I thought mods were supposed to be impartial.

[markw]

Mark that comment was not directed at me. It was you that tried to bring me into it. You took a comment directed to you and tried to divert it to my attention. He did not tell you to bend over and spread the other cheek. It would be silly to think I would be offended by it. You have an interesting preoccupation with me, I hope you can get over it.

Please note I said "turn", not spread.

From that "slip", I can see where you saw where this came from, and was going so thank you, I feel vindicated here,

IIRC, I made a similar joke a few weeks ago in a different thread,on a totally benign subject, not even in the steam vent, and you got yer panties all in a wad over it so I guess can take as a personal thing with you. So be it.

As I said before, I calls 'em like I sees 'em. Deal with it.

[JohnMichael]

Please note I said "turn", not spread.

From that "slip", I can see where you saw where this came from, and was going so thank you, I feel vindicated here,

IIRC, I made a similar joke a few weeks ago in a different thread,on a totally benign subject, not even in the steam vent, and you got yer panties all in a wad over it so I guess can take as a personal thing with you. So be it.

As I said before, I calls 'em like I sees 'em. Deal with it.

Mark the longer this goes on the harder I am laughing.

[markw]

Mark the longer this goes on the harder I am laughing.

As I said, I calls 'em like I sees 'em. Deal with it.

[Worf101]

is why I rarely discuss politics withe FRIENDS in person and NEVER online. Like any true person engaged in the wider world I've friends that are conservative, friends that are Republicans, I don't think I've any T-party associates in that they're not very sociable for reasons of their own. I've friends that are liberal, independents, like myself, and some folks to the right of Marx. What matters most is NOT our ideology but how we treat one another. Online and offline I live by the simplest rules there are...

Treat everyone as I'd like to be treated.

Do good when I can, where I can.

Simple as that. Don't get me wrong, I'm not Cain from "Kung Fu" nor am I a saint. But having seen violence up close and personal, both in and out of uniform, I pick and choose my fights VERY carefully. When I saw the way that the original thread was headed, I stopped reading it, stopped commenting. I've enough drama that I can avoid with taking on any I can. It's not that I'm apolitical or uninformed either, but I prefer to keep my politics and my cards close to my chest.

I hope we can see our way clear to continue to be kind to one another irrespective of the outcome of this divisive political contest.

Worf

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

Personally having been a moderator here, I have strong respect for the moderation staff here. They are all far better the EricL ever was, and they are definitely not heavy handed in closing threads or deleting posts. At first I asked JM NOT to close the Romney thread, now I am glad it got closed.

One of the stupidest things one can do is engage in religion bashing. After reading what some have said, I have lost respect and a positive opinion about some folks here, and that is a shame.

Worf, you are an extremely wise individual. I do not EVER discuss my religious views EVER in public. I will only go so far on politics. The quickest way to turn a friend into an enemy(are you reading this Bill) is to insult people's religious views, and essentially tell them they are crazy and weak for believing is what Richard calls a "sky God". Certain people I will never have respect for again.

[Feanor]

Personally having been a moderator here, I have strong respect for the moderation staff here. They are all far better the EricL ever was, and they are definitely not heavy handed in closing threads or deleting posts. At first I asked JM NOT to close the Romney thread, now I am glad it got closed.

One of the stupidest things one can do is engage in religion bashing. After reading what some have said, I have lost respect and a positive opinion about some folks here, and that is a shame.

Worf, you are an extremely wise individual. I do not EVER discuss my religious views EVER in public. I will only go so far on politics. The quickest way to turn a friend into an enemy (are you reading this Bill) is to insult people's religious views, and essentially tell them they are crazy and weak for believing is what Richard calls a "sky God". Certain people I will never have respect for again.

Sorry, Sir Terrence. I shouldn't take my lead from RGA (though he and I a pretty close on the subject).

I agreed early on that nobody was likely to dissuade you of your religion: I should have left it at that. I was insensitive but didn't set out to be insulting.

There is a member here who is a whole different order of insulting and methinks he means to be.

[RGA]

If a person says they're an Atheist - you pretty much know exactly what they're religious views are and what they think about people who believe in a sky-God. They may be tactful, they may be polite, they may not call it out in person or on forums - but they all think it's sheer and utter nonsense - otherwise they'd call themselves something else.

Someone once said "never discuss religion or politics on a first date." And that is odd to me. I don't want some person who is going to try and convert me nor do I want Ann Coulter. Better to know early on what you're getting.

To me religion and politics are closely linked. And they affect everyone. If you're a lefty and the right wingers get in that effects you negatively. If the left wingers get in that effects right wingers (well positively mostly except they rage and use false facts to shoot themselves in the foot). But in general left leaning parties don't take things away like the right to have an abortion. Right wing parties want to tell everyone how to run their lives and wish to (or do) close off options for people who did not vote for them. Right wing parties get their beliefs from a religious book. So in fact do many of the lefties but they're smart enough to "compartmentalize" their personal beliefs from imposing it on others.

I've said this probably a dozen times - I don't care what a person believes in their home. You want to be Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Wicka, Scientologist, Mormon, or any of the other 1000 religions out there it's all fine by me - you're gay, straight, bi, pansexual, polyamorous - I really don't care.

You want have to have Christmas and light up the city or you want a Gay pride parade not a big deal (hard to drive down the street is a minor inconvenience) and (wasting tons of electricity and killing more turkeys (but saves chickens and cows) than usual is more of an issue but the boost to the economy makes up for it and the kiddies like it so no problems).

Churches being tax exempt = problem
Churches influencing schools to not teach Evolution in science = problem
Churches promoting intolerance and racial superiority that leads the more "devoted" to beat and murder African Americans and homosexuals = problem
Religions that all claim "thou shalt not kill" and proceed to start wars (killing) with people who believe in something else = problem
Religions telling others how to care for their body = problem
Religions denying the effectiveness of 2000 year old contraceptive (and denying medical options at religious run hospitals) = problem

I have absolutely no problem if someone believes in God - wants to go to church, finds meaning in the teachings, benefits from it. I may question the logic but as is often pointed out to me - for them - faith trumps the logic for them. Fine by me - so long as the logic enters into, and is the ONLY, consideration when deciding public policy.

It's disturbing that people of faith seem to get very easily offended by Atheists as if being attacked. How? We don't lobby government to ban churches, and we don't go to your house to beat you with a bat because you're Muslim (we let the Christians do that

Seriously. Atheists make up the largest minority in the U.S. And can't run for office in 7 U.S. States? Whaaaaat?

"Intolerance is a bitter beast. There are many groups in America that are subject to discrimination and prejudice, but none are more hated than atheists. Research conducted a couple years ago at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis found that atheists are more distrusted than muslims or homosexuals in the US.

Austin Cline from about.com writes, “Every single study that has ever looked at the issue has revealed massive amounts of bigotry and prejudice against atheists in America. The most recent data shows that atheists are more distrusted and despised than any other minority and that an atheist is the least likely person that Americans would vote for in a presidential election. It’s not just that atheists are hated, though, but also that atheists seem to represent everything about modernity which Americans dislike or fear.

The most recent study was conducted by the University of Minnesota, which found that atheists ranked lower than “Muslims, recent immigrants, gays and lesbians and other minority groups in ‘sharing their vision of American society.’ Atheists are also the minority group most Americans are least willing to allow their children to marry.” The results from two of the most important questions”

This group does not at all agree with my vision of American society…

Atheist: 39.6%

Muslims: 26.3%

Homosexuals: 22.6%

Hispanics: 20%

Conservative Christians: 13.5%

Recent Immigrants: 12.5%

Jews: 7.6%

I would disapprove if my child wanted to marry a member of this group….

Atheist: 47.6%

Muslim: 33.5%

African-American 27.2%

Asian-Americans: 18.5%

Hispanics: 18.5%

Jews: 11.8%

Conservative Christians: 6.9%

Whites: 2.3%

The degree of this intolerance is a bit surprising. My experience has taught me that atheists tend to be very intelligent, thoughtful people with a high standard of ethics that they carry through to their everyday lives.

So why the fear, why the hatred? This situation is not the norm for most of the planet. Most East and South Asian countries don’t exhibit this fear of atheists or agnostics. In fact, many of these countries have a significant portion of their population that does not believe in any deity.

European countries have large portions of the population that are atheist. There is not the mass discrimination there based on one’s freedom to believe or not to believe. About the only places in the world that tend to have intolerant attitudes are nations with strong monotheistic cultures, such as both latin and anglo America, and the Islamic countries (particularly Turkey).

Considering that atheist nations are more peaceful, it seems particularly odd that there would be a predilection towards animosity towards atheists. When one group is being discriminated against, it detracts from the freedoms of every group. A society based on tolerance must support the rights of minority groups, including atheists." Research Finds that Atheists are Most Hated and Distrusted Minority | NEWS JUNKIE POST


40 Million Nonbelievers in America? The Secret Is Almost Out | Alternet