Religion

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)

175. I appreciate your measure and rational reply.

Tue Nov 4, 2014, 11:18 AM

Nov 2014

The blend of my professional experiences, which I won't list here, would reveal a number of scenarios in which correction of behaviors by objective observation is appropriate.

A professor is expected to point out flaws in a student's work;

A supervisor is expected to point out any work done incorrectly, or attitudes toward others that are counterproductive.

And, really, any good friend, I think, would tell a person in a corrective and supportive way if they see them doing wrong.

I really don't care what people believe or don't believe, but I'm not going to sit by as people play games and bully my friends.

Bullies have problems, I worry for the bullies and I want them to get help.

If they aren't textbook bullies but are unnecessarily and unproductively insulting others I believe that they have problems socializing.

It's really that simple. I won't tolerate mean behavior, I'd rather help.

I'm a helper.

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Highlight:

Agnosticism for Idiots; or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the People Who Hate Atheists [View all] beam me up scottie Nov 2014 OP

Who the hell cares??? elleng Nov 2014 #1

I think you won the thread right out of the gate! nt MADem Nov 2014 #96

I love that about elleng! NYC_SKP Nov 2014 #184

Only if you're very privileged... MellowDem Nov 2014 #101

I have been agnostic for as long as I can remember and I'll say again, elleng Nov 2014 #108

Lots of people care... MellowDem Nov 2014 #147

"I don't wear labels to provide targets for those who disagree and feel like fighting." beam me up scottie Nov 2014 #213

So you don't like agnostics either. rug Nov 2014 #2

Right, because posting an accurate definition of something is me not "liking" agnostics beam me up scottie Nov 2014 #3

Ah. rug Nov 2014 #4

Context is everything: beam me up scottie Nov 2014 #5

Oh the context was clear. So was the fact that the author is an atheist not an agnostic. rug Nov 2014 #7

Context is everything: AlbertCat Nov 2014 #123

There is a lot of truth in those highlighted statements. Curmudgeoness Nov 2014 #37

There's a lot more bile. rug Nov 2014 #65

Victim blaming again... MellowDem Nov 2014 #181

What victim? Are you claiming to be a victim, persecuted? rug Nov 2014 #192

You're claiming its atheist's fault.... MellowDem Nov 2014 #195

Oh, cry me a river. rug Nov 2014 #196

You said atheists are to blame... MellowDem Nov 2014 #197

My words are quite clear. They don't need you to rework them. rug Nov 2014 #198

I'm an atheist. Maedhros Nov 2014 #47

Let me know if I ever tell religious people that they're emotionally damaged and need help beam me up scottie Nov 2014 #48

Trust me, it's hard. Maedhros Nov 2014 #52

Wow. beam me up scottie Nov 2014 #56

Is it the fear, or the Paxil that was prescribed to "fix" it? Maedhros Nov 2014 #69

That's a really good question. beam me up scottie Nov 2014 #70

I've been very honest with him regarding how I think his medication may be altering his behavior. Maedhros Nov 2014 #95

Here you go: rug Nov 2014 #66

Way to misrepresent the op, rug. Here's the context (you seem to be having trouble with that) beam me up scottie Nov 2014 #68

I'm so sorry the words you typed misrepresent you. rug Nov 2014 #115

This is not directed at you rug LostOne4Ever Nov 2014 #143

Unlike in A&A, that bastion of freethought, I am free to comment here. rug Nov 2014 #150

Okay LostOne4Ever Nov 2014 #163

Was anyone doing that? rug Nov 2014 #164

Yes LostOne4Ever Nov 2014 #166

I always define "agnostic" as an atheist who doesn't like the term "atheist" arcane1 Nov 2014 #6

Well, it's upsetting because it's incorrect. beam me up scottie Nov 2014 #8

As I said, the end result is the same: non-theism. arcane1 Nov 2014 #12

But definitions are not a matter of opinion, words have specific meanings. beam me up scottie Nov 2014 #32

Agnosticism - No Belief For - No Belief Against - Only No One Can Know Either Way cantbeserious Nov 2014 #9

Agnosticism= no belief skepticscott Nov 2014 #10

Has Nothing To Do With Courage - Has Everything To Do With No Evidence cantbeserious Nov 2014 #11

Exactly skepticscott Nov 2014 #14

Wrong Again - No Evidence For God - No Evidence For No God - No Evidence Either Way cantbeserious Nov 2014 #17

Which makes you an atheist skepticscott Nov 2014 #21

No - Wrong Again - Neither Theist - Neither Atheist - Leaves One At Agnosticism cantbeserious Nov 2014 #23

As noted, you're an atheist, whether you decide to call yourself one or not skepticscott Nov 2014 #26

False Equivalency - One Of The Logical Fallacies - Meat Is Testable As Real - God Is Not cantbeserious Nov 2014 #29

Yes, God is testable skepticscott Nov 2014 #55

More Ridicule - The Reliance On Logical Fallacy Is Telling cantbeserious Nov 2014 #63

Oh, please link to that test. rug Nov 2014 #67

Does it involve a test tube and litmus paper, I wonder? nt MADem Nov 2014 #97

I have no idea but it apparently involves a microscope. rug Nov 2014 #112

Here You Go - A Website All About Logical Fallacies cantbeserious Nov 2014 #126

I'd say it was an appeal to nonexistent authority. rug Nov 2014 #127

Good Call cantbeserious Nov 2014 #128

ROFLs aside, you couldn't be more wrong. NYC_SKP Nov 2014 #173

Talk about couldn't be more wrong skepticscott Nov 2014 #177

"your friends at the yacht club"? You don't speak for atheists I've met. They're above petty shit. NYC_SKP Nov 2014 #183

What the hell are you talking about? Act_of_Reparation Nov 2014 #186

Exactly as I said, thank you for taking the time to post the links, will bookmark. NYC_SKP Nov 2014 #190

Yeah, you do that. Act_of_Reparation Nov 2014 #191

Apparently words are more complicated skepticscott Nov 2014 #193

I would like to think honesty is the problem here. Act_of_Reparation Nov 2014 #194

This message was self-deleted by its author cbayer Nov 2014 #206

I wouldn't waste your time, bigots will always try to redefine 'atheism' to foster intolerance. beam me up scottie Nov 2014 #199

If I'd posted an OP skepticscott Nov 2014 #189

You fundamentally don't understand the concept of empiricism, cheapdate Nov 2014 #129

If I WERE stubbornly insisting otherwise skepticscott Nov 2014 #133

As you would define belief, there are only two positions. cheapdate Nov 2014 #134

It is duly noted that you avoided addressing any of the points I made skepticscott Nov 2014 #135

True, false, indeterminate. cheapdate Nov 2014 #139

Show me that you even understand skepticscott Nov 2014 #141

Exactly what I expected. cheapdate Nov 2014 #142

Sometimes we can't make any determination of the likelihood skepticscott Nov 2014 #144

Is this a "properly defined claim"? cheapdate Nov 2014 #145

You're confusing claims skepticscott Nov 2014 #149

"No evidence has been observed to prove that God exists." cheapdate Nov 2014 #151

Sigh gcomeau Nov 2014 #136

Agnostic - No Evidence For - No Evidence Against - See One Definition Below cantbeserious Nov 2014 #137

Yes I'm aware of the popular and very very wrong definition. gcomeau Nov 2014 #138

Agnosticism is more dogmatic than atheism. rogerashton Nov 2014 #13

You've touched the salient point skepticscott Nov 2014 #16

How Is A Lack Of Facts At Odds With Logic And Reason cantbeserious Nov 2014 #19

Taking contradictory positions skepticscott Nov 2014 #22

How Can No Evidence Lead To Contrary Positions - No Evidence For - No Evidence Against cantbeserious Nov 2014 #25

It was explained to you skepticscott Nov 2014 #28

Appears That The Explanation Cannot Account For Either No Evidence For Or No Evidence Against cantbeserious Nov 2014 #30

You think a person who believes in something without evidence stands on equally logical footing Act_of_Reparation Nov 2014 #168

Would Agree - To Agnostics - Theists And Atheists Are Equally Irrational cantbeserious Nov 2014 #18

Ask yourself the same question skepticscott Nov 2014 #24

Belief Is Not Based On Factual Evidence - Belief By Nature Is Irrational cantbeserious Nov 2014 #27

You just asked in post 19 skepticscott Nov 2014 #31

Ridicule - Another Logical Fallacy - No Facts To Either Support Or Dispute The Existence Of God cantbeserious Nov 2014 #35

As an atheist I don't "dispute" the existence of gods. beam me up scottie Nov 2014 #36

If Gods Don't Exist - Why Does Anyone Have Anything To Not Believe In cantbeserious Nov 2014 #38

And the winner of the prize for the most Irrational Comment of the Day... beam me up scottie Nov 2014 #40

Ridicule - One Of The Logical Fallacies - Congratulations - Your Reliance On Logical Fallacy Is Noted cantbeserious Nov 2014 #41

If Santa Claus Doesn't Exist - Why Does Anyone Have Anything To Not Believe In? beam me up scottie Nov 2014 #43

Ridicule At Work Again - False Equivalency At Work Again - Santa Claus Is Not God cantbeserious Nov 2014 #45

Both are beings with no evidence they exist. Lordquinton Nov 2014 #92

I dunno--I saw Santa at the mall last year~! nt MADem Nov 2014 #98

people see jesus in a pancake all the time. Warren Stupidity Nov 2014 #116

Well, that pancake didn't ask the kiddies what they wanted for Xmas! nt MADem Nov 2014 #130

Actually, there is far more evidence that Santa exists skepticscott Nov 2014 #109

Careful with that logical fallacy bit Lordquinton Nov 2014 #57

Ridicule Is A Form Of Ad Hominen Attack - An Identified And Defined Logical Fallacy cantbeserious Nov 2014 #64

ridicule is not ad hom Goblinmonger Nov 2014 #110

Which Is The Case At DU Quite Regularly cantbeserious Nov 2014 #111

Not as much as you are claiming it is. Goblinmonger Nov 2014 #113

All Experience At DU Is Relative - Just As It Is In Other Non-Internet Life cantbeserious Nov 2014 #114

Fallacies aren't relative. Goblinmonger Nov 2014 #118

Logical Fallacies Are Errors Of Reasoning Used In Debating Discourse - One Being Ridicule cantbeserious Nov 2014 #124

Appeal to Ridicule is an informal fallacy at best. Goblinmonger Nov 2014 #131

Ridicule At DU Is Most Often An Ad Hominen Attack Disguised As Ridicule cantbeserious Nov 2014 #132

sometimes we see absurd hole digging here, in your case you aren't doing that Warren Stupidity Nov 2014 #117

More Ridicule - A Form Of Ad Hominen Attack cantbeserious Nov 2014 #125

Ridicule is also quite rightly used on the ridiculous. (n/t) Iggo Nov 2014 #156

It's even funnier when someone trying to ridicule can't do it right. rug Nov 2014 #158

You've obviously done your research. beam me up scottie Nov 2014 #42

Theism And Atheism Both Require Belief - But Not Facts - Since No Facts Exist For Either Position cantbeserious Nov 2014 #46

Atheism is the absence of belief. Your irrational belief to the contrary isn't based on facts. beam me up scottie Nov 2014 #49

Atheism Requires Belief That No God Exists - Atheism Is Not Based On Fact - Just Like Theism cantbeserious Nov 2014 #62

Like fuck it does. AtheistCrusader Nov 2014 #72

Vulgarity - Very Poor Form cantbeserious Nov 2014 #73

Your busted-assed logic was pretty poor form too. AtheistCrusader Nov 2014 #74

Logic Is Sound - Both Theism And Atheism Rely On Untestable Assertions cantbeserious Nov 2014 #75

a- is a prefix that means WITHOUT. AtheistCrusader Nov 2014 #76

OK - Prove That God Does Not Exist - Can't Be Done - The Assertion Is Untestable - Hence, A Belief cantbeserious Nov 2014 #78

I don't need to prove god doesn't exist. People who believe in him, do. AtheistCrusader Nov 2014 #79

OK - Prove That God Does Exist - Can't Be Done - The Assertion Is Untestable - Hence, A Belief cantbeserious Nov 2014 #80

I am an agnostic atheist. AtheistCrusader Nov 2014 #81

So Without God And Without Certainty About God - Quite The Conundrum cantbeserious Nov 2014 #82

Not for me. It's a natural state for any person who AtheistCrusader Nov 2014 #84

Glad You Found A Spectrum Of Belief That Provides Comfort cantbeserious Nov 2014 #85

Non-belief. AtheistCrusader Nov 2014 #86

Not Quite - Per The Definitions And Qualifications Provided - As Long As They Serve You - All Is Well cantbeserious Nov 2014 #88

I see talking to you was a complete waste of time. AtheistCrusader Nov 2014 #90

You noticed that, eh? skepticscott Nov 2014 #121

a-theism means without god, not without belief rogerashton Nov 2014 #105

"Theos" means God, the derivative term "theism" does NOT. gcomeau Nov 2014 #140

without belief in a deity. AtheistCrusader Nov 2014 #148

Oh boy, it's this bullshit again. AtheistCrusader Nov 2014 #71

rationalism rogerashton Nov 2014 #104

Atheism is a rejection of a claim. No belief is required. phil89 Nov 2014 #179

Dictionary.com definition of agnosticism (for those who think the source in the op is biased) beam me up scottie Nov 2014 #15

When asked I sometimes just say safeinOhio Nov 2014 #20

Where I live it's risky to say even that. beam me up scottie Nov 2014 #34

You must have read my post Curmudgeoness Nov 2014 #33

It is easier (and safer in some areas). beam me up scottie Nov 2014 #39

And still, Curmudgeoness Nov 2014 #44

That's the religious privilege we're told doesn't exist. beam me up scottie Nov 2014 #51

Uh....in the military, when they ask you to fill in the blank to state your religious preference, MADem Nov 2014 #99

Uh, first, he's my brother. beam me up scottie Nov 2014 #100

That's just not accurate. If you were "bullied" by a drill sergeant you should have reported it. MADem Nov 2014 #102

Just because you don't personally witness discrimination doesn't mean it doesn't exist. beam me up scottie Nov 2014 #106

The Services are cutting their ranks by the tens of thousands. The Army alone MADem Nov 2014 #107

I really hate believe or lack of belief lables. Kalidurga Nov 2014 #50

If you think that "bible god doesn't exist and that is a given" you're probably an atheist. beam me up scottie Nov 2014 #53

I agree redefining a term to make the person using it more comfortable is infuriating Kalidurga Nov 2014 #58

That's why I posted definitions. beam me up scottie Nov 2014 #60

I have a hard time not being honest Kalidurga Nov 2014 #61

You must have a huge problem skepticscott Nov 2014 #54

You got that right Kalidurga Nov 2014 #59

Yeah, it's pretty silly skepticscott Nov 2014 #120

I have decided that I am not my world view. ZombieHorde Nov 2014 #77

Typical DU Joe Turner Nov 2014 #83

Threads like these get the biggest hits? beam me up scottie Nov 2014 #87

I don't think atheism should be abolished. Joe Turner Nov 2014 #89

Just as well, it would be a little difficult to abolish non-belief in gods. beam me up scottie Nov 2014 #91

Ok fair enough...perhaps I was a presumptous jackass Joe Turner Nov 2014 #93

S'okay beam me up scottie Nov 2014 #94

Perhaps you hadn't noticed skepticscott Nov 2014 #119

This is Democratic Underground. Most of us--not all--but most of us support seeing more MADem Nov 2014 #103

The despair I feel about our political nightmare brings me here for distraction. Warren Stupidity Nov 2014 #122

Can agree with this Dorian Gray Nov 2014 #146

A very un-brilliant composition, IMHO. NYC_SKP Nov 2014 #152

Wow, that's amazingly judgmental of you. trotsky Nov 2014 #161

Everyone's a "know it all" but.... NYC_SKP Nov 2014 #162

I'm an atheist and I readily admit I'm not sure. trotsky Nov 2014 #165

I don't follow Dawkins. And of course there are shades of grey. NYC_SKP Nov 2014 #167

When you see someone who is constantly bickering with members of an unpopular minority Fumesucker Nov 2014 #169

Frankly, I haven't read those things, and I don't doubt that they've been written. NYC_SKP Nov 2014 #176

Do you only see one side as acting in a juvenile manner? Fumesucker Nov 2014 #185

By no means do I discount their plight, neither do I presume a stranger's condition. NYC_SKP Nov 2014 #187

Start at six or seven years old and tell someone they are bad, wicked for asking certain questions Fumesucker Nov 2014 #212

And in your professional experience skepticscott Nov 2014 #170

I appreciate your measure and rational reply. NYC_SKP Nov 2014 #175

That post just pegged skepticscott Nov 2014 #178

Guarded? Bullshit. trotsky Nov 2014 #171

There is no question whatsoever that among believers and agnostics, some folks are mean. NYC_SKP Nov 2014 #174

Tone trolling. Warren Stupidity Nov 2014 #180

More bullshit. trotsky Nov 2014 #182

Yes, it's pretty pathetic skepticscott Nov 2014 #188

Case in point Act_of_Reparation Nov 2014 #172

Do you write for conservapedia? beam me up scottie Nov 2014 #200

No, but I've contributed to Scientific American, the Journal of the American Institute of Architects NYC_SKP Nov 2014 #202

Fighting bigots is frustrating, the anger directed at the bigots is simply a by product beam me up scottie Nov 2014 #204

Yet another pointless A vs. A thread. longship Nov 2014 #153

You presume, along with some other frequent posters here skepticscott Nov 2014 #154

This thread is ample evidence. longship Nov 2014 #155

Who said you did? Why are you dodging the actual question? skepticscott Nov 2014 #157

Incoming pointless chair throwing. rug Nov 2014 #159

Best to stay below the fray. longship Nov 2014 #160

I care when they try to redefine ME in order to spread lies about atheists. beam me up scottie Nov 2014 #201

Yup! That's what pisses me off, too. longship Nov 2014 #203

Yeah, that loud whoooooooshing sound you just heard... beam me up scottie Nov 2014 #205

Well, the entire A vs A argument is idiotic. longship Nov 2014 #207

Thanks, it's really not an A vs A argument. beam me up scottie Nov 2014 #208

Well, I live in very rural Michigan. longship Nov 2014 #209

Yes, there is that. beam me up scottie Nov 2014 #210

Good night, Mr. Beam me up. longship Nov 2014 #211