Author Topic: Tough board to join (Read 2975 times)

Nick · « **Reply #29 on:** October 22, 2012, 07:27:42 PM »

Damn it, I tried to keep the focus on Nam. He is just too tricky.

Nam · « **Reply #30 on:** October 22, 2012, 07:31:49 PM »

The Force is with me.

-Nam

HAL · « **Reply #31 on:** October 22, 2012, 08:06:20 PM »

Quote from: madeline on October 22, 2012, 02:45:19 PM

I love this place..have for a long time..but you guys really hate newcomers..lol..

Nothing worthwhile is ever easy.

ParkingPlaces · « **Reply #32 on:** October 22, 2012, 08:13:39 PM »

I love newcomers. Nobody else will talk to me.

Chronos · « **Reply #33 on:** October 22, 2012, 08:16:34 PM »

This forum isn't the only tough place for newcomers:

HAL · « **Reply #34 on:** October 22, 2012, 08:16:55 PM »

Quote from: ParkingPlaces on October 22, 2012, 08:13:39 PM

I love newcomers. Nobody else will talk to me.

Hello!

wright · « **Reply #35 on:** October 23, 2012, 10:43:50 AM »

Quote from: Quesi on October 22, 2012, 07:08:11 PM

I'm not up on current events. Who is beating up Madeline and why?

Dammit. I want it to stop.

madeline both taught and was tutored on how this forum can appear to newcomers. She seems to have taken it pretty well, even if she started the thread by leading with her chin

madeline · « **Reply #36 on:** October 23, 2012, 12:48:09 PM »

Thanks everybody for taking it easy on me. I expected to be black and blue.

Seppuku · « **Reply #37 on:** October 23, 2012, 01:38:38 PM »

Quote from: ParkingPlaces on October 22, 2012, 08:13:39 PM

I love newcomers. Nobody else will talk to me.

Remind me, who are you?

Quote from: madeline on October 23, 2012, 12:48:09 PM

Thanks everybody for taking it easy on me. I expected to be black and blue.

We don't mind people of all races, including Smurfs.

Kimberly · « **Reply #38 on:** October 23, 2012, 01:54:24 PM »

I feel like I missed something here? Madeline why do you feel like we hate newcomers? If you stated it somewhere already I apologize. Unless it has big flashy lights I probably missed it[1].

1.	Suffering from a cold and not quite all here from the meds.

wright · « **Reply #39 on:** October 23, 2012, 04:39:11 PM »

Quote from: Kimberly on October 23, 2012, 01:54:24 PM

I feel like I missed something here? Madeline why do you feel like we hate newcomers? If you stated it somewhere already I apologize. Unless it has big flashy lights I probably missed it[1].
1. Suffering from a cold and not quite all here from the meds.

Jag seems to have summed it up well on the first page of the thread; madeline is welcome to correct me if I'm wrong:

Quote

It's a tough board, in that anything said well be read critically to see if it holds up under careful examination. There's little patience for theists who arrive intent on saving us godless sinners, but can't be bothered to spend some time reviewing the history to see if they have anything new to add. There's little tolerance for assertions that aren't, or can't be, supported by evidence, ideally empirical evidence. No one gets away with BS on the "serious" topics, and may be called out for it on more light topics too. Many of the members have been here for a long time, and are often well read across a wide range of topics, so odds are good there's someone in the community who is fairly knowledgeable in whatever topic may be under discussion. And everyone knows how to use Google.

It's all about critical thinking. Part of what I love about this place is that I can see a well-constructed argument in action. I can see logical fallacies in "real world" context, and watch them get dismantled. Sometimes the conversation takes a familiar path, and sometimes it deviates into completely unexpected areas, but it's almost always enlightening. You can get hammered on for a poor word choice. You will hear about it if you post without thinking through what your audience is going to read in your words that you may not have intended. Any bias that shows up will be brought into the light to be examined in minute detail. And you'll be a better communicator for it.

--Jag

Nam · « **Reply #40 on:** October 23, 2012, 04:42:54 PM »

Quote from: madeline on October 23, 2012, 12:48:09 PM

Thanks everybody for taking it easy on me. I expected to be black and blue.

I could oblige. (figuratively)

-Nam

Kimberly · « **Reply #41 on:** October 23, 2012, 04:52:47 PM »

Quote from: wright on October 23, 2012, 04:39:11 PM

Jag seems to have summed it up well on the first page of the thread; madeline is welcome to correct me if I'm wrong:

I saw that and think it's a nice description but wanted to know if Madeline had a particular first person experience that made her feel that way.

Nam · « **Reply #42 on:** October 23, 2012, 04:56:47 PM »

Wasn't with me.

-Nam

Mr. Blackwell · « **Reply #43 on:** October 23, 2012, 05:17:18 PM »

Me neither

MadBunny · « **Reply #44 on:** October 24, 2012, 06:46:59 PM »

Quote from: madeline on October 22, 2012, 02:45:19 PM

I love this place..have for a long time..but you guys really hate newcomers..lol..

	I would say rather that, in general you get what you give. If you're prone to giving thoughtful input on whatever topic you're posting on generally speaking you'll get it back. There is a caveat to that though, and that is that as a new member you're stepping into a forum about religion with members who've been arguing this stuff for years.
	If you're new to debating religion, or even politics take a bit to observe before jumping in with both feet. People here have seen so many repetitions of the same arguments over and over that they tend to snap when they see them. It may be that the whole idea of say, St. Anselms proof, or Pascals wager is new and fresh to you, like a loaf from the oven. I assure you however, that it's been covered.
	Try to realize this, and approach the topic from that angle. Not doing this is probably the most frequent mistake that I see new members make, and also the most likely place that you'll see a shark tank spontaneously form.
	Some members are just randomly confrontational, like Nam for example. He is capable of advancing a fairly strong argument when it suits him, but also prone to nitpicking, as demonstrated in this thread.

Nam · « **Reply #45 on:** October 24, 2012, 07:13:49 PM »

Everybody always picks on me.

[1]

-Nam

1.

j/k

madeline · « **Reply #46 on:** October 24, 2012, 07:17:17 PM »

Thanks Mad..Nam is just a dick...oh crap that's a compliment..my bad

Nam · « **Reply #47 on:** October 24, 2012, 07:23:35 PM »

"Asshole" not "dick". But I have a dick. So, that's something.

-Nam

madeline · « **Reply #48 on:** October 24, 2012, 07:26:47 PM »

If you say so..not sure I believe you tho

jetson · « **Reply #49 on:** October 24, 2012, 07:42:57 PM »

madeline - I should add, what you are actually experiencing, is the evolution of the acceptance of Nam. It's been a phenomenom of this forum for years.

madeline · « **Reply #50 on:** October 24, 2012, 08:05:22 PM »

Well Nam deserves to be loved regardless of his lack of social skills..I don't say this to be sarcastic as I have a foster brother who suffers from Asperger's Disorder, I suppose I should have seen the symptoms..my bad.

Nam · « **Reply #51 on:** October 24, 2012, 08:09:41 PM »

Chuck it up and keep thinking you're insulting me. Only one thing insults me. You've been here anonymously for years; shouldn't be too hard to figure out.

-Nam

madeline · « **Reply #52 on:** October 24, 2012, 08:16:12 PM »

Nam..I am not trying to insult you..in fact the opposite is true..I am very sorry. I didn't realize..please accept my apology.

HAL · « **Reply #53 on:** October 24, 2012, 08:19:39 PM »

Quote from: madeline on October 24, 2012, 08:05:22 PM

Well Nam deserves to be loved regardless of his lack of social skills.

madeline · « **Reply #54 on:** October 24, 2012, 08:26:32 PM »

Indeed Hal..Accept the ways of others..treat all the same..thank you..why do I feel the need to bow? 15 years of martial art perhaps?

Nam · « **Reply #55 on:** October 24, 2012, 08:39:04 PM »

Hal,

Since I can't watch vids on my phone, I am going to assume it's the Smurfs. I love the Smurfs.

madeline,

You're not trying to insult me though almost every comment (in a few topics) is you berating me. Yeah, I believe you. Don't worry.

Berating doesn't work on me, by the by. Neither does name-calling. But, keep trying, I have hope for you.

-Nam

HAL · « **Reply #56 on:** October 24, 2012, 08:42:32 PM »

Quote from: Nam on October 24, 2012, 08:39:04 PM

Hal,

Since I can't watch vids on my phone, I am going to assume it's the Smurfs. I love the Smurfs.

No, it has to do with flowers and water and ... oh hell, just watch it when you can.

madeline · « **Reply #57 on:** October 24, 2012, 08:43:16 PM »

No Nam..I am truly sorry..I assumed something I should not have..It's all good.

News:

Author Topic: Tough board to join (Read 2975 times)