Eric.

[_Ray A]

Why do I attract so much hostility in certain very specific circles? To a significant degree, because I'm willing to speak up, very plainly, for what I believe, and to defend it, and because I show up on message boards.

(My emphasis.) A two minute reply before work: That's very obvious, and it's obvious that it was also your real motive in informing Eric's step-father. You were offended by "mockery of the priesthood", and from there it escalated.

[_Daniel Peterson]

You have already chosen sides in this issue, Dan.

Maybe I have, and maybe I haven't. But I haven't announced a verdict. Not here, and not anywhere else.

To do so would be, in my view, unspeakably presumptuous, and far out of bounds.

I understand your point of view: You've done nothing wrong, and you owe no one an apology.

That is, in fact, my point of view on the matter.

As I recall the post, he said nothing personally derogatory about any member of his family, but questioned the belief in blessings and priesthood power, and wondered how this would help his critically ill sister.

That's a very gentle, somewhat sanitized summary.

it's obvious that it was also your real motive in informing Eric's step-father. You were offended by "mockery of the priesthood", and from there it escalated.

You're wrong, Ray. You don't know what you're talking about.

You may consider yourself an expert mind-reader. But it's my mind you imagine yourself to be reading, and you're wrong.

[_Some Schmo]

Why do I attract so much hostility in certain very specific circles? To a significant degree, because I'm willing to speak up, very plainly, for what I believe, and to defend it, and because I show up on message boards.

To a significant degree? Do you consider ~5-10% a "significant degree?"

Oh wait... maybe the "specific circles" you were talking about were all those who were hostile toward you because you're willing to speak up, very plainly, for what you believe, and to defend it, and because you show up on message boards. Of course, that ignores the majority (or, unspecific circles) that are hostile toward you because you act like an arrogant, condescending, petulant child online.

You really are good at kidding yourself, aren't you?

[_harmony]

It would be very sad if a friendship of long standing was ruined over this. Very sad.

[_Joey]

You have already chosen sides in this issue, Dan.

Maybe I have, and maybe I haven't. But I haven't announced a verdict. Not here, and not anywhere else.

To do so would be, in my view, unspeakably presumptuous, and far out of bounds.

I understand your point of view: You've done nothing wrong, and you owe no one an apology.

That is, in fact, my point of view on the matter.

As I recall the post, he said nothing personally derogatory about any member of his family, but questioned the belief in blessings and priesthood power, and wondered how this would help his critically ill sister.

That's a very gentle, somewhat sanitized summary.

it's obvious that it was also your real motive in informing Eric's step-father. You were offended by "mockery of the priesthood", and from there it escalated.

You're wrong, Ray. You don't know what you're talking about.

You may consider yourself an expert mind-reader. But it's my mind you imagine yourself to be reading, and you're wrong.

Posting at 2:39 am!

But he's got a life outside message boards and is not addicted!!!


Shhhhh. Let him sleep in this morning!

[_Morrissey]

Why do I attract so much hostility in certain very specific circles? To a significant degree, because I'm willing to speak up, very plainly, for what I believe, and to defend it, and because I show up on message boards.

To a significant degree? Do you consider ~5-10% a "significant degree?"

Oh wait... maybe the "specific circles" you were talking about were all those who were hostile toward you because you're willing to speak up, very plainly, for what you believe, and to defend it, and because you show up on message boards. Of course, that ignores the majority (or, unspecific circles) that are hostile toward you because you act like an arrogant, condescending, petulant child online.

You really are good at kidding yourself, aren't you?

This is NOT a comment directed at Daniel. I personally have no problem with him (posting on B-boards should not, after all, be taken too seriously), though I can see why others might find him annoying.

In general, I find the concept ironic, not just a little bit curious, and pathetically humorous that someone who is defending Godly visions, angelic visitations, magically disappearing gold plates, angels with flaming swords, polygamy, records of ancient and vast but lost civilizations with advanced technology and non-native flora and fauna, feelings as the primary source of truth, and the like should be arrogant or condescending about these things.

I

[_harmony]

In general, I find the concept ironic, not just a little bit curious, and pathetically humorous that someone who is defending Godly visions, angelic visitations, magically disappearing gold plates, angels with flaming swords, polygamy, records of ancient and vast but lost civilizations with advanced technology and non-native flora and fauna, feelings as the primary source of truth, and the like should be arrogant or condescending about these things.

When you're right, you're right. It's when you're wrong, but you think you're right that things go sideways quickly.

[_Daniel Peterson]

Despite my obvious and desperate quest to make this thread about me, nobody here has any obligation to judge a family that doesn't even post here, and nobody here is in any position to do so justly or fairly.

[_why me]

Nobody around here likes you, ya know.

;-P

I like Dan. I think that he is a great guy with a fine sense of humor. And I enjoy his posts on MAD. But here, he is mocked and mocked. Dan is the MDB bean bag. He just gets thrown around by people hoping that he will end up in someone's mouth.

This thread sucked from the very beginning.

[_harmony]

Nobody around here likes you, ya know.

;-P

I like Dan. I think that he is a great guy with a fine sense of humor. And I enjoy his posts on MAD. But here, he is mocked and mocked. Dan is the MDB bean bag. He just gets thrown around by people hoping that he will end up in someone's mouth.

This thread sucked from the very beginning.

Uh.... no. And for that matter: yuck, on so many levels....