I really hoped you'd ask for something I could actually do.
To those who provide content here, I call a boycott.
- Thread starter Gameface
- Start date
Hotdog
Well-Known Member
I agree.
NAOS
Well-Known Member
it's really tough to hear Christians talk about their fear of being challenged (or, phew, lets supremely up the ante here and say "persecuted"). Most of this world is painted in your color and accepts your terms. And, greater than 99% of the moral sentiments around here clearly conform to your basic standards. Sorry this message board isn't 100% pitch perfect for every Christian out there. Real sad. The reason someone like jmy2c isn't an active poster has very little to do with the fact that I standup to the default praising of those values and way more to do with his own confidence and personal challenges.
I'm going to assume alt, though. And supreme butthurt.
@NAOS
I am a Christian. Not very good at it, at times.. well, most times, but I am a Christian.
I don't engage in debate regarding the truth because the final answer eludes us short of death, if even then.
I think most Christians are fairly benign in their spiritual talk. Problem is when there is a legitimate concern for someone that is 'lost', he that is perceived to be lost receives the concern as pity. No one wants to be pitied. So the non-believer views the concern as looking down their nose in a holier than thou position. When, most of the time, it's a misunderstanding between the two sides. I believe that will never change.
I, for one, completely respect people (or not) for who they are and not what they believe.
There are bad apples on both sides of faith/non-faith with regard to showing a clear lack of respect for the other, but mostly that's not true.
(no idea why I started this post with @NAOS... there is no intended personal message)
I am a Christian. Not very good at it, at times.. well, most times, but I am a Christian.
I don't engage in debate regarding the truth because the final answer eludes us short of death, if even then.
I think most Christians are fairly benign in their spiritual talk. Problem is when there is a legitimate concern for someone that is 'lost', he that is perceived to be lost receives the concern as pity. No one wants to be pitied. So the non-believer views the concern as looking down their nose in a holier than thou position. When, most of the time, it's a misunderstanding between the two sides. I believe that will never change.
I, for one, completely respect people (or not) for who they are and not what they believe.
There are bad apples on both sides of faith/non-faith with regard to showing a clear lack of respect for the other, but mostly that's not true.
(no idea why I started this post with @NAOS... there is no intended personal message)
NAOS
Well-Known Member
I think we're more similar than you might guess.
As far as doling out respect is concerned: I give it to those people who create space for themselves in the midst of different values, and, in whatever ways are possible given the possibilities of interaction, disrupt the automatic adoption of values that compete with theirs. Auto-adoption and repetition aren't respectable processes; I don't respect when people, who are absolutely in the mainstream in terms of value production, won't engage in a setting that isn't already perfectly prepared for them. That's weakness.
This all has nothing to do with Christianity itself. I'd be critical of an economist who expected us to buy his regurgitation for the same reason I'd expect a Christian to except his.
Let me give you a slight spin to think about.
In my younger career I was a badass. I met in negotiations and killed people. I could always 'win.'
Only about 12 years ago, a man I respect a great deal said to me, "Patrick you are the most persuasive person I have ever met in my lifetime. You can talk anyone into doing anything and have them believe it is best for them."
I wore that proudly... for a few seconds.
Until he continued, "And with that gift comes a great deal of responsibility."
Wow. That was the most life-changing moment of my professional career. I took it to heart.
Now I am MUCH happier. I structure business deals that everyone can eat and they are sustainable... friendships now come with business deals rather than the "enemy's" funeral.
I share this with you, specifically, because you somewhat remind me of the old me (try your best to take that as a compliment as it's intended and not an attack of your morals/ethics). I perceive you to be incredibly smart, like way. I think you KNOW that and own it. Which brings along a persona of being an intellectual elitist. Nothing wrong, at all, with being smarter than everyone else, but with that gift comes a great deal of responsibility.
NAOS
Well-Known Member
quoting limpnikkkk so the rest of us have to read? Crossing the line.
No, in fact, you shouldn't feel bad for him/her.
Just the opposite really.
I was just urging you to find ways to use your intellectual gift to lift people up.
(And truly relish the times when you're dealing with a complete douche and unload the guns for sanity sake... so you have that out of your system and can go back to regular good folks and be a great inspiration in their lives and their's in yours.)
I admit, I do enjoy the occasional business dealings whereby the opposition is a snake. It gives me permission to take the gloves off. Like I said, it's fun every now and then.
NAOS
Well-Known Member
a principle value of online interaction for me is that it's this contained area for exfoliation. I get exfoliate a little bit, through the voice of a character (NAOS), and then leave gentler side for the "real world." There's also really good conversations I've had by adopting a somewhat embattled stance (this has happened with franklin, Siro, alt13, you, etc.
My online personality has very little resemblance to my walking-around personality.
For the record.
You get aggressive in most of your disagreements, regardless of whether the values you disagree with are the result of, what you perceive as, mainstream indoctrination. That's okay. It's just who you are. But I'm just sayin'...
It's not about being afraid of a challenge. It's about not wanting to be punished for having different beliefs from you. I don't think you're standing up for anything. It is about your prejudices that you can't get over. I saw you bully Howard about being anti-abortion dozens of times, and never when he is talking about the same subject even. You call people who believe in hell stupid, out of the blue. Sorry knower-of-everything for believing something you don't believe in! I promise to do better next time!
It is about pushing your own beliefs on others who don't share them. I don't care how intelligent or educated you are. Only God knows everything (I believe). And I don't want to worry about being bullied for making the mistake of expressing my beliefs.
Sorry for getting all angry, I'll go enjoy the rest of my Sunday now.
lol... Love it!
Hotdog
Well-Known Member
Anyone who opposes NAOS is alright by me.
Who do you NOT hate, Hack?
addictionary
Well-Known Member
It's hilarious that a mod/admin created an alt finally.
addictionary
Well-Known Member
Since y'all are on yer periods, I guess I shall say that I'm still kidding.
Or am I ?!?
Or am I ?!?
It's the exact opposite. NAOS gets bullied constantly by backward dumb asses misreading his posts or refusing to open their minds. Then he goes off on funny *** tangents, whipping the **** out of little brats like an angry father. Then posters get all whiny about their own stupidity. You should take your own advice and not get so butt hurt about people not thinking the same way as you.