DiscussMormonism.com

Craig Paxton wrote:I’m done and I’m going to take a break. I’m tired of all the sinicism and speculation towards the LDS Church (I admit that I’ve been the most guilty at times), the back and forth endless, unwinnable intellectual arguments over the same old, tired positions….they’re mentally exhausting and ultimately pointless. I’m tired of kicking the same old horse day after day to infinity. The horse is dead…I want to move on.

We’re all so damned entrenched in our respective beliefs that there really isn’t any point to all of this bantering…other than confirming our bias’s and as a place to release our frustration. But has anyone actually ever convince someone with an opposing viewpoint of the error of their position? I think not…so what’s the point? It’s such a waste of time.

If I thought that a conversation could be held between reasonable people willing to listen and learn from each other’s position maybe I wouldn’t feel the way I do…but we’ve become an echo chamber…confirming our respective beliefs…defending our positions…and both pro and con are guilty.

While it is not my intent to offend any of the posters here…I do get frustrated that there is no end game nor are we ever going to impact the church or convince believers that their point of views are in error. We’re just pissing into the wind.

Craig,

I wish you well in whatever you do.

I'm basically here to jawbone with longtime friends and acquaintances. It is also fun to see Yahoo Bot vomit nonsense with great confidence.

Kishkumen wrote:I'm basically here to jawbone with longtime friends and acquaintances. It is also fun to see Yahoo Bot vomit nonsense with great confidence.

Following that introspective line; I come here to....watch Mormon bashing. I guess. But then, I'm really quite over it, and don't hold....or look to hold anybody responsible, for what I consider wasted years as a TBM.

I think more likely, it's just that I tend to be a bit cynical in nature, and enjoy making fun of anything that needs it.
Craig Paxton posts fit that bill, and would/will be missed.

Hey Craig!

Breaks are good! (I'm just returning from one as I type)

Hope to see you return, I often read your contributions.

And, after reading many of your OP's/posts, I can't think of an environment that would be a better fit for you than the MDB.

Peace,
Ceeboo

Sammy Jankins wrote: Maybe when people have no outlet they'll choose a forum such as this to vent.
I have no respect for the demeaning manipulative narratives Mormonism creates about people who leave. It is the stuff of cults.

Beating a dead horse is good mental exercise. No anger in it, just calm, rational exercise.

The board's ebb and flow is usually bolstered by new TBM blood. It's much more interesting when things are being challenged. Unfortunately, TBM's don't usually stick around too long and all we're left with is BC and co. who are so entrenched in their own brainwashing that there is nothing to gain from the interaction but frustration. And Mak too but I don''t really put him in the same group because he's reasonable, yet very defensive...and sort of an enigma to me. And then there's Tobin.....frustration incarnate.

cognitiveharmony wrote:The board's ebb and flow is usually bolstered by new TBM blood. It's much more interesting when things are being challenged. Unfortunately, TBM's don't usually stick around too long and all we're left with is BC and co. who are so entrenched in their own brainwashing that there is nothing to gain from the interaction but frustration. And Mak too but I don''t really put him in the same group because he's reasonable, yet very defensive...and sort of an enigma to me. And then there's Tobin.....frustration incarnate.

If you are frustrated, maybe you should get a new hobby or find something more productive to do with yourself.

cognitiveharmony wrote:The board's ebb and flow is usually bolstered by new TBM blood. It's much more interesting when things are being challenged. Unfortunately, TBM's don't usually stick around too long and all we're left with is BC and co. who are so entrenched in their own brainwashing that there is nothing to gain from the interaction but frustration. And Mak too but I don''t really put him in the same group because he's reasonable, yet very defensive...and sort of an enigma to me. And then there's Tobin.....frustration incarnate.

First of all, Craig, I will miss your posts, and I hope that this is a temporary break. I don't comment that often on your posts, but I do enjoy reading them. I started reading your views on RfM, and was really happy when you started posting here. You have a unique voice.

As far as the board's ebb and flow, I think that if we, as members here at MDB, want to encourage "new TBM blood" to stick around, we need to be careful how we treat them. I am not saying that we shouldn't stand firm as to debate on the various topics, but I think that it is important not to make, particularly a new poster, feel "ganged up on". I know that as a new poster on FAIR/MAD/MDBB, I felt that way. And, speaking with many of you who posted there, I know that you felt that way as well. That was part of the reason that Shades created this board to begin with.

I think it is important for us to take our own advice that we often give apologists. Remember to address the topic, not the person. Don't make a TBM feel stupid for their beliefs. Remember that YOU also believed those same things once yourself. I understand that therein lies the frustration often in getting your point across. But even so, I think it is important to treat people the way you would like to be treated yourself.

Maybe if we all concentrate on treating others the way we would like to be treated, we will have more luck in the future with TBMs sticking around for longer periods.

GR33N wrote: In fact during the time I have been coming here my testimony and conviction that Joseph Smith is a Prophet of God and the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ has grown by leaps and bounds.

The church has become "truer" for you than it once was? So there were doubts before? You weren't 100% sure, but now you are more sure? Are you now at 100% or somewhere less?

There were some doubts about Joseph Smith, but now less doubts and more truth? What doubts did you have about J.S. that have now been lessened? Are you now at 100% concerning Joseph Smith, or maybe like 95%, and within another couple of years, reading posts here, you might make it to 100%? Is 95% truth really truth at all?

Just curious how what is true, can become more and more true like some sliding scale.

Jesse Pinkman wrote:Don't make a TBM feel stupid for their beliefs. Remember that YOU also believed those same things once yourself.

Damn, I'd almost forgot until you reminded me.