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TBM - does this term offend you?

Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2011 5:56 pm
by _Buffalo
Do you feel this is a derogatory term? Or is it neutral?

I've always taken it as being a neutral term for "orthodox" Mormons.

Re: TBM - does this term offend you?

Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2011 10:15 pm
by _Lucretia MacEvil
Buffalo wrote:Do you feel this is a derogatory term? Or is it neutral?

I've always taken it as being a neutral term for "orthodox" Mormons.


Hmm, haven't heard anyone complain about it for quite a while. Seems like TBM has become accepted. When it was coined on RFM, If I recall correctly, it offended quite a few Mormons. Did it mean "true believing" or "truly brainwashed"? Did it mean "true believer" simply at face value (good thing) or "true believer" on a sociological level (no so good)?

It seems to have settled down to refer simply to Mormons with solid testimonies, and it's useful in that way.

Re: TBM - does this term offend you?

Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2011 10:17 pm
by _just me
It's better than BM.

Keepin' it real.

Re: TBM - does this term offend you?

Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2011 11:08 pm
by _Lucretia MacEvil
just me wrote:It's better than BM.

Keepin' it real.


Ha! You are so real!

Re: TBM - does this term offend you?

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2011 6:17 pm
by _Daniel Peterson
Since you've asked . . .

"TBM" has always seemed to me to connote some greater or lesser degree of condescension or even disrespect.

I don't like the term.

Re: TBM - does this term offend you?

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2011 6:21 pm
by _Buffalo
Daniel Peterson wrote:Since you've asked . . .

"TBM" has always seemed to me to connote some greater or lesser degree of condescension or even disrespect.

I don't like the term.


I listened to a recent Mormon Matters podcast where someone else said the same thing. It came as a surprise to me - I've never taken it that way.

Is there a term that you'd prefer that is more respectful?

Re: TBM - does this term offend you?

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2011 6:21 pm
by _stemelbow
I think i'[ve seen people use it as a tool of disrespect and I believe others do not use it as such. Its kind of like anti-mormon in that sense.

Re: TBM - does this term offend you?

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2011 6:29 pm
by _Daniel Peterson
Buffalo wrote:I listened to a recent Mormon Matters podcast where someone else said the same thing. It came as a surprise to me - I've never taken it that way.

Is there a term that you'd prefer that is more respectful?

Believer, Mormon believer, believing Mormon, faithful Mormon, convinced Mormon, orthodox Mormon, mainstream Mormon -- there are probably scores of terms that I would find less off-putting.

Re: TBM - does this term offend you?

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2011 6:38 pm
by _Buffalo
Daniel Peterson wrote:
Buffalo wrote:I listened to a recent Mormon Matters podcast where someone else said the same thing. It came as a surprise to me - I've never taken it that way.

Is there a term that you'd prefer that is more respectful?

Believer, Mormon believer, believing Mormon, faithful Mormon, convinced Mormon, orthodox Mormon, mainstream Mormon -- there are probably scores of terms that I would find less off-putting.


Okay, I can use those. Of course, the shortened version for one of those might be less respectful than TBM :p

Of those you mentioned, I think orthodox and mainstream Mormon best get at what I've always taken to be the meaning of TBM. There are a lot of unorthodox Mormons who still believe - they just don't believe everything.

Re: TBM - does this term offend you?

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2011 6:47 pm
by _mbeesley
Buffalo wrote:Do you feel this is a derogatory term? Or is it neutral?

I've always taken it as being a neutral term for "orthodox" Mormons.

I've never been offended by it. If someone used it in reference to me, and they intended to cast aspersions by its use, it still wouldn't bother me. I try not to let irrelevant people offend me.

Note: Haven't posted here for about a year. Didn't want to entirely miss out on the Board War. :)