Well, I am certainly willing to drop the subject.
My general impression of tomndebb is that he is a well-informed poster and an even-handed moderator … however, he has admonished/warned me a couple of times, and I felt that they were totally unjustified. This disjunct makes me think that in the latter cases, my bias is overwhelming my judgment.
I’m sorry if my lack of being persuaded by such a weak argument bothers you.
A bit late to the party, but I can already see reading all subsequent posts will be useless based on this quoted part.
Here’s the deal. tomndebb is almost universally wrong. In everything. He’s usually wrong in anything that involves an opinion on anything, and I think he has the highest percentage of warnings issued that I’ve compliled. I disagree with him on just about everything he has to say, and while I try to dimiss his direft comments to me, I still tend to take them into consideration. It’s a sickness.
You, however, seem to be one of those types that just want to fight something. You want to bulldog an issue and just hammer it to death. Even if you don’t agree with it. And that’s a compliment to you. You got moxie. But it’s on a message board so less than respectable.
There isn’t much you add to a debate other than reasons why “your” side is wrong.
You’re getting close to the level of dismissal most have of badchad, but get in the occasional post in other forums that are saving your ass. I noticed you because of the unique username. In the past few days I’ve noticed you because of your posts.
Take it from someone that is almost unanimously dismissed around here, you’re losing points.
Oooooh, burn!
I say ban anybody who trots out that moldy old chestnut of an argument: “how you feel about issue X says something about your personality” just on the basis of laziness.
Well that just proves that you’re a troll, only a troll would say such a thing.
Well, that is technically true. The two Warnings I have given you (most recently in September, 2005), are double the number that you have received from any other Moderator.
**
FriarTed**, justification doesn’t necessarily negate the apology.
Let me try: I am sorry that I rubbed your nose in your hateful comments. I was purposely making an example out of your insults in order to stress how ineffective using the hammer of God is in this debate. Getting angry will not earn you the title of “hypocrite”. Wishing judgment or damnation or in any way taking the Lord’s name in vain: will.
I don’t expect you or any other Christian to be above anger, or even spite. But next time you are angry, use common words instead of threatening Divine Retribution. If you call someone a jerk when they are being a jerk, you run the risk of having the “That is very un-Christian like behavior” retort thrown back at you. But at least you will still preserve your integrity and the integrity of your belief system.
Do you mind if I throw in a bonus pitting against **Bible man ** to illustrate my point? An ordinary person will not be accepted as “Doctor” simply by donning the title. One must perform years of hard study and be recognized by his peers in order to be awarded the name. **Bible man’s ** pseudonym is pretentious and immodest. The moment he enters the discussion with that self-awarded alias the chances for intercommunication are compromised. He tries to qualify his assertions by often including “one can only truly learn from self-study of the Bible” but he is completely closed to any dissension of his interpretations. To put it simply: **Bible man ** is proud.
You probably feel that you have nothing to learn from an atheist, and you may be right. But please consider this: you will never convert anyone by being condescending and patronizing.See the trend I am indicating? Pride, arrogance and condescension are unattractive in a Christian. They are unattractive in any human. And they are especially useless when teaching the unchurched.
I can understand how you and the other Christians feel the awesome power of God. I can understand how Muslims feel the awesome power of Allah. I see how it can give you great joy, and great hope. I never want to deny you that certainty that you are being looked after.
Now please try to view it my way: I have lived a relatively successful life. I have known love more than once. I have cared for my children and felt their love (I haven’t given birth to any, but I have cared for many children that were born to others). I have cared for the fish of the sea, the fowl of the air, the cattle, and many of the creeping things over all the earth. I have received kindness from strangers and have had many opportunities to be kind to the same. I have daily access to all the information the world has to offer and I learn about new discoveries nearly as quickly as they happen. I have benefited from science and medicine and have contributed a bit to the dissemination of what I have learned. I am surrounded by beauty and art and knowledge. I am happy to be alive. I have already surpassed the lifespan of humans who lived 2,000 years ago (With the obvious exception of Methuselah) And when I pass, I am not afraid of the nothingness that you have discussed. I do not want to live forever in *any * incarnation- I simply want to enjoy this life as it is and enhance it with physical, tangible, measurable delights that every human is privileged to enjoy.
And now that I have justified my snarky behavior, let me apologize again. FriarTed, I am truly sorry that I took advantage of a weak moment and made it uglier. I shouldn’t have picked on you or maligned your character. You are a good man; and better for having regrets about your harsh words. You have good intentions and an optimism about a future that would include me if I were inclined, and I thank you for that.
Thank you, Beaucarnea. I did respond out of anger, wrongly & vulgarly, to general anti-Christ/anti-Christian statements by two Dopers & if I had to do it all over again, I’d have been much kinder. It occurs to me that Christ Himself would probably have preferred to have been called a cunt everyday rather than taking the beating He did. I did strive to distinquish the types of people I was singling out for the Pants-Wetting Judgment, from general decent people who just happen not to believe in God/JC. I am sorry for not having made that distinction more apparent, and for generally taking the low road in the whole fracas.
shakes your hand & hopes for future productive discussions