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The dreaded "A" word

TimCallahan said:
No, I don't feel particularly insulted, nor am I hurt by this. However, I do feel ethically compelled to call the game. Perhaps you will remember that book, Games People Play. A "game" in the book's terminology, is a dishonest transaction, where the one perpetrating the game is actually intent on something other than what they are ostensibly aiming at. Often it's a desire to put the other party down. Usually, unless the other party calls the game-player on what he or she is pulling, the game is set up to put the victim in a no-win situation.

Your barbs are set up to do just that. If the other party choses to stoically put up with them, then you get away with continually zinging them without having to face any consequences for your rudeness. If they respond and object to your barb, you accuse them, directly or indirectly of being overly sensitive. I'm not sensitive to your snotty remarks. However, I do feel an ethical obligation to call them for what they are.

The anonymity of forums, such as this one, enables you to play this game: You can hide behind the identity of "epix" rather than revealing who you are. One reason I use my actual name is for the sake of honest disclosure. Another key to your game-playing may have something to do with maturity: Once you've passed beyond your teen years, perhaps you will at last be capable of civilized discourse.
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Or you could do what I did, which is put epix on my Ignore list long time ago. The only reason I got involved in this thread is because some other people's responses to epix piqued my interest, and I figured I can contribute something to them (I certainly do not expect epix to get anything useful out of them). So for the first time in years I ended up reading some of epix's posts.

I admit they changed my opinion of him. Until yesterday I thought epix has some kind of mental illness which makes him seriously believe his posts make sense. Now I am convinced he is just an immature troll.

I do not expect to read any more of his posts, ever.
 
DGM said:
I understand. You don't belong to a group with a common belief. :rolleyes:
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No!

Belonging to a group with a common belief is NOT a religion unless that belief involves the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

Believing that Obama is not a great President is not a religion

Believing that 9/11 was a not US led conspiracy is not a religion

Believing that JFK was not murdered by the CIA / NSA / FBI /Mafia (delete as applicable) is not a religion

Believing that the the universe did not come into being due to the theory that it was sneezed out of the nose of the Great Green Arkleseizure, is not a religion

and believing that there was no all-powerful deity responsible for creating the universe is not a religion
 
DGM said:
I bet you have a bumper sticker that proclaims your elegance to the belief that is not a religion. :)
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What the hell is a bumper sticker?

You really have very little idea of the culture here in the UK, do you?
 
Mark6 said:
.......Until yesterday I thought epix has some kind of mental illness which makes him seriously believe his posts make sense. Now I am convinced he is just an immature troll.

I do not expect to read any more of his posts, ever.
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You won't. Not on this forum, anyway.
 
DGM said:
I bet you have a bumper sticker that proclaims your elegance to the belief that is not a religion. :)
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Elegance is a synonym for beautiful that has come to acquire the additional connotations of unusual effectiveness and simplicity. It is frequently used as a standard of tastefulness particularly in the areas of visual design, decoration, the sciences, and the esthetics of mathematics. Elegant things exhibit refined grace and dignified propriety.

I see that the problem is that you don't understand the meaning of words.


Stubbornly saying the same thing over and over without addressing the answering posts is rude but maybe it's just lack of understanding English.
 
MikeG said:
What the hell is a bumper sticker?
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Its a label, usually proclaiming support for something that people display on the bumpers of their cars

I think he's implying that you say that, but you don't really live by it e.g. like an Oil Company executive with a "Greenpeace" bumper sticker on this car.
 
smartcooky said:
No!

Belonging to a group with a common belief is NOT a religion unless that belief involves the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

Believing that Obama is not a great President is not a religion

Believing that 9/11 was a not US led conspiracy is not a religion

Believing that JFK was not murdered by the CIA / NSA / FBI /Mafia (delete as applicable) is not a religion

Believing that the the universe did not come into being due to the theory that it was sneezed out of the nose of the Great Green Arkleseizure, is not a religion

and believing that there was no all-powerful deity responsible for creating the universe is not a religion
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I agree.

You might have to explain how the part in bold does not apply to Atheism? ;)
 
smartcooky said:
Its a label, usually proclaiming support for something that people display on the bumpers of their cars
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OK, thanks for that. You don't see any of those around here. However, I do have a National Trust membership sticker on my windscreen. Does that count?

Mike

PS The National Trust is the organisation which maintains precious buildings (country houses, castles and the like) on behalf of the nation.
 
DGM said:
You might have to explain how the part in bold does not apply to Atheism? ;)
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What, again? How many times do you need to be told something before you finally get the message?

Someone please just copy and paste the half dozen previous responses to this inanity, and if we paste it 8 or 10 times then maybe our troll will finally get it.
 
DGM said:
You don't believe in a "Cause, nature, and purpose of the universe"?

Odd. :confused:
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No. Absolutely not. Speaking personally, of course, and not for other atheists: the universe is utterly devoid of purpose.

I also don't accept the word "believe" in this context. Belief is to take something on trust without evidence. I have no interest in, or acceptance of, any theory on the origins (cause) of the universe or its nature, unless they are supported by properly tested and testable evidence.

So, on all counts, the answer is a resounding no.

That won't stop you asking the same question again in another way, though, will it?

Mike
 
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DGM said:
You don't believe in a "Cause, nature, and purpose of the universe"?

Odd. :confused:
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Probably waste of time to engage someone who's obviously trolling, but what do you think the "a" in atheist means?
 
MikeG said:
What, again? How many times do you need to be told something before you finally get the message?

Someone please just copy and paste the half dozen previous responses to this inanity, and if we paste it 8 or 10 times then maybe our troll will finally get it.
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It's a common tactic to say:

Theists believe there is a god

and

Atheists do not believe there is a god

Change it to:

Atheists believe there is no god.

Then say

See they're both beliefs totally ignoring that no.
 
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