I once left the Religion Group, due to attacks by a member here.

[MineralMan]

I won't belabor that incident. I will not leave the forum again for that reason. I will remain a contributor to the group. However, I will not be silent if attacked again. I am an atheist, and am not apologetic about that. I have questions and opinions about religious beliefs and will post them when I wish to post them. This Group is open to believers and non-believers. I will do my best to be polite and non-confrontational here, and will not post any personal attacks on anyone. I will discuss openly and honestly, based on my own philosophy and ethical standards.

I will not leave again because of any other member of the group. That I pledge.

[stonecutter357]

1. K&R

[yallerdawg]

2. In this wide-open, no-holds-barred forum...

I applaud your resolve to stand for what you believe in.

It's truly not a place for the thin-skinned!

And we can always hit self-delete!

Or 'ignore.'

[guillaumeb]

3. And a few people decline to even post here because of the toxic atmosphere.

And the evident and unavoidable hostility exhibited toward any posts that present positive news about theism.

So there is that also.

[MineralMan]

4. I can only speak for myself.

I always only speak for myself.

[guillaumeb]

5. Agreed, and understood.

[AtheistCrusader]

6. The winds are fickle.

What you describe now, is how we were treated couple years ago.
I don't particularly agree with the characterization, but shoe meet other foot.

[guillaumeb]

7. It is an obstacle no matter which side does it.

And both sides should oppose it and refuse to engage in it.

[Lordquinton]

25. The "both sides" argument

Where have I heard that before?

[Mariana]

27. Hint: It wasn't Jesus's message. nt.

[guillaumeb]

35. Right above in fact, in reply #6.

I was happy to help you. If only all questions could be as easily answered.

[MineralMan]

31. How interesting that you say that...

[trotsky]

8. Ah there you go redefining words to suit your agenda.

"hostility" = disagreement or a different perspective

Understood.

You know what else makes things toxic? Bullshit like this post.

That's hostility, gil. And you refuse to acknowledge that plank in your eye.

[guillaumeb]

9. Sorry if what I wrote made you uncomfortable.

I remember when I asked if you had ever written anything positive about theists or theism. And I remember the response.

[trotsky]

10. Do you?

I don't think you do.

Besides, you're trying to reframe and change the subject again. You don't get to dictate what other people post.

[Lordquinton]

26. Theist, atheist

I just Sea Lions.

[guillaumeb]

11. Proof of this contention?

[MineralMan]

12. Proof of what contention?

That I once left this group? I certainly did do that. As for the reason, as I said, I will not belabor that, since the person in question no longer posts here and cannot present a defense.

I will not engage in useless arguments with you in my own thread. Nope. I was quite clear in the OP that I would not discuss that.

[guillaumeb]

14. You talked in another thread about unsupported contentions.

Forgive me for asking if you would support this particular so-far unsupported contention.

[MineralMan]

16. What thread?

Is this another of your accusations with no links? Please stop this nonsense. Link or leave me alone, please.

[guillaumeb]

18. This one

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1218&pid=271797

[MineralMan]

21. Today's post about your failure to provide links?

WTF?

[guillaumeb]

24. What indeed.

[Mariana]

13. MineralMan certainly did leave the group for a long while

exactly as he contended. I don't know why you think he needs to prove that, since you already know it is true.

[guillaumeb]

15. See #14

[MineralMan]

17. That post was content-free.

Provide a link for your accusation or drop it. This is ridiculous.

[guillaumeb]

19. If you insist:

It was a post that you recently made, in fact:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1218&pid=271797

[MineralMan]

20. That post was about your failure to provide

evidence of anything. Uff da...

[guillaumeb]

22. Thus prompting my inquiry to you about the attack,

and the absence of evidence.

[guillaumeb]

23. How would I "know" that it is true?

The statement had 2 parts.
1) A statement that he left this group.
2) That he was attacked.

I asked for proof of #2, and accepted #1.

[Chemisse]

28. Perhaps a 'welcome back' post would be more fruitful for discussions going forward.

I can't imagine you would actually enjoy provoking meaningless arguments.

[Mariana]

33. I think he actually enjoys the applause from his fan club.

Gil has explained that he receives numerous personal messages asking him to continue doing what he is doing, and praising his efforts in this group.

[MineralMan]

34. Such applause is most noticed for

being unheard and ignored.

[guillaumeb]

36. I cannot imagine that of others here, but this question is actually a response to another

from the original poster to me.

[MineralMan]

32. You will know it because I said it.

I do not lie, disassemble or prevaricate. Those would violate my ethical compass. I have standards that I maintain, unlike some.

I was attacked here, but will not name the attacker because he is not able to defend himself here. That's also a rule of my ethical compass.

Another of those rules is to attribute quotes from others and to quote in context or link to someone's complete statement.

What are the rules of your ethical or moral compass I wonder? I can't seem to derive them from your actions.

[guillaumeb]

37. What an interesting answer.

Interesting, but unprovable. An interesting way to avoid the charge of a double standard of behavior, as well as an attack on another framed as simple questions. So when we speak of this moral and ethical compass................

[MineralMan]

42. I don't have to prove such a thing to anyone.

Suffice it to say that I am still posting on DU, while the person who attacked me no longer can. You do the math.

[Mariana]

43. How does one determine the ethical or moral compass of a performer

when all you've been able to observe is his performance?

[MineralMan]

44. I don't think you do. Probably it is not worth trying.

But, as old Willy the Shake said,

All the world's a stage
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms;
And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress’ eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon’s mouth. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lin’d,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slipper’d pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;
His youthful hose, well sav’d, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion;
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

Which reminds me that I need to dig out my old poetry journal and re-read my cycle of poems, called:

"His Acts Being Seven Ages"

I haven't read it in years.

[ret5hd]

29. What a brave and courageous man.

Someday you will be on Rush Mountmore.

[MineralMan]

30. Not a chance.

When I'm gone my ashes will get dumped in the Mississippee River in St. Paul, MN, and slowly be distributed down its course.

I will be remembered only by a few friends, and that's quite enough for me. How about you?

[guillaumeb]

38. Very well said.

[ret5hd]

39. Don't for a second believe...

I have any more respect for you than him.

[guillaumeb]

40. Your opinion. Your right.

Feel free to demonstrate with your own posts how you feel this group should function.

[ret5hd]

41. My thoughts on the functioning of this group...

have absolutely nothing to do with my thoughts on either of you two.