A brief look back and then some commentary

[_Dr. Shades]

I'm being serious - no one who calls themselves a decent human being would ever talk the way [Will] does, or say the mean-spirited things he says. The fact that he is LDS has little to do with it.

I think it has EVERYTHING to do with it. William believes that his calling & election have been made sure, so he feels God has given him a golden ticket to do, say, and act any way he pleases without consequence.

[_Gadianton]

Hi Stem,

I don't think you quite understand why folks take issue with Schryver. The problem is that he represents FAIR, and is primarily doing their bidding. I will say something that may shock my fellow critics here: I personally have no issue with Schryver. I disagree slightly with my fellow critics and some of the more extreme criticism of will. Sure, his sexist comments are bad, but those of us who work in the real world know this locker-room talk that you must ignore to an extent. What is shocking though, is that his remarks are made as a semi-official representative of FAIR and the MI. In other words, I believe Will's comments to be the explicit and implicit message that the Mopologists have for the world. Those familiar with the locker-room antics of the Old Guard will understand why will speaks the mind of apologetics so well, at most incurring an "Oh will, stop! (You're killing me!) Slap on the wrist.

Indeed, I believe will's comments would not bother my fellow critics so much if he didn't have the position he has with the apologists and some of the Brethren. Will is the no-nonsense "bad ass" who vicariously makes the apologists, beaten and hurt, feel more powerful.

So, I have to admit I don't have a problrm with Will and lay the blame on the MI and FAIR.

[_Kishkumen]

Good commentary, Stem.

We all wished you would have turned out and grown up like your younger brother.

What an amazing coincidence. I was thinking exactly the same thing just 5 minutes ago. I thought, "well, if Simon is a wash, at least this stem fellow is pretty cool." I'm totally serious. That is exactly what I thought. And this OP confirms it. Stem thinks about stuff. Even if I don't always agree, I respect that he reflects and weighs things. He gets big props for this.

By the way, Schryver is more than capable of the same, but he is blinded by his "ideology" to the point that it rarely comes out when he deals with us reprobates. He's also kind of a prick.

I don't know what to say, stem. I think it is important to keep historical context in mind. There is a historical tension between the people here and the people at MD&D. A number of us are refugees from bannings there. There are hard feelings. I don't go there to find stuff to ridicule. Some do. And frankly, there is silly crap said in both places. I get what you are saying, but at the same time, it is not as though there is no reason for what is happening.

[_Kishkumen]

In other words, I believe Will's comments to be the explicit and implicit message that the Mopologists have for the world. Those familiar with the locker-room antics of the Old Guard will understand why will speaks the mind of apologetics so well, at most incurring an "Oh will, stop! (You're killing me!) Slap on the wrist.

Well said, Dean Robbers. I assume that many of the Old Guard smile on Will's antics. If they had a problem with it, they would have done something about it. Basically Will puts the lie to the outward appearance of sanctimony. For that, I thank Will. At least he is honest and not a sham. I may find his comments reprehensible, but at least he isn't a phony.

[_EAllusion]

The thing that bothers me most about Will is that he habitually lies and has the temerity to attack the scruples of those who point this out.

[_sock puppet]

I'm being serious - no one who calls themselves a decent human being would ever talk the way [Will] does, or say the mean-spirited things he says. The fact that he is LDS has little to do with it.

I think it has EVERYTHING to do with it. William believes that his calling & election have been made sure, so he feels God has given him a golden ticket to do, say, and act any way he pleases without consequence.

I agree with both of you. Will is a dispicable human being, LDS or not. I do think he's deluded by LDS teachings into thinking he can do nothing to jeopardize his place in the CK, so now his id is running rampant and unchecked.

[_sunstoned]

So “let’s mock LDS posters, whom we know nothing about, because they are LDS”.

I don't know that too many people actually do this (if anyone). I certainly don't mock people just because they're LDS. I mock dumb beliefs. I mock intellectual dishonesty. I mock faith because it requires one be irrational. I mock hypocrisy. I mock BS.

There are several Mormons/religious people that have written on this board that I respect for one reason or another (liz, abs-man, Jason, Ceeboo, Jersey Girl, and ttribe come to mind). It doesn't mean I don't recognize that some of the swipes I've taken at religious belief haven't included portions of their world views.

I'm of the opinion, however, that the people I respect deserve my honesty rather than hedging what I think in the name of "religious tolerance." I can say with pride that I have no tolerance for intellectual dishonesty (even my own, when I catch it) and I don't intend to start. I don't think there's anything redeeming about that sort of tolerance, just like I don't tolerate injustices toward women, children, homosexuals, people of another color, etc. Why should I?

I will always speak out against what I consider poor reasoning. It doesn't mean I'm mocking people. It means I'm mocking bad thinking. That's it.

I've mocked your comments on several occasions, stem, when I thought it was appropriate. Lately, however, it seems you're showing us a different side of you, a more reasonable side, and I don't feel moved to mock what you've been saying recently. It doesn't deserve it. I suspect you're being more honest now, and I respect that (my biggest complaint about you when you first started posting was that you sounded like you were full of crap - remember "steaming bowl"?) These days, you aren't giving me the ammo to shoot yourself, so what's there to say?

It always has been and always will be about the ideas or communicated persona, not the people. I don't know the people, but I can see before my very eyes the words on the screen.

QFT. I agree 100%

[_Will Schryver]

I agree with both of you.

Well of course you do!

Will is a dispicable (sic) human being, LDS or not.

Oh, yes, quite dispicable, whether LDS or not.

LOL!

I do think he's deluded by LDS teachings into thinking he can do nothing to jeopardize his place in the CK, so now his id is running rampant and unchecked.

See Will.

See Will's id.

See Will's id run rampant.

See Will's id run rampant and unchecked.

Surely the apocalypse is near ...

[_moksha]

Surely the apocalypse is near ...

If not the apocalypse then at least a courtesy flush.

[_Kishkumen]

If not the apocalypse then at least a courtesy flush.

If it's brown, flush it down!