What's in it for you?

[_Jersey Girl]

Hello Folks,

People often ask me why I, a never mo, would participate on this board or participate on any LDS related board. The reasons have changed as my focus has changed. I originally began posting online essentially to learn more about Mormonism, spent time attacking Mormonism, went through a stage where I was finally willing to hear from Mormon's themselves about what they believe, revised my take on Mormonism several times, reflected on my own beliefs, looked for ways to identify with LDS online (that wasn't hard to do, by the way), found I could also identify with agnostics and atheists on some level, learned much about topics unrelated to religion at all on one board in particular, learned to be more precise in my communication (when I want to be), have fun with some of the personalities, and so, my little online journey has changed focus and I think, been of benefit to me in general. And yes, part of the reason I participate is because it's far different than the topics I engage in real life, a good time killer in winter and that sort of thing, and I like to write.

I was wondering, after reading ajax's post "Were you happy?" what LDS and ex-LDS find beneficial to them regarding their participation on this board? Does it help you to work out ideas and views on Mormonism? Does it help you to have the freedom you might have not had while a member, to openly criticize the church? Does it help you work out your apologetic positions because you have a chance to bring them directly to ex-LDS and others? Does it help you to work out articulating your criticisms?

Or are ya just hanging out?

Just curious and thanks in advance for any replies you have to offer.

Jersey Girl

[_Ray A]

I like sharp, witty minds, and good writers. Mormonism just about bores the crap out of me these days, but it's a subject I know a lot about. If it really interested me I'd post on MAD more often. Reminds me of a history professor I once had, who said that "history is all about style". Well, it isn't really, but to a degree he had a point. Hitler was an insufferably boring writer, but made up for it in oration. Churchill was both a good writer and orator. That's why the Brits defeated the Germans.

It isn't DCP's knowledge, but his style that attracts such a devoted Mormon following. So I guess I'm also here looking for, and at talent. An informed person who knows how to write is a pleasure to read. I also like to watch the battle of minds, between critics and apologists. It certainly beats watching Lateline.

[_why me]

I am hear to set the record straight. I certainly do not want the antimormons to have free reign on this board. However, I have noticed that the Mormons have more or less disappeared from the board. Not many apologist hang out here these days. Lawsuit threats and innuendos have depleted the Mormon posters. Too bad.

[_Inconceivable]

I am hear to set the record straight bla bla bla

Great. Another one called by God Almighty.

A little tip if you'd like an edge: Might I suggest you pray to Him and ask that he reveal your weaknesses so they might become strong?

Have a nice day, Why ME.

[_Jersey Girl]

I am hear to set the record straight bla bla bla

Great. Another one called by God Almighty.

A little tip if you'd like an edge: Might I suggest you pray to Him and ask that he reveal your weaknesses so they might become strong?

Have a nice day, Why ME.

Ya know what, Inc? What I really intended to have happen here via the OP was for people to share what benefit they think they receive from posting on the board, not take pot shots at those who kindly answered the questions I asked.

[_harmony]

I, like whyme, am here to set the record straight. I suspect we wouldn't agree with what "straight" means, though.

I originally started posting on the internet on LDStalk, but after being banned for expressing some unorthodox beliefs (like it's possible to have a relationship with God that doesn't include a prophet in the middle), I moved quickly to a now long-defunct board (Notes from Zarahemla and then The Sheltering Tree) that had some polygamists from the Harmstrom group (TLC). I found them fascinating. What I found more fascinating than them was the reaction of the LDS posters to them, especially after one of the LDS women onthe board ran off and married one of the Harmstrom group as a 4th wife. I landed on the board in the midst of that firestorm. That is where I learned of Joseph's extramarital affairs. (It took me years to get over it.) That board eventually evolved into the Folk of the Fringe, a board that has a slow pace but it still has some of my favorite people on it.

My only experience with RFM was in conjunction with Sheltering Tree. I found it the strangest place, as I was considered a loyal Mormon there, while at LDStalk, I was an apostate, for saying exactly the same things!

JSkains posted on the Fringe and recommended I post my thoughts about Joseph and polygamy on SHIELDS, since I had ripped him a new one over it. That was my first encounter with the world-class rudeness of internet LDS apologists. I immediately moved back to the Fringe. Josh then suggested ZLMB. My first encounter with Daniel took place at Z, on my first day of posting there (although I had lurked for quite some time prior to that first post). It was something the people who posted there at the time have never forgotten... and obviously neither did Daniel. His basic misunderstanding, and his inability to ask for clarification, has been at the root of his animosity all these years. Who would have thought it mattered that much? (He will deny that it mattered, of course, but if it hadn't mattered, why did he remember it so clearly all these years later?)

When I was banned from Z, after participating for several years, I went undercover to FAIR, knowing that if Juliann knew who I was, she would immediately ban me. At that time, this board was not yet in existence. I posted there for almost a year before she figured out who I was. I circumvented her ban with a sock puppet, but by the time she banned me again, the board was so boring, I never went back. I tried FLAK, but it just never felt like the right place for me. MDB is the right place.

I post here because I like to express my thoughts with people who speak the same language and understand the culture without me having to excuse or explain it. I have friends of long standing here. I still have hot button issues, but not nearly as many as I used to have. I have learned a great deal here, and have found a way to work through the devastation to my life that happened when I learned that trusting my leaders was a losing proposition. I gain far more than I give, in terms of my contributions to this board.

[_Inconceivable]

..What I really intended to have happen here.. not take pot shots..

Duh. I know. Just one of the few days I had a different reason for showing up. Carry on.

I'll show up for one of the other reasons tommorrow.

[_Pokatator]

I left the church in 1988 about a year after going to the temple. I left mostly over the issues I have with temple content. I have written about that in the past so I wouldn't do that again. I also had many other issues with the church probably too numerous to mention that helped lead up the temple content being my last straw.

Perhaps I am combining threads here but I slowly became very happy outside of the church. I went on with life and studied many other issues and many other religions. After close to about 18 years I kind of came full circle and cracked open my Mormon books again, the pro ones and the con ones. I did this because I got interested in the DNA issue and I have always been interested in the archeology aspect of the church. As the research on DNA and the Book of Abraham progressed I read it, all of it I could. I searched on google and found some the articles and discussions going on. I found the stuff at FAIR and discovered the message boards and registered.

I started that process with the intentions of giving Mormonism another full and fair assessment. I was ready to start fresh and did. I read and read the FAIR articles and the discussion board for a long time before posting. I was sincere and thoughtful in my first post. It was an innocent question and I was totally beat up by Juliann and Paharon and a few others. They were brutal and merciless in calling me a troll, anti-Mormon, etc. It took me a very short time to get any intentions I had of perhaps returning to the church out of my life. That treatment by them never ceased.

I did learn to battle somewhat but it is not intent then or now. I am still very interested in the archeology, DNA, and Book of Abraham issues. I am fairly much a new comer to the discussion boards beginning about the last five years.

I still hang around for the threads that interest me and also for the entertainment value. Some of that is from both sides but mostly I am entertained at the weakness of the apologetic arguments in general. A perfect example would be "whyme's" arguments on the polygamy thread. It is laughable and entertaining. DCP's eloquent refusals and denials are entertaining. Willie's adolescent pubescent tirades are entertaining. I could go on and on.

I have enjoyed Scratch, Beastie, Kevin Graham, Ray A, etc. and that list goes on and on.

So I am here to keep up with my interests and to be entertained. It works for me. I did visit other places but MDB has become home on the internet.

[_solomarineris]

I am hear to set the record straight.

Really? What record that might be?

Book of Abraham translation, Golden Plates, Joseph Smith' marrying to already married women, Kirtland Bank failure,
God being a Man, Masonic Temple ritual copycat, Hill Cumorah, LGT....
Here are the few we know of.
I know this is mouthful, start from any of it....
We are starving for answers.

[_JohnStuartMill]

I'm here mostly because religious conservatism baffles me, and I'm interested to see the reasons that people have for adhering to it.