MatthewG Stages an Ambush at MAD

[_antishock8]

What a scary little cabal of character assassins the Mormon church has put together with FARMS, the MI, and FAIR.

Hey, we resemble that remark and the majority are not Mormons!!!

The Mormon church put a scary little cabal of anti-Mopologist character assassins together?

How's that for friggin' Machiavellian machinations?

[_marg]

Someone like The Dude is a serious problem. He used to be able to avoid being banned because he was 1) extremely civil and 2) didn't get people like DCP to announce he's "tired" of him.

Well apparently he did nothing of any consequence to warrant being banned. It's very difficult to "avoid" being banned when any excuse can be used, even no reason at all.

[_moksha]

It's very difficult to "avoid" being banned when any excuse can be used, even no reason at all.

Or faulty reasoning which if left unchecked could even cause electrical fires.

[_cinepro]

Why does everyone seem to think I left with DCP?

Might be because Dr. Peterson posted his "Basta" at 9:49am on March 14, and you last posted on March 14th, 2009 at 12:26 pm, until you resumed posting today (March 23).

So, between March 14 and 23, as the length of your absence increased, it could be logically assumed that your leave was taken in some relation to Dr. Peterson's post. But that was obviously a mistaken assumption on the part of whoever made it.

[_The Nehor]

I've been busy with averting a zombie apocalypse. Problem solved.

[_Mister Scratch]

I echo the calls for civility, and don't believe in "trashing" Ms. Scott. She's presumably a decent person who sincerely believes what she believes.

Does Dr. Peterson just not notice that this goes against everything he had already said in that thread?

You know, CK, I wondered the same thing. He seems capable of recognizing civility (or the lack thereof), and yet it seems like he has a hard time understanding this concept when it pertains to himself.

[_cinepro]

You know, CK, I wondered the same thing. He seems capable of recognizing civility (or the lack thereof), and yet it seems like he has a hard time understanding this concept when it pertains to himself.

6:41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

6:42 Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.

Luke 6

[_Latayne]

Latayne C. Scott here. Dr. Shades alerted me to this particular thread, and asked me to give some additional insight into what happened. He assured me I wouldn't be ambushed here. So thanks!

I guess I feel sorry for MatthewG given all that ensued. I stopped logging on to MAD after my second response there. (I did log back on for a few moments to try to de-activate my registration, but left when I couldn't find out how to do that expeditiously.) So all I know about the subsequent discussion is from this present thread and what a couple of friends have told me.

Here's what actually happened: MatthewG under the Twitter screen name LiberalMormon, sent out an @ message to me. That means that anyone of his followers or mine -- or anyone who does a search on my name (is that last part right? I'm not completely twitterfied) could read it. It was like a red flag, waved at me,"Hey Latayne!" It said that I was a "bitter anti-Mormon, spewing out hate."

I tried repeatedly to be polite, asking him if he'd read any of my books, etc. By the time I (naïvely as someone here as noted) logged on to MAD it was all in full swing. (I LOVE the description of the karate chops and pelvic thrusts! I have quoted that.)

Two things about MatthewG. First, I think he just wanted to appear courageous to the people on MAD. (Unfortunately he has some rather unsavory role models there, ones I've known for a long time and come to lose all respect for.) I guess I can understand that. He's young, he'll learn. (Although a nevermo friend who read the whole online discussion asked me quite seriously, "Is this a site just for adolescents? Do they have a lot of kid trolling on this site?")

MatthewG is also, unfortunately, not a very brave soldier in the battle he started. Several people pointed out to me that he removed his baiting remarks from his Twitter stream so it would appear I had instigated the conversation. Here's where you can see the whole thing, if anyone's interested-- go to search.Twitter.com and put "Latayne" in the search parameters and you'll see the whole exchange.

How much that is like much of LDS history. Oh, they earnestly wish, if they could just edit the Twitter stream of LDS history...

I expect a full-scale frontal attack once my book, The Mormon MIrage, is released May 1. I noticed in another of the discussion boards here on this site (I think it was the once about the apostasy of the Oklahoma City Temple president) that several people wanted some insight into what faithful LDS feel in that kind of process. Since my new book is a revision and update of the older version of it, I was able to write a serious retrospective of that process. In my case, the process lasted 10 years, and I'm not sure I'm over it yet. I don't believe anyone has published anything like that segment of it, at least not by a major publisher.

However, I don't believe it is that book which is going to have the greater impact on the reading public's mind. I have written a novel (Latter-day Cipher) in which I describe that leaving-process -- wrapped up in a murder mystery in which the clues are written in the Deseret Alphabet. It hasn't been released yet, but it's getting some press -- it's a "top pick" on Christian Retailing's web site, according to my agent, and moving up in Amazon rankings in pre-sales.

Well, I hope this has been the explanation -- or at least, what happened from my point of view. I can't promise that I will be a regular poster here, although I have very much enjoyed reading some of the threads. I know that posting and leaving MAD caused me to be identified as a coward at MAD. I'm just a very busy professional writer. (by the way on my blog, Latayne.com, I responded to an LDS critic who wanted to know why I wrote my books. Bet he was surprised to find out how little, percentage wise, I even deal with Mormonism.)

I will try to respond to this thread, though, if anyone has any questions.

And finally, speaking of the blog -- I have a section called "365 Reasons Why I Won't Return to Mormonism." Anybody here on Mormon Discussions want to submit something (no rants or profanity, but I'm happy for you to give your reasons) I'd like to hear from you via the "contact" function on my site.

Well, thank you for the invitation.

Latayne C Scott
http://www.latayne.com

[_Ray A]

I read the first edition of your book when it came out, Latayne, and I know you've had quite a struggle. If I recall correctly, you were rebaptised at least once (maybe twice?).

In any case it is nice to see you in cyberspace. The treatment you received on MAD was quite dismal, to say the least.

[_huckelberry]

Latayne, I enjoyed your first book, it just projected a decent attitude toward difficult problems.

don't let Mad get you down.

"Mime karata chops" Once upon a time DP particpated with Pahoran on a Tanner board Utah Lighthouse. They both employed actual substantive arguments, something they have long tired of. At that time they both felt they were censored at that sight so encouraged a Zion lighthouse where editoral work was shared amounst different points of view,different beliefs. The first year at ZLMB LDS believers could dog pile and chorltle as somebody drowned. However as time went on there came to be a more equal balance of reprentantives of different views so dogpiles didn't work. Believers became offended at the lack of control. People complained of having to hear stuff in their house. They all left to their own MAD board. It may be best to just leave those who like that there.