The Many Faces of Ray A

[_Ray A]

But that is not what is of interest in this story. The truth about Ray is that he is a flip-flopper, and in fact, there was a time when he absolutely hated the man he now calls his idol: Prof. Daniel C. Peterson. In an extremely fascinating ZLMB thread from a few years ago, Ray (who posted there as "Ray Ago"), threatened to "expose" DCP's personal nastiness and cruelty via a 15-page letter that DCP had written to Ray. The backstory to this is quite convoluted, but suffice it to say that Ray back then is almost a mirror image of who he is today. Get a load of this post, written some three or four years ago:

You have most of the circumstances of this wrong. To begin with, I never "hated" DCP. In fact, in spite of our angry exchanges (and most of the anger was on my part) I wrote, even on Z., that I found "Free Thinker" funny. If few knew who "FT" was, the unmistakable wit of his posts was a deadset give away. After the exchanges "FT" never iflamed the situation, and left me alone. Nor did he ever insult me on the board, nor by emails. The "15 page letter" was in fact an exchange of about a dozen or so emails. The truth is I couldn't "expose" him, because after going through the emails I found nothing deeply offensive. He, however, could have made me look very silly if he had posted the emails on Z., which he didn't do, but offered for anyone who wanted to, to read them. Thngs were very different on FAIR, because I changed my attitudes towards him. Whatever DCP may be accused of, no one can charge him with being inconsistent in his personal beliefs, that is, his LDS beliefs.

As for his "FT" pseudonym, his subsequent posting under his real name wipes all of that.

When are we going to find out who "Mr.Scratch" is?

[_Ray A]

You know, I can only wonder how long it will be until he flip-flops back over to the ex-mo side.....

Never. If you mean by "exmo side" sharing your sentiments about the Church or Mormonism in general, hell will freeze over first.

[_Ray A]

[Quite stunning! It seems that Ray's position---I.e., who he sides with---is contingent upon how people treat him. If an RfMer insults his daughter, he "crosses over" to the Mopologists' side. If DCP is mean to him, he flip-flops over to the critics' side.

Of course, and when DCP was "mean" to me I denied and denounced the Book of Mormon as a fraud, and Joseph Smith a charlatan. Oh, that meanness really made me "flip flop". FYI, Scratch, I have never "flipped over" because of the way I'm treated. If everyone on MADB denounced me, I would still continue to believe the Book of Mormon is inspired revelation.

One thing I'll say for you, Scratch, I haven't seen you "flip" - you've always been a rabid anti-Mormon.

[_Ray A]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I would think that anyone who has defamed, deflied, dishonoured, and slandered the character of people on a public Internet site should as least have the balls to let readers know who he is. I do not object to ordinary posters not letting others know their identity, if they so choose. But to attack the character of another public person while hiding behind anonymity is, in my opinion, the height of moral and ethical cowadice.

So, WHO are you, Scratch? Either attach a real name to your slanderous posts - or CEASE from your slander!

[_Ray A]

The same goes for the poster known as "Rollo Tomasi". You have attacked Dan Peterson's character ad nauseam, yet you cowardly hide behind your infamous anonymity like a back-stabbing Judas.

[_Mister Scratch]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I would think that anyone who has defamed, deflied, dishonoured, and slandered the character of people on a public Internet site should as least have the balls to let readers know who he is. I do not object to ordinary posters not letting others know their identity, if they so choose. But to attack the character of another public person while hiding behind anonymity is, in my opinion, the height of moral and ethical cowadice.

So, WHO are you, Scratch? Either attach a real name to your slanderous posts - or CEASE from your slander!

Dear Ray---

I will be glad to do so. However, I demand that you embrace your position wholeheartedly. In other words, I require that you go to MAD, and deride DCP, furiously and at length, for deceiving everyone using his "Free Thinker" sockpuppet. DCP "defamed, deflied [sic], dishonoured, and slandered the character" of Brent Metcalfe--and you, my dear freind--using that nom de guerre. Take him to task, and I will reveal my identity.

[_Ray A]

Dear Ray---

I will be glad to do so. However, I demand that you embrace your position wholeheartedly. In other words, I require that you go to MAD, and deride DCP, furiously and at length, for deceiving everyone using his "Free Thinker" sockpuppet. DCP "defamed, deflied [sic], dishonoured, and slandered the character" of Brent Metcalfe--and you, my dear freind--using that nom de guerre. Take him to task, and I will reveal my identity.

No quid pro quos here, Scratch. You know you're a slanderous scumbag, and you should be willing to reveal your identity without ultimatums. You should, in the first place, have the moral fortitude to at least put your name to your libelous, slanderous, character-defaming posts. If not, you are the epitome of a hit-and-run con artist. Throw mud on others, then duck for cover. You are SCUM, Scratch.

[_Mister Scratch]

No quid pro quos here, Scratch. You know you're a slanderous scumbag, and you should be willing to reveal your identity without ultimatums. You should, in the first place, have the moral fortitude to at least put your name to your libelous, slanderous, character-defaming posts. If not, you are the epitome of a hit-and-run con artist. Throw mud on others, then duck for cover. You are SCUM, Scratch.

"Duck for cover"? "Ultimatum"? I offered a very simple deal. Are you man enough to meet it?

[_Polygamy Porter]

Nice catch Scratch! You have him backed into a corner and all he has left is to lash out in complete fear.

[_Mister Scratch]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I would think that anyone who has defamed, deflied, dishonoured, and slandered the character of people on a public Internet site should as least have the balls to let readers know who he is. I do not object to ordinary posters not letting others know their identity, if they so choose. But to attack the character of another public person while hiding behind anonymity is, in my opinion, the height of moral and ethical cowadice.

So, WHO are you, Scratch? Either attach a real name to your slanderous posts - or CEASE from your slander!

Ray---

I hardly think that honest commentary on things your idol has said constitutes "slander." Why is it that you feel this way? Are you really still sore about the "crack whore" remark? Please tell us why you were so mad at DCP to begin with, and why you have apparently undergone such a huge, whopping change of heart.... Your words in your old ZLMB posts are quite obvious in their feeling, Ray.... What are you trying to hide?