. Right? I think it’s less of a strawman and more of a plain old insult. I’ll let you know if I actually meet another atheist who uses the term. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2004, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-anyone-can-go-and-harass-it-would-be-appreciated/264086/80 "2004-09-13T12:02:20Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I think it’s less of a strawman and more of a plain old insult. I’ll let you know if I actually meet another atheist who uses the term. Oh, I use the term. But I think **Lib** is being disingenous to suggest that bible thumper and hand stabber are equivalent descriptive terms. Bible thumper is a quite literal, as well as metaphorical, description. I grew up in a Pentecostal church. I’ve personally witnessed dozens of preachers and laymen pound on the bible and wave them about as they work themselves into a tumultous uproar. On the other, unstabbed hand, I’ve never seen an atheist stab anyone. Furthermore the subset of atheists who are offended at any mention of god is miniscule at best. In fact, I know of none. While the subset of bible thumpers among Christians is rather significant. Witness the large and growing number of members in the Assemblies of God. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-anyone-can-go-and-harass-it-would-be-appreciated/264086.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-anyone-can-go-and-harass-it-would-be-appreciated/264086.md?page=5)