# On the SDMB, why do atheists and theists have to be such utter dicks to each other? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 12, 2008, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-sdmb-why-do-atheists-and-theists-have-to-be-such-utter-dicks-to-each-other/456207 "2008-07-12T02:31:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 32
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-sdmb-why-do-atheists-and-theists-have-to-be-such-utter-dicks-to-each-other/456207/621 "2008-07-17T19:39:49Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] I don’t know, but I’d be willing to bet on it. He does type the word god with the “o” intact, knowing full well that there are people on these boards who don’t. Of course he’s consciously trampling on cmkeller’s belief system. If he cared about the _feeeeeeelings,_ he wouldn’t do it. [/quote] Really? Has **cmkeller** expressed an opinion on it? Has **magellan01** said that he enjoys getting a giggle out of Jew-baiting? Any facts, other than what you’d be willing to bet on ('cos you know Christians never get away with claims as weak as that around here, on pain of being mocked in the name of the Tooth Fairy). > [@Kalhoun](#): > > What does that have to do with anything? Why would another avenue be a better choice than this one? What? No, I sympathise. I’d certainly never have been able to guess from anything else you ever posted that you didn’t believe in Christianity or anything else associated with it, so I fully understand that you have to lodge your protest any way you can slip it past the religiofascist censors hereabouts. Keep it up. I mean, I learned a while back here that, while I consider _faggot_ a faintly ridiculous name to level at anyone, some people have had painfully to associate it with a bottle flung at the head from a passing car, so I now use the word with extreme reluctance unless there’s a joke to be made involving West Country-style meatballs, but you have to set your own boundaries, and as long as you’re content to use **magellan01** as your yardstick, who am I to say you nay? ETA: In answer to the question in the thread title - I fear it’s like the joke about why dogs lick their genitals. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-sdmb-why-do-atheists-and-theists-have-to-be-such-utter-dicks-to-each-other/456207/622 "2008-07-17T19:57:15Z")
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright] **Kalhoun** is acting out of ignorance, while **magellan01** is now acting like a whiny little kid. He _was_ extremely civil at first. The fact remains that capitalizing “Jesus” denotes nothing other than the fact that his name is a proper noun. Kalhoun isn’t railing against Christianity, but against a convention on English style and usage. [/QUOTE] Yippies used to spell it Amerika. Misspelling to make a point isn’t ignorance. And, because I can’t resist. \ Mmm, cunt. \ ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-sdmb-why-do-atheists-and-theists-have-to-be-such-utter-dicks-to-each-other/456207/623 "2008-07-17T20:07:36Z")
[QUOTE=Voyager] Yippies used to spell it Amerika. Misspelling to make a point isn’t ignorance. [/QUOTE] It doesn’t make any sense, though. _Amerika_ is a mildly clever allusion to Germany and, therefore, fascism. Not capitalizing the name of a prominent historical figure isn’t a mildly clever allusion to anything, except possibly e. e. cummings. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-sdmb-why-do-atheists-and-theists-have-to-be-such-utter-dicks-to-each-other/456207/624 "2008-07-17T20:39:16Z")
[QUOTE=Malacandra] Really? Has **cmkeller** expressed an opinion on it? Has **magellan01** said that he enjoys getting a giggle out of Jew-baiting? Any facts, other than what you’d be willing to bet on ('cos you know Christians never get away with claims as weak as that around here, on pain of being mocked in the name of the Tooth Fairy). [/quote] Everytime you mention my motivation (which I stated was to “annoy”) you change it. I’m pissing people off, I’m insulting…now I’m christian-baiting? Heh-heh…soooo touchy. > [@](#): > > What? No, I sympathise. I’d certainly never have been able to guess from anything else you ever posted that you didn’t believe in Christianity or anything else associated with it, so I fully understand that you have to lodge your protest any way you can slip it past the religiofascist censors hereabouts. You’re still overreacting. When the believers wear it on their sleeves, I don’t hear you asking them to pipe down or telling them that you’re well aware of their feelings toward religion. Why the double standard? Because I chose to use lower case letters? THAT’S the big deal breaker? Give me a break. > [@](#): > > Keep it up. I mean, I learned a while back here that, while I consider _faggot_ a faintly ridiculous name to level at anyone, some people have had painfully to associate it with a bottle flung at the head from a passing car, so I now use the word with extreme reluctance unless there’s a joke to be made involving West Country-style meatballs, but you have to set your own boundaries, and as long as you’re content to use **magellan01** as your yardstick, who am I to say you nay? Oh please. You’re equating a word that is often associated with physical and emotional abuse against real people in the real world against lower case “j” and “c”? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-sdmb-why-do-atheists-and-theists-have-to-be-such-utter-dicks-to-each-other/456207/625 "2008-07-17T20:48:56Z")
[QUOTE=Malacandra] Do you happen to know that **magellan01** routinely eats beef in front of Hindus or pork in front of Moslems or Jews, or that he enjoys a secret thrill in so doing because he is consciously trampling on someone else’s belief system? I mean, I have no intention of joining a tardfight in which the gynaecological expletive is being tossed about, but to hark back to the barbecue example I gave earlier, it wasn’t so much about good table manners as of keeping an acquaintance whose belief system differed from mine from inadvertently violating a cultural taboo, or the anxiety that be might be doing so. I could have said on good scientific grounds, backed by the traditions of my own religion, that there was no such thing as unclean or forbidden food, and indeed the practice of affording veneration to a mere ruminant was primitive superstitious nonsense - but how much better to afford him a little consideration, don’t you think? [/QUOTE] Translation: I thought what I said before was a real zinger, but I guess it fell flat. Hey, I know! I’ll try it again using more words. Yeah, that’ll do the trick!!! And this leaves aside the little fact that I’ve chosen to sit at a table and break bread in order to forge a bond and then intentionally… —You know, I’ll leave you to figure out the rest. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-sdmb-why-do-atheists-and-theists-have-to-be-such-utter-dicks-to-each-other/456207/626 "2008-07-17T20:52:00Z")
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright] Yes, but you have long since surrendered any claim to the high ground. [/QUOTE] Somewhat. I’ve merely taken a journey to the Valley of Cunts to deal with it’s Queen on her own terms. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-sdmb-why-do-atheists-and-theists-have-to-be-such-utter-dicks-to-each-other/456207/627 "2008-07-17T20:55:26Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] What does that have to do with anything? Why would another avenue be a better choice than this one? [/QUOTE] Perhaps, Cunt, you could find one that diddles your little man in the boat while not intentionally being rude to those you’re engaged with. On preview: CUNT!!! ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-sdmb-why-do-atheists-and-theists-have-to-be-such-utter-dicks-to-each-other/456207/628 "2008-07-17T21:06:33Z")
[QUOTE=Wile E] When you overuse words like “cunt” they just lose all meaning. [/QUOTE] Plus, after a while it starts to look like it’s not spelled right. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-sdmb-why-do-atheists-and-theists-have-to-be-such-utter-dicks-to-each-other/456207/629 "2008-07-17T21:16:23Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] Everytime you mention my motivation (which I stated was to “annoy”) you change it. I’m pissing people off, I’m insulting…now I’m christian-baiting? Heh-heh…soooo touchy. [/QUOTE] And the dumb-cuntery shines a light on the stupidity spewing out of her maw anew. You admit to _intentionally_ doing it to annoy Christians and now register surprise that that might equates to pissing people off, to them being insulted?!!! Has the syphilis migrated so far north as to eat away at your entire pea brain? YIKES, you’re a dumb cunt. And heaven’s no, you would never bait Christians. No, never. Even though you’ve admitted to doing just that. Not only are you a dumb cunt, but a dumb, dishonest cunt. [QUOTE=Kalhoun] You’re still overreacting. When the believers wear it on their sleeves, I don’t hear you asking them to pipe down or telling them that you’re well aware of their feelings toward religion. Why the double standard? Because I chose to use lower case letters? THAT’S the big deal breaker? Give me a break. [/QUOTE] Nice try, crusty lips. You’ve already admitted to doing it to intentionally annoy people. [QUOTE=Kalhoun] Oh please. You’re equating a word that is often associated with physical and emotional abuse against real people in the real world against lower case “j” and “c”? :rolleyes: [/QUOTE] Now THIS you might just never get (I’d bet on it): While he finds it a run of the mill insult to hurl at anyone, like, perhaps, “shithead” (which I’m sure you’ve heard more than a few times), in an effort to foster meaningful discussion he extends himself a little bit and takes into consideration how what he is saying is being received by those he is engaged. He’s not blabbering in a vacuum. I guess you know that much, because you’ve concluded: “oh yeah, those other people I’m in the discussion with, let me diverge from convention and piss them off”. “B-b-b-but wait…” you say. “…I’m protesting!” Yes. And revealing your dumb cuntery in the process. I congratulate you on your great success!!! Cunt. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-sdmb-why-do-atheists-and-theists-have-to-be-such-utter-dicks-to-each-other/456207/630 "2008-07-17T21:58:07Z")
magellan01. Oh my bob, look what I did. I didn’t capitalize his user name. (Sure, he doesn’t either, but that’s beside the point.) I have _gravely insulted_ him, with a _dire slander_, of the _gravest proportions_. 'Cause obviously only the most terrible of insults could turn a good christan into a frothing invective-hurling madman. Obviously. (Plus I also failed to _bold_ the name, thus violating board convention! He must be gravely insenced _indeed_; it’s probably not enough that I limit my location’s detail to the state level - he’s probably so furious that he’ll probably come and _kill everyone in the state_ (or at least call them all “cunt”), just to get to to me.) Though I will get the last laugh - I’m _male_. What could he possible call me, in his frothing diatribes? (Or is “cunt” gender-inspecific now?) (Not that “jesus christ” isn’t a pretty frikking weak protest. Though that’s sort of the point - imagine of somebody actually _insulted_ the fictional fucker? Thor only knows what’d ensue.) ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-sdmb-why-do-atheists-and-theists-have-to-be-such-utter-dicks-to-each-other/456207/631 "2008-07-17T22:12:02Z")
[QUOTE=begbert2] magellan01. Oh my bob, look what I did. I didn’t capitalize his user name. (Sure, he doesn’t either, but that’s beside the point.) I have _gravely insulted_ him, with a _dire slander_, of the _gravest proportions_. 'Cause obviously only the most terrible of insults could turn a good christan into a frothing invective-hurling madman. Obviously. (Plus I also failed to _bold_ the name, thus violating board convention! He must be gravely insenced _indeed_; it’s probably not enough that I limit my location’s detail to the state level - he’s probably so furious that he’ll probably come and _kill everyone in the state_ (or at least call them all “cunt”), just to get to to me.) Though I will get the last laugh - I’m _male_. What could he possible call me, in his frothing diatribes? (Or is “cunt” gender-inspecific now?) (Not that “jesus christ” isn’t a pretty frikking weak protest. Though that’s sort of the point - imagine of somebody actually _insulted_ the fictional fucker? Thor only knows what’d ensue.) [/QUOTE] He was calling me a cunt when he thought I was male too. Yeah, he’s a bad-ass alright. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-sdmb-why-do-atheists-and-theists-have-to-be-such-utter-dicks-to-each-other/456207/632 "2008-07-17T22:29:14Z")
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright] Fucking hippie. 😃 [/QUOTE] With all the dicks and cunts being flung about, it’s the only kind of hippie to be right about now. I could use some stringy long hair though…it’s been about 28 years since I’ve had any. Speaking of islands…I will miss this dickncuntfest when I will be in Hawaii next week…ciao y’all. 😛 No dicks (or cunts) allowed! ---
**Author:** ![Omegaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e480ec/32.png) [@Omegaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omegaman)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-sdmb-why-do-atheists-and-theists-have-to-be-such-utter-dicks-to-each-other/456207/633 "2008-07-17T23:31:50Z")
[QUOTE=Yeticus Rex] I could use some stringy long hair though…it’s been about 28 years since I’ve had any. [/QUOTE] I’ll bet the chicks would dig your ear hair. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-sdmb-why-do-atheists-and-theists-have-to-be-such-utter-dicks-to-each-other/456207/634 "2008-07-17T23:45:36Z")
in the words of _the_ bruce dickinson, "i’ll be honest … fellas, this thread is great. but … i could’ve used a little more [del]cowbell[/del] cunt. so… let’s take it again … and, **magellan01** really explore the thread this time. I mean, really … explore the thread. i like what I’m hearing. guess what? i got a fever! and the only prescription … is more [del]cowbell[/del] cunt! i gotta have more [del]cowbell[/del] cunt, baby!" cmc +fnord! ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2008, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-sdmb-why-do-atheists-and-theists-have-to-be-such-utter-dicks-to-each-other/456207/635 "2008-07-18T00:11:19Z")
Disclaimer: I haven’t had the patience to wade through the entire thread, but if I may I would like to review: Question posed: in discussions that are about or that touch on religion (and the validity thereof) why are most/some/all partisans on the two sides unable or unwilling to engage in civilized discourse, and instead behave in a dickish manner to each other? Various answers, some thoughtful and serious, some jokey. \*\*Kalhoun \*\* apparently says that she writes “god” and “jesus christ” in lower case on purpose with the intent of annoying believers, with a view to protesting the hegemony of religious belief that she has encountered. \*\*magellan01 \*\* objects to this disrespect in very strong terms. Now it seems to me that \*\*Kalhoun \*\* is simply answering the question: she behaves in a dickish manner because she is trying to make a point. She probably spends a lot of energy trying to justify that behavior further, but really, in this thread, all she has done is answer the question in the OP. I truly don’t understand what **magellan01** ’s problem is. Surely there are much more disrespectful acts and posters on this board every day who haven’t merited this level of vitriol from him (not that I’ve seen, anyway). I guess he tried to explain to her that she was being dickish, and maybe she disagreed. So, are we clear? Did I miss something important? Some other parts of this discussion have been interesting, where I can detect them through the back-and-forth. For the record, I am a stone atheist; no, I don’t respect religious views, I think they are wildly misguided. Like **Kalhoun** , I strongly resent and oppose the apparent near-hegemony of religious beliefs in this country, some more than others, and I am opposed to accommodation with any of them. But, because I am an inveterate respecter of persons (where possible!), and because I am strongly averse to pointless confrontations, I try not to be dickish to other people. Unless absolutely necessary, of course. Clearly I draw that line in a different place than those two folks do. Roddy ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2008, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-sdmb-why-do-atheists-and-theists-have-to-be-such-utter-dicks-to-each-other/456207/636 "2008-07-18T01:56:53Z")
Can we have some kunts with a “K” ( or a “k”!), just for variety’s sake? ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2008, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-sdmb-why-do-atheists-and-theists-have-to-be-such-utter-dicks-to-each-other/456207/637 "2008-07-18T02:01:46Z")
[QUOTE=Malacandra] This reminds me, I’ve never yet seen _The Vagina Monologues_. [/QUOTE] You mean you haven’t been reading **magellan01** ’s posts? That’s them, as well as the Dickhead Monoluges, all rolled into one. Really very entertaining. The reviews should be good. Outstanding Dickhead was one headline. Don’t tell him though. I hate it when people get all haughty about being dickheads and start to brag about it. ---
**Author:** ![Charogne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecd19e/32.png) [@Charogne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charogne)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2008, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-sdmb-why-do-atheists-and-theists-have-to-be-such-utter-dicks-to-each-other/456207/638 "2008-07-18T02:16:56Z")
Yawn. Nothing to see here. The needledick possum-felching squirrel molester Magellan’s just being a typical christian, defending the tenets of his faith with the eloquence and reason one associates with apologetics at its finest. You can catch the same show at the all-night laundromat, given that it’s warm in there. I’m sure he’ll have a future as a fox News journalist. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2008, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-sdmb-why-do-atheists-and-theists-have-to-be-such-utter-dicks-to-each-other/456207/639 "2008-07-18T02:40:44Z")
. Based upon the assholery directly above, one thing is abundantly clear: **magellan** is doing his side no favors. Dude. As a religious humanist ordinarily quite sympathetic to the churchgoing, I just gotta beg you to please, please, please, shut the fuck up. Please. . ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2008, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-sdmb-why-do-atheists-and-theists-have-to-be-such-utter-dicks-to-each-other/456207/640 "2008-07-18T02:47:03Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] You see how that whole “righteous belief” thing can poison your whole ability to think rationally? The “deist” here is so outraged that I enjoy a subtle jab at the concept of christianity (all the while stuffing his face with pork and beef in mixed company and writing the word god with the “o” in place and all), that he’s worked himself into a hate-filled frenzy. [/QUOTE] Actually, it would be incorrect to try to equate the holding of religious views with an impairment to thought if one attempts to use **magellan01** as the exemplar. Based on any number of posts in threads of widely varying topics, I have never seen **magellan01** actually express a religious sentiment or belief. Rather, he is a conventionalist who happens to believe that society would run more smoothly (which is more important than more fairly) if everyone “went along with the program” on any number of issues. We should have an official language so that the nation would stick together, better. We should compel non-believers and believers of other theologies to give lip service to following a generalized (and, frankly, pretty meaningless) set of generic Christian-based protocols, regardless how the non-beleivers, the other believers, and even the Christians are offended by such rote hypocrisy because it will support our feelings of oneness in the country. It is a sincere position, (if one with which I am unalterably opposed), but it is not a religious belief. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-sdmb-why-do-atheists-and-theists-have-to-be-such-utter-dicks-to-each-other/456207.md?page=31) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-sdmb-why-do-atheists-and-theists-have-to-be-such-utter-dicks-to-each-other/456207.md?page=33)