I feel very hurt. Why is it necessary to slag people off like this just because you perceive them having a different opinion from you? Is it all the years thinking of yourself as a machine that makes you so bad mannered?
You feel hurt? What about people who actually know stuff who took the time answer your questions sincerely while you ignored them? Who, other than you, finds me more "bad mannered" than you? Did I even call you anything as negative as "bad mannered"? You've hurled a plethora of epithets and, in the same post, told us what a great and conscientious guy you are! (Oh, and yes, I've read my sig... have you?) BTW, I think it's bad mannered to come to a skeptics forum "pretending" to be a skeptic but really wanting to push your woo.
If anyone appears to think they know everything and have nothing to learn, it seems to be you, and your sniping suggests that underneath that ill-mannered arrogance you aren't quite as confident as you make out. The last god knows how many posts between you and Joe seem to be designed to belittle and insult me, either that or you are utterly insensitive.
Evidence? Appearances can be deceiving. I find the evidence of this thread indicates that the insults you give me are more fitting of yourself. You might ask whether it's insensitive to come to a forum as a know-it-all and expect to have your opinion respected without even having read or asked anyone else of their opinion! Don't confuse not believing my not believing in your "divine truths" with my thinking I know everything. I never claimed as much; that's
your strawman.
Still, I guess you've been through the routine before. If someone challenges your beliefs too much, you just call their sanity into question until they feel so bad they have to leave and you can celebrate another victory for rationalism. Oh well done. You clever things.
What beliefs do you imagine you've challenged? I'm not afraid of having beliefs challenged. I don't "believe in" invisible forms of consciousness. I don't think I have many beliefs, but if you hear one, feel free to challenge it and bring your evidence to the table for your counterclaim. Skepticism is pretty much about not believing in things until enough evidence has accumulated to warrant consideration. I am not interested in beliefs. I am interested in facts-- what is true?-- I don't "believe in"
divine truths... just plain old regular truths-- facts that are the same for everyone. I'm not the one claiming to have divine truths; you are. That makes YOU the arrogant one. I WANT my erroneous beliefs challenged by intelligent honest people with evidence. Got any? I'd rather not know something than to believe things that aren't true.
And, I don't care rather you leave or stay. Usually when your kind stays it's just to get the last word on whatever they came here to sell. But occasionally one will actually be interested in skepticism and science and how it works and learn the various people you can go to for really great information on various subjects. You can learn whether your ideas have merit. But not as long as you are so smarmy and, well, like every other woo that posts here. How do you see your "beliefs" in dualism as different than conspiracy theorist beliefs? I can point to all the woos here, and you can tell me why we should respect you more than them... and why we should respect you more than you respect us. Why do you assume you have something to teach and nothing to learn without even finding out what any of us knows and how?? Would anything change your mind. Evidence is usually all that is needed to change a skeptics mind. Oh, and honesty and humility go a long way too.
So, your feelings are hurt. Other people have feelings too. You seemed to have been ignoring that while preaching and then, like all woo, you pull out the "I'm offended" card when it comes back. Not a great introduction to a group you're presumably wanting to be around, eh?
Thicken the skin. Not everyone sees you as diplomatic or as kind or as smart as you see yourself. Nor does everyone see Joe and I as nasty as you imagine us. Evolve and then join the conversation. Just quit thinking you are the one who has something to teach. Trust us, we'll discover it, if that is so.
What do you suggest people do when woos invade their forum and you cannot talk to them? What is wrong with talking about them? I don't think your method of "educating" us is doing us or yourself any favor. Why not turn lemons into lemonade?
If you want people to believe whatever magic you are selling, you ought to go try a woo forum where they respect whatever woo you are into. When you believe in things that are invisible and immeasurable and indistinguishable from a delusion, the best thing to do is treat it as a delusion, don't you think? Whether it's demons or thetans or ghosts or immortal souls. How else do you imagine we should be. How do you treat people who believe in demon possession? Do you stroke their delusions? What do you do when they have to make you into the bad guy rather lest their delusion shatter?
ETA... I just re-read... and it appears you've taken comments personally that I was not directing at you but rather at someone else in your corner of the discussion. But since you are taking it personally feel free to take this post personally as well. If I'm wrong, I will apologize. I think the fact that I hit a nerve makes me think I"m right. But time will tell, eh? Oh, and do let me know how I've gotten your beliefs wrong. You are against materialism, but you haven't really said what your alternative view is-- but that is something all woo does.
