Is it me or has there been a steep decline in dialog here?

[hrmjustin]

I have to say things have been getting nasty in the religion room in the past week or so.

What do you think?

How can we improve things?

The Atheist room started their own thread on this which I think is good and I think we need to discuss it as well.

[rug]

1. There has been a steep increase in attempted disruption but there's plenty of good discussion.

You just have to step carefully in a pasture.

[hrmjustin]

2. The disruption in the past week really got to me.

But I guess that is what was intended.

[hrmjustin]

6. They seem really concerned about exorcisms of late.

[rug]

7. I better sprinkle holy water on my screen before going back.

[hrmjustin]

8. I see the troll word showed up in my thread.

[goldent]

9. I've noticed that also.

If exorcism is a major concern, then I think the Church is in better shape than I thought.

[cbayer]

3. If you feed them, they will come.

[hrmjustin]

4. I am beggining to agree with you.

I have to rethink how I interact with a few in there.

[hrmjustin]

5. Sometimes I have to...

....

[hrmjustin]

11. Lol! I need thicker skin.

[kentauros]

12. I know I'm a primary Host here, and have been absent as well.

DU just isn't holding my attention as much lately. I rarely look at the Religion group, mostly because of the behavior over there.

I don't have a solution, only the suggestion that we keep telling people about this group instead of assuming they'll find it in the list to the left. I can't count how many times I see people post "I didn't know there was such a group on DU!" whether they're talking about this one or the myriad of other groups here.

Maybe we need to put this group as a link in our signatures

[hrmjustin]

13. The other room got to me over the last few weeks.

Just have to learn to not be baited.

[kentauros]

14. And the idea that people are baited

is to me, just plain wrong. I'd expect that from right-wing disruptors, but these are supposed Liberals, people you'd expect to be compassionate and nice to all, no matter what their beliefs. Instead, we have arrogant, "holier than thou", or perhaps "superior than thou" individuals that seem to get a personal kick out of being nasty to people. It's truly an alien mindset to me.

[hrmjustin]

15. it is sad and unnecessary on their part.

There are those in the room believers and non-believers who want an honest debate but there are some who are more interested in catching a poster in a contradiction.

[kentauros]

16. That's a debate tactic.

And for some of them, that's all that's important anyway. Because that allows them to "win" the conversation.

I was never in debate in school, but I could probably do fairly well were someone to ask me to such a competition, thanks to what I've read in the Religion forum

I just skimmed the referenced thread about them lamenting the lack of dialogue there. My first thought upon reading just the opening was "That's due to how y'all approach the subject." That is, not as any of us would have a conversation, where we want to hear the other points of view and their thoughts on what or why they think that way. But, instead, to attack and "challenge" the subject matter, to get the other side to prove their beliefs are true, and whatever else that has nothing to do with the subject.

That's not a discussion; that's a fight. And why I don't visit there to post at all.

[hrmjustin]

17. I thought the responses from some in that thread was just precious.

The fact is I expect to be challenged by non-believers about my faith and that is fine. But sometimes I get the feeling they are trying to just put me down or convert me to their thinking.

I would never try to convert people on this site nor do I think they should.


I have decided to limit my responses to a handful of them and one is getting the silent treatment for awhile.

[kentauros]

18. We probably have different definitions of the word "challenge."

What I see is that it's used more as an attack, and like you say, an attempt to convert you to reason, logic, and materialist thinking. It's certainly not what I would expect from an atheist. But, I guess it is to be expected from an anti-theist.

I sure do wish the site's software would allow me to put people on ignore where they'd still show up to me in this group, just nowhere else on DU. My skin isn't nearly as thick as for some of y'all, though I guess I do have enough sense to know not to engage them.

[hrmjustin]

19. I would love to put a few on ignore there but I am a host there and can not.

[kentauros]

20. Maybe this is an opportunity to take a break,

like the universe is nudging you to get away from the stress by making things worse there

[hrmjustin]

21. I am thinking about it but I don't want them to win.

It is a dilemma for me.

[kentauros]

22. Or, you let them think they 'won'

and then come roaring back, and scare them away

Well, whatever your decision, good luck and don't get too down because of certain people there

[hrmjustin]

23. Thanks my friend.

[cbayer]

24. Sure you can.

If an issues arises, you will be notified by the lead host and can take the member off ignore in order to assess the situation.

As a host, you have no obligation to read everything or respond to anything.

I've gone back to using full ignore and my experience has improved 100%.

[hrmjustin]

25. well the last few days have been quiet for the most part for me so I think the message has been

heard but we shall see.

I think that I fed the fire by responding to a few of them.

I am glad you put some of them on ignore. I hated the way they treated you.

[hrmjustin]

26. For the record for those watching in the other room I self deleted my posts in the A and A room

because I was asked. And someone linked to a jury result which I did not alert on. The juror who thought I alerted on that post was wrong.

I am sorry if I offended someone but some nasty things were said to me in that thread as well. Things I did not deserve. And contrary to what I was told I never said nasty things about atheists and agnostics. And Gomer Pyle remark I have to se0ay was hurtful.

I thought the OP meant harm.

[hrmjustin]

28. Just so you know I did not argue with them. I apologized that it offened them I posted in there but

I feel I was right to address the issue.

[hrmjustin]

29. I won't be going back to that room just so they know.

I did not know so e really dislike me. But if they can provide links where I insulted atheists they should give it to me so I can say sorry.

I did not know some disliked me here like they do.

Thanks for your kindness.

[hrmjustin]

31. Take care my friend. I like you too!

[goldent]

32. I wondered what was going on there

and I have to say I thought you probably had been banned, even though I was certain your posts were more than respectful. I have seen the insult you referred to before (not on DU) and as you know it is very calculated - should not happen on DU even in heated arguments.

[hrmjustin]

33. I love the gomer pyle comment.