Open Letter to Forum Moderators

[stuntpickle]

Dear moderators,

Currently, on the front page of this Religious Texts forum, in which participants are enjoined to respect the beliefs of others, there are the following threads: Why I Don't Believe in God, Why I don't Believe in the Bible, Why Does God Hate So Much, Spanish Catholic Church and Baby Trafficking. The largest group of participants in this forum appears to consist of atheists, who will generally show up in a thread to disabuse the "lemmings" of their "delusions." Very often they openly call theistic beliefs crazy, stupid, delusional and various other varieties of disrespectful things. This sort of behavior seems largely unpoliced. However, as soon as a theist says something comparatively innocuous, such as "atheism is vacuous" a moderator shows up wagging his finger. In the thread entitled "Why I don't believe in God" in which there are slurs against belief in God from the first page including the suggestion that Christians are dip****s and idiots, it is not until page twenty-eight when I, who am a theist, say something that is, at least, not so obviously pejorative that the moderators show up. Based on my experience in this forum, one can say that a Christian is stupid, idiotic, delusional, crazy, a douchebag with no repercussions; however, statements such as "you are incapable of understanding logic" and "are you in elementary school?" result in infractions if made by theists.

Previously, I have written you privately. You did not respond. I regret having to address you so publicly, but I see no other means by which to get your attention.

What are the mechanisms by which the moderators police the forum? Are they entirely reliant on members reporting incidents? Is the problem I am witnessing due simply to theists not reporting anyone and atheists reporting everyone? Are the moderators predisposed against religious belief? Can a thread that obviously concerns no religious text and seems to have no other purpose than to antagonize those adhering to various varieties of belief be anything other than disrespectful to the beliefs of others?




Respectfully,
Stuntpickle

[Varenne Rodin]

Everyone who breaks the rules of the forum gets infractions. Atheists included. Myself included. I wondered if you got one today or if it was only atheists. The forum, as it turns out, acted quite fairly and with no apparent bias.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Just because you got infractions as a theist doesn't mean atheists didn't. I recently received a pretty good amount of infraction points for something I said to Bien. Just because a moderator warning directly follows your post doesn't mean it was directed only at you or other theists.

[BienvenuJDC]

Just because you got infractions as a theist doesn't mean atheists didn't. I recently received a pretty good amount of infraction points for something I said to Bien. Just because a moderator warning directly follows your post doesn't mean it was directed only at you or other theists.

You got infraction points for something you said to me? I demand that they be removed. I was offended by nothing that you said. Or maybe I'm able to take it. I hope that the moderators remove those points, because these infraction points are....pointless.

[Charles Darnay]

It's a fine line between "attack" and "opinionated debate" - and when religion is involved the line shrinks all the more.

As long as we keep in mind while slinging religious/anti-religious sentiments at each other, that we are discussing philosophic ideas, it becomes easier and less barbaric to debate such matters.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

You got infraction points for something you said to me? I demand that they be removed. I was offended by nothing that you said. Or maybe I'm able to take it. I hope that the moderators remove those points, because these infraction points are....pointless.

Well, demand as you might, I doubt it'll have an affect. And It's no big deal, I still have plenty of infraction points to go before I'm banned.

[Calidore]

Do the points expire after a period of good behavior?

[JuniperWoolf]

So we should just ignore statements such as "homosexuality is wrong" because it's intolerant to imply that in fact it is these doctrines of fundamentalist Christianity that are wrong? Yeah, because we should all be tolerant of Christians at all cost, we should even tolerate their intolerance, because faith is just so important. Their ignorance is protected under the umbrella of "religion," so we aren't allowed to say anything about it.

Do the points expire after a period of good behavior?

Sometimes. Sometimes they make them permanent.

[ftil]

So we should just ignore statements such as "homosexuality is wrong" because it's intolerant to imply that in fact it is these horrible doctrines of fundamentalist Christianity that are wrong? Yeah, because we should all be tolerant of Christians at all cost, we should even tolerate their intolerance, because faith is just so important. Their ignorance is protected under the umbrella of "religion," so we aren't allowed to say anything about it. Why do we even need to protect GOD in the first place? Isn't an all-powerful diety capable of protecting himself? Are we hurting his all-powerful feelings?

Hm… your response is quite interesting. Isn’t it interesting that whenever people address the lack of religious tolerance, they are called fundamentalist Christians or Muslims? I know people who are fundamentalist Buddhist, Hindu, New Age, or Satanists. Fundamentalism applies to people not to a specific religion. It is about power and control. I personally feel sorry for them as they must hate themselves so much that they had to project self hatred on others.

[Varenne Rodin]

Not topical, sorry.

[Charles Darnay]

Woah, what happened here....seems like a....well I shouldn't be posting this right now.....being....well sleep deprived and tired to that point where it seems like your drunk when you're really not....how eloquent! but it's the best way I could describe it.....right the point.

I have known people, quite a few, who consider themselves extremely orthodox Jew and orthodox Christian - real theists, take the Torah/Bible at its word sort of thing - yet have no qualms with such things as homosexual rights. Theism does not always equal intolerant ****head, and thus not every debate with a theist has to be along the lines of "how dare you insult me while being an intolerant ****head."

I do agree with the point (whose was it...I should go check....too far, too far....I have miles to go before I sleep....right) with the point that atheists should not be looked upon (by themselves or others) in regards to theism (despite what the name suggests). Atheism does not mean "against theism" despite what the language says - it is simply another belief.

I have to go.....now.

[ftil]

I agree with this 100%. Togetherness isn't really going to happen as long as atheists are being judged by people adhering to a theist set of rules. A set of rules that seem unjust and hurtful to secular people and some minorities. It's going to be tough to speak to theists as long as they preach angrily. I'll do my best to avoid insulting anyone or breaking forum rules, though.

It is interesting that you have that kind of experience. I know people from all religions, atheists included and they don’t have the need to impose their beliefs upon others. My best friend is atheist and it is a pure delight to have her as a friend. We can discuss any spiritual belief or religion.
As I said, some people have serious issues of controlling others. It is a personal issue not a religious one.

[Varenne Rodin]

I shouldn't be responding. Thanks, Pip.

[OrphanPip]

I'll just point out that it's against the rules to question the moderators decisions like this, if you have issues you need to PM the staff, just so people don't get themselves into further trouble by continuing this discussion.

[ftil]

I'll just point out that it's against the rules to question the moderators decisions like this, if you have issues you need to PM the staff, just so people don't get themselves into further trouble by continuing this discussion.

Hmm…you haven’t noticed that it isn’t discussion about questioning the moderators decision at all but it turned out to be another religious battle. I agree that it is better to stop . We have many treads in religious section...... for those who want to continue.