Steve - apology accepted.  I love you as well, my friend.  I always have.  and I do agree that you don't start things, but it's very easy for someone to "push your buttons" so to speak.

and personally I agree with you that the statement "God Guts and Guns made America.  Let's keep all three." is an offensive statement, even from someone who believes in an American's right to own a gun.  statements like that do not promote peace and good will among forum members (or any social media or in person, for that matter)

But Steve, your current signature is puzzling to me at the least - even if I didn't find it offensive.  I remember once you complained about someone else's signature which had a reference to songs being "God given" and how that was offensive to you.  Are you not doing the same thing back the other direction with your signature?

In regards to signature - they may be offensive. And I understand how this one can be to some.

One thing I'll tell you though -  as an atheist, I felt a bit of a relief when I saw Hitchens name in Steve's signature. 

Why? Because, overall, atheists around here aren't as vocal as religious people - like Steve said, a few will sometime react to something that's being posted, but most of the time, that's it. 

As someone who doesn't believe, these boards can leave you w/ a feeling that, as I mentioned above, you must yield to religious people and just keep quiet.

This wouldn't happen if no one mentioned religion. But it always more or less floats around - and I honestly don't think people do it on purpose to make atheists feel like second class citizens or whatever. 

As far as signatures go, I don't mind, personally. I like talking about that stuff and I hooked up w/ some very nice fellows and we had very respectful discussions.

OTOH, I'm quite sure that if anyone posted something related to the Church of Lucifer or the Covenant of Satanic Swiss Cheese or any such thing, they'd be reported and stomped upon. 

And to be perfectly honest, that's what irks me. The 2 standards. Some things are regarded by some as if they were just the norm, an exception, the right religion to talk about, the one to which rules don't apply, when they are just as upsetting to certain other members of the community. 

Beagle


But Steve, your current signature is puzzling to me at the least - even if I didn't find it offensive.  I remember once you complained about someone else's signature which had a reference to songs being "God given" and how that was offensive to you.  Are you not doing the same thing back the other direction with your signature?

Point taken Reece, and accepted.
 
To be completely honest with you, I often feel exactly the same way as Krist has so eloquently described (in posts #55 & #62 above), and I used that signature as a way of saying 'up yours' to some of the more pious amongst us. And yes, that was a pretty hypocritical thing to do I'll concede.
 
And sometimes, I feel the only way I can address this unbalance (which really shouldn't even exist on a forum who's TOS doesn't permit discussion of a religious nature in the first place) is to counter the point that's been made, rather than just point out that it doesn't belong here.
 
Ironically, having this calm and friendly discussion about one particular TOS taboo with you and Krist has reminded me of just how good this place can be.
 
 
 

And I changed my signature.

And I avoided replying to THIS - maybe someone who 'bats for the same side' might consider asking him to edit that post?

I don't think I even know what it means. :-S

mike_mccue








I don't think I even know what it means. :-S

 
It's Serbo Croat for "Fitblipper".
 
I didn't have the heart to tell Dave that there was a glaring misprint in there.
 
 

About that post you linked Steve - that's exactly what I meant! I'm sure Paul would be offended if someone quoted the Quran or Aleister Crowley...

There was a similar post after the Boston tragedy, saying that we needed prayers... How ironic, considering that the tragedy was caused by religious extremists... 

Personally, it felt like a slap in the face. But I yielded - I saw the compassion behind the religious speech and I thought of the TOS.

But that's one of my biggest pet peeves in this world - when people assume that rules don't apply to them. When they assume that they have the majority on their side and that the rest of the world only has to shut up. 

Like when they play Celine Dion in a restaurant because it's "normal people's music". Celine Dion gives me tooth ache. She makes me just as sick as Cradle of Filth makes their grandma sick.

SteveStrummerUK


And I changed my signature.

And I avoided replying to THIS - maybe someone who 'bats for the same side' might consider asking him to edit that post?

discussing anything with that particular person offering his viewpoint creates a special problem for me.  If I were to ask him to change his post and tone down the religious aspect of his comments, things would not go well for either of us.
 
I have had "issues" with Paul before over what he posted on here and he has asked me to leave him alone and never "chastise" him again.  I promised that I would, so I'm going to have to keep my promise.
 
even if I agree with what he's saying, I also agree in the same manner that Rain brought up - this is not the place for it.
 
our agreement does not preclude reporting each other to the moderators if we are violating the TOS, and that's what we're supposed to do if we feel so lead.

I fully understand Reece.

And I think Paul's a great guy, I wouldn't want to upset him for the world. But, as Krist says, this sort of thing happens more than you may think, and nobody ever says anything about it. Except me
 
 
 
 

I have to agree with Straummy that most of us agnostics and atheists (I may be the most strident one here...I always thought Chirstopher was too soft on the apologists;-)...that's a joke, son...a joke...) don't provoke many or any of these foo-fah-rahs. But we're likely to step into the fray when prodded by what can only be termed as either ignorant or misguided offense. I use the term ignorant in its literal sense...not perjoratively.  I'm pretty sure that most folks don't even think of how an atheist might react to anything they might say or post...or even care.  We're pretty low on the rung of public esteem...but we're also growing at a rapid rate.  So look out theists...your daughter might even marry one of us...heaven forfend!!! 

Course, I say that with love.