# Yet another poll on religion/irreligion. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 8, 2007, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-poll-on-religion-irreligion/395115 "2007-03-08T15:56:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-poll-on-religion-irreligion/395115/41 "2007-03-09T12:36:53Z")
[QUOTE=Revenant Threshold] So, the questions; - Looking at the post, and imagining the context it is in, what would you say would be the likely mood of the person posting it? Do they seem happy? Annoyed? Condescending? Confident? - If all you could go on was that post, but it was a good example of their character, would you say that the person who wrote it seemed like a nice person? - How provocative would you say the post was? Does the poster seem to be spoiling for an argument at all? Is it a simple statement of belief? - Are you yourself a religious person? Would you characterise your faith as believing in a monotheistic god, believing in no gods, or other (so faith in a pantheon of gods, some forms of agnosticism, etc would be “other” as relates to this)? Remember, highlight just \*\*one \*\* spoiler box, please. [/QUOTE] I chose #2. 1. I think that poster sounds confident. Happy or annoyed (or even condescending) don’t come through in any way to me. 2. I don’t see a “nice” or “not nice” vibe coming from that statement, either way. 3. A simple statement of belief. I’m sure it would invite an argument, but that doesn’t mean that argument was intentional. 4. I’m an atheist who thinks there is little to no chance of a god who cares one way or the other. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-poll-on-religion-irreligion/395115/42 "2007-03-09T12:53:29Z")
my answers for spoilered post #1 [QUOTE=Revenant Threshold] So, the questions; - Looking at the post, and imagining the context it is in, what would you say would be the likely mood of the person posting it? Do they seem happy? Annoyed? Condescending? Confident? [/quote] - Condescending, not sure that is a mood, if it isn’t I’d go with blissfull. > [@](#): > > - If all you could go on was that post, but it was a good example of their character, would you say that the person who wrote it seemed like a nice person? - again; ‘nice’ seems to me an inadequate word, I could go with well-meaning. But a straight answer would be:Condescending, self-righteous, pompous. > [@](#): > > - How provocative would you say the post was? Does the poster seem to be spoiling for an argument at all? Is it a simple statement of belief? -the poster tells me I forget stuff and that we should all remember things. --newsflash-- I haven’t forgotten and I don’t ‘remember’ stuff I strongly disagree with. > [@](#): > > - Are you yourself a religious person? Would you characterise your faith as believing in a monotheistic god, believing in no gods, or other (so faith in a pantheon of gods, some forms of agnosticism, etc would be “other” as relates to this)? -Other P.S. After reading the other box, I would like to add that my answers would be identical for box #2. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-poll-on-religion-irreligion/395115/43 "2007-03-09T12:59:23Z")
I looked at Sample 1. From that post I felt the person was sincere and felt they were being patient. However, with my belief system, it might come off as patronizing, though I could recognize that’s not what the poster intended. As far what kind of person they might be? Probably nice but niave and a little simplistic. > [@](#): > > How provocative would you say the post was? Does the poster seem to be spoiling for an argument at all? Is it a simple statement of belief? Not provocative but not leaving much room for discussion, either. > [@](#): > > - Are you yourself a religious person? Would you characterise your faith as believing in a monotheistic god, believing in no gods, or other (so faith in a pantheon of gods, some forms of agnosticism, etc would be “other” as relates to this)? Atheistic with strong ties to being Jewish. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-poll-on-religion-irreligion/395115/44 "2007-03-09T12:59:40Z")
> [@](#): > > I think what a lot of us are forgetting here is that God doesn’t exist. The evidence exists to make it clear. So when we’re debating these issues, I think we need to give credit to the people who are willing to accept the truth and then debate the hypothethical situations where God does exist with the people who honestly but wrongly think that’s the actual situation. > > As a final point, though, we have to remember that there is no loving God; and in the end that makes all debate academic. > [@](#): > > Looking at the post, and imagining the context it is in, what would you say would be the likely mood of the person posting it? Do they seem happy? Annoyed? Condescending? Confident? Confident, sort of condescending. Not as out and out condescending as the “how can you idiots believe in a magical sky pixie in 2007?!?!?”, but somewhat so. > [@](#): > > If all you could go on was that post, but it was a good example of their character, would you say that the person who wrote it seemed like a nice person? I don’t know…like I said, it’s somewhat condescending which doesn’t indicate that the person is particularly _nice_, but I have friends who are much bigger assholes than this about certain topics that they feel strongly about and I still like them and generally consider them to be nice people. I don’t think it’s enough information to make a general statement about the poster. > [@](#): > > How provocative would you say the post was? Does the poster seem to be spoiling for an argument at all? Is it a simple statement of belief? The poster doesn’t seem to want an argument at all, s/he seems to think the debate can now end entirely. > [@](#): > > Are you yourself a religious person? Would you characterise your faith as believing in a monotheistic god, believing in no gods, or other (so faith in a pantheon of gods, some forms of agnosticism, etc would be “other” as relates to this)? I am an atheist. I do not believe there is a higher power. However, I do not automatically assume religion is bad and I actually enjoy going to synagogue. For reasons I cannot explain, I generally better and more positive after services. I fast on Yom Kippur and I go to seders on Pesach. I don’t know exactly why. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-poll-on-religion-irreligion/395115/45 "2007-03-09T13:04:41Z")
[QUOTE=Kyla] I am an atheist. I do not believe there is a higher power. However, I do not automatically assume religion is bad and I actually enjoy going to synagogue. For reasons I cannot explain, I generally better and more positive after services. I fast on Yom Kippur and I go to seders on Pesach. I don’t know exactly why. [/QUOTE] Small hijack- I feel so much the same way about going to services even though I am strongly atheistic. I’ve met more than one Jew who felt this way. I finally decided for myself that I enjoyed connecting to my history and the setiments in prayer are worth feeling and saying even if no one is listening! It’s nice to see others with this point of view! ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-poll-on-religion-irreligion/395115/46 "2007-03-09T13:22:56Z")
- Looking at the post, and imagining the context it is in, what would you say would be the likely mood of the person posting it? Do they seem happy? Annoyed? Condescending? Confident? **Couldn’t really tell. Hard to say whether this is a hidebound person trying hard to be open minded and engage in debate or merely pretending to be.** - If all you could go on was that post, but it was a good example of their character, would you say that the person who wrote it seemed like a nice person? **Same answer.** - How provocative would you say the post was? Does the poster seem to be spoiling for an argument at all? **It’s not overtly combative. It’s hard to tell whether it’s passive-aggressive or someone doing their (not very good) best. As written, I’d lean towards the former about 60/40.** Is it a simple statement of belief? **No.** - Are you yourself a religious person? Would you characterise your faith as believing in a monotheistic god, believing in no gods, or other (so faith in a pantheon of gods, some forms of agnosticism, etc would be “other” as relates to this)? **I am an atheist in the “lacks belief but doesn’t claim to know that there are no gods” sense.** ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-poll-on-religion-irreligion/395115/47 "2007-03-09T14:46:44Z")
Which one did you examine, Hawthorne? ---
**Author:** ![stretch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@stretch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stretch)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-poll-on-religion-irreligion/395115/48 "2007-03-09T15:19:04Z")
I chose box 2. The individual seems confident and a little superior. Maybe not annoyed, but as if s/he is only humoring the theists by interacting with them on this subject. Based on this post, the person doesn’t seem really nice. I’d think the person was spoiling for an argument. I’m an atheist. ETA: I checked sample one after posting and my answers would be the same. ---
**Author:** ![SiXSwordS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-poll-on-religion-irreligion/395115/49 "2007-03-09T16:30:57Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] - Looking at the post, and imagining the context it is in, what would you say would be the likely mood of the person posting it? **I’d call the mood “confused”, or maybe “misinformed”. Or even “ignorant” (in the strict meaning of lacking knowledge).** [/QUOTE] I’m sure this is a nitpick, but I don’t think misinformed or ignorant are moods. Confused is a bit of a stretch too, but in this context I think it’s out of place. As are my comments on your post. I’ve started [another thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=8338482#post8338482) for comments on answers and the thread in general if anyone wants to take it outside. (I’m not spoiling for a fight FWIW.) ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-poll-on-religion-irreligion/395115/50 "2007-03-09T16:43:28Z")
Actually **SiXSwordS** for the purposes of this those were very good replies - I can get from them **Liberal** ’s view pretty clearly (that’s assuming i’ve correctly interpreted them, but he hasn’t complained so i’m assuming so). To get “deliberate bad tone”, it’s not just mood, but whether the person was confident or or misguided and things along those lines. ---
**Author:** ![Walkabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walkabout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walkabout)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-poll-on-religion-irreligion/395115/51 "2007-03-09T16:50:55Z")
I looked at Box 1. **- Looking at the post, and imagining the context it is in, what would you say would be the likely mood of the person posting it? Do they seem happy? Annoyed? Condescending? Confident?** My immediate thought was that the person was confident and smug. **- If all you could go on was that post, but it was a good example of their character, would you say that the person who wrote it seemed like a nice person?** I can’t see any reason to perceive them as a mean person. There wasn’t anything confrontational about the post, and their religious views might influence them to be kind. I would wonder about their level of intelligence, though, to make such a sweeping statement that can’t possibly be proven. \*\*- How provocative would you say the post was? Does the poster seem to be spoiling for an argument at all? Is it a simple statement of belief? \*\* Taken by itself, it didn’t seem provocative, but I’d think that someone posting this in GD would have to be expecting an argument. **- Are you yourself a religious person? Would you characterise your faith as believing in a monotheistic god, believing in no gods, or other (so faith in a pantheon of gods, some forms of agnosticism, etc would be “other” as relates to this)?** I am not religious person. I don’t have any formal religion, but I wonder about the possibilty of some spirituallity that affects us in some way. So that would either be “no gods” or “other”. ---
**Author:** ![SiXSwordS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-poll-on-religion-irreligion/395115/52 "2007-03-09T19:05:01Z")
[QUOTE=Revenant Threshold] Actually **SiXSwordS** for the purposes of this those were very good replies - [/QUOTE] Well, ok. > [@Liberal](#): > > I’d call the mood “confused”, or maybe “misinformed”. Or even “ignorant” (in the strict meaning of lacking knowledge). How is Ignorant a mood? Regardless of which box you picked, how can person’s mood be described as misinformed? I can see how you’re reaction to the poll might be helpful and how **RT** can tally up the answers using you’re responses, but how does confused apply to the mood of the psuedo-post in #2? You might just as easily say the mood was “Wrong.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-poll-on-religion-irreligion/395115.md?page=2)