See ya around, chumps

[_Jersey Girl]

I don't care who weenies out. It's pure silliness. This place has little changed from past years. I don't see any good reason for an exodus. Maybe the tides of the boards follow the tides of politics. The Republicans and Democrats in Congress don't really speak with each other anymore, and now the apologists and critics are entering into a period of non-communication. I say they're wimps.

Wimps in what regard? Did you read Porters remarks about handling "treatment"? That's a tacit admission that believers are going to be subjected to hostile "treatment" here.

When this board loses believers, it's not good for this community or the discussions.

[_RayAgostini]

I don't care who weenies out. It's pure silliness. This place has little changed from past years.

You're memory is short, Kish. Just go back and few years and see who was posting here, and who is now gone. MDDB has its "authoritarian" way of banning dissenters. MDB posters just paint them as lunatics, absurd, anti-reason, anti-logic, anti-rational, anti-intellectual, pro-religion, myopic, insular, partisan, biased, blinded and biased by feelings and emotions, pro-creation, anti-science, and so on and so forth. (Perhaps some are, but all?)

The end result is the same - the creation of an echo-chamber only suited to "the enlightened".

[Guest]

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[Guest]

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[_RayAgostini]

If someone joined the board and stated they believe in U.F.Os many people could very well "paint them as lunatics, absurd, anti-reason, anti-logic, anti-rational, anti-intellectual, pro-religion, myopic, insular, partisan, biased, blinded and biased by feelings and emotions, pro-creation, anti-science, and so on and so forth."

However you would no doubt find it from both believers and non-believers alike. That is because in discussing the issue many people would be of the opinion that the idea of U.F.Os who are extraterrestrial lifeforms communicating with humans has inadequate evidence and comes across to them as crazy. Maybe some people would defend the existence and interaction of UFOs with mankind and they would claim there is adequate evidence but that the disbelievers aren't sufficiently open minded, that they aren't accepting as evidence feelings or experiences of people, that alien abduction stories can be useful to some people and can do some good, and that disbelievers can't prove that aliens don't exist.

Now, let's say after discussing it the believers in UFOs get frustrated because the disbelievers aren't taking them seriously enough. They debate back and forth with both sides getting personal at times and little moderation so anyone can say anything.

Then the UFO believers start saying, well we are leaving unless you start agreeing that we are applying the scientific method and that we are being rational and that we aren't biased. They are effectively holding a gun to the message board's head saying, you give us special treatment! Don't discuss certain things! Don't state your opinion! Or else we won't discuss anything anymore.

Rubbish. What really starts happening on the unbeliever side is mockery - tons of it - which demonstrates zero sign of being even slightly open-minded. No one asks for "special treatment", in fact I'd be wary of it and feel uncomfortable. I'd expect my ideas to be challenged, but not mocked, but the latter is what routinely happens here.

[_Dr. Shades]

I'm curious. What is my "mission?"

I think it's pretty obvious:

Um, those were merely some of my beliefs. I'll ask you again: What is my mission?

No need to guess which horse you're backing, and which one you personally favour.

Right. My beliefs are probably widely known. But what is my mission?

You don't even show the slightest sense of balance in the above comments.

In that case, tell me which ones of those comments are untrue so that there can be balance.

[_sock puppet]

If someone joined the board and stated they believe in U.F.Os many people could very well "paint them as lunatics, absurd, anti-reason, anti-logic, anti-rational, anti-intellectual, pro-religion, myopic, insular, partisan, biased, blinded and biased by feelings and emotions, pro-creation, anti-science, and so on and so forth."

However you would no doubt find it from both believers and non-believers alike. That is because in discussing the issue many people would be of the opinion that the idea of U.F.Os who are extraterrestrial lifeforms communicating with humans has inadequate evidence and comes across to them as crazy. Maybe some people would defend the existence and interaction of UFOs with mankind and they would claim there is adequate evidence but that the disbelievers aren't sufficiently open minded, that they aren't accepting as evidence feelings or experiences of people, that alien abduction stories can be useful to some people and can do some good, and that disbelievers can't prove that aliens don't exist.

Now, let's say after discussing it the believers in UFOs get frustrated because the disbelievers aren't taking them seriously enough. They debate back and forth with both sides getting personal at times and little moderation so anyone can say anything.

Then the UFO believers start saying, well we are leaving unless you start agreeing that we are applying the scientific method and that we are being rational and that we aren't biased. They are effectively holding a gun to the message board's head saying, you give us special treatment! Don't discuss certain things! Don't state your opinion! Or else we won't discuss anything anymore.

Rubbish. What really starts happening on the unbeliever side is mockery - tons of it - which demonstrates zero sign of being even slightly open-minded. No one asks for "special treatment", in fact I'd be wary of it and feel uncomfortable. I'd expect my ideas to be challenged, but not mocked, but the latter is what routinely happens here.

If having to treat Mormon dribble as if a valid argument when it is not is what it takes to be considered 'open minded' in your opinion, please count me out.

[_Chap]

I'd expect my ideas to be challenged, but not mocked, but the latter is what routinely happens here.

That may be a response to the fact that your posts are frequently devoted to abuse of other posters and of this board in general, as opposed to saying what you think about substantive issues (your 'ideas'), and telling us by what evidence and reasoning you are led to the views you hold.

What goes around usually comes around, does it not?

[_Dr. Shades]

[MODERATOR NOTE:

Folks, please recall that Universal Rule #1 of this message board reads, "Everyone is welcome. Every opinion is welcome. Therefore, do not 'de-invite' anyone or suggest that they go elsewhere." To that end, please do not even imply that someone should leave this board.

Feel free to threaten to put someone on "ignore" if you wish, but please don't imply that he or she should leave.

Thanks very much in advance.]

[_asbestosman]

Can we 'de-invite' or suggest that we, ourselves, go elsewhere?