Ironically Named Mormon Dialogue Board Declares War on MDB

[_Kishkumen]

Dude, it was a joke...

Simon, if your goal is to have me put you on ignore, then you are doing a wonderful job of moving things in that direction.

[_Simon Belmont]

Simon, if your goal is to have me put you on ignore, then you are doing a wonderful job of moving things in that direction.

Because I made a joke? Isn't that a bit harsh?

[_Kishkumen]

Because I made a joke? Isn't that a bit harsh?

Simon, yours is a pattern of behavior that involves vague, unsubstantiated claims, outright lies, and changing stories. We have no idea where you are coming from or what you are doing other than wasting people's time by typing without saying anything.

Oh, you do take us to task, in the most basic terms, for criticizing Mormonism and LDS apologetics.

I don't hate you, but this is all incredibly tedious and annoying. I found your small foray into Facebook a momentary ray of sunshine until it became clear that you really weren't extending us any trust, and now you have shut the door even on the act of having a page.

It's maddening, really. But maybe that is what you want. You keep us on the hook, making empty promises, doggy paddling around the pool, and then we get so fed up with it that we eventually put you on ignore.

It's not that I want these results. You, however, seem to.

[_Simon Belmont]

Simon, yours is a pattern of behavior that involves vague, unsubstantiated claims, outright lies, and changing stories. We have no idea where you are coming from or what you are doing other than wasting people's time by typing without saying anything.

Let me put your mind at ease, Kishkumen:

Where I am coming from is the point of view of an LDS person who has seen some of the most repugnant anti-Mormons in action (recall my story of one confronting me at Conference). From that point on, I became interested in LDS criticism and apologetics. I am far from being an apologist, even farther from being an effective one, but I am still interested in apologetics. I've been online since about 2001... (I think) on ZLMB where there were some good folk, some mediocre folk, and some really bad folk who reminded me of the Conference protesters. I participated in very few discussions (look up the name Datacycle), but I lurked a lot. In about 2003 (again, don't hold me to that exact year), I became disinterested in message boards and focused more on things like Joseph Smith, the writings of Nibley and Peterson, etc. In 2010, some Internet research led me to MDB where I saw the natural continuation of ZLMB and decided to participate again.

Oh, you do take us to task, in the most basic terms, for criticizing Mormonism and LDS apologetics.

And likewise, you take me to task for criticizing your criticisms.

I don't hate you, but this is all incredibly tedious and annoying. I found your small foray into Facebook a momentary ray of sunshine until it became clear that you really weren't extending us any trust, and now you have shut the door even on the act of having a page.

Kishkumen, almost everyone thought I started that Facebook account to trap people into giving me their real life information, which I would no doubt use for some evil purpose. I don't want to be that person, because that is not my intention. I did want to extend an olive branch of trust with that Facebook account, I really did! I sincerely thank you, Ray, Emily, Liz, and Kevin for trusting me; I won't forget it.

[_Runtu]

Kishkumen, almost everyone thought I started that Facebook account to trap people into giving me their real life information, which I would no doubt use for some evil purpose. I don't want to be that person, because that is not my intention. I did want to extend an olive branch of trust with that Facebook account, I really did! I sincerely thank you, Ray, Emily, Liz, and Kevin for trusting me; I won't forget it.

I don't blame people for thinking that. It's very hard to trust someone who jokes about having our IP addresses and hiring a PI to out someone. It's common sense to avoid giving in real life information to someone like that.

I don't tend to give out information to people who haven't earned my trust, as I've been burned before. You haven't earned my trust yet, and you probably won't until you've had time to build a track record of trustworthiness. I'm not saying I think you are a bad person, just that I don't feel I can trust you with my information at this time.

[_Simon Belmont]

I don't blame people for thinking that. It's very hard to trust someone who jokes about having our IP addresses and hiring a PI to out someone. It's common sense to avoid giving in real life information to someone like that.

I don't blame anyone either, Runtu.

I have the desire (though I've said it before) to work on being kinder to folk around here.

[_Runtu]

I don't blame anyone either, Runtu.

I have the desire (though I've said it before) to work on being kinder to folk around here.

That's a good thing. I am not always kind, but I try.

[_Kishkumen]

Let me put your mind at ease, Kishkumen:

Simon, how is repeating the few details we already know about your biography supposed to put us at ease?

And likewise, you take me to task for criticizing your criticisms.

But that is far from all that I do. I would say that I have demonstrated a much deeper intellectual engagement, and of a positive kind, with Mormonism than you have ever evinced here. Just look at my recent exchange with George Miller, for example. Of the two of us, which presented a Sunstone paper that was actually solicited by FAIR?

Kishkumen, almost everyone thought I started that Facebook account to trap people into giving me their real life information, which I would no doubt use for some evil purpose. I don't want to be that person, because that is not my intention. I did want to extend an olive branch of trust with that Facebook account, I really did! I sincerely thank you, Ray, Emily, Liz, and Kevin for trusting me; I won't forget it.

Allow me to offer you a little constructive criticism. OK, you obviously have long been aware that few people around here outside of The Nehor and Daniel Peterson trust you. In fact your issues with the truth and reality are regularly brought to your attention by us. Knowing this, you still didn't foresee the problem of starting a Facebook page, and, without having friended a single family member, friend, high school acquaintance, or fellow apologist, you invited critics to friend you.

A couple of critics show up on your page. We find a tidy shell with no real personal touches there. No pictures, little detailed personal information, and a photograph that looks outdated and almost like an attempt to throw off facial recognition software. The whole thing screams creepiness. We wait for a little while, just to see what you will do with it. After all, you say that you've just started with it.

Since we are experienced with Facebook, we know that it takes maybe a couple of hours to hook up with family and friends, and even less time to post photos. After a number of hours you instead post ONE photo of yourself in a costume wearing a fake beard! Unbelievable.

What is up, Simon? Are you a registered sex offender? In witness protection? Are you working undercover for the Eff Bee Aye? Now, I am not accusing you of being a sex offender. I am telling you what people are liable to think when you behave so oddly. I have kids, Simon.

Maybe you think that's funny. I guess it is in an odd way. What it is not is inspiring of trust in you. Not in the least.

[_Simon Belmont]

Simon, how is repeating the few details we already know about your biography supposed to put us at ease?

Maybe it would help me to know why you want to know more about my private life (no sarcasm/serious question).

Allow me to offer you a little constructive criticism. OK, you obviously have long been aware that few people around here outside of The Nehor and Daniel Peterson trust you.

Even their trust of me is questionable.

Knowing this, you still didn't foresee the problem of starting a Facebook page, and, without having friended a single family member, friend, high school acquaintance, or fellow apologist, you invited critics to friend you.

Well, actually I invited everyone to friend me, critic, NOM, TBM, or whatever other labels exist here. True, though, that most are critics.

A couple of critics show up on your page. We find a tidy shell with no real personal touches there. No pictures, little detailed personal information, and a photograph that looks outdated and almost like an attempt to throw off facial recognition software. The whole thing screams creepiness. We wait for a little while, just to see what you will do with it. After all, you say that you've just started with it.

Since we are experienced with Facebook, we know that it takes maybe a couple of hours to hook up with family and friends, and even less time to post photos. After a number of hours you instead post ONE photo of yourself in a costume wearing a fake beard! Unbelievable.

LOL! That was kind of a stupid costume, but it got some laughs at the party we were at. I understand the creepiness factor now, and do not blame anyone for thinking such a thing. That's why I disabled my Facebook page, I thought it was for the best.

What is up, Simon? Are you a registered sex offender? In witness protection? Are you working undercover for the Eff Bee Aye? Now, I am not accusing you of being a sex offender. I am telling you what people are liable to think when you behave so oddly. I have kids, Simon.

You may not believe me, but there is absolutely nothing creepy about me in real life. Of course, you have no way of verifying that so I understand why you and some others think I'm creepy online. Everyone and their families are perfectly safe.

I don't really know what to do at this point, and I doubt anyone really cares.

[_Kishkumen]

Maybe it would help me to know why you want to know more about my private life (no sarcasm/serious question).

I don't really want you to talk about it here. I expected a little more on Facebook. Instead I got what looked like an amateurish/joke cover.

Well, I have said my bit about this issue.