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In reply to the discussion: University of Chicago Tells Incoming Students: Don't Expect Safe Spaces or Trigger Warnings [View all]Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)Certainly doesn't belong in the public schools, I mean fuck.
Although past a certain point- really, when they were still pretty little- I would almost prefer just sitting back and watching them naturally take those arguments apart themselves.
I actually have had to try and coach them to soften their abrasiveness (me! ) on stuff like Atheism- really, they've been a lot like I was as a kid, certainly strident. And they came to it on their own; they know I don't believe but I've been adamant from the beginning; "don't let anyone tell you what to think, or accept that they know everything and are infallible- even me. ESPECIALLY me. I want you to weigh the evidence and come to your own conclusions. Keep an open mind and always be prepared to re-evaluate in the face of new evidence"
I just tell them; accept also that like you, other people are gonna come to their own conclusions. Defend yours in a debate, for sure- but respect that other people have their own ideas, and heads to contain them.
Of course, some ideas are more inane that others. On that, we've had one or two situations where creationism has come up too. I think we did a riverboat tour once where the guy said something "some people say these canyons are millions of years old. Some people think they're a lot younger". If it hadn't been so noisy on the boat, my daughter would have gone off on him. Oh, man. She was all ready to.
You actually did the right thing, I think, with that dude in your anecdote, because if all he was there to do was to sneak in some proselytizing under the "guise" of actually teaching kids the relevant subject matter, screw that, it's bullshit, if someone really NEEDS to play the "soul saving" game, at least be up front about it and let people decide themselves if they want to waste their time on what you're peddling.
In terms of the U of C, I doubt that Ken Ham is gonna be giving a natural "history" presentation there any time soon. He probably melts like the Wicked Witch of the West if he gets within 50 miles of the Field Museum, anyway. But I have no patience for Creationists. I got to ban Ken Ham from DU once when he was trolling while I was on MIRT, that was a real highlight of my experience here.
I was probably a lot like you, at one point. I was a skinny, nerdy, glasses wearing, probably apsergers-y kid (although back then no one had any definitions, much less knew what to do with, kids like me) who also didn't keep his mouth shut about annoying things like not believing in God, so I got my ass kicked a bit back then.
I still don't shut up, but once I turned about 14 I got a lot bigger and much more muscular, so people left me alone. Plus I think by the world has caught up, thankfully, and it's a lot easier to be nerdy or quirky or an Atheist or gay or not interested in sports or someone who wears black nail polish, than it used to be.
And I'm not big on physical intimidation, myself, not at all- although certainly it's apparent when I'm pissed. Generally though I seem to be pretty good at relaxing people or de-escalating things, at least in person (DU, maybe, not so much).
I do support the occasional gentle dildo fling as political protest where applicable. Sometimes, these things just got to be done.