Giving "Thanks"

[NYC_SKP]

A discussion is had this time of year in religious an atheist circles about the meaning of "Thanksgiving" and any relation to religion or God(s).

Q and A:

1. How do you feel about the whole idea of "thanking" an unseen benefactor
for your "blessings" while stuffing your own faces full of food?

I don't actually thank any unseen benefactor; I am instead thankful to be with the friends who are present and for my health and for having food to eat and friends and work and a healthy attitude toward life. I am thankful to be alive!

2. The whole "thankfulness" issue that makes Xtians and other believers feel
so good (or abject?) eludes me completely.

I think it's fine that different people have different ways of marking the occasion, and I think it's sad that the way the do is bothersome to others when it's really quite harmless.

3. What do you think makes god believers feel SO good about thanking anonymous heavenly benefactors?

I have no answer because I don't feel this way. I guess if I had this question I might go find a "god believer" and ask them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

May you all have a fantastic holiday with friends and family and food, if you celebrate, and if you want to thank God or Allah or anyone else, just go right ahead!

I'm mostly going to thank my friends for inviting me, the staff and surgeons for saving my life and completing three head surgeries this year, one more to go, and all the fortune that's come my way and helped me thrive.

[cbayer]

1. I had also been thinking about this lately.

I have been feeling very thankful, but it's not to a deity. It's just a general feeling that I am a very fortunate person and I want to acknowledge that. I want to acknowledge the people in my life that make it so rich and meaningful. I am thankful that I am getting some serious and neglected medical problems addressed. I am delighted that our four children are all happy and healthy and partnered, and that my parents continue to be alive and well.

We had a tradition in my family of going around the table on occasions like thanksgiving and saying what we were thankful for. Some individuals might mention god, but most did not. It never felt like some kind of forced religion, not in the least.

I am thankful that you have had a successful year, though I know it's been a real test.

This year I will have dinner with about 225 people, most of who I have not yet met. Many of these people went through hurricane Odile recently. The community lost 3 members and about 27 boats. In the face of that, the community pulled together. The last remaining boat was successfully pulled off the beach last week. We have a lot to be thankful for.

[NYC_SKP]

2. That sounds like a it will be a wonderful Thanksgiving for all in attendance.

I might even say "Glorious", which is a benign term reserved for remarkable things.

But then life itself is remarkable, isn't it?

Three T-days that stand out for me include one at cousin Pearl's house: She had never cooked a turkey and misread the directions.
Directions say to cook until the bird reaches an interior temperature of 160º, and she set the oven for 160º and later wondered why after 4 hours it didn't look more done.
We ate something other than turkey that day.

In 2010 I wasn't included in the plans of my favorite family so looked for opportunities to serve at a shelter or other place and all I could find was to go help at a sort of hostel for international travelers.
They asked if I spoke Spanish, and could I help a young man look at job applications, etc., then have dinner.
I agreed and happily drove over to San Jose and met the man.
Who turned out to be from Brazil.
Where they speak Portuguese, not Spanish.
Hilarity ensued, it really did, we had a great time!

Finally, and very memorably, while in college living in the alphabet jungle (around Avenue B and East Houston), I was without a place to go and Maximo, who ran the ground floor bodega in my building, asked if I might join his family for Thanksgiving.
Maximo and his wife and at least one child, his daughter, all ran the store AND all had jobs at Katz's Delicatessen (made famous by a scene in When Harry Met Sally).
I went to their apartment and they fed me well, but not everyone was there.
Some of all of them had shifts to serve at Katz's that day.
And the turkey and fixins' were Katz's leftovers or other, and they were deliciious.

I think, in many ways, that Thanksgiving was the most powerful.

Take care, cbayer!

Happy holiday!

[cbayer]

5. Thanks for sharing those great stories.

I have had so many different ones, I would have to think about the most memorable.

Thanksgiving at my house as a child and as an adult always included people who had no family available. What is remember is a cacophony of voices and laughter and general good will.

I expect the same this year.

[Warren Stupidity]

3. well I for one hope your housing situation improves next year.

I know how difficult it must be to be basically homeless like you are.

[trotsky]

4. LMAO

[truebrit71]

15. HA!

[hrmjustin]

19. Is this necessary?

[rug]

20. I'm sure the three of them think so.

[hrmjustin]

24. It is just sad that they have to make fun of her personal finances.

I saw in another thread where she was called a tax cheat. Not by name of course but we know who they mean.

[rug]

30. Sad is the mildest word I would use for this personal bullshit they post.

[hrmjustin]

32. Creepy and disgusting behavior imo.

[rug]

34. And chronic.

[okasha]

84. I think it's well past "deluded"

and into "deranged" territory.

It's time the hosts stepped in. Past time.

[Warren Stupidity]

27. what?

[hrmjustin]

28. Your homeless comment?

[Warren Stupidity]

35. What about it?

[hrmjustin]

36. Is it necessary to get that personal about her?

[Warren Stupidity]

39. I'm hoping her housing problems are resolved, why is that wrong?

[hrmjustin]

41. You can fool some here but not me.

[Warren Stupidity]

43. I have no idea what you mean, please explain.

[hrmjustin]

46. Very cute.

Just remember that she can't see you because she has you on ignore but others see what you and your friends are doing.

[Warren Stupidity]

51. What am I doing?

[hrmjustin]

52. You are going after her personally.

[Warren Stupidity]

53. How am I going after her personally?

[hrmjustin]

54. Your comment ws personal. If you can't see that I can not and will not help you.

[Warren Stupidity]

55. I hoped that her housing situation would improve. How is that a personal attack?

[hrmjustin]

56. Her situation is fine.

[Warren Stupidity]

58. no you are mistaken, she is basically homeless, she said so herself yesterday.

Right here.

So I am hoping she has the good fortune to not be in such dire straights next year. Don't you hope so too?

[hrmjustin]

59. She never claimed to be homeless.

[Warren Stupidity]

60. Ok then. I guess you have other ways of reading.

Seems clear to me.

[hrmjustin]

62. Yes I guess we do.

I see others here feel the need to comment on her taxes as well. Just sad!

[truebrit71]

78. Yes she did.

Not sure what is confusing to you about her statement..

[hrmjustin]

79. Where did she say she was homeless?

[truebrit71]

81. Follow the link in past #58.

It takes you directly to a post where she says she is basically homeless because she lives on a yacht.

[hrmjustin]

82. No she never said she was homeless or basically homeless.

[truebrit71]

86. Justin, did you read the post that was linked?

That's what was written, no?

[NYC_SKP]

61. No, Warren, she did not say she is homeless. That's just not so, even by your own link.

A lot of people consider those of us that live on boats basically homeless, but we do generally have shelter. It may be very simple and it's not always comfortable, but unless it gets a whole in it, it is usually dry. We are also told to move on at times and we were not counted in the last census because we are invisible.

Why members want to bully her in this thread is beyond me.

But, I suppose, it's useful to see, and for all of DU to see, how petty and mean some people can be.

It's really a sad thing, it must be sad to have lives that lead to being mean to innocent people.

[Warren Stupidity]

63. she compared living in her luxury yacht in a resort town to being homeless. nt.

[NYC_SKP]

67. No she didn't and it's by no means a luxury yacht.

More mischaracterizations, to put it mildly.

It's a sail boat, not a yacht and not luxurious. That's just not so, Warren.

You have no shame, do you?

[Warren Stupidity]

70. yacht - if you are living on the boat in a resort town, it is a yacht.

A yacht /ˈjɒt/ is a recreational boat or ship.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yacht

You are having trouble with words today like "plagiarism" and "yacht".

The meaning is clear in both cases.

It is a boat capable of ocean travel and a boat with a full kitchen. It is currently in a resort town in Mexico. Claiming that that living circumstance is comparable to being homeless is what is shameful.

[Goblinmonger]

64. The title of Warren's reply contains the claim "basically homeless"

which is EXACTLY what cbayer called herself. Do you take exception with that description? Many of us do.

[NYC_SKP]

65. It's clear what she wrote: that others consider liveaboard people homeless, no permanent address.

Don't make shit up.

[Warren Stupidity]

72. This was stated in the context of a discussion about homelessness

and it was stated to establish her credentials on the homeless experience.

Nobody made anything up about this.

[hrmjustin]

87. If you are talking about that post then yes i read it.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1218165443#post39

[truebrit71]

89. Okay, so I'm at a loss to understand your confusion?

[hrmjustin]

90. I am not confused.

[truebrit71]

91. Okay. Sure.

Someone writes that they are basically considered homeless because they live on a yacht, but you say they didn't say they were basically homeless, even after having read the statement that clearly stated that they were considered homeless because they lived on a yacht.

Got it.

[hrmjustin]

92. She said other people have that opinion. She never stated her opinion.

I am capable of reading.

[Warren Stupidity]

98. well lets go to the text.

So you are conceding that yacht people are not homeless, but claiming that CBayer never made any statements that she thought her status was similar to being homeless.

This response of hers was in the context of the experience of being homeless:

Sorry that you have been on hard times. A lot of people consider
those of us that live on boats basically homeless, but we do generally have shelter. It may be very simple and it's not always comfortable, but unless it gets a whole in it, it is usually dry. We are also told to move on at times and we were not counted in the last census because we are invisible.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1218165443#post39

"a lot of people consider those of us that live on boats basically homeless" - actually nobody in their right mind honestly thinks that people living in yachts in resort towns are "homeless", so you could hang your hat on "she said other people have that opinion", but there is no hook there so your hat is on the floor. Nobody said that. It is nonsense. Why would Cbayer write this nonsense - that other people think she is homeless?

"but we do generally have shelter" - oh so most of the time she isn't quite homeless, she has "shelter" but sometimes, like when the yacht has a "whole" in it, she is very homeless, in the sort way a person living in a luxury hotel is homeless. You actually lose your argument right there, she is slightly modifying but not disagreeing with the ridiculous claim made by her invented "other people" that people living on yachts in resort towns are "homeless".

But it gets worse for your thesis: "We are also told to move on at times" - wtf? Why would she write that? Why? because yacht people in resort towns are, as those "other people" claim "basically homeless" and homeless people get told to "move along" all the time. Plus just like homeless people, yacht people in resort towns are "invisible": "we were not counted in the last census because we are invisible".

CBayer is expressing her opinion on her dire housing situation, one that I hope improves this next year, all over that quote.

Sorry Justin. Your friend put her foot in her mouth. You are very loyal but this is the wrong fight.

[rug]

93. That explains this reply.

4. LMAO

You're piling it so high I'm surprised you haven't suffocated.

[truebrit71]

94. Anything to add to the thread or just your usual?

How'd that rule-breaking work out for you last time champ?

[rug]

95. Speaking of piling it high, stop rolling on the floor.

On second thought, from your posts in this thread, you appear to enjoy it.

[truebrit71]

96. So that'd be a hearty "no" then?

Quite the one-trick pony.

[rug]

97. You haven't described "your usual".

Go on, brit.

[stone space]

99. asdf

AUTOMATED MESSAGE: You alerted on a post which was already alerted

Mail Message



On Thu Nov 27, 2014, 06:26 AM you sent an alert on the following post:

well I for one hope your housing situation improves next year.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1218&pid=165798

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

YOUR COMMENTS

Looks like a personal attack to me.

Not cool.

JURY RESULTS

Someone else already alerted on this post before you alerted on it, and only the first alert was sent to a Jury. A randomly-selected Jury of DU members completed their review of the post on Wed Nov 26, 2014, 10:52 AM, and voted 3-4 to keep IT. Please note that even though your alert was not sent to a Jury, it has been forwarded to the Administrators who review all alerts.

Thank you.

[Warren Stupidity]

100. oh that is a shame.

It looks like we can still discuss what people post here, even if they post ridiculous shit. Pointing out how ridiculous something is by accepting the premise is again not a personal attack.

[stone space]

101. I can only assume that 4 jurors believed your comment...

...to be a sincere expression of concern.

well I for one hope your housing situation improves next year.

I know how difficult it must be to be basically homeless like you are.

Probably because none of them could imagine in their wildest dreams a personal attack being made with those carefully chosen words.

Congratulations. You fooled them.

You successfully masked your true intent with fake concern.

[Warren Stupidity]

102. How is it a personal attack to hope that

somebody's dire housing situation improves?

Please explain.

[rug]

103. It's not. What you did is.

Insincerity and mockery is not a hope.

[NYC_SKP]

105. Misnamed.

The group, the name should include a form of the word "mock": mocking; mockery.

It's what most of the post there are about.

[rug]

106. As far as names go, he's losing.

[Goblinmonger]

6. .........

[cbayer]

10. I must be missing it because I can't see what prompted this response.

[Goblinmonger]

13. It's a selective edit of a post in A/A

in an attempt (in my opinion) to make some atheists look like assholes. I know he states otherwise below, but I don't buy it.

[cbayer]

17. Oh, didn't know of any connection. I didn't see any

attempt on the post to make anyone look like an asshole, and I do think the discussion of what it means to be thankful is one worth having, but perhaps that can not happen.

[Goblinmonger]

29. This is kind of a response to you below, too.

I think this is a good example of a discussion that is different for some than for others. Which is why the OP of the original posted it in A/A (from my standpoint, anyway). It was a discussion for a specific type of action that a lot of us do see everyday.

To bring it in here was not on good faith, imho.

[cbayer]

38. Since this member has taken the opportunity to personally attack me and just

produce snark after I posted a substantive response, I have zero interest in supporting any claim that this shouldn't have been brought here.

I'm out of this thread.

[trotsky]

50. Considering that you personally attacked first, I don't think you have any grounds to complain.

"Your post comes across as a petty attempt to bash god believers simply for believing and to particularly attack that it makes them feel good. Of course that eludes you because you don't share it. It eludes me, too, but I don't begrudge them that feeling or have any wish to take it away from them."

[Heddi]

7. I like how you plagarize another person's post

And pass it off as if you came up with these questions on your own.

Stay classy, skip

The original posting, 20 minutes before this http://www.democraticunderground.com/123031569#

[NYC_SKP]

12. Hi darling!

I wanted to address the questions but not in that group.

I don't believe there's a case for plagiary here, and the questions are good ones, I just don't want to post over there.

I'm so happy that you are free to come into this group, however, and post replies.

And yes, I'll be sure to stay classy.

And rogue!

[PassingFair]

14. We are thankful to be able to come into this group.

Thank you for your benevolence.

[Heddi]

18. I'm not your darling. do not refer to me with terms of that nature

It implies a friendship, respect, or intimacy that does not exist between us

Heddi is my user name, and that is what you can refer to me as and by.

[NYC_SKP]

22. Oh, my! Well thank you!

May I express thanks for having folks like you in my life who sort of keep me on my toes and distract me from more pressing problems?

The beauty of giving thanks is that one can exercise adaptable perspective and thus find happiness in the most ordinary, or even unsavory, things.

Keep an open and flexible mind and you'll live a much happier life!

I made two pies yesterday, are you cooking anything for the big day?

[Warren Stupidity]

31. "I don't believe there's a case for plagiary "

1. an act or instance of using or closely imitating the language and thoughts of another author without authorization and the representation of that author's work as one's own, as by not crediting the original author.
2. a piece of writing or other work reflecting such unauthorized use or imitation.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/plagiarism

Um yeah, that is exactly what you did. An honorable person would have provided a link and an explanation. At the least you should admit what you have done and edit your op.

[PassingFair]

8. Wow! Nice selective editing!

I had no idea that Christians had removed "God" from Thanksgiving.
So thanks for that info!

[cbayer]

9. I just came across this: The best Thanksgiving prayer you’ll read is this one—by an atheist

There is so much to be thankful for each day.

Today we take the time to pause and acknowledge this special season of harvest and its traditions of sharing with those less fortunate.

We take time to notice the labor of others, from farm to table, that culminates in this feast.

Today we pause to recognize how fortunate we are and to be grateful for the bounty we share with friends, family and loved ones, be they with us or far away.

We take pause to celebrate that we each can and do make meaning for our own lives; by the deeds we do, to make the world a better and a more humane home for all. Every day offers us the opportunity to make a difference not just in our own lives but in the lives of others. We offer our hands our minds and our hearts to help all those who seek to make the world a better place.

Today we take time to rejoice not just with the food we share but also the give and take of love and compassion that we experience each day.

We are Thankful to each of you for being here to share today with us.

http://qz.com/302636/the-best-thanksgiving-prayer-youll-read-is-this-one-by-an-atheist/

[PassingFair]

11. BTW...from the epicenter of the "atheist circles"....here is my original post.

In context:

Giving "Thanks"
Just wanted to have a little discussion, in keeping with the holiday...

How do you feel about the whole idea of "thanking" an unseen benefactor
for your "blessings" while stuffing your own faces full of food?

The whole "thankfulness" issue that makes Xtians and other believers feel
so good (or abject?) eludes me completely.

Don't get me wrong, I feel an enormous sense of gratitude (and EXPRESS it!) for those who
have helped me or shaped me or helped my children throughout my life so far.
I just don't understand the head bowed, thank you for not letting me starve grovelling
people do to their "gods". Never mind that they don't bother thanking those who REALLY
help....I don't remember ever hearing my sister-in-law thank the state for giving her
disability payments. Or thank her husband's union for making sure that he was paid
on time and got triple pay for working holidays.....

I suppose I could thank the "universe", but I don't think the universe gives a crap!
Instead, we go around my Thanksgiving table and say what we are thankful FOR, and
who we may be thankful TO, but it is much more personal and real.

When I was a kid the "grace" we had to say before meals was short (but NOT, I thought) sweet.
"For what we are about to receive, may the lord make us truly thankful".

I ALREADY WAS thankful! For the dinner my mother made. For the jokes my father told.
For the company of my brothers....everything.

What do you think makes god believers feel SO good about thanking anonymous heavenly benefactors?

[NYC_SKP]

16. I'm glad that you are able to join in the celebration of gratitude that is Thanksgiving Day!

While many treat it as a sort of religious holiday, that's not really necessary; there are multiple origins for the concept of giving thanks on a particular day.

My favorite one traces back to Guy Fawkes Day! You gotta look that one up!

This book describes many of them:

Thanksgiving: The Biography of an American Holiday



James W. Baker

In this, the first in-depth study of the most American of holidays, James Baker sweeps away lingering myths and misconceptions to show how this celebration day was born and grew to be an essential part of our national spirit. Thanksgiving: The Biography of an American Holiday opens with an overview of the popular mythos of the holiday before discussing its possible religious and cultural precedents. This classic Yankee holiday is examined in historical and contemporary detail that embraces everything from proclamations, sermons, and local and regional traditions to family reunions, turkey dinners, and recipes. Thanksgiving’s evolving face is illustrated with charming and often revealing period prints that chart our changing attitudes: the influence of Victorian sentiment in Thanksgiving’s development, Progressive utilitarianism, intellectual “debunking,” patriotic wartime reclamation, and 1960s-era protest. Thanksgiving remains controversial up to the present day, as Mayflower descendants, Native Americans, and commercial exploiters compete for the American public’s opinion of the holiday’s contemporary significance and its future status. This is an intelligent and illuminating introduction to a beloved holiday and a fascinating cultural history of America and Americana.

[PassingFair]

21. Familiar with the Papist Guy Fawkes, thanks! No thanks for your editing on my original post!

[cbayer]

23. What does it matter to you what or who someone thanks?

The main thing is to be thankful. Not all my thanks are aimed at a specific individual, but some of them are just vaguely shot out there.

If someone wants to describe that vague thing as god, what difference does it make to me? Unless they are say that they have been blessed and I haven't, it's just their personal take on things, right?

Your post comes across as a petty attempt to bash god believers simply for believing and to particularly attack that it makes them feel good. Of course that eludes you because you don't share it. It eludes me, too, but I don't begrudge them that feeling or have any wish to take it away from them.

Perhaps I am missing your point entirely.

[PassingFair]

25. You usually do.

BTW, nice description of "God" as "that vague thing".

[cbayer]

37. I usually miss the point? Ok. You usually don't answer a single question posed to you

in a substantive reply, but only answer with snark and personal attack.

I guess we are even.

I'm done here. I'm glad he brought your post here for others to see.

[PassingFair]

47. You forgot...

to thank me.

[cyberswede]

57. OT, but your post reminded me of this

I found it on the FB page of one of my 8th grader's friends (who is from Mexico).

[NYC_SKP]

26. More on the history of the day:

Sorry for the source, Fox talking about a newspaper article in NYC, but still readable, and quite on topic for this group.

New York Newspaper’s Historical Story Of Thanksgiving Has Posters Calling It “Liberal Propaganda”

James Baker, author of Thanksgiving: The Biography of an American Holiday, has a piece in the New York Daily News that punches holes in some Thanksgiving myths, and that has some of its posters hopping mad. Americans love to hear about how Pilgrims enjoyed the first Thanksgiving on a peaceful autumn afternoon, with their Wampanoag neighbors enjoying the harvest in harmony. Only it’s not true.

Past Thanksgivings were not always harmonious or comfortable. Some were proclaimed for bloody victories over other Americans, Native or Northern and Southern. Returning home once meant braving perilous conditions far more intimidating than security searches by Transportation Security Administration agents. Social divisions could (and still do) mock the ideal of a uniting holiday spirit, as some enjoyed opulent feasts while others died in battle or starved in wretched conditions.

Thanksgiving likely did not begin in Plymouth in 1621, and there was probably no “first Thanksgiving”.

Forgotten by later generations, it played no role in Thanksgiving tradition until it was rediscovered in 1841. Americans, looking to history for reassurance during the regional tensions that followed the Era of Good Feelings, recruited the conciliatory Pilgrim event to become their emblematic Thanksgiving origin – and thus the holiday we know today was, more or less, born.

More at: http://radio.foxnews.com/2010/11/26/new-york-newspaper%E2%80%99s-historical-story-of-thanksgiving-has-posters-calling-it-%E2%80%9Cliberal-propaganda%E2%80%9D/

[Warren Stupidity]

33. Ah I see you've remembered how to properly atttribute text you have copied from others.

Good for you. You are learning.

[NYC_SKP]

44. Hi Warren!

How's your day going?

I'm sitting here about to go take a bath but looking out over a glorious morning, there are white herons atop two of the pilings and the leaves across the water are golden and beautiful. The pic was taken yesterday, so no herons.



I made two pies yesterday, an apple from scratch, dough and all, and then a peach pie using premade crust and canned peaches, just to see how it comes out.

Yum!

[cbayer]

40. I did not know the origin or this and now regret engaging, which I did in good faith.

The person that posted it put it in a place where it wouldn't be challenged for a reason and can only reply to challenge with personal attack and snark.

I am out. I am sure it will be a fest.

[Warren Stupidity]

42. The origin is clearly indicated and the timelines are unambiguous.

[Iggo]

45. I don't give thanks. I eat food.

[NYC_SKP]

49. Me too! This year is extra special.

Last year was meh, my mom and dad both passed in the spring and the year before that my aging mom chastised me for not spending the entire day with them (I'd gone to two thanksgivings that day, one with parents and one with friends).

Anyway, this year I was invited to be with my "second family" that I've known since 1976 and I'm delighted.

This year I have to be thankful, too, for surviving an aneurism and a total, so far, of three surgeries to treat it.

I have one more to replace the chunk of skull that became infected and had to be remove on November 5.

I really am lucky!

[Iggo]

69. Lucky is good.

This is actually my second year of opting out. I enjoyed it so much last year that I'm doing it again.

The rest of my household will be out making the rounds, meeting obligations, and let's be fair, being fed well and having a great time.

I'll be home alone eating steak, mashed potatos, and asparagus; watching football, football, and football; and playing my guitars louder than I can at any other time of year. In other words: Heaven.

[NYC_SKP]

73. That's a good way to take advantage of the situation.

It reminds me of other days, like Superbowl day is a good day for certain types of shopping, since so many people are glued to a TV.

I opt out of the fourth of july and take my dog as far away from fireworks as I can get!

[Iggo]

76. Hey! I'll remember that on Superbowl Sunday.

Thanks for the idea.

[AtheistCrusader]

66. I don't 'give thanks'.

I thank people, directly.

I am happy that you are on the path to wellness/upswing. Sorry to hear you've been fighting to survive, but glad to hear it sounds like you are winning. Happy Thanksgiving!

[NYC_SKP]

68. Thank you, same to you, AtheistCrusader!

Indeed, these are the best thanks to give, face to face and for this reason I think that it's the best holiday!

It's not commercialized too much and it's totally about family and friends.

It reminds me of the Japanese Tea Ceremony, the significant of which includes recognizing the moment, being present, being grateful for the company, and marking it with the formality of preparing and serving tea.

Except that there's a lot more food!

[AlbertCat]

74. Never forget Bart Simpson's "grace" at dinner....

(paraphrasing)

"We had to clear the land, plough the fields, plant the crops, water and tend the crops, harvest and pick them, transport them, cook them.... thanks for nothin' god!"

[NYC_SKP]

75. Reminds me of Senator Warren's "You Didn't Build That"!

I think you're on to something!

[A HERETIC I AM]

77. I think I'll just leave this right here....

[NYC_SKP]

85. You win...

...the thread!

Happy Thanksgiving, A HERITIC I AM!

[pokerfan]

80. Bloom County

I'm on my phone so I can't easily c&p but search google images fot "bloom county" and "thanksgiving" for the comic where Milo has to give the blessing.

[NYC_SKP]

83. Here it is!

[pokerfan]

88. That's it!

Thanks.

[Lordquinton]

104. you should give thanks to the person who's post you plagurized

[NYC_SKP]

107. LOL!

LOL, Plagiarism is where something of value is taken and presented as one's own.

The "work" that was in the AA group had questions that I wanted to answer, and I knew full well that people would know that immediately or learn soon enough, so there was no attempt on my part to present the questions as my own.

The AA group seems to contains mostly mocking posts, call outs, insults, and whining.

Only occasionally are there thoughtful posts that discuss, in an rational and non-bitter manner, matters of interest to mainstream athiests and agnostics.

It's a joke, as is your claim of "Plagury".

[skepticscott]

108. No, plagiarism is when you use someone else's thoughts and ideas

without giving them proper credit, so that someone might think they were yours, as you clearly did.

Saying that people should have know where it came from after you're caught out doesn't make it any less plagiarism.

[NYC_SKP]

110. Do you realize how little I care what you think about this "issue"?

"Caught" out?

OMG, that's just comical, as if I give a flying fuck about having copied and pasted parts of a rant from a discussion board post and given my answers.

Seriously, this is an Internet discussion board, not the domain of a copyright protected writers' world or academic setting.

Carry on with the outrage...

It's amusing.

[skepticscott]

112. Apparently you cared enough to respond to my last post

and to this one. Hard to understand, in the context of your protestation, unless your purpose is just to goad and bait people.

And no one accused you of anything as noteworthy as "copyright violation", dude. Just plagiarism in not crediting someone else when you use their ideas as if they were your own, which is discourteous in any context, including this one, despite your attempts to dismiss it.

But don't worry...it's only a slightly impolite thing to do, and I'm sure you'll realize that eventually, being the noble and fair-minded guy you are. It's not as if you tried to pass yourself off as homeless or something. Hard to be sure of anything on the Internet, but I suspect you're above THAT sort of thing.

[Warren Stupidity]

109. no really SKP "value" doesn't enter into the definition at all.

It is quite simply copying somebody else's work and presenting it as your own. At least own up to it.

[NYC_SKP]

111. It's not "work", it's just discussion board musings, any expectation of copyright is absurd, IMO.

I answered some questions by repeating the questions, really, this is such a tiny tiny tiny issue that I'm sharing it with my friends.

They are cracking out at the outrage being demonstrated over this non-issue.

Do you really think that any post on DU is somehow intellectual property.

Look, friend, if you want discussion then let some Athiest/Agnostic types into your secret club to hash out these matters.

Since your friends don't seem to want that, then you can expect some responses to comments there to arise in other groups where there is less control and more freedom of speech.

Cheers!

[Warren Stupidity]

113. huh, oddly the word "copyright" never entered into this discussion until you brought it up.

So what the flying fuck are you talking about? Plagiarism has nothing in particular to do with copyright law, other than they both involve misuse of the work of other people. One is an ethical issue, the other is a legal protection. Talking somebody else's work, no matter how trivial or marginalized that work is, and passing it off as your own is plagiarism. Why you continue to insist that what you did was not plagiarism escapes me, perhaps for some reason you have an inability to admit when you are wrong even when it is completely obvious?

A&A is open to anyone who hasn't abused that openness and been blocked. You, for example are not blocked from A&A so you could have discussed the original post you plagiarized in A&A. You chose not to do that.

[NYC_SKP]

114. It matters not, the use of the term "copyright".

Since I'm not upset, and others seem to be, I had to wonder if folks think that there's some protection of intellectual property, (using that term very liberally).

I don't care if you think it's plagiarism or not, and you can post all the definitions you want, the fact remains that I don't give a flying fuck, it is clear that the questions were not my own and the whole thing is so inconsequential that I have to question what all the bother is about.

[skepticscott]

115. Yes, apparently you "don't give a flying fuck" so much

that you just can't stop proclaiming your uncaring innocence.

But we'll be more than happy to help with any difficulties you may have. Seriously.

[Lordquinton]

116. you are being very disrespectful about this issue

I occasionally hear the faith crowd talk about respect and honoring beliefs and then they act like you are here. Several people, including the person who asked the questions, have called you out, all you had to do was edit in a link, and say sorry, instead we get an endless string of personal attacks and denials you did something wrong.

If you need help working through anything that is causing you to lash out like this, there are people who are here to help.