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Again, you can be true to yourself without being combative. You came here seeking opinions. The fact that you're so combative when you receive feedback that don't provide affirmation is a big clue as to what the real problem is. (Hint: it's not your non-atheist friends.)
Again, you can be true to yourself without being combative. You came here seeking opinions. The fact that you're so combative when you receive feedback that don't provide affirmation are a big clue as to what the real problem is. (Hint: it's not your non-atheist friends.)
But I'm not being combative, but merely stating my perspective. That's just your interpretation. I swear, it just seems that way to you....BTW, it's "feedback...doesn't"
and "is a big clue."
What I think is that precise use of language, like precise thinking, really does annoy people. This, perhaps, is the real problem.
But I'm not being combative, but merely stating my perspective. That's just your interpretation.
And I'll be darned if your perspective doesn't amount to "you're wrong." Why did you bother asking for our feedback if you're just going to argue with the feedback you receive?
Keep on alienating your erstwhile friends if that's what you want to do. You could have done that without asking us for our input.
I love this forum and finally decided to post. My favorite writer is Bertrand Russell, whom I've been reading since I was a teenager. I love his prose style! He won the Nobel prize for literature the year I was born, 1950. Throughout my adult life, whenever I get down, I read Russell and it cheers me up. When I discovered Dawkins, Hitchens and Harris, it was even better.
I recently had a little run in with ovarian cancer, and both in RL (real life) and online, if someone starts to offer religious consolation, it is beyond me to be gracious about it. I feel compelled to say that I don't believe I anything supernatural, thank you, and I don't care to hear it. This frequently causes people to get angry with me, to sabotage and snipe at me, and to accuse me of being hostile.
Personally, I believe religion to be not only fraudulent nonsense but harmful; nothing that religion could be said to accomplish could not have been done better, IMO, by rational thinking.
More Hitchens' view, I believe. So am I wrong to express my distaste in this manner?
First off, hope you are well and continue to be so.
Second, you are not wrong.
I personally don't get offended or upset by people offering blessings or prayers, etc. I don't believe in their efficacy of course, but I generally feel as if they are offered in a sincere bid to help or give comfort; a nice gesture.
So, unless someone gets terribly pedantic or pushy I tend to just think they are attempting to be kind.
If you feel you must say something (and it is certainly not out of bounds to say something) you might just preface it with something like
"Well, I appreciate that, but I am not religious"
or
"Thank you, but I don't believe in these things. Perhaps you should save your energy for someone else"
or something. I dunno.
I am not happy about it, but I do feel we have to coddle The Believers if we are interested in avoiding head-butting contests.
It makes no sense to argue with someone who has abdicated reason, after all.
And I'll be darned if your perspective doesn't amount to "you're wrong." Why did you bother asking for our feedback if you're just going to argue with the feedback you receive?
Keep on alienating your erstwhile friends if that's what you want to do. You could have done that without asking us for our input.
What I have noticed, over and over again in public forums is writers not understanding that debating issues is distinct from personal attack. It seems like a subtle distinction, but it's really not. So instantly--after perhaps as few as one or two exchanges-- go right to a critique *of the person*, rather than staying at the level of the free exchange of ideas.
This is associated with the logical fallacy ad hominem.
But I'm not being combative, but merely stating my perspective. That's just your interpretation. I swear, it just seems that way to you....BTW, it's "feedback...doesn't"
and "is a big clue."
Sorry, Subject-Verb Agreement Cop. I didn't realize this was a term paper -- I'll be sure to proofread more carefully next time. (I'm sure you'll let me know if that was an improper use of dashes.) Yeah, you're not being combative or argumentative at all.
The more you post, the more apparent the true source of the problem becomes.
I love this forum and finally decided to post. My favorite writer is Bertrand Russell, whom I've been reading since I was a teenager. I love his prose style! He won the Nobel prize for literature the year I was born, 1950. Throughout my adult life, whenever I get down, I read Russell and it cheers me up. When I discovered Dawkins, Hitchens and Harris, it was even better.
I recently had a little run in with ovarian cancer, and both in RL (real life) and online, if someone starts to offer religious consolation, it is beyond me to be gracious about it. I feel compelled to say that I don't believe I anything supernatural, thank you, and I don't care to hear it. This frequently causes people to get angry with me, to sabotage and snipe at me, and to accuse me of being hostile.
Personally, I believe religion to be not only fraudulent nonsense but harmful; nothing that religion could be said to accomplish could not have been done better, IMO, by rational thinking.
More Hitchens' view, I believe. So am I wrong to express my distaste in this manner?
If??? An academic situation--geez.
Gads....you atheists are so uptight.
May the gods forbid if you should be in a hospital and some well meaning chaplin wants to give you comfort.
Am I (a Christian) offended if some secular person wishes me his or her positive thoughts regarding my "cancer"? Nope. Are any of my theist friends offended? Nope.
Get over it, smile, and be gracious.
I sus pect people get angry with you, because you are hostile. People are people and no one gets angry with another person with out cause. If indeed you politly say no thanks 99% of people are cool with that and will go away. Either you attract fanatics or....
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I didn't realize this was a term paper -- I'll be sure to proofread more carefully next time. (I'm sure you'll let me know if that was an improper use of dashes.) Yeah, you're not being combative or argumentative at all.
