many of you may have been expecting a deeply theoretical discussion about the existence of us and the universe, however this is not the case. recently, i have come to the realization that most discussions in here are totally pointless due to the attitudes of the people who post.

the question i raise is why are you here, on this message board? before you answer, here are a few responses that i predict i will get. for the most part, they are lies. please do not use any of them.


1) i am here to spread my beliefs.

no place more than here is it clear that the people are solidified in their beliefs. christians and non-christians argue at, not with, each other knowing that the other side isn't listening, but not caring. people are here to "make fun of the other sheep," not to "bring other sheep into the flock."


2) i am here for open discussion.

i have yet to see anyone here do anything but struggle to win the arguement at hand. the only reason to read the other person's post is to see what needs to be refuted. while yes, there may be many people here who actually want open discussion, you have to recognize that the people who AREN'T here for that will still lie and say they are. besides, you will think of something more interesting to say.


3) why are YOU here, samus?

wow, however did i see that one coming.

this is the typical scapegoat response to try and avoid the question by turning it around (i.e., the best defense is a good offense). while the reasons for my being here do not affect the reasons for others being here, it is pertinent to this discussion.

the reason i am here is that, unlike 99% of the people here, i recognize that i am not all-knowing. while i feel i know a great deal and have a uniquely open-minded point-of-view to offer, i think this is still an area where i can learn more. i also love a great discussion.

the reason i am posting this is that i feel there has been a severe absence of actual open discussion. while i do not believe in christianity, i do recognize that it is a rational thing to believe in. however, i feel that none of the christians in here see the reverse as the case. the general impression i am given is that the only reason that you can possibly have for not being christian is because you are a moron. of course, no christian in the history of this entire forum system here has ever provided any proof. but the response is, of course, that they don't need proof, and i'd know that if i weren't a moron.


4) my, aren't WE in a bad mood today? (or some lame variation)

yes, fine. i am a jerk and i am here being a big jerk, because that's what big jerks like me do. man, i suck. okay, so i probably posted this being in a bad mood about the subject, but don't let that deter you. by the time i respond, i won't be in a bad mood anymore.


what i am looking for here is well thought-out responses, and not any of those four. anyone wanna lay odds that people will use them anyway?

also, please do not do that annoying thing where you pull out specific lines and respond to them. the only reason that you people do that is to skew the message into something that you can argue, and is NOT conducive to open discussion. i am not interested in the "quote/condescending remark/qoute/condescending remark" format. this is not a debate for money. if you do this (to me or others), i will call you "idiot" for the rest of the post, and will treat you accordingly. (if more than one person does that, i will have to come up with other, more creative names.)

other than that, i am interested in your responses.

samus

Hmm, nice question. This could be one that is applicable to any message board.
Let's see, why I'm I here. For a number of reasons actually.
First of all I like a nice discussion to. I know I shouldn't quite use the word 'nice' here because it can be violent at some point. But then again this tends to happen if you totally not agree with what the other person says...
I also use this board as a kind of study material of how people tend to react at certain 'provocations' and what issues are keeping humans busy. You can look at it as a kind of antropological research. Now, if this isn't blasé : the guy studies us ! However I must add that I also see myself as a subject in this matter because I participate as much as I observate. I'm afraid I can't help it, there is always some part of me that is analysing every situation I come into.
Third is simply wondering what kind of people want to attend these kind of messageboards. Some I like, some I dislike although I try to understand all of them. This doesn't mean that I agree with them.
Fourth is try and pick up some more knowledge about things that interest me. For example get introduced to an interesting website with lot's of information.

I hope this meets your severe criteria as response. ;)

------------------
I err, therefore I exist !

I'm here because I like interacting with people and this site has the best message board format I've found.

Without quoting, however, I think most people feel that they are unlike the other 99%. Where does that leave us? Either with 100% solid individualists or 100% arrogant snobs.

This site is like bubblegum for my brain. I'll chew on a topic for as long as the flavor is good, then I'll spit it out.

It would be nice to see a long thread without junior high mentality taking over, or without separating lines from the context in order to distort their meaning or intent, but it happens. This is the public we're dealing with, not an exclusive club. You always have the option to ignore a post, or else to respond in a clear and concise manner to avoid misinterpretation.

You can't help it. Some people are going to offend you, and you are going to offend some people. Goodness knows I've been on both sides of the coin. The important thing is to respect each other's beliefs and opinions while still maintaining the freedom to make a counterpoint, however serious or silly.

It's that First Amendment thing popping up again. We have the right to say what we want. We don't have the right to remain unoffended.

------------------
I may not agree with what you have to say, but I will fight, kill, and die for your right to say it.

Fuck off. Didn't think of that response did you?

Ok, just kidding, I'm here to learn things...about aliens, my faith, your faith, or reasons for a lack of faith, the universe, and a little science when I can understand it.

------------------
You may think I'm a nut, but I'm fastened to the strongest bolt in the universe.

I think this is an excellent question and although I don't respond much on the board I frequently check in to read up on the new posts. My reasons are quite simple, I enjoy a good read. To stand back and look at the discussions that everybody has and read both sides of the argument is really quite entertaining but also makes you think. I have actually taken some of the topics and information I have read on the Bulliten and talked about it with people and friends to see how their opinions fit on the scale from scientific to religions that has been defined here with all the various people that fit with-in that scale at the different mid-way points. I don't have a lot of knowledge about a lot of the topics that are discussed (main reason I keep to myself) so as I read everybodies post I definitely learn things. Information that I learn here assists me in deciding for myself what I believe and don't believe. I must also steal one of Plato's ideas in that I also enjoy reading the different personalities that come to this board because you have to admit there is such a wide range that it creates interesting conversations and confrontations and misunderstandings, and watching those gives amazing insight into how people react. I think those points basically sum up why I frequent this site.

Sprout

Great question.

I am here to share what I found in Christianity.

Not in a preachey way, but in a logical way.

You see, I'm the kind that needs a reason, solid reasons, logical reasons, to believe.

However, I'm finding that this is more of a bickering forum then anything else, sadly.

I can't remember why I started posting here; I'm quite sure it had something to do with proving something, but even if you'd asked me then I probably wouldn't have been able to explain what. So it goes.

Lately, I've been learning an immense amount about how people think and object and express. Sometimes I'm amazed when I don't get my point across; to the other, that seems to be left to me to figure out. If I can't learn to communicate through the diverse reactions people give ... well, I'm no worse off than anybody else in the world, but we always hope for more.

thanx,
Tiassa :cool:

------------------
We are unutterably alone, essentially, especially in the things most intimate and important to us. (Ranier Maria Rilke)

I post on most of these exosci boards, because I like to be part of discussions, I like to argue, learn, share and just read. And most of the topics on this site are about things that I normally think or talk about. Most of my circle of friends & family would agree on that. I like that we get all sorts of people here, from well educated to severely lacking, from logical to hysterical, etc. And since we're all adults, we don't have to agree with or believe anything we see here. Also, unlike some of my friends, I don't believe everything I see on the 'Net. I have one friend that swears by the info he gets on websites. I think mostly because it agrees with his personal worldview. And I realize that this medium allows a certain amount of anonimity, name calling and outrageousness. Hey, but where else can you throw out your ideas and see if they click or go down in flames? Anyway, thats why I'm here.

Cordially,

Randolfo

I'm new to the internet over the past year and new to message boards this month. I find this site fasinating. I deal with science types in my life rarely and talks about science usually lead to religon, "the ultimate truth..."

I know I'm more insided than outsided and would like to learn how to relate to people in a persuasive way. You were somewhat right in your opening statement. I'm not here for people to change my mind however I would like to be heard...and stuff happens along the way.

I will forever be fond of Plato for he responded to my first statement/thought. Tiassa stuns me with her intensity with bitterness. I discussed our interaction with a black friend (me white man) at McDonalds(as in hamburgers and that icecream stuff with crumbled up Butterfingers in it) last night. We talked about black history and white history and Christianity going back to our "forefathers"which was the result of Pashley's post about prayer at school events. This lady we didn't know wanted to put her two cents in about women in history. She just laughed at us from a table away and came over and joined our discussion. Now my friend is mowing her yard this Saturday because it needs cut and someone stole her lawnmower. See what this sight does for people?

I find this all very interesting and don't know what to make of it yet....

Cable Guy


[This message has been edited by Cable Man (edited June 23, 2000).]