Atheism Plus/Free Thought Blogs (FTB)

[d4m10n]

A+ is dead, long live A+

If it does fall apart, it will be because of the tendency to turn on each other. However, I don't see any reason why it should. They're a self-contained little group, with their own language* and customs. They like to discuss with each other, and to shun people who disagree. There are plenty of like-minded people around, so I expect them to continue to tell each other how right they are for years and years.

I have to agree with you here (and disagree with my fellow SINners) that A+ will live on for years as an insular community of like-minded folks, as a sort of mirror image of the Slyme Pit.

Personally, I'm much more concerned about the more prominent members of the freethought (not to say skeptical) community who continue to vilify blasphemers and delight in "holding clay feet to witch-burning fires" as they say.

 

[westprog]

In reading about your ban, I noticed someone posted a link to this article Liberal Bullying. I thought it was a good article describing the sort of bullying going on in those forums. Has anyone banned the person who posted it yet?

It's an excellent article, which has naturally been thoroughly slated. No, the person posting the article and the person critiquing it have neither been banned or warned. Give 'em time though.

 

[squealpiggy]

I've never encountered people with such absolute certainty that they must be right. It means that they feel able to say things without taking the least effort to verify them. I was told that I only went to that thread to goad somebody because of a personal issue. A few seconds checking would have shown that I was posting in the thread before the person I supposedly followed there as part of my stalking vendetta agenda.

Do I expect an apology and a withdrawal? Yeah, that'll happen.

I'm reading it and I'm baffled by all the labels. I didn't think that there was a need for a label for people who AREN'T transgendered, but apparently it's "cisgendered". Better if it's spat out with a sneer to fully demonstrate the disgust at the privilege of... well, almost everyone in the world.

 

[Piscivore]

I didn't think that there was a need for a label for people who AREN'T transgendered...

Quite apart from whatever extremes the A+ers take it to (and they do)... that is kind of a problem.

 

[Acleron]

I finally got my ban. I was slightly surprised to get it on this occasion, but I expected it to arrive eventually. I suppose it will be made permanent in due course.

Naturally, I was banned for the serious breach of pointing out various breaches of forum rules. Naturally this involved making allegations to which I couldn't reply.

They are parodies of something or other, they can't be real, can they?

I particularly like the tagline of the one who banned you.

Too often we honor swagger and bluster and the wielders of force; too often we excuse those who are willing to build their own lives on the shattered dreams of others. -Robert F. Kennedy

 

[WillyWonka]

The banning of Westprog, which has always been in my view moderate and never hostile in interventions on this forum, and others, shows the intolerance of A+ forum mods, and more than just an echo-chamber, the level of deep pursuit of an idealistic utopia this group has with no regard to anyone but themself. These individuals are not stupid; but I can see how cults can take hold of people. I am not mad at them, just feel sorry for them.

 

[Walter Ego]

I've never encountered people with such absolute certainty that they must be right.

I have. Fundamentalist religionists; political ideologues, both left and right, health-food faddists; cranks; holocaust deniers and 9/11 truthers; birthers, the world is full of them. They are often masters of rationalizations of why they are right and you are wrong. What is lacking in them is even the rudiments of skepticism or humility.

 

[Axiom_Blade]

I'm reading it and I'm baffled by all the labels.

The best-of-all label is "SAWCASM", which is an acronym for "Straight, Affluent, White, Cisgender, Able-bodied, Sexual, and Male"...in other words, a perfect storm of privilege!

I didn't think that there was a need for a label for people who AREN'T transgendered, but apparently it's "cisgendered".

Yeah, there is. Otherwise, what's the opposite of "transgender"...?

 

[Badger3k]

I'm reading it and I'm baffled by all the labels. I didn't think that there was a need for a label for people who AREN'T transgendered, but apparently it's "cisgendered". Better if it's spat out with a sneer to fully demonstrate the disgust at the privilege of... well, almost everyone in the world.

See, that's just your privilege talking, cisgendered person you. Since I don't know your sex, I must also use the approved terms - which do you prefer - xe or zir (or zom, or whatever the multiple terms they've made up is)?

They have a lot of unique terms and labels, and feel compelled to make sure everyone uses their particular sense of the word - the (IIRC) feminist use of "safe space" for someplace where they will not be challenged or offended (as opposed to the normal sense as a place where you will not be attacked, normally physically - anyone who expects to not be mentally/ethically/what have you challenged at a skeptic conference is an idiot) is one such usage. There are a lot more (as I think people mentioned here).

I do have a question, how can someone "mansplain" if they don't have men? Can someone xesplain?

 

[westprog]

The banning of Westprog, which has always been in my view moderate and never hostile in interventions on this forum, and others,

Why thank you!

shows the intolerance of A+ forum mods, and more than just an echo-chamber, the level of deep pursuit of an idealistic utopia this group has with no regard to anyone but themself. These individuals are not stupid; but I can see how cults can take hold of people. I am not mad at them, just feel sorry for them.

I made a point of stepping carefully, and certainly did nothing to deliberately upset anyone. However, I wasn't going to allow myself to be lectured officiously by someone over what was basically pointing out her egregious errors.

Of course the issue I raised was ignored, naturally - i.e. the way that personal insults are if anything encouraged, in spite of being against forum rules. The way it's being spun, I expect I'll be a dangerous stalker soon, leaving them unable to sleep in fear.

 

[UnrepentantSinner]

Yeah, there is. Otherwise, what's the opposite of "transgender"...?

Would it be too politically incorrect of me to suggest "normal"?

 

[arthwollipot]

Would it be too politically incorrect of me to suggest "normal"?

That would suggest that transgendered people are abnormal.

Bigot.

 

[Brainache]

...what's the opposite of "transgender"...?

Gender?

 

[brodski]

I didn't think that there was a need for a label for people who AREN'T transgendered.

why not? It can be useful for clarifying terms. You may as well argue that as we have the word homosexual we have no need for the word heterosexual.

 

[brodski]

Would it be too politically incorrect of me to suggest "normal"?

how does that work with other majority groups?

No need for the word "heterosexual" just "normal", no need for the word "white" just "normal", no need for the word Christian (in the USA) just "normal", no need for the word "woman" just "normal"...

 

[Last of the Fraggles]

why not? It can be useful for clarifying terms. You may as well argue that as we have the word homosexual we have no need for the word heterosexual.

We have male and female...doesn't that cover it?

 

[brodski]

We have male and female...doesn't that cover it?

No, cis and trans are subcategories of male and female which may be important in some contexts.

 

[devnull]

no need for the word "woman" just "normal"...

woah woah woah, you had me until you took it just waaay to far.

Im assuming you're not married.

 

[KoihimeNakamura]

Cisgender is a useful term. Cisracial/cisethnic, not so much..

 

[brodski]

Cisgender is a useful term. Cisracial/cisethnic, not so much..

Ah, you think we should move to E/Z-racial and E/Z-ethnic terminology?