Ray A: The Gandhi of Internet Mormonism?

[_beastie]

Ray,

If you're going to start commenting on the Josh mess, it would be helpful if you actually read the involved threads. On page one of the FAIR thread, Josh states:

http://mormondiscussions.com/discuss/vi ... 52&start=0

Trying to figure me out rather than just trying to talk to me honestly are two different animals. In all my years online, no one wanted to know me, rather everyone has wanted to demonize me, so I just play along.

I've known Josh from a couple of different boards. There were times when he was very emotionally troubled, by his own admission, and several people - particularly on the Fringe - did reach out to him to try and help him. So I knew first hand that his perception stated here was skewed. People DID try to know him, they did NOT just demonize him. For him to come back and start displaying the exact same behavior he'd displayed before was troubling.

Runtu, by the way, is already getting help.

What's funny about the FAIR thread I linked above is that Scratch was trying to make a case against the way FAIR had treated Josh. See, believers were treating Josh badly, according to Josh. It's not just exbelievers. But I was actually defending the FAIRites by stating that it likely wasn't possible to determine what exactly happened, due to Josh's volatility in the past. Gaz even agreed with me on that assessment.

So your attempt to turn this into "exmormons persecuting Mormons" falls flat in every way. Josh has a long history. You are unaware of it.

[_Daniel Peterson]

What should not get lost in this is the fact that Scratch evidently altered a personal message that he had sent, and pretended that he had not said vicious things that in fact he had said, in order to avoid embarrassment.

It's déjà vu all over again, as the saying goes.

Malevolent mendacity. The pattern never varies. The leopard doesn't change its spots.

[_beastie]

Daniel:

Back to my other question: Were you aware that, during one of his disaffected phases, Ray PMd the Z mods with an harassing, vulgar message that included, among other things, the threat that: "YOUR F***KING MISSIONARIES ARE DEAD".

What is your reaction to this, how does it reflect upon Ray's general ethics and emotional stability, and how do you feel now having him as one of your most fervent defenders?

[_Ray A]

Daniel:

Back to my other question: Were you aware that, during one of his disaffected phases, Ray PMd the Z mods with an harassing, vulgar message that included, among other things, the threat that: "YOUR F***KING MISSIONARIES ARE DEAD".

What is your reaction to this, how does it reflect upon Ray's general ethics and emotional stability, and how do you feel now having him as one of your most fervent defenders?

Paul consented to the Stoning of Stephen.

You got a problem with that missy?

[_Ray A]

Daniel:

Back to my other question: Were you aware that, during one of his disaffected phases, Ray PMd the Z mods with an harassing, vulgar message that included, among other things, the threat that: "YOUR F***KING MISSIONARIES ARE DEAD".

What is your reaction to this, how does it reflect upon Ray's general ethics and emotional stability, and how do you feel now having him as one of your most fervent defenders?

What does it feel like to be spiritually dead? I've often wondered.

[Guest]

Paul consented to the Stoning of Stephen.

You got a problem with that missy?

Well, missy, we're waiting!!!!

LOL! Nothing like a poster who compares himself to the apostle Paul. This is too rich.

[_Trevor]

What does it feel like to be spiritually dead? I've often wondered.

Gee, and here we thought you were living that dream.

[_The Nehor]

You have a weird world-view scratch. This is my friend we are talking about. I spoke to him about it. He said the analogy was strained meaning he thought the analogy was bad.

Let's cut to the chase here. What do YOU think was "strained"/"bad" about the analogy, Nehor? Further, what do you think your friend meant by "strained"/"bad"?

I'll explain what I think he meant and what he said he meant. He meant that anti-Semite bigotry and anti-Mormon criticism are very different in modern society. While both defame their target the threat of physical attack on Jews worldwide and Israel on the whole is much more likely. Therefore he believed that anti-Semite bigotry was much more a cause for alarm than anti-Mormon bigotry and that comparing anti-Mormonism to anti-Semitism involved very different things. He did not think the person who used the rant had any bias against the Jews whatsoever. In fact it is more likely the author (being a Mormon himself) identified with them.

(Some of the above information comes from e-mailing him a while ago to ask for more information)

[_Ray A]

LOL! Nothing like a poster who compares himself to the apostle Paul. This is too rich.

Of course I'm like Paul: Stoned, beaten, persecuted, ridiculed.

I'll go even further: Paul never had to deal with anti-Mormons on the Internet. I boast that I am better than Paul! I boast that I didn't even found a Church, and wasn't even an apostle. I boast, because boasting pisses off anti-Mormons.

[_beastie]

Daniel:

Back to my other question: Were you aware that, during one of his disaffected phases, Ray PMd the Z mods with an harassing, vulgar message that included, among other things, the threat that: "YOUR F***KING MISSIONARIES ARE DEAD".

What is your reaction to this, how does it reflect upon Ray's general ethics and emotional stability, and how do you feel now having him as one of your most fervent defenders?

I'm guessing I'm not going to get an answer to this question.

Too bad, because I'm genuinely curious as to DCP's reaction this. I found it extraordinarily shocking, and it permanently altered my view of Ray. Like I said, I have never known an exmormon, no matter how angry he/she currently was, to make such a vile, hateful statement like "YOUR F***ING MISSIONARIES ARE DEAD". I wonder if DCP has a similar reaction, or if his pleasure at having such an ardent defender overwhelms his possible ethical revulsion to a person capable of such a statement.