'Twas The Night Before Excommunication" (The directer's

[_Runtu]

Well, I'm glad to see I've "broken the ice", as one might say, with even some of the more dedicated antagonists here, and so I've decided (given the season as well, in point of fact) to tone down some of my more aggressive rhetoric and cocentrate much more upon ideas than personalities. This will require, of course, that I simply avoid some people (like GIMR, PP, VegasRefugee, Nortinski, CoffeeCat, and a few others (you know who you are) for example) for whom civil discourse is impossibe, and concentrate my responses to those who, even when strongly opposed to the church, can oppose it in a civil, mature way, without personal rancor (this includes you Scratch).

So thank for the kudos and, please understand that, although any really good satire contains elements, at least form the perspective of the writer, of truth (else its humer value would be minimal), the entire exercise was intended not just as a pro-apologist parody of the exmo world, but as something that woulde allow all of us to just sit back and laugh at ourselves for a moment, regardless of what side of this ongoing debate we are on.

Thanks.

Loran

I suspect that most participants in these kinds of boards, if they actually sat down over dinner, would find that they like each other. I'm kind of glad I used to be an apologist because I know firsthand that both sides of the debate are populated by good people with generally good intentions. Yes, there are a few dorks on both sides, but I generally ignore them.

[_harmony]

Well, I'm glad to see I've "broken the ice", as one might say, with even some of the more dedicated antagonists here, and so I've decided (given the season as well, in point of fact) to tone down some of my more aggressive rhetoric and cocentrate much more upon ideas than personalities. This will require, of course, that I simply avoid some people (like GIMR, PP, VegasRefugee, Nortinski, CoffeeCat, and a few others (you know who you are) for example) for whom civil discourse is impossibe, and concentrate my responses to those who, even when strongly opposed to the church, can oppose it in a civil, mature way, without personal rancor (this includes you Scratch).

So thank for the kudos and, please understand that, although any really good satire contains elements, at least form the perspective of the writer, of truth (else its humer value would be minimal), the entire exercise was intended not just as a pro-apologist parody of the exmo world, but as something that woulde allow all of us to just sit back and laugh at ourselves for a moment, regardless of what side of this ongoing debate we are on.

Thanks.

Loran

And yet, without GIMR, PP, CC, Nort, and others, this place would not be the same. It takes all kinds to make a world; God for some odd reason included you, Loran. Stranger things have happened. You sound so much like a parrot, it's uncanny.

[_Coggins7]

And yet, without GIMR, PP, CC, Nort, and others, this place would not be the same. It takes all kinds to make a world; God for some odd reason included you, Loran. Stranger things have happened. You sound so much like a parrot, it's uncanny.

Loran:

Yes, without the hatred, slander, bigotry, vulgar and profane language, the parading of personal neurosis in public in the guise of attacking and destroying a religion, and outright intellectual dishonesty, this would be a different place. It would be a place where people on both side of the LDS church would debate, abeit vigorously at times, differing views.

People like those you mentioned are, to me, more of a distraction than anything else, which is why I've renewed my commiitment to ignoring their posts and only discussing things with civil, intelligent people, regardless of personal differences regarding the church.

Thant's all.

[_Runtu]

And yet, without GIMR, PP, CC, Nort, and others, this place would not be the same. It takes all kinds to make a world; God for some odd reason included you, Loran. Stranger things have happened. You sound so much like a parrot, it's uncanny.

I can honestly say that there's not a person here I don't like. Maybe it's the season, but I have no ill will for anyone here. I'm glad you all participate. Makes it more interesting around here.

[_harmony]

And yet, without GIMR, PP, CC, Nort, and others, this place would not be the same. It takes all kinds to make a world; God for some odd reason included you, Loran. Stranger things have happened. You sound so much like a parrot, it's uncanny.

Loran:

Yes, without the hatred, slander, bigotry, vulgar and profane language, the parading of personal neurosis in public in the guise of attacking and destroying a religion, and outright intellectual dishonesty, this would be a different place. It would be a place where people on both side of the LDS church would debate, abeit vigorously at times, differing views.

People like those you mentioned are, to me, more of a distraction than anything else, which is why I've renewed my commiitment to ignoring their posts and only discussing things with civil, intelligent people, regardless of personal differences regarding the church.

Thant's all.

After you've been inside their skin, looked at the world through their eyes, then you can criticize them. Their blatant honesty is refreshing, in my opinion. As I sat eating in a bar at the SLC airport and saw the Polygamy Porter poster on the wall, who else would I think of, but our own PP? Without PP, we are less here. He brings his own perspective and shares it with us, to partake as we see fit. I don't often agree with him, but shutting him up or marginalizing him is just me, doing to him what's been done to me. I hate it when someone does that to me; I make a point to try to never do that to anyone else. The same is true for all of us; without all of us, we are less. Even you, Loran. Even you and Wade and Plutarch, we are less without you.

[_Runtu]

I liked this thread better when it was about a silly little parody.

[_Coggins7]

After you've been inside their skin, looked at the world through their eyes, then you can criticize them. Their blatant honesty is refreshing, in my opinion. As I sat eating in a bar at the SLC airport and saw the Polygamy Porter poster on the wall, who else would I think of, but our own PP? Without PP, we are less here. He brings his own perspective and shares it with us, to partake as we see fit. I don't often agree with him, but shutting him up or marginalizing him is just me, doing to him what's been done to me. I hate it when someone does that to me; I make a point to try to never do that to anyone else. The same is true for all of us; without all of us, we are less. Even you, Loran. Even you and Wade and Plutarch, we are less without you.

Never mind Harmony, you just don't[ get it.

Never mind.

Loran

[_Mister Scratch]

Well, I'm glad to see I've "broken the ice", as one might say, with even some of the more dedicated antagonists here, and so I've decided (given the season as well, in point of fact) to tone down some of my more aggressive rhetoric and cocentrate much more upon ideas than personalities. This will require, of course, that I simply avoid some people (like GIMR, PP, VegasRefugee, Nortinski, CoffeeCat, and a few others (you know who you are) for example) for whom civil discourse is impossibe, and concentrate my responses to those who, even when strongly opposed to the church, can oppose it in a civil, mature way, without personal rancor (this includes you Scratch).

Not sure what you're referring to here, Loran. Are you claiming that I dole out "personal rancor"?

[_Sam Harris]

Well, I'm glad to see I've "broken the ice", as one might say, with even some of the more dedicated antagonists here, and so I've decided (given the season as well, in point of fact) to tone down some of my more aggressive rhetoric and cocentrate much more upon ideas than personalities. This will require, of course, that I simply avoid some people (like GIMR, PP, VegasRefugee, Nortinski, CoffeeCat, and a few others (you know who you are) for example) for whom civil discourse is impossibe, and concentrate my responses to those who, even when strongly opposed to the church, can oppose it in a civil, mature way, without personal rancor (this includes you Scratch).

So thank for the kudos and, please understand that, although any really good satire contains elements, at least form the perspective of the writer, of truth (else its humer value would be minimal), the entire exercise was intended not just as a pro-apologist parody of the exmo world, but as something that woulde allow all of us to just sit back and laugh at ourselves for a moment, regardless of what side of this ongoing debate we are on.

Thanks.

Loran

LOL

Most TBMs see my writing style and see a heathen. I've told many that they wouldn't know me if they saw me on the street, because their perception is so off. I'm sarcastic, these days I don't give a damn who likes me or not, but I hardly avoid those in need. I have a strong work ethic (which seems to piss people off in the coroporate world for some reason), and I do what's right. And that at the last day will matter, not how polite I was to someone who thrills in calling me a racist, or someone else in blackface.

I suspect that most participants in these kinds of boards, if they actually sat down over dinner, would find that they like each other. I'm kind of glad I used to be an apologist because I know firsthand that both sides of the debate are populated by good people with generally good intentions. Yes, there are a few dorks on both sides, but I generally ignore them.

[_Sam Harris]

And yet, without GIMR, PP, CC, Nort, and others, this place would not be the same. It takes all kinds to make a world; God for some odd reason included you, Loran. Stranger things have happened. You sound so much like a parrot, it's uncanny.

Loran:

Yes, without the hatred, slander, bigotry, vulgar and profane language, the parading of personal neurosis in public in the guise of attacking and destroying a religion, and outright intellectual dishonesty, this would be a different place. It would be a place where people on both side of the LDS church would debate, abeit vigorously at times, differing views.

People like those you mentioned are, to me, more of a distraction than anything else, which is why I've renewed my commiitment to ignoring their posts and only discussing things with civil, intelligent people, regardless of personal differences regarding the church.

Thant's all.

Why do you think I hate you? Why do you think I'd harm you? Just because I don't find it polite or funny to look down on others for leaving the church doesn't mean I hate you. I never loved you, so how could I hate you?