That's what I was talking about in my post.

I don't see anyone using "I think" and too many people using "we" and "our".

And I know from experience in GD that using language like "I think" or "could" pretty much just opens you up to someone with a set point of view using definitive statements.

It seems more galvanized in the PF.

I understand your frustration, but it's hard enough to get a decent, respectful, open conversation about politics going IN PERSON, let alone online.

One of the families that I tutor for claims to be independent, but every week they come at me with all their really leftist junk and try to convert me to atheism. (This is particularly funny because they're always complaining about Christians pushing their religion on THEM.) And when I use language that shows that I'm not some hardline conservative and try to show them how much I care about the environment and so forth, they just "take" more and never use any of the same kind of language in their statements.

It's hard to explain online. I'm sure this is coming off wrong.

Not for you there isn't.

I'LL OCCUPY YOUR PANTS.



I very vividly recall a Vietnam veteran who called in to NPR regarding an operation in Iraq and who had a total breakdown on national radio. He said some pretty outrageous stuff and the host was kind of stunned. Eventually someone just cut him off, but I think they let him go on for over a minute.

In my experience, there's a hair's breadth between obnoxious Christians and obnoxious Atheists.

Though Atheists are particularly chuckle-worthy to me when they insist on being recognized as a group.

Fixed it for ya.

*in the most sleazy voice possible*

Room for one more?

There's a difference?!

Its up there with the Anarchist's that run around in a group with a defined leader and orginization...

Fascist!!!!!!!!

Yeah, it is. Everybody from the left isn't an Atheist, and everybody from the right believes in God.

"Leftist junk" was probably the trigger. FYI.

The sleaziest voice possible is Andy Daly as Don Dimello.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC4OJWKcyIU

(Very NSFW.)

Bring out the girls...

Hey now, site rules. You ain't not no donor not no way not no how, so no polisticals for you.

I do believe that Haven would have referred to "Rightist junk" in similar terms had A) the story called for it and B) it had been espoused.

Capitalist~!

While I would be classified as an Athiest, my biggest problem with the label is that it tells you what I am not, which isn't particualrly useful. I recently had a talk with an Athiest friend of mine who fits the sterotype more than I do (as I do not have a particular issue with religion, I just don't have religion as would be recognized by others). I tend to think that cool people of faith are cool often *becuase* of their faith. I dig that, even if I don't believe.

That said, I will argue for separation of church and state, for the protection of the religeous minorities as much as for myself.

Absolutely agreed. And I have the utmost respect for someone who can present a point, even/especially a dissenting one, with tact and an accommodating attitude.

I find that the most obnoxious elements of ANY group are those members who are so vapid, shallow, and impressionable that they take that one aspect of their lives and blow it up, pro wrestling-style, into their entire persona. I have ZERO respect for these people, and would in fact ask them to just kind of get the hell out of the way so other, more capable individuals among them can become the "faces" of their causes.