You can't follow the game without a program ...

[_Runtu]

The other day someone on the MADB board speculated that jadams_4040 (a fairly longtime poster) is an evil exmo sockpuppet designed to make believers look stupid. We've all seen examples, such as Salvador Dali a while back, but these days even the believers can't tell the difference.

But sometimes it's hard not to look ridiculous when you are defending the ridiculous. See, for example, Will's statement that there is "some other explanation" for Joseph Smith's having mistranslated the Book of Abraham facsimiles. Admitting that Joseph got it wrong will never do, so we look for "some other explanation," as if wishful thinking were a valuable apologetic tool.

I've often wondered if some of the angrier apologists are closet unbelievers who are trying their damnedest to drive people out of the church. If they are, they're doing a pretty good job.

[_JohnStuartMill]

I had a Mormon sockpuppet for a while, but it tried to make believers look good.

[_Runtu]

I had a Mormon sockpuppet for a while, but it tried to make believers look good.

Wasn't yours MAhlstrom?

[_Brackite]

Hello,

I also kind of wander if Hammer, who used to Post there, was really an 'evil' Ex-Mormon sockpuppet trying to make the Mormon believers look pretty stupid.

[_JohnStuartMill]

I had a Mormon sockpuppet for a while, but it tried to make believers look good.

Wasn't yours MAhlstrom?

Yeah. I had a lot of fun with that, actually.

[_John Larsen]

The other day someone on the MADB board speculated that jadams_4040 (a fairly longtime poster) is an evil exmo sockpuppet designed to make believers look stupid. We've all seen examples, such as Salvador Dali a while back, but these days even the believers can't tell the difference.

But sometimes it's hard not to look ridiculous when you are defending the ridiculous. See, for example, Will's statement that there is "some other explanation" for Joseph Smith's having mistranslated the Book of Abraham facsimiles. Admitting that Joseph got it wrong will never do, so we look for "some other explanation," as if wishful thinking were a valuable apologetic tool.

I've often wondered if some of the angrier apologists are closet unbelievers who are trying their damnedest to drive people out of the church. If they are, they're doing a pretty good job.

I think it is funny when they attack the moderates on the board. Take Consig or Katherine—they are both targets from the more militant from time to time.

One thing that surprises me is how the mods let the Kooks who don’t know very much drive the discussion. Look at Zak and his cut and past or Jason, who likes to post on everything but knows hardly anything. The intelligent, thoughtful apologists tend to just keep quite. I will admit that sometimes I just like to see how long I can keep the wackos talking, because they more than anyone else will show the fallacy of their thinking.

Sometimes, the posters are clearly struggling with their own faith and you can watch them change over time. JLFuller has taken a decidedly more liberal turn, as far as faith goes in the last month or so and we all witnessed the deconstruction of LoaP who turned from a brash turbo poster to a much more reflective fellow.

[_Gazelam]

See, for example, Will's statement that there is "some other explanation" for Joseph Smith's having mistranslated the Book of Abraham facsimiles.

Mistranslated?

That still makes me giggle. The Book of Abraham is some of the greatest scripture we have ever received. It gives and gives.

Audio commentary on the facsimilies (realplayer format): http://byubmp3.BYU.edu/scripturediscussions/721/721-202.mp3

[_Dwight Frye]

The other day someone on the MADB board speculated that jadams_4040 (a fairly longtime poster) is an evil exmo sockpuppet designed to make believers look stupid.

Do you recall the name of that thread?