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Is it 'dangerous' to self identify as an Atheist?

Harris argues the case here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KG5s_-Khvg&feature=related

3 members like this

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Cheryl on August 14, 2011 at 9:11pm

Thanks for looking this up, Elveera, I should have thought to do it myself, but anyway, I don't know how to put urls in my posts, I'm not that computer literate. I really hated being called a liar, but I guess I brought it on myself because I didn't have all the details. Still, Paul Howard could have verified the statement the same way you did, and overcome his disbelief without chastising me publicly. That was pretty mean spirited. I've just recently come out as an atheist, and this is my first forum experience. I'll be more careful in the future, some atheists are dangerous, too.

Permalink Reply by Michael on August 15, 2011 at 12:34pm

Okay, to put urls in your posts, right click on the url you intend to copy then past, left click on copy, then right click on where you want to paste the url, then left click on paste. Et voila. Isn't that magnificent?

Permalink Reply by Joseph P on August 15, 2011 at 12:39pm

If you want to post it into your message as an actual link, there's a tool for it. If you look at the line of buttons at the top of your text-entry window, the button all the way on the left is for adding links to your messages. If you click that, you'll get a little popup that lets you enter the link URL and the text you want to appear for the link. You can just paste in the URL that you copied from the web page, for each spot in the popup, if you don't want to do anything cute.

There are keyboard shortcuts for copying and pasting things, which make the process much easier. CTRL-X cuts (deletes) whatever text you have highlighted and allows you to paste it somewhere else. CTRL-C copies whatever text you have highlighted but leaves it in its existing place, as well. CTRL-V pastes it into wherever you have the cursor. Typically, you'll only use CTRL-C and CTRL-V.

Permalink Reply by G Smith on August 14, 2011 at 10:31pm

I left a comment at the end of the article on the third link, which I copied/pasted below:

http://wishididntknow.com/2011/08/12/judge-tells-bus-company-go-ahe...

Speak out!

THX $ the link.

Permalink Reply by Cheryl on August 15, 2011 at 1:00am

Thanks for noting that, Gary. I left a comment there, too.

Permalink Reply by Elveera on August 14, 2011 at 9:40pm

No problem Cheryl, thank you for bringing it up - I was glad to see it and it made me think. It actually further reaffirmed me as an atheist and in my cynicism re: 'believers' and their moral standard. As for that dude - I question if he belongs on here and you are correct, he could have found the info himself; for someone who claims skepticism he failed to do what skeptics do - question and find out or at least try to .... Like you I'm connected to several sources of atheist facts/wisdom/information and appreciate the one you brought into the table. Don't let the unpleasant dude discourage you!

Permalink Reply by Paul Howard on August 15, 2011 at 5:50am

I don't apologize for my comment even though the links partially substantiate the claim.

When statement are made purporting to be fact you would do well to take them with a grain of salt too, if no supporting citation is provided. Why do you think the tea party folks believe much of the ridiculous stuff they are fed? They don't question.

As to "looking it up myself". Sometimes I do, but, in general, it is the job of each of us to substantiate the claims we make if we are making statements of fact. If we don't, it puts that burden on a great many others that read our statements and that is a pretty arrogant approach to dialogue. (Thanks for the link, Gary - I made a comment there also.)

Permalink Reply by Elveera on August 15, 2011 at 9:59am

Paul,

while irrelevant to the point, it boils down to tone on this one. {These types of issues and worse I'm used to arrising on, for example, facebook, where many people are opposite-minded; this is supposed to be a safe place and not one where we should expect unkind/nitpicky remarks} Cheryl shared something that was not difficult to verify. She was also honest about still finding her way around the computer. I absolutely agree with your statement of "grain of salt" and "substantiating claims", but I think nitpicking on a perfectly good point for small technicalities due to someone's self-admitted lack of fluency in the computer is unkind and silly - wouldn't you say? I admire Cheryl for making the steps to become fluent in the computer and the Internet. I know people who do not want to get near a computer because they are intimidated by the complexity of this relatively new path of communication. Let's all make nice now :)

Permalink Reply by Joseph P on August 15, 2011 at 10:05am

{These types of issues and worse I'm used to arrising on, for example, facebook, where many people are opposite-minded; this is supposed to be a safe place and not one where we should expect unkind/nitpicky remarks}

Wow, are you in for some adjustment. We generally don't get so unkind on most subjects, but the intense nitpicking is quite typical. :-D

The problem with accommodation is that it's such a small percentage of newbs out there now. And there are so many stupid people on the loose, in most forums. We can't assume that any given person is just new to the Internet. Once we're informed of the fact, sure, but you're not going to find many people who come to that conclusion without significant evidence of it or a direct statement to the effect.

Permalink Reply by Paul Howard on August 15, 2011 at 10:06am

Elveera,

I have no problem with Cheryl. And I don't regret my initial statement. From my perspective the first unkind thing said was when I was called "the unpleasant dude". I resent that and your whole tone of confrontation.

NOW, would you like to make nice?

Permalink Reply by Elveera on August 15, 2011 at 11:10am

Yes, most definitely nice is good. I regret that your feelings were hurt with "the unpleasant dude", as I can only guess, Cheryl's were with the accusation of making things up (what would her motivation be?), which originally caused me to impulsively jump to her defense I guess ... And getting back to the point from the article Cheryl cited, it certainly made a good point of reason for caution when sharing that someone is a self identified atheist. Destruction of only the atheist adds and none of the religious ones points to the violent nature of those who resent atheists/atheism in the open and to me suggests clear reason for caution.

Permalink Reply by Paul Howard on August 15, 2011 at 11:28am

First, Elveera, if I 'accused' Cheryl of anything it was of not documenting her statement. I did not accuse her of lying at all.

Please provide documentation for your assertion that "...only the atheist adds (sp) and none of the religious ones..." were destroyed. I do not believe that statement unless documentation is provided.

Also, I'll be sure to be careful around my born again christian fiancee now that I know for a fact (based upon your undocumented statement) that she is violent.

Of course, not every statement needs to be documented. My belief that the tea party people (in general) are 'bat - s***' crazy does not need documentation at the times I articulate that view. So long as it is clear that I am articulating my opinion - not making a statement of fact. (I know, I know - there are people who will say that the truth of such a statement is so evident that additional documentation is not needed.)