Originally Posted by Toy Soldier (Post 8511653)

:nono: It's just my opinion.

In my experience of certain individuals who happen to hold certain beliefs that could be described as religious in nature, those individuals become very emotionally uncomfortable when faced with the prospect of an in-depth discussion on the nature of faith. I don't know if that applies to all religious people. Just the ones that I, in my personal experience, happen to have encountered. :hee:

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet (Post 8511654)

I was not replying to you Marsh :shrug:


Now this thread is making you paranoid

Originally Posted by Livia (Post 8511657)

"An in-depth discussion on the nature of faith".

Do you think that's what this has been so far?

Originally Posted by Livia (Post 8511648)

Or... maybe they're just well aware of how it'll turn out. All the atheists getting together to accuse people with faith that they're pretty stupid really. Read through this thread, if you're honest about it you'll see what I mean.

Originally Posted by Marsh. (Post 8511665)

So why don't you debate in return LT?

It's your thread after all?

Originally Posted by Marsh. (Post 8511656)

0/10. Must try harder next time. ;)

But, whether that's your opinion or not, it doesn't apply to this thread in particular. Started by a certain atheist to mock people who believe in a God or Gods.

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier (Post 8511691)

No no no, and to Livia as well, I didn't say that THIS was an in-depth discussion on the nature of faith. I said that, in my past experience of religious people when these topics are addressed, there is a strong aversion that stems from complex emotional involvement. Those past experiences are what have lead me to the OPINION that religious people don't make religious threads because they want to avoid that.

But like I said - I could be totally wrong because I obviously haven't met all 6-billion-or-so religious people in the world. So it's just my opinion based on my experiences :whistle:

Originally Posted by bobnot (Post 8511690)

If the last few pages of this thread have proved anything it is that there are a few very angry people on here that are only interested in trying to offend rather than debate. When i as an atheist get told to stop forcing religion on people you know theres being an extra dose of daft sprinkled on the thread.

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier (Post 8511675)

In your opinion. In my opinion, certain individuals take needless personal offense and I can't help but wonder why that is. No one is questioning your intelligence, Livia.



I don't expect anything from anyone. I express my opinions openly on any thread that interests me and accept that any other member is free to do that also. Or not, if they're not comfortable with it, are bored by it, or simply think the thread is stupid. That's entirely their business. I don't care who replies to what :shrug:. In my opinion, I would LIKE it if lots of people responded to all sorts of threads because it makes them more interesting... you know... because in my opinion, a discussion forum is a fun distraction to muse over various issues and pass the time. Not an emotional investment. Not that it's any of my business if others DO take personal offense / become emotionally invested in things, either, of course. I just happen not to.

Originally Posted by Ammi (Post 8511716)

..I agree, I think many of us want that/it's the whole interesting part of discussion/debate but that can only happen..(imho of course..:laugh:..)...if things are actually discussed with respect and if people themselves aren't mocked...otherwise the person who is mocking is the one closing the discussion/debate down and making it less likely for any future thread participation...

Originally Posted by Ammi (Post 8511733)

..actually just going back to Marsh, TS because I read your post about mis-interpreting...(which was lovely btw..)...one thing I do know with Marsh in his time on the forum, if he were to generalise..?...then he would own that generalisation completely, he's definitely not a 'back'peddlar' person..if it's his intention to say something then he totally stands by it and I think with no exception that I can recall atm..

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier (Post 8511739)

Just a thought though - if thread participation is inversely proportional to level of mockery... how do you explain this thread having 27 pages? :laugh:

Originally Posted by bobnot (Post 8511690)

If the last few pages of this thread have proved anything it is that there are a few very angry people on here that are only interested in trying to offend rather than debate. When i as an atheist get told to stop forcing religion on people you know theres being an extra dose of daft sprinkled on the thread.

Originally Posted by Ninastar (Post 8511759)

My god, I'm not religious at all, but the way some of you are treating religious people is disgusting. Why can't you just leave them alone? Fair enough you don't believe but to patronize and act all high and mighty... There is just no need. Live and let live, seriously.

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier (Post 8511675)

In your opinion. In my opinion, certain individuals take needless personal offense and I can't help but wonder why that is. No one is questioning your intelligence, Livia.



I don't expect anything from anyone. I express my opinions openly on any thread that interests me and accept that any other member is free to do that also. Or not, if they're not comfortable with it, are bored by it, or simply think the thread is stupid. That's entirely their business. I don't care who replies to what :shrug:. In my opinion, I would LIKE it if lots of people responded to all sorts of threads because it makes them more interesting... you know... because in my opinion, a discussion forum is a fun distraction to muse over various issues and pass the time. Not an emotional investment. Not that it's any of my business if others DO take personal offense / become emotionally invested in things, either, of course. I just happen not to.

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet (Post 8511804)

really?

can you provide the thread post numbers where it has been disgusting?


just the numbers would be fine

Originally Posted by Marsh. (Post 8511809)

I'll start....

Post Number 1. :smug:

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet (Post 8511814)

i am being serious

too many posts saying "this is an attack" etc and no evidence

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier (Post 8511739)

I'll tentatively agree that mocking can start to go too far... but I think it's fairly obvious that I personally like my discussions to be a little heated, and to involve a little bit of pigtail-pulling on both sides. I honestly believe that the most interesting and revealing opinions don't even start to come out until a little bit of the guard has been dropped. The challenge is finding the sweet spot between guards being dropped, and defenses going up :think:.

Just a thought though - if thread participation is inversely proportional to level of mockery... how do you explain this thread having 27 pages? :laugh:

Originally Posted by Ammi (Post 8511821)

...you're only looking at this one thread though and of course we've just finished CBB/the start of the off season etc and trying to get more threads going in all parts of the forum...you're not looking at future threads, God sees the bigger picture TS, the grand plan, type thing/he's most wise..:laugh:...



..(I actually don't have a faith in any religion/my faith is in people but intolerance of any kind doesn't sit well with me, including of religions/faiths/beliefs and non religion and intolerance has been show in this thread (at times and by some), I feel..)...