It's Important to Know What You Don't Know

[Moksha]

The old Mormon Discussions board had some good information about the World Table. Remember when Dr. Peterson was promoting it? Dr. Scratch could tell you about it.

[drumdude]

A Shakey Launch for 'The World Table'. During the summer's annual FAIR Conference, Daniel Peterson, in his keynote address, announced a new project called, "The World Table," which was touted as an online forum that would "fundamentally change the way we interact online." Users would be required to use their real names and to declare both their religious affiliation and politcal leanings up front. Even more provocatively, users would have the option to rate one another's remarks and behavior on the basis of things like "honest" and "fairness." Peterson promoted the new venture to the FAIR-goers as an opportunity to assembel an "army of apologists." Critics, on the other hand, immediately predicted that the project would fail, and sure enough, after the launch in late September, Mopologists like Wade Englund, Pahoran, and DCP himself all found themselves with "failing" ratings down in the 60s and 50s (out of 100). McGregor, Peterson, and Ray Agostini were all banned for a time, in fact, do to "ratings wars" or other uncivil behavior (though they were all reinstated, apparently).

Meanwhile, speculations swirled about the true intentions of the Web site: Was it being used to collect data on Church critics? Did the leadership consist of a "cabal" of apologists-friendly LDS, who were merely putting on airs as a means of luring critics into the lair? Was this all just a dog-and-pony show, meant to lure critics and non-LDS Christians to the site, where DCP and the apologists would at last show the entire world who the real "villains" actually are?

Unfortunately, the answers to these questions remain unclear, though the CEO of the site, Bryan Hall, did make an appearance in order to tell users that they would need to send scans of their driver's licenses and mortgage statements in order to continue participating.

So "The World Table" has been a mixed bag to this point. The ratings system, it's widely agreed, has been a complete and utter failure--something with more potential for abuse than benefit, though the CEO seems committed to keeping it. Nonetheless, "TWT" will be worth continuing to watch in 2014. Certainly, as the ultimate Mopologetic panopticon, it will be keeping an eye on you as well.

http://mormoncurtain.infymus.com/topic_apologists.html

Everything DCP touches is gold

[MG 2.0]

You don’t know who controls Faith Matters. But you’re more than willing to claim that you do.

Technically, that’s true. Until someone ELSE provides more evidence and clears things up as to REALLY controls Faith Matters. That could be you!

Carry on.

Thanks for the conversation, Res Ipsa. You have a courtly way about you. I feel as though I’m in a courtroom.

It is important to know what you don’t know. In my case, that’s a lot.

Take care,

Regards,
MG

[canpakes]

So, the answer to my question is no, you didn't try to find out who controls the Foundation.

Honestly Res Ipsa, I’m still mulling over in my head why this is so important to you. I can’t see/find any connection. Until I see the proof in the pudding I will continue to assume Faith Matters as an independent organization not linked with the church. If you are determined to find links/proof otherwise, have at it.

What are you trying to prove?

You’re a lawyer, right? What ever happened to innocent until proven guilty?

There’s something deeper there that’s driving you but I don’t know what it is.

Kind of weird, really.

Start with the 990 form if you’re serious about this.

Regards,
MG

Hi, MG - please remember UR4:

“Do not "derail" threads or otherwise insert commentary that has nothing to do with a thread's opening post. This includes questioning the motives of, assigning ulterior motives to, or otherwise insulting the person who created the opening post. Start a new thread in the appropriate forum if you wish to do that.”

There’s no need to assume intent when engaging the thread’s subject.

Thanks,

-cp-

MG, the discussion has already moved forward several pages as of this moment, and I don’t want you to miss the ‘red font’ comment that I’ve left behind.

Besides, I’m not so sure how weird it is to be interested in any connections here, given that figuring these things out is literally a paid occupation for some folks.

[Res Ipsa]

You don’t know who controls Faith Matters. But you’re more than willing to claim that you do.

Technically, that’s true. Until someone ELSE provides more evidence and clears things up as to REALLY controls Faith Matters. That could be you!

Carry on.

Thanks for the conversation, Res Ipsa. You have a courtly way about you. I feel as though I’m in a courtroom.

It is important to know what you don’t know. In my case, that’s a lot.

Take care,

Regards,
MG

What I said isn’t technically true — it’s just plain old true. You don’t know who controls Faith Matters.

In a courtroom you’d be required to just tell the truth — no tap dancing or changing the subject allowed. Despite all your attempts to change the subject, I’ll go back to my original question to you: who controls Faith Matters?

[Res Ipsa]

Drumdude, that’s quite a lot of information to run down. There are other legal entities called “faith matters” or that have “faith matters” in the title. And it’s not really surprising that religious minded people would use “faith matters” as a title for something. If I get time, I’ll pull on some out those threads to see where they lead. Thanks for the digging!

[drumdude]

Drumdude, that’s quite a lot of information to run down. There are other legal entities called “faith matters” or that have “faith matters” in the title. And it’s not really surprising that religious minded people would use “faith matters” as a title for something. If I get time, I’ll pull on some out those threads to see where they lead. Thanks for the digging!

Who knows if it's still a main project of Mr. Paul, but the fact that in 2019 the donate button went straight into his main organization's PayPal account is fairly damning in my opinion.

[Res Ipsa]

Drumdude, that’s quite a lot of information to run down. There are other legal entities called “faith matters” or that have “faith matters” in the title. And it’s not really surprising that religious minded people would use “faith matters” as a title for something. If I get time, I’ll pull on some out those threads to see where they lead. Thanks for the digging!

Who knows if it's still a main project of Mr. Paul, but the fact that in 2019 the donate button went straight into his main organization's PayPal account is fairly damning in my opinion.

I’m confused. Upthread, you said that the donate button in 2017 (not 2019) linked to Paul’s main organization account. The current Faith Matters Foundation was not formed until August 2020. Unless you can connect the Turnbull family to Mr. Paul or his organization, I don’t think you’ve linked the organizations.

I’m not saying you’re wrong — I’m just not convinced (yet) that there’s a connection.

[drumdude]

Who knows if it's still a main project of Mr. Paul, but the fact that in 2019 the donate button went straight into his main organization's PayPal account is fairly damning in my opinion.

I’m confused. Upthread, you said that the donate button in 2017 (not 2019) linked to Paul’s main organization account. The current Faith Matters Foundation was not formed until August 2020. Unless you can connect the Turnbull family to Mr. Paul or his organization, I don’t think you’ve linked the organizations.

I’m not saying you’re wrong — I’m just not convinced (yet) that there’s a connection.

The site accessed November 2020 has the same donation link:

https://web.archive.org/web/20201112025 ... tters.org/

Screenshot 2023-07-29 203829.jpg

[drumdude]

It was still there as of March 2021, and then changed in the middle of 2021.

It is possible that they simply "forgot" to change the donation link. But if any donations were made during those 6+ months, they all went to the Foundation for Religious Diplomacy PayPal account.