Second point = artifact of mental culture that fails to appreciate or encourage exploring--and testing--opposing ideas.

I always thought it was weird whenever people would look askance at me for immersing myself in something that wasn't my ken. How are we supposed to arrive at fully developed perspectives unless we look at things from all angles--especially the opposite one? How are we to learn anything unless we step out of our bubbles?

I get that people want "safe spaces.". I don't denigrate that desire. But I don't see it as fundamentally necessary. If grown-ups would just 1) use their manners and 2) grow thicker skins, we would have far less demand for safe spaces.

I'm not sticking up for the would-be cyber missionaries who come to a place like this specifically to convert people, or for the trolls, of any stripe, who go anywhere just to upset the applecart. I'm sticking up for those weird aliens like myself who see nothing wrong with going where they "don't belong" so they can learn something foundational. It's why I was a church musician for 3 years.

@stinkeye_a, i have obviously not made myself perfectly clear in my question, my bad, so i'll have to do a lot of further explaining now in this specific case (& i do acknowledge that each of us has her/his very individual motives) the xtian appears to never give up arguing for religion in an increasingly finger-pointing way, not responding, but pontificating. i find it boring & annoying at best, bullying into conversations more likely. not my idea of gleaning knowledge through different perspectives.

@walklightly I get it. I wouldn't block someone just because I don't like what they have to say. I would only block if they were being abusive OR if they were posting so much and/or such large posts (I should talk, right??) that scrolling past their content is a chore.

I'm not a fan of filtering stuff out just because I don't like it. I think that's a lazy and irresponsible way of dealing with the world--for me. But I don't feel any kind of way about people who organize their lives differently in this regard. I totally understand when a person is so sensitized to something that they just can't tolerate it: it's injurious to their well-being. That's why I'll never sneer at someone for needing a safe space. Maybe someday I'll be raped or something and need one myself. It's easy for me to say I don't feel the need to block people here because I have the privilege of never having been shamed for or abused by religious beliefs, so my sensitivity to the kind of behavior you described is low.

When I see stuff like that, I get curious and pay attention to it. I may or may not make an extra effort to review that person's post history--but I'll definitely pay attention to their future posts if and when I encounter them. I like to see if their message or approach ever evolves. Sometimes people like that change their tactics with exposure over time to the reactions of others in the milieu. Morbidly, I also kind of like to keep feelers out for any drama that might develop. Since I don't have emotional skin in the game, it's just a curiosity and entertainment.

I feel like I have more to gain by exposing myself to stuff that raises my hackles. It's instrumental to the path I'm on of releasing attachment and developing compassion for absolutely all beings. I know that path is not for everyone, and probably sounds like mumbo jumbo to some.

Pontificating and finger pointing is immature and disrespectful, and in a place like this it's in especially poor taste. When I see people behave like that I use the opportunity to work on my patience and compassion. But I don't expect anyone else to follow suit. I give everyone the space to do how they wanna do.

@stinkeye_a, thank you for your clear-minded & respectful reply. i used to get satisfaction out of confronting & verbally fighting (not abusing, just arguing) with people less openminded; not any more. it bores me to tears, when i keep running into the same old, same old unfounded allegations, as though wording "the world is a shit heap" makes it so ... & yet, there might actually be something to it, & i just don't want to kindle the flame of idiocy any more. yes, compassion for all, the understanding that there is not really a separation in life, love being the one power that can heal, that can save & make peace in this life - i am actively onto this, & for that i need some space

@walklightly "clear-minded" and "respectful" are what we strive for--and if you were able to read that in my message, I owe you thanks as well. Cheers to another polite, rational exchange on a sticky topic.

@stinkeye_a, thank you so much - now i'm smiling from the heart.

he likes to be a bit pushy.

@walklightly Ugh... I was glad to see the admin jump in on your post I think they do a good job here keeping things just as we like them.

well, this would be one of the pontificators.

i totally agree with you. there is a place for everything. this site is my heathen heaven, & i'd like to help keep it that way.

thank you for your input. this person seems to be on a mission. i am not on a mission. my interests are so far removed from anything religious, that i might as well live on a different planet. the reason i joined this site is that here i can fully focus on communicating my vision of a godless world full of real empathy, integrity, kindness in self-thinking mature human individuals, without the constant distractions of holy crap. i'd like to keep it that way.

oooh now your gonna get it! lol

grrrrrrrr!

i see myself as tolerant to almost anything & anyone, but not anywhere, & do prefer the company of intelligent freethinkers to babble-bashing zealots, @HippieChick58

welcome here & now!

Thank you.

thank you, @EmeraldJewel

& if someone hijacked your post for his/her own agenda?

@walklightly Sure.

yes, well, that exactly is my point: in keeping to reply to a persistent babble-basher i DO get caught up - because it takes from my time & energy, that i spend a million times better in the company of intelligent humans. & to not reply i feel as though condoning the drivel.

@walklightly When our children complain about kids who name-call or say mean things, we tell them to ignore the bullies. Those people get their satisfaction from our response. Instead ignore or just block--no questions asked. Maybe we could share the name of members who bully/troll. We did that with a man who was trying to get women to go elsewhere to talk about "personal" things. As if! Hahaha. I don't know or care if he was leading up to money or sex. We all agreed he was creepy. I believe Admin blocked him from the site.

@EllenDale, thank you for the gen on dealing jointly with the sleepwalkers in this community

sure, thank you, i get you.

thank you, @KKGator.

There's a couple of them...

yes, there are.

Haven't you been reading the updates from Admin telling you that advertising on a number of religious sites has been fruitful? Tut tut @birdingnut remove your eyes from your binoculars for a few minutes and pay attention to Admin working away to get you fresh fodder, I mean playmates.

@birdingnut I have only just realised that I am four hours in advance of your time. It may be that you have not had time to read your messages today. I must revise my geography.

@FrayedBear

I just posted an invitation for them. I now have to wait if they respond.

@Gert, from where i'm looking you posted an invitation yesterday, as where i am it is the 9th of feb already - time's a funny thing, as imperfect as any human inventions

@walklightly Wait. I'm confused. Why would people from religious forums want to join this group unless they felt it was their mission to "convert" us?

@birdingnut, not from religious forums - this one just calling himself a xtian & believer, banging on about how there is no evidence for the non-existence of god. which tells me two things: that his mental capacity is too limited to understand that only existence can be proven, but not non-existence; & yes, you're right, he is here on a mission to convert.

Exactly!

Or to learn the error of their beliefs said he swing a lead weighted 2x4 oak beam?
Just kidding
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Not
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Being lazy again!

Never thought of it that way. I just ignore them, but most of the time when this happens I can't leave, like a bus stop.

I like your way of thinking. Unfortunately, my wife goes on and on about the happenings at her Temple. And she's even on the board so I have to listen to the politics, too.

@ADKSparky yeah I only talk to people who want to know things, like politics or religion or evolution, with like minded individuals because telling my spouse everything would burn a hole in the rug, so to speak.

in this case the constructivity is missing, just endlessly repeated statements without foundation whatsoever: babble-bashing. does that count as jerkness?

I know that this may offend some members here but I equate happy slappy arm waving god bothering congregations with line dancers - they both seem to have need of the same uniformity and obsessive compulsive behaviour.

there is another level of communicating, & mostly for that i am here: deepening the exploration of a life that is free from belief, & instead rich in perception, awareness, kindness, empathy. i am not here to be entertained; my interest lies in realising the connection we have & intensifying this.

@walklightly Well, I was seeking to answer your question through my POV. Not my intention to prosthelytize. What you get and want from this forum may well be different from my objectives. I find challenge and entertainment are synonymous. If you find that those contrary to your intent are corrupting the experience, then it's only rational to take measures. Not that you need any validation from me. But it's there none the less.

@Hicks66 To answer your question, I, for one, read profiles blurbs. I disagree with you on something you wrote. Telling about yourself, who you are, why you are, in a space that specifically asks you that question is not narcissistic, nor bragging, nor being showy or arrogant. To me.

yes, we are more; but if someone never gives up & keeps spouting their bs, it can get quite grating.