A big hello

[Shulem]

Granted taking Philo and Shulem to task was a terrible way to introduce yourself to the community, but I think it was within our power to be the better people here, and we sure didn't take that opportunity. Now he has jumped ship and here we continue to chase off believing Mormons.

Ugh.

It's not my fault! Philo started it! Blame him. I've been a little angel.



Ed will be back. When he does return, hopefully he won't start out by chastising someone right off the bat. He's obviously going through things right now and it's upsetting. I imagine his relationship with the Church is changing due to the pandemic. He's a lone wolf on a journey going somewhere....

Just leave the plate on the table and he'll be back later when he's hungry.

[Lem]

I don't think it is fair to conclude this situation by saying "...and here we continue to chase off believing Mormons."

That is simply not an accurate assessment. I've only been here for about 5 years, but in that time, Ed has made at least 3 or 4 forays onto the board, asking for responses to his work. I took a quick look back at his threads, and many people gave him serious, thoughtful responses. I'm sure my list is incomplete, but at a minimum, Ed has received thoughtful responses on his work from Dr Exiled, DrW, Themis, Canpakes, Lemmie, Philo Sofee, Shulem, Fence Sitter, Doctor CamNC4Me, Steelhead, Res Ipsa, and Maksutov. And this time around, he again received many thoughtful responses to his admittedly inappropriate start.

Granted taking Philo and Shulem to task was a terrible way to introduce yourself to the community, but I think it was within our power to be the better people here, and we sure didn't take that opportunity. Now he has jumped ship and here we continue to chase off believing Mormons.

I don't think the issue is "we sure didn't take that opportunity" to be better people.

Many people tried, but after reading a number of these interactions, it seems we are dealing with some mental issues that are beyond the scope of this board. The mental health challenges that trigger interactions like this are not the fault of the board, and to summarize them as us having "driven off believing Mormons" is too simplistic and ignores the mental health issues that are obviously in play.

[Physics Guy]

If this was Ed Goble then it is too bad if he's left now. I thought his Book of Abraham theory was pretty clever. If he just relaxed and dialled it back a bit, he'd be an interesting guy to have around. As Lem says, though, he appears to have some unfortunate handicaps in interacting with other people. In a certain kind of ideal community everyone would be willing and able to accommodate that, but I don't know if we could ever be ideal in that way here. People have their own burdens.

[Kishkumen]

Yes, we have so many believing LDS who try posting here. It would be more accurate to say that most never try in the first place. Point taken.

[Doctor CamNC4Me]

Yes, we have so many believing LDS who try posting here. It would be more accurate to say that most never try in the first place. Point taken.

Why is that?

- Doc

[Bought Yahoo]

It is quite correct that this board drives off believing Mormons. Paul O, in particular, is the chief master of the whip. When I emerged to start posting again, he dogged within minutes each of my posts. He just assumes I am a believing Mormon and wants to traduce me at every turn. Some of the rest of you suspect that I am not.

But I don' t think it is intentional. I know Paul has his terrible issues.

[Shulem]

It is quite correct that this board drives off believing Mormons. Paul O, in particular, is the chief master of the whip. When I emerged to start posting again, he dogged within minutes each of my posts. He just assumes I am a believing Mormon and wants to traduce me at every turn. Some of the rest of you suspect that I am not.

But I don' t think it is intentional. I know Paul has his terrible issues.

Are you saying that I assumed wrong? I made a mistake? I hope so.

But hey, the kitchen gets hot around here on Mormon Discussions. You are welcome to take a whip to me if I so deserve it.

Go ahead. I can take it.

[Bought Yahoo]

It is quite correct that this board drives off believing Mormons. Paul O, in particular, is the chief master of the whip. When I emerged to start posting again, he dogged within minutes each of my posts. He just assumes I am a believing Mormon and wants to traduce me at every turn. Some of the rest of you suspect that I am not.

But I don' t think it is intentional. I know Paul has his terrible issues.

Are you saying that I assumed wrong? I made a mistake? I hope so.

But hey, the kitchen gets hot around here on Mormon Discussions. You are welcome to take a whip to me if I so deserve it.

Go ahead. I can take it.

I would just prefer that you leave me alone. I gave you a try but there is nothing there. I guess you have expertise about the Book of Abraham but I don't think the evidence is there to support the Book (being solely a spiritual matter) and so I don't care to hear your challenges to it.

[Shulem]

I would just prefer that you leave me alone. I gave you a try but there is nothing there. I guess you have expertise about the Book of Abraham but I don't think the evidence is there to support the Book (being solely a spiritual matter) and so I don't care to hear your challenges to it.

I'm all too happy to just leave you alone because you requested that and were sincere. But you brought up the above and if you want me to leave you alone then you'll need to leave me alone too. I mean come on, man -- you slammed me by name right here on the board as if you are trying to pick a fight.

So let's part ways.

Does that sound fair? I hold no grudges towards you at all.

[Bought Yahoo]

I would just prefer that you leave me alone. I gave you a try but there is nothing there. I guess you have expertise about the Book of Abraham but I don't think the evidence is there to support the Book (being solely a spiritual matter) and so I don't care to hear your challenges to it.

I'm all too happy to just leave you alone because you requested that and were sincere. But you brought up the above and if you want me to leave you alone then you'll need to leave me alone too. I mean come on, man -- you slammed me by name right here on the board as if you are trying to pick a fight.

So let's part ways.

Does that sound fair? I hold no grudges towards you at all.

I think you hold grudges against a lot of innocent people. Against a religion full of a lot of innocent people.

I am not here to defend the religion, but I'd like to see a lot more equanimity directed to adherents of the Latter-day Saint faith. I don't get lots of profanity, labeling leaders "Satan" (do you really believe in "Satan" or are you intentionally poking the pig in the eye?), and so forth.