Stalking the Prophet

[_RayAgostini]

I thought we were making fun of the people who run that site.

You are making fun of devoted Mormons, and these sentiments could be expressed by any Mormon.

This is the same Kiskumen who preaches that Mormons should not attack, or mock, other Mormons.

And now he's going to come with the "but it's not official" line.

He has you fooled, but he doesn't have me fooled.

[_Kishkumen]

I don't find Monson particularly funny, but the twitterpation of these prophet-groupies is definitely mockworthy.

I poke at them in good fun. They seem to me to be overly enthusiastic here, but this is nowhere near as troubling as the frenetic pace at which Bryce responds to every blog post about apologetics that he doesn't like. That part is a little more troubling to me. That and the fact that he froze out Blair Hodges from commenting on his blog because he didn't want to discuss an issue about Nibley with Blair. That indicates a person who could, at the very least, stand to grow up a little.

[_Kishkumen]

You are making fun of devoted Mormons, and these sentiments could be expressed by any Mormon.

This is the same Kiskumen who preaches that Mormons should not attack, or mock, other Mormons.

And now he's going to come with the "but it's not official" line.

He has you fooled, but he doesn't have me fooled.

Ray, if you can't distinguish between the good-natured ribbing of people regarding their positive qualities and the kinds of smear jobs perpetrated in the Review, then you need help.

[_Bob Loblaw]

[
You are making fun of devoted Mormons, and these sentiments could be expressed by any Mormon.

Were I still a believing Mormon, I would find this cringe-inducing and deserving of all the fun-of-making I could muster.

This is the same Kiskumen who preaches that Mormons should not attack, or mock, other Mormons.

I think it's funny that these people are acting like twelve year old girls at a Disney Channel concert. It wouldn't matter if they were Mormons or atheists. They would still be ridiculous.

And now he's going to come with the "but it's not official" line.

He has you fooled, but he doesn't have me fooled.

I'm easily fooled when humor is involved.

[_RayAgostini]

Ray, if you can't distinguish between the good-natured ribbing of people regarding their positive qualities and the kinds of smear jobs perpetrated in the Review, then you need help.

"Good natured ribbing"?

You're mocking a devoted Mormon, and many other Mormons will hold the same sentiments, which is reverence for the Prophet/President, who should not even indirectly be mocked. But you couldn't resist, could you?

My point remains: That you're being hypocritical in expecting the MI to avoid all mockery - while you indulge in it with no reserve.

[_Equality]

I'm imagining them posting as follows:

3:12: Prophet enters restroom.

3:16: Prophet remains in restroom.

3:18: Bryce resists temptation to enter restroom.

3:19: Prophet emerges, his visit apparently successful.

3:20: Prophet waits for elevator. Bryce helpfully points out the toilet paper stuck to the prophetic shoe (right heel).

3:21: Prophet has an Idaho Spud with a Dr. Pepper.

3:22: Prophet looks a little freaked out that we're still watching.

3:23: Church security approaches ...

I thought his preferred caffeinated soda (er, I mean "pop" for those out west) was Pepsi.

This is hilarious--until someone gets hurt. These guys remind me of the Laffertys before they snapped. Zealous application of religious principals gets dangerous just after it enters the creepy stage, and these guys are definitely in the creep zone. That Ray A. thinks they are representative of Mormons generally is more insulting to normal Mormons than is our mockery of these wingnuts.

[_Kishkumen]

"Good natured ribbing"?

You're mocking a devoted Mormon, and many other Mormons will hold the same sentiments, which is reverence for the Prophet/President, who should not even indirectly be mocked. But you couldn't resist, could you?

My point remains: That you're being hypocritical in expecting the MI to avoid all mockery - while you indulge in it with no reserve.

You've really lost it, Ray. Your bogus equivalencies are just so transparent.

[_Bob Loblaw]

I don't know any Mormons who would find it appropriate to post the latest on the prophet's whereabouts and gush about their brush with him. I think they, like me, would find that at least unseemly.

[_Equality]

Ray, if you can't distinguish between the good-natured ribbing of people regarding their positive qualities and the kinds of smear jobs perpetrated in the Review, then you need help.

"Good natured ribbing"?

You're mocking a devoted Mormon, and many other Mormons will hold the same sentiments, which is reverence for the Prophet/President, who should not even indirectly be mocked. But you couldn't resist, could you?

My point remains: That you're being hypocritical in expecting the MI to avoid all mockery - while you indulge in it with no reserve.

Why do you believe Monson--or any other man on earth for that matter--should be immune for criticism or even mockery? I couldn't disagree more, but I'm sure there are many people in, say, North Korea or Iran who share your sentiment.

[_Kishkumen]

I don't know any Mormons who would find it appropriate to post the latest on the prophet's whereabouts and gush about their brush with him. I think they, like me, would find that at least unseemly.

Back in the day, I had warm feelings for the prophets. To be honest with you, I am still somewhat moved by this website. I don't get into it to the degree these folks do, mostly because I am a fairly private person in my own life, and I assume that others don't like too much attention. Maybe I am wrong.

I was never the type to wait all night outside the concert hall to get a rock star's autograph.

I have, however, shaken hands with President Monson, and he kindly waved to me while I was interviewing for a position at BYU in the Old Church Office Building. Again, I was touched by the small kindness from someone who is so busy.

But I don't quite identify with this level of veneration. Maybe that's just me.