DCP Launches an Attack on Kishkumen

[_RayAgostini]

Why is Daniel being depicted as the victim here?

I suspect that it's largely because of his experiences here that he won't allow comments on his blog. I don't blame him. He has been battered and beaten endlessly on this board, and slandered and defamed beyond what most humans would find tolerable. Think of your own long-standing disagreements with some posters here. Would you like this to go on for six years, while they know who you are, and can pick at every sensitive bone in your body, and you have nothing, absolutely nothing, to return by way of criticism because you don't know who they are, or what "skeletons" may be in their closet.

This is the worst form of bullying I can imagine, with absolutely no sense of fairness. And yet you all stand by and watch the character-slaughter as if it's just a minor accident. Put on your moccasins, Kish, and walk the mile, and when you've had enough of the slander, the libel, and the ceaseless criticisms, and the impugning of your character, then come by and we can have a heart to heart talk.

[_Drifting]

Why is Daniel being depicted as the victim here?

I suspect that it's largely because of his experiences here that he won't allow comments on his blog. I don't blame him. He has been battered and beaten endlessly on this board, and slandered and defamed beyond what most humans would find tolerable. Think of your own long-standing disagreements with some posters here. Would you like this to go on for six years, while they know who you are, and can pick at every sensitive bone in your body, and you have nothing, absolutely nothing, to return by way of criticism because you don't know who they are, or what "skeletons" may be in their closet.

This is the worst form of bullying I can imagine, with absolutely no sense of fairness. And yet you all stand by and watch the character-slaughter as if it's just a minor accident. Put on your moccasins, Kish, and walk the mile, and when you've had enough of the slander, the libel, and the ceaseless criticisms, and the impugning of your character, then come by and we can have a heart to heart talk.

Ray - if DCP can't take it, he shouldn't dish it out.
He gets less stick than he deserves.

[_RayAgostini]

Ray,

You've admitted at times that you've felt manipulated by DCP.

I explained that in my post. He was acting out of what he felt were my "best interests". His motives were benign, and I appreciate that. I sometimes wish I could still believe Mormonism, but I can't. That doesn't mean I can't still hold the man in respect. I often ponder if he's right, but so far it's a no go. I don't believe it, but I still hold him in high esteem, as a person.

[_RayAgostini]

Ray - if DCP can't take it, he shouldn't dish it out.

We are, to be sure, so much richer for his absence from this board. I'm being cynical, of course. The "dishing" came in truckloads from posters here, because DCP merely expressed his opinions, and his fervent beliefs. Apparently, some here found that "offensive".

[_Drifting]

Ray - if DCP can't take it, he shouldn't dish it out.

We are, to be sure, so much richer for his absence from this board. I'm being cynical, of course. The "dishing" came in truckloads from posters here, because DCP merely expressed his opinions, and his fervent beliefs. Apparently, some here found that "offensive".

Ray. I agree that he has the ability to add to the board, as do all posters. However, your portrayal of Dan as a poster here who was merely expressing his opinions and beliefs is wildly off the mark, in my opinion.

[_RayAgostini]

Ray. I agree that he has the ability to add to the board, as do all posters. However, your portrayal of Dan as a poster here who was merely expressing his opinions and beliefs is wildly off the mark, in my opinion.

So what was he doing, Drift? Posting his beliefs/opinions at gunpoint?

[_Drifting]

Ray. I agree that he has the ability to add to the board, as do all posters. However, your portrayal of Dan as a poster here who was merely expressing his opinions and beliefs is wildly off the mark, in my opinion.

So what was he doing, Drift? Posting his beliefs/opinions at gunpoint?

LOL! Posting at gunpoint, brilliant.

I'm saying he was bad mannered, ill tempered, overly dramatic, enjoyed playing the victim, deliberately made inflammatory comments in the hopes of receiving persecution so that he could publicly claim persecution.

When faced with genuine questions and substantive challenges he avoided answering. In favour of spending an inordinate amount of time joining in the board 'banter' whilst claiming lack of time to respond to the points of substance.

He ran away from this board, not because of banter. He ran away because he was painted into two corners at the same time. One about the book of abraham and one which highlighted some very dubious non scholarly behaviour in a supposedly scholarly piece of his work.

Ray, I'm happy to agree to disagree.

[_RayAgostini]

LOL! Posting at gunpoint, brilliant.

I'm saying he was bad mannered, ill tempered, overly dramatic, enjoyed playing the victim, deliberately made inflammatory comments...

We talking about DCP, or Steve Benson?

When faced with genuine questions and substantive challenges he avoided answering. In favour of spending an inordinate amount of time joining in the board 'banter' whilst claiming lack of time to respond to the points of substance.

What "banter" should he have joined? The ones about "garmies", or "Holy Joe" threads? Which planet are you on, Drift? A Mormon-free one?

He ran away from this board, not because of banter. He ran away because he was painted into two corners at the same time. One about the book of abraham and one which highlighted some very dubious non scholarly behaviour in a supposedly scholarly piece of his work.

At least he had the gumption to even post here. How many posters here can tolerate 6,000-plus posts on MDDB, without going insane? You don't give the man the credit he deserves. Most here can't even bear to read MDDB, much less do 6,000+posts there. Dan was a vibrant poster here, one who dared to mingle with "apostates", which most of his Mormon peers wouldn't even think of. He's sort of like Jesus, you know, unable to resist going by the tavern without going in and talking to "apostates", thus becoming a "friend of publicans and sinners", when most of his peers on MDDB thought he was NUTS for even posting here. The truth is that Dan has a deep spirituality, a solid conviction, and he doesn't believe that anyone is "beyond redemption". If he did, he wouldn't have wasted his time here.

Sadly, you all drove him away, and his voice here is no more. It's now just an echo-chamber. He didn't "run away" from questions, Drift, he ran away from a mob intent on silencing him, and all of their "questions" were designed traps very similar to those used against Jesus. No matter how he answered, he'd still get crucified.

[_RockSlider]

Ray,

As we have communicated before, my experience with Dan's willingness to reach out to someone was WAY different than yours.
Especially when I first joined the Cafeteria, and tried very hard to share some personal things with Dan, only to have him kick sand in my face.

Your experience with Dan does not seem to be the norm. At least not past 2009 when I started on the Mormon boards and have been observing him. Of course Liz always maintains that Dan treats her well, but I'm not aware of any others (from the trailer park) that would say this.

My lack of respect for Dan comes from reaching out to him several times, always with the same result.

[_RayAgostini]

Ray,

As we have communicated before, my experience with Dan's willingness to reach out to someone was WAY different than yours.
Especially when I first joined the Cafeteria, and tried very hard to share some personal things with Dan, only to have him kick sand in my face.

Your experience with Dan does not seem to be the norm. At least not past 2009 when I started on the Mormon boards and have been observing him. Of course Liz always maintains that Dan treats her well, but I'm not aware of any others (from the trailer park) that would say this.

My lack of respect for Dan comes from reaching out to him several times, always with the same result.

I suppose I do have a bias, which I think Dan likes, which is my love for the teachings of Book of Mormon. That we definitely do have in common. I suppose it's a sort of "connection point". Many of his writings connect very strongly with me, in that sense. Absent that, I suppose I'd be just as critical as you are. Remember, I re-joined the Church in 1995 largely because of Dan Peterson, because I felt he was, unlike most of his peers, willing to tackle every "anti-Mormon" question in print, and eventually on the Net. He was such a breath of fresh air for me, in an era when authorities like Le Grand Richards were encouraging members to ignore the likes of the Tanners. He was also criticised by members for even airing these problems and challenges. He wasn't an advocate of a simple and naïve faith, but one that could face the severest challenges, and survive. That totally captivated me.

It still does.