Look Guin, I admit I was wrong. I should have nbt said that to you. I wish I could take it back but I can’t it is there. I don’t know else you want me say? I have made the apology to you so I have done all I can do. Now it is up to you to accept it or not. I would hope that you would.
Next point. I said it was none of fenris’s business what kind of fat burners I was taking. I would probably tell you because before this little spat I thought we got along ok you know I considered you a friend on the board.
I don’t have a dog in this fight, but I do fall on the side of taking personal responsibility. I don’t like when people make excuses about their behavior. Bill, there’s no way you could know whether someone might walk out behind you and get some gravel in the eye, or something similar. Freak accidents happen quite often. Your behavior was childish.
Also, I drive the speed limit on most occasions. I guess that makes me one of those people who get in the way of the rushed jerks on the freeway who cause all the accidents.
Originally posted by Wildest Bill, over in Great Debates:
Evolution is taught in schools because it’s part of biology, a science which it’s expected high school graduates will understand something of. And it’s taught as it is because the evidence is there for it.
God could do it by a literal reading of Genesis 1 process and plant false evidence against it, sure. But that doesn’t sound like any kind of god I’d want to worship. Makes perfect sense to me: “Okay, Bill, you’re betting whether you’re gonna spend eternity in torment or in bliss on the choice you make right now. And just to make the game interesting, I’m gonna hide the right answer under one of these three shells. Watch carefully as I move 'em around…”
“the Anti Christ’s Law Union”!!! Yeah, right! Absolutely terrible of them to stand against forcing kids to pray in school according to community standards. So that a Christian kid brought up in a Chasidic area in Brooklyn is forced to say the Eighteen Benedictions, the long form including the denunciation of Christ. Or a Protestant kid in South Boston has to recite the Hail Mary. I’d definitely be opposed to a group with that sort of goal!
I’ve come to your defense here a bunch of times. And I’ve told your friends over on the Pizza Parlor you’re becoming a part of the community over here, and doing a good job of witnessing for your faith.
Y’know what? I was wrong. Of course, I’m “brainwashed and shortsighted,” so you can’t expect a whole lot of me.
The thoughtless, prejudiced remarks you insist on throwing around this board have done more to destroy the eighteen months I’ve spent trying to plant the seed among intelligent people here that maybe, just maybe there’s something to this Christianity that is in fact Good News, and not just the superstition of people who can’t think for themselves, than anything anybody else has ever said here.
Satan must be real proud of what he’s accomplished through you. And I don’t mean Brian this time.
No, I don’t. I am currently working in computer tech support, and have, in the past worked as a salesman and an elementary school teacher. Are any of those professions on your “enemies” list?
And if you think these questions are hard, I pity you the time that you will spend on the witness stand. I also offer a piece of unsolicted advice: For heaven’s sake, let your lawyer do all the talking!
**
Thank you, I’ve also worked an an insurance claims adjuster, but I’m not certain that’s relevant, unless that’s also on your “enemies” list. The reason for the point system was twofold. To answer your question (about why you were getting little to no empathy) as thorougly as possible, which included showing you how I was weighing each contributing factor, and to provide some humor.
Clearly, the humor was lost (on everyone, not just you) but are you telling me that you still don’t understand why I have no sympathy or empathy for you?
And this point gives us another example of your persecution complex. Insurance salespeople do not add points for speeding tickets specifically to charge people more insurance. They add points because of an increased risk factor from high-risk drivers. In other words, it’s your action, not theirs that’s costing you money.
note that I’ve rearranged the order some of Bill’s comments. I’ve left each paragraph untouched, however
**
Sadly, no. It’s still wildly inconsistant. You studied your rearview and sideview mirrors, and searched your blind spot for any nearby cars or pedestrians. Knowing that you presented no risk to anyone but yourself on this completely deserted road (what about the witness who saw you stop at the stopsign?), you spun your tires, for the pure, spiritual joy of the sound of rubber burning and gravel flying, putting you into a sort-of skid, flinging up gravel. Then, suddenly 6-8 police cars materialize from nowhere (you didn’t see them when inspecting the area) around your car and one of them had to chase you off the road?
**
I certainly can’t make you. But I never asked you for a brand-name, just the ingredient list off the back of the bottle. I’m curious
**
No. I’m not. As a matter of fact, I have to work to not speed. I enjoy the feeling of being in a fast car. However, I realize that my enjoyment of that feeling puts others at risk and could cost me money (in the form of speeding tickets), so I don’t do it. But it was interesting that you ask, since it’s either a sad attempt at an ad hominem arguement, or another attempt to put the blame on someone else for your behaviour (by implying that people who go slightly below the speed limit are the reason you spin your tires). If I did go 2-3 hours under the speed limit, I’d still be within the legal range allowed by most states (you don’t become a hazard until you hit 5 miles an hour below the limit, IIRC). “Jackrabbit” starts are also illegal in many states (my brother got a ticket for it, years ago). Are you implying that if I were, I’d somehow be responsible for your actions? Or are you simply tossing out a vaguely insulting question like “Have you stopped beating your wife yet?”
Bill, if this kind of remark from Polycarp - POLYCARP - doesn’t make you suitably chastized and humble, there is positively no hope for you whatsoever. For the record, I think that’s the harshest thing I’ve ever heard him say to someone, and if you’re not aware, it takes a lot to make him say not-nice things.
I suggest you take a few days and stare into the mirror and think about some of the things people have been telling you.
Wildest Bill, please consider the source of those words. Poly is one of the most patient and loving people I have ever had the pleasure to know. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was actually feeling guilty for his rebuking of all you seem to stand for, even though he knows he was at his wits ends.
You really need to look into a mirror at some point…
Look, for all your <ahem> shortcomings, I actually think you’re a valuable person to have here. You bring up interesting topics, you keep things going, you say things that most people wouldn’t say, and you usually have a sense of humor. Despite your fractured writing, I don’t think you are stupid, stupid people wouldn’t have the patience to stick around and keep talking.
I know it can be hard when it seems like everyone is attacking you. But I want you to step back, and ask yourself WHY everyone seems annoyed. Think things through for a change. You seem like the kind of guy who charges ahead faster when the going gets rough. Sometimes that works. Other times it just gets you deeper and deeper in trouble.
You made a mistake with this driving thing. Then you compounded your mistake by refusing to recognize your mistake. Then you compounded that mistake by complaining about the cops. Then you compounded that mistake by complaining when people called you on it.
Look, the thing to do in that situation is sit down and think about what happened that got you in trouble. Figure out what you did wrong, and resolve not to put yourself in that situation again. It could be that the cops were totally wrong and you were totally right. But that is very unlikely. Even if you think the cops were wrong, you need to seriously consider the possibility that even if they were rude they still were correct to do what they did.
Your major failing seems to be a lack of self-reflection. You post fast, you don’t bother to check for spelling or grammar mistakes, you spin your tires without thinking about the cops, you want to lose weight regarless of the cost. And when it gets you in trouble, you get defensive rather than learn.
The truth is that it is often very difficult to understand what you are trying to say. I mean, the gist is usually obvious, but the exact meaning is elusive. Look, you obviously enjoy this message board. I want you to think about which posters you enjoy reading. Don’t you prefer people who can communicate clearly? I’m not arguing for perfection, no one cares about a few typos or grammar errors. But you really need to try much harder.
I wouldn’t bother telling you all this if I didn’t think you sometimes had something worth saying. I’m not jumping on the “Bash Bill” bandwagon…but truthfully I can agree with a lot of what they are saying. I’m hoping you put in some effort to change.
I think that’s the major problem here, Bill. It’s not that you made a mistake, or that you snapped at someone when you shouldn’t. It’s that you did it, then offered excuses. Excuses tend to make people think that your apology is less than valid. Honestly, what means more after you’ve been wronged? “I’m really sorry,” or “I’m really sorry, BUT…” Ok, you spun your tires. You knew ahead of time that could get you in trouble. You got caught. Oh well, move on. If you didn’t run the stop signs, then by all means fight it. You didn’t use a turn signal. It may be a rule that’s ignored by lots of people, but once again, it’s something that you knew you should do. You didn’t, oh well. It’s a lesson learned. Then you snapped at Guin. You did apologize, but only with a “but everyone else does it and I’m not perfect” added on. Just an apology probably would have gone farther. Without the excuses.
I’m not trying to jump on the “Jump on Bill” bandwagon here. I’m trying to tell you, as someone who’s known you for awhile, what part of the problem might be. Just something to think about.
I see what you are saying and it makes sense and you have always been fair so I will adhere to your advice.
What I am alot shocked about is what poly said to me. I don’t know why he jumped on me so hard. I was mearly turning the situation around on rjung saying that Christians try to brainwash kids in Sunday school. That kinda of hacked me off. So I just turnied it around on rjung that children are being brainwashed in school that evolution is indeed true therefor letting the kids believe that once they die that it is it. I don’t know why he attacked me and not rjung.
Sure I don’t like the ACLU. I think they are one sorry organization. They protect profanity like it is going out style causing the moral slide of our country because of the constitution but then they hardly lift a finger for gun rights that is protected in the same constitution.
And as far as the evidence that you think God left supporting evolution how do you know God left it? Since you believe in God, you have to know there is also an evil spirit trying to ruin man’s relationship with God named Satan(no not you Brian) that tries to decieve man at every corner and what a better way to do that then try to explain away how we got here by some occurance called evolution.
Now everybody that doesn’t believe God can laugh that statement off but you should think about it. I mean devil is the great deciever and what a better way to decieve man that to explain his existence here away by chance not design.
I consider myself a christian, but i fail to see how satan could’ve “put” evidence for evolution in the earth.
God would’ve had to Let him do so.
Bill, Bill, people have sworn sinc ethe beginning of time; I don’t think thats whats causing moral decay.
I’m sure it did, but you have to remember WHO you represent. That’s why Poly got so upset, Bill. You and Poly are supposed to be one the same side. You’re supposed to be working for the same goals. So you tell me, why do you think people have such different opinions of you and him? Ok, so he’s a liberal. Do you honestly think that’s the only reason the people here react to him differently than you? 'Cause I’m here to tell you, I just don’t believe that. He’s a strong Christian, and everybody here that’s ever had anything to do with him knows where he stands. There’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that he truly believes.
Ok, I don’t want to hold Poly up as the perfect example either… That’s not right. He’s no more perfect than you are.
Just remember your fruits, Bill. People are going to hear your words, but they’re going to judge your actions and your attitude. You say you’re a Christian, and so people are going to look at you as an example of what Christianity is. They’re going to look at you and watch you, and what you need to be showing is Christ, not your temper. Yeah, I think you and I are used to an environment where we shoot of our mouths before we use our brains, but we can get over it.
that I just skipped a lot in Bill’s post to me. Ooops.
That’s easy Bill. Rjung isn’t claiming to be a Christian, so he’s not held to the same standards.
Then don’t support it. Don’t insult those who see that it has a purpose. To use some of your own words, nobody’s perfect. Not even the ACLU. So they don’t do everything you think they should. Oh well. That’s no reason to insult those who think that they do good.
Or, then again, there could be a completely different explanation. Here’s the thing… when it comes right down to it, it doesn’t matter! It’s not a salvation issue. If you think that the school doesn’t cover enough for your kids’ educations, then you take over. You tell them what you think they should know. That way they get both sides and they can make an informed decision. There’s no reason to insist that the schools do it. You take care of it, they’re your kids. And anyway you look at it, moaning and insulting people on a message board surely isn’t going to change anything.
