Posted by whoami [65.123.82.153 - ] on 12 July 2002 at 00.45.25 ZuluTime:

In Reply to: It's a standard tactic posted by Gremlin on 11 July 2002 at 23.13.06 ZuluTime:

Have you insulted me? I am not sure if this was directed as an insult towards me or towards the previous posters or merely blowing off steam built up from decades of debates with "stoopid" theists.

Please, remind me how many of these things I've already accomplished.
     1. I hit your message board and suggested proof of a deity. This proof is not concrete evidence. I would place it more along the lines of a mathematical proof, akin to a theorem, which, when approaching such an elusive topic, is expected to be full of errors but may hold a glimmer of truth inside.
     2. I never expected the board to believe me, however I did expect the board to discuss the topic with me once the email was received.
     3. No one believes me? This is to be expected actually. No, it’s not because I’m some yvwh Calvinist who believes that the only way is for god to pick you. It’s because you, as humans, love your assertions and would sooner quit your job than change one so central to your core. I am the same way.
     4. I do not intend to insult anybody, and if I do…I do. I assume that throughout this discussion you will also be stepping on my toes. You know what though? We’re online and meanings can be distorted even more than they tend to be in person.
     5. No flame-war is being started, I hope.
     6. I may be laughed at, but this is what happens amongst written debates simply because the two parties do not see eye to eye, and humans love laughing. Secondly, if you instantly believe me I will lose all respect for you. I hope that your assertions are well grounded into your character and personality.
     7. Open minded people wouldn’t require said evidence? I believe you may have run into people who have said this. I hope to assure you that I am not one of them. My understanding of being open minded is to accept evidence that is contradictory to what you believe.
     8. Where is there truly victory in a debate? The victory is found in each individual walking away satisfied that their ideas were fully expressed. If an audience is present, there may be a winner in regards to who was the most eloquent, or if prejudiced, who’s beliefs made the most sense to them.
     9. I hope to end up in a heaven. You assert that you will continue in your life, hopefully prolonged through stem cell research, and then if science hasn’t discovered the secret to eternal life perish and your body will slowly decay.
     10. If you ever wish me to leave, I will do so. I will firmly believe you to be close minded if you do request my leaving without just cause (i.e. flaming, stalking, hacking…whatever).