At least Randi's trying.

[BillyJoe]

A quote from this weeks commentary.....
(Randi's response to a former believer turned sceptic)

Benjamin, let me offer you some advice. First, don't adopt a negative attitude toward those who persist in irrationality in respect to their belief systems and/or actions. Try to understand that they have adopted this attitude for many varied reasons, perhaps the same reasons you used.... Second, keep a low profile, and don't become an evangelist! It's easy to now jump on your white horse and start to ride off in all directions. Third, consolidate your thoughts in light of your new decisions; work at being tolerant, respectful, and helpful.

Though I've still work to do on the "tolerant" aspect.....:)

BillyJoe

[woodguard]

Speaking as a former believer(99.9% removed)
What Randy said is very true.
One of the things that hindered my growth were bad skeptics. Not bad a being a skeptic but bad a being civil or respectful.

You cannot feed someone the truth if your beating them over the head with it. :D

[Ian Osborne]

Originally posted by woodguard
You cannot feed someone the truth if your beating them over the head with it. :D

I have a new signature! :)

[Blue Bubble]

Originally posted by Ian Osborne
I have a new signature! :)

At least try to get the grammar correct:

"You cannot feed someone the truth if you're beating them over the head with it."

[Ian Osborne]

Originally posted by Blue Bubble
At least try to get the grammar correct:

"You cannot feed someone the truth if you're beating them over the head with it."

Dang - I cut-and-pasted without noticing that! :(

[woodguard]

That Canadian grammar!!

And my gammer checker in wordperfect missed it.

[Francois Tremblay]

Sometimes it seems that beating truth over the head of people is the only way to get it through. Some people believe that everyone is redeemable. I think that if you accept the fact that some people will always be stupid, you lose this strong-arm attitude.

[woodguard]

Don’t think someone is stupid just because they believe in irrational things. Think of it more like alcoholism, until they can see they have a problem, there is nothing you can do.
But you can plant the seeds of doubt.

Being a skeptic is no excuse for no manners.

[BillyJoe]

Originally posted by woodguard
99.5% Skeptic 0.5% believer. Seems you still have seeds of doubt! :D

[Francois Tremblay]

Don’t think someone is stupid just because they believe in irrational things.

What delightful nonsense. I suppose we should deny any connection whatsoever between lack of intelligence and ignorance ?

Don't think someone is bad just because they killed a couple people !


Being a skeptic is no excuse for no manners.

Manners is not burping at the dinner table. Pointing out that a belief is idiotic is honesty, not manners.

Sometimes I wonder what kind of mental reality people like you live in. It must be suffocating. I'm glad I'm not like that.

[woodguard]

Originally posted by Francois Tremblay
What delightful nonsense. I suppose we should deny any connection whatsoever between lack of intelligence and ignorance ?


You have already started out on the wrong foot, you assume the person is lacking intelligence and ignorance.


Don't think someone is bad just because they killed a couple people !


I do believe if you’re wearing in police or army uniform and you killed someone,it is not evil. Even is the wrong people was killed.


Manners is not burping at the dinner table. Pointing out that a belief is idiotic is honesty, not manners.


Manners are a way of showing how civilized we have become, or have far you have fallen.
There is no excuse for bad manners or being disrespectful when trying to communicate an idea to someone.
If you can’t, it is best to keep you mouth closed, because you are only make the group look bad. And making it a hard job for the next person.


Sometimes I wonder what kind of mental reality people like you live in. It must be suffocating. I'm glad I'm not like that.

What mental reality are you living in, were you don’t have to be civilized or kind to a lost soul. It is a very sad and suffocating place you live in.

All you will even do is make skeptics look bad.


PS: you could come to Canada and really see manners at work! :p

[woodguard]

Originally posted by BillyJoe
Seems you still have seeds of doubt! :D

More like a weed, without pruning it start to grow. :(

[BillyJoe]

A good, honest answer, woodguard.
I suppose we all need to be on guard against the odd intruder.

[hodgy]

Woodguard, I think your position is reasonable and your posts intelligent.

I do not, however, completely agree with your analysis, I think that the spectrum of believers is wide. For some, a soft and slow conversion is appropriate whilst others might respond more to a quick slap (intellectually speaking), wake up and smell the coffee approach. I think that this forum hosts commentators of both these poles and all shades between. IMO, this is a good thing.

[gnome]

Originally posted by Blue Bubble
At least try to get the grammar correct:

"You cannot feed someone the truth if you're beating them over the head with it."

Where's that fish-smack smiley?

[DrMatt]

Originally posted by gnome
Where's that fish-smack smiley?

Give a man a fish and he may eat for a day.

Teach him to fish and he will eat for a few months, until mercury poisioning catches up with him.

Beat a man to a bloody pulp with a fish and you won't have to worry aboud feeding him.

I wonder why I didn't think of it before.