Why are there not more apologists on this site?

[_Some Schmo]

I've been thinking about how people treated maklelan and LOAP and a few others who actually tried to start decent conversations. I don't blame those guys at all for leaving.

I liked LoaP, but I can't honestly remember him ever trying to start meaningful conversations. Maybe he did it in threads that I wasn't interested in reading.

As for maklelan, he was a pretentious prick. He constantly accused people of lying or not doing enough research if they disagreed with him, and he deserved every bit of derision he received.

Even Wade with his passive-aggressive slams didn't deserve the vituperation he got. I mean, shouldn't we be above gay jokes?

I don't know, man. It's hard to say he didn't deserve it when it was around 80% of what he handed out himself.

As for the gay jokes, I always suspected people did that more to tweak him because he was always going on about the evils of homosexuality rather than really suspecting he was gay and making fun of him for it. Maybe he is, maybe not. I personally wouldn't care one way or the other about his orientation. I'd be more critical of the hypocrisy.

I like the people here (well, probably with a few exceptions--you know who you are. lol), but then for someone like me, there's nowhere else I can talk about these topics, at least where I'm welcome. So I try to make the best of this place. That's the best anyone can do.

I like most people who drive on the road, but the way some of them drive really pisses me off. But I have to use the roads to drive, and I try to be as accommodating to other drivers as I can, but I recognize I'm sharing the road with humans, and there will always be an element of annoyance because traffic isn't exactly the way I'd like it to be.

Sure, I could ask others to drive the way I want them to, but people are people with their own personalities, and it would be a fruitless exercise.

[_Gadianton]

Some questions for Alter Idem:

Mfbukowski has created a new thread, he's very shaken up.

http://www.mormonapologetics.org/topic/ ... iler-park/

While I know many board members there would like Dr. P to return, I think his decision to stay away is wise. When he's there, the focus is completely on him and as you can see from your experience there, posters like Scratch and Gadianton aren't interested in discussion, except to completely control it--they just want to trip up and set traps for their 'adversaries'.

DCP's participation here was driven by Doctor Scratch, so you can't complain too much about Scratch keeping him away. C'mon.

I also have to disagree with your assessment that Doctor Scratch and I exist only to control discussions. Consider this: There are 49 threads on page 1 of MDB. I've posted on 8 of them. One of those is my own thread and one is Scratch's -- interestingly enough, that means we've also initiated only two of the 49 current threads. And half the ones I've posted on, it's been maybe one comment.

Further, I really don't understand why you and mfb are so shaken up by my post to mfb. Doctor Peterson has a long history of advancing Christian fundamentalist anti-atheist positions that are very much incompatible with typical positions apologists take and the "liberal" image they seek to portray. Why is it wrong to tease out the disagreement, to show that the apologists contradict each other? After all, if DCP dogmatically advances position X as his primary weapon against atheism, and that position also happens to undercut the world of at least half of the other apologists, then it certainly lessens the value of his argument.

If the Pharisees didn't go about setting "traps" for Jesus, there wouldn't be much of a New Testament to read now would there? If you were as concerned about substance as you are about personal conflicts, Alter Idem, then I'm pretty sure you could read that thread and learn something from it. The fact that all you saw was a "trap" that apparently went nowhere, says more about you than me.

P.S. I think you owe Doctor Scratch an apology. You have around 5,000 posts to read from DCP on this board thanks to him.

[_why me]

My personal favorite is Uncle Dale. He has a lot of information and is usually very respectful but direct. His sense of humor in usually non-insulting and funny. Several years ago I found myself grossly ignorant on one point and needed information which he kindly supplied. Great guy.

Yea, he is a good guy but his hypotheticals as facts can be misleading. His writing style attempts to convince lds that his hypothetical illustrations are truths. And some fall for it. But his hypos are just couldas, wouldas, and shouldas.

[_Alter Idem]

Some questions for Alter Idem:

Mfbukowski has created a new thread, he's very shaken up.

http://www.mormonapologetics.org/topic/ ... iler-park/

While I know many board members there would like Dr. P to return, I think his decision to stay away is wise. When he's there, the focus is completely on him and as you can see from your experience there, posters like Scratch and Gadianton aren't interested in discussion, except to completely control it--they just want to trip up and set traps for their 'adversaries'.

DCP's participation here was driven by Doctor Scratch, so you can't complain too much about Scratch keeping him away. C'mon.

I don't think Scratch is the one 'keeping him away'. I think that he chose not to post anymore for the reasons he has given.

I also have to disagree with your assessment that Doctor Scratch and I exist only to control discussions. Consider this: There are 49 threads on page 1 of MDB. I've posted on 8 of them. One of those is my own thread and one is Scratch's -- interestingly enough, that means we've also initiated only two of the 49 current threads. And half the ones I've posted on, it's been maybe one comment.

You did a lot of research and I'm not sure it was worth it.
I expect you to disagree with me, but I'm afraid it won't change the impression I have of the two of you. And as I mentioned on another thread, I'm not sure if you are separate people. You two seem very similar and I've lumped you together in my mind.

Further, I really don't understand why you and mfb are so shaken up by my post to mfb. Doctor Peterson has a long history of advancing Christian fundamentalist anti-atheist positions that are very much incompatible with typical positions apologists take and the "liberal" image they seek to portray. Why is it wrong to tease out the disagreement, to show that the apologists contradict each other? After all, if DCP dogmatically advances position X as his primary weapon against atheism, and that position also happens to undercut the world of at least half of the other apologists, then it certainly lessens the value of his argument.

Not sure if 'shaken up' is what either of us were...I know I wasn't. I only skimmed the thread, it did not interest me. What I saw was that you seemed to want him to explain or defend something that someone else said. in my opinion, that would be a pain if I were expected to do that.

As I said, I didn't read much of the thread, but it's also a pain if the person misrepresents what others say and then demands that the misrepresented material be defended or explained. That's something I've seen Scratch do (he's been on the board a long time--so I don't know if he still does this) in the past. I mentioned once (don't remember where) that it's hard for Apologists when they are put in the 'hot seat' on this board. In my opinion, that's what you did to Mfbowkowski when you tried to get him to explain or defend something Dr. P said on another board (was Mfbowkowski even involved in the discussion?)--I wouldn't blame him if that was what he found annoying enough to not want to post here anymore. Posting on boards should be somewhat enjoyable, not a hassle. If the handful of apologists that come here have to answer for all the apologists who don't post here, is that right? And what makes you think any of the few who are here will want to stay if they are expected to do this?

And you wonder why they don't stay....

If the Pharisees didn't go about setting "traps" for Jesus, there wouldn't be much of a New Testament to read now would there? If you were as concerned about substance as you are about personal conflicts, Alter Idem, then I'm pretty sure you could read that thread and learn something from it. The fact that all you saw was a "trap" that apparently went nowhere, says more about you than me.

So, you think the pharisees were actually 'helping' make a better book? Okaaaayyyy....

As I said, I did not read the thread--my comment about you and scratch 'setting traps' was not about that thread--it was about scratch's interactions on this board--the few posts that I've read of yours have given me the impression that you two are twins-and so I have an impression of the two of you.

P.S. I think you owe Doctor Scratch an apology. You have around 5,000 posts to read from DCP on this board thanks to him.

If I owe anyone an apology, it would be you, Gadianton. I have not read that much of your posts, and I may have jumped to an unfair conclusion that you are a sockpuppet of scratch. If I am wrong and you aren't only interested in controlling conversations that you are involved in and you don't want to set traps, then I'm sorry.

However, Scratch is a different story. I've read way too much of scratch's stuff. I'm sorry, but I stand by my assessment of him-and I think it's an accurate way to describe his interactions here.

I like Dr. P, but I don't follow his posts much--so I have nothing to thank scratch for. But, I will agree that for those who like to read Dr. P's posts, Scratch was most likely the driving force that got him to participate here.

[_Jersey Girl]

Alter,

I think his decision to stay away is wise.

But he DIDN'T stay away, Alter. He didn't.

[_KimberlyAnn]

Alter Idem, you've again shown your sense of fairness on MADB, and I thank you muchly.

Droopy, what did you call me on MADB that got you dinged by the mods? I'm curious.

KA

[_Nimrod]

Alter,

I think his decision to stay away is wise.

But he DIDN'T stay away, Alter. He didn't.

Correct you are, Jersey Girl. Professor Dan can't help himself and stay away, and neither can MFB although he renewed his vows at the MADhouse in the last 24 hours to stay away from here. As long as they have internet access, they'll be lurking.

[_Dwight Frye]

Droopy, what did you call me on MADB that got you dinged by the mods? I'm curious.

He called you a "Toid," whatever that is.

ETA: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=toid

[_KimberlyAnn]

Droopy, what did you call me on MADB that got you dinged by the mods? I'm curious.

He called you a "Toid," whatever that is.

ETA: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=toid

Thanks, DF.

I wonder how many definitions Droopy has contributed to Urban Dictionary? Lots and lots, probably.

KA

PS. I looked up "droopy" on Urban Dictionary intent on posting the definitions here, but they're unsuitable for Terrestrial consumption. HA!

[_Gadianton]

I'm not sure if you are separate people. You two seem very similar and I've lumped you together in my mind.

We are separate people, it's a real compliment to be lumped together with Doctor Scratch though. Unfortunately, Scratch's command of the English language bars me from being his twin.

I only skimmed the thread, it did not interest me.

Well, the thread had a fair amount of substance, so that's not surprising. So far, unless the thread is talking about posters' personalities, flaws, what constitutes fair interaction on a bb in your mind, you don't seem to have much of an interest. And leave it to you to judge me fully based on a thread you "skimmed". There are dozens of threads on page 1 talking about Mormon issues with no participation from myself or Scratch, they must not interest you much either, you like the conflict I think.

In my opinion, that's what you did to Mfbowkowski when you tried to get him to explain

Based on a thread you skimmed on a subject you probably know nothing about.

..And what makes you think any of the few who are here will want to stay if they are expected to do this?

Mfb only came to this board as he himself explained on Mad because I called him out a couple months ago on another issue. So if you think Mfb's participation here was to be treasured, you have me to thank for it in the first place. Personally, I think he's a lightweight. But he could man up, produce a real argument, and prove me wrong at any time.

And you wonder why they don't stay....

Not really. But you seem to think I should be wondering.

So, you think the pharisees were actually 'helping' make a better book? Okaaaayyyy....

If the New Testament was a bunch of stories about Jesus walking around singing in the lily fields, no one would read it.

As I said, I did not read the thread-

Yet you've had plenty to say about where I went wrong misrepresenting DCP, setting up Mfb etc from the thread you didn't read.

I have not read that much of your posts, and I may have jumped to an unfair conclusion that you are a sockpuppet of scratch.

I don't know about "unfair", I take it as a huge compliment. But sure, it's incorrect.