Why did "Why so many Atheists" thread got deleted?

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Delete it or remove from Recent Topics.

I'm not going to do either of those. Nor will I rename it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s getting lost here is that derailment isn’t simply a case of somebody posting “you suck” and somebody else reports it and the moderator deletes it.

DCUM’s trolls are much more sophisticated than that, including but not limited to the religion forum.

It’s a game of overt and less overt abuse that plays out across multiple threads. Reporting a single “you suck” or yet another “let me interrupt the thread to tell you why I’m an atheist” is going to make the moderator think this is hyper-sensitivity, because the reporting button can’t capture that this is the 6th time you’ve seen that today over as many threads. And the trolls and abisers know this very well.

I vote you delete the Religion forum. Or rename it the Atheist forum so your posters on that forum aren’t perpetually disappointed.

You have really twisted yourself into a pretzel to justify refusing to report posts instead of incessantly complaining about them.

OP here - like PP I reported abusive posts but that didn't bring any positive change over last 6 months on the Religion forum. The forum should simply be renamed Atheism forum.

I use DCUM more than I should and I have not noticed Religion threads getting derailed unless the OP is posting something that lends itself to derailment- i.e. a post that is more about "performing" Christianity (or some other religion, but it's pretty much always Christianity) than discussing it in a way that makes sense.

Here are some crazy threads that were just begging for derailment:

"Why my prayers were never answered" - this lady needed therapy as much as prayer
http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/707655.page

"The Goals of Satan" - this was about as sane as it sounds
http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/705239.page

"If it wasn't for Jesus we wouldn't be here today" - this guy was seriously asking for it
http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/691051.page

Most religion threads are actually brief questions with brief answers. It's a nice forum if you're not a conflict-seeker.

The question of prayer and the question of Satan are fundamental to the monotheistic religions. Some of us wanted an open and serious discussion about these topics. If such threads are crazy to you you shouldn't click on them. Live and let live.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Delete it or remove from Recent Topics.

I'm not going to do either of those. Nor will I rename it.

Won’t even try it for 2 months? Pretty please.

[Anonymous]

OP, is there a reason why you don't seek out websites and forums that cater to your specific ideology? Where you know you're not going to be easily annoyed/bothered/offended by criticism or challenges to your specific belief system?

[Anonymous]

Sigh.

NP here.

Looks like many people use the Report button like a thumbs down.
It is disturbing that on a free, open site, people would insist on the censoring of other's speech.

Absurd that topics are assumed to be limited to those with bona fides to be there....many DCUMers don't even live in DC yet they are allowed to engage in the discussion, mostly without criticism (though you are obvious by your unfamiliarity with things like traffic, high cost of living).

It is also preposterous to think you could keep forums closed to just those who are religious -- how would you screen for membership??

Lastly, the beauty of a forum is the contribution of a diverse assortment of views, like this country. Ignore the trolls and the johnny-one-notes and let your eyes focus on the substantive conversation. You might learn something.

Signed,

An atheist

PS -- the original meaning of proselytize hinges on conversion to a religion. Most atheists don't try to recruit people to be atheists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I use DCUM more than I should and I have not noticed Religion threads getting derailed unless the OP is posting something that lends itself to derailment- i.e. a post that is more about "performing" Christianity (or some other religion, but it's pretty much always Christianity) than discussing it in a way that makes sense.

Here are some crazy threads that were just begging for derailment:

"Why my prayers were never answered" - this lady needed therapy as much as prayer
http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/707655.page

"The Goals of Satan" - this was about as sane as it sounds
http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/705239.page

"If it wasn't for Jesus we wouldn't be here today" - this guy was seriously asking for it
http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/691051.page

Most religion threads are actually brief questions with brief answers. It's a nice forum if you're not a conflict-seeker.

Wow. Here it is, boys and girls, a rationale for trolling anything you don’t like or agree with. If you don’t agree with a thread’s premise, then it’s “just begging for derailment” because the OPs are “crazy conflict-seekers.” I didn’t start any of those threads and they’re not my thing. I am, however, appalled by your intolerance, bigotry, and smug self-righteousness. No wonder the Religion forum has trouble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s getting lost here is that derailment isn’t simply a case of somebody posting “you suck” and somebody else reports it and the moderator deletes it.

DCUM’s trolls are much more sophisticated than that, including but not limited to the religion forum.

It’s a game of overt and less overt abuse that plays out across multiple threads. Reporting a single “you suck” or yet another “let me interrupt the thread to tell you why I’m an atheist” is going to make the moderator think this is hyper-sensitivity, because the reporting button can’t capture that this is the 6th time you’ve seen that today over as many threads. And the trolls and abisers know this very well.

I vote you delete the Religion forum. Or rename it the Atheist forum so your posters on that forum aren’t perpetually disappointed.

You have really twisted yourself into a pretzel to justify refusing to report posts instead of incessantly complaining about them.

OP here - like PP I reported abusive posts but that didn't bring any positive change over last 6 months on the Religion forum. The forum should simply be renamed Atheism forum.

I use DCUM more than I should and I have not noticed Religion threads getting derailed unless the OP is posting something that lends itself to derailment- i.e. a post that is more about "performing" Christianity (or some other religion, but it's pretty much always Christianity) than discussing it in a way that makes sense.

Here are some crazy threads that were just begging for derailment:

"Why my prayers were never answered" - this lady needed therapy as much as prayer
http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/707655.page

"The Goals of Satan" - this was about as sane as it sounds
http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/705239.page

"If it wasn't for Jesus we wouldn't be here today" - this guy was seriously asking for it
http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/691051.page

Most religion threads are actually brief questions with brief answers. It's a nice forum if you're not a conflict-seeker.

The question of prayer and the question of Satan are fundamental to the monotheistic religions. Some of us wanted an open and serious discussion about these topics. If such threads are crazy to you you shouldn't click on them. Live and let live.

What is crazy is the atheist clicking on threads they view as fairy tails and nonsense to argue, troll and prothletyze.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sigh.

NP here.

Looks like many people use the Report button like a thumbs down.
It is disturbing that on a free, open site, people would insist on the censoring of other's speech.

Absurd that topics are assumed to be limited to those with bona fides to be there....many DCUMers don't even live in DC yet they are allowed to engage in the discussion, mostly without criticism (though you are obvious by your unfamiliarity with things like traffic, high cost of living).

It is also preposterous to think you could keep forums closed to just those who are religious -- how would you screen for membership??

Lastly, the beauty of a forum is the contribution of a diverse assortment of views, like this country. Ignore the trolls and the johnny-one-notes and let your eyes focus on the substantive conversation. You might learn something.

Signed,

An atheist

PS -- the original meaning of proselytize hinges on conversion to a religion. Most atheists don't try to recruit people to be atheists.

You must be new to dcum.

Most of dcum's atheists are very evangelical, treat their atheism like a sacred religion, and definitely prothletize.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sigh.

NP here.

Looks like many people use the Report button like a thumbs down.
It is disturbing that on a free, open site, people would insist on the censoring of other's speech.

Absurd that topics are assumed to be limited to those with bona fides to be there....many DCUMers don't even live in DC yet they are allowed to engage in the discussion, mostly without criticism (though you are obvious by your unfamiliarity with things like traffic, high cost of living).

It is also preposterous to think you could keep forums closed to just those who are religious -- how would you screen for membership??

Lastly, the beauty of a forum is the contribution of a diverse assortment of views, like this country. Ignore the trolls and the johnny-one-notes and let your eyes focus on the substantive conversation. You might learn something.

Signed,

An atheist

PS -- the original meaning of proselytize hinges on conversion to a religion. Most atheists don't try to recruit people to be atheists.

Yes, discussion is a beautiful thing. Trolling everything you disagree with—see the atheist at 17:24—is not because it impedes discussion.

Why won’t you delete the forum, Jeff? As it stands, “Religion Forum” is false advertising. It’s a forum where children like 17:24 can get their sorry rocks off by trolling and even use their own bigotry to justify it to themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sigh.

NP here.

Looks like many people use the Report button like a thumbs down.
It is disturbing that on a free, open site, people would insist on the censoring of other's speech.

Absurd that topics are assumed to be limited to those with bona fides to be there....many DCUMers don't even live in DC yet they are allowed to engage in the discussion, mostly without criticism (though you are obvious by your unfamiliarity with things like traffic, high cost of living).

It is also preposterous to think you could keep forums closed to just those who are religious -- how would you screen for membership??

Lastly, the beauty of a forum is the contribution of a diverse assortment of views, like this country. Ignore the trolls and the johnny-one-notes and let your eyes focus on the substantive conversation. You might learn something.

Signed,

An atheist

PS -- the original meaning of proselytize hinges on conversion to a religion. Most atheists don't try to recruit people to be atheists.

You must be new to dcum.

Most of dcum's atheists are very evangelical, treat their atheism like a sacred religion, and definitely prothletize.

+1. What is the repetitive “you’re a moron for believing fairy tales and here’s why I’m an atheist” but proselytizing?

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sigh.

NP here.

Looks like many people use the Report button like a thumbs down.
It is disturbing that on a free, open site, people would insist on the censoring of other's speech.

Absurd that topics are assumed to be limited to those with bona fides to be there....many DCUMers don't even live in DC yet they are allowed to engage in the discussion, mostly without criticism (though you are obvious by your unfamiliarity with things like traffic, high cost of living).

It is also preposterous to think you could keep forums closed to just those who are religious -- how would you screen for membership??

Lastly, the beauty of a forum is the contribution of a diverse assortment of views, like this country. Ignore the trolls and the johnny-one-notes and let your eyes focus on the substantive conversation. You might learn something.

Signed,

An atheist

PS -- the original meaning of proselytize hinges on conversion to a religion. Most atheists don't try to recruit people to be atheists.

Yes, discussion is a beautiful thing. Trolling everything you disagree with—see the atheist at 17:24—is not because it impedes discussion.

Why won’t you delete the forum, Jeff? As it stands, “Religion Forum” is false advertising. It’s a forum where children like 17:24 can get their sorry rocks off by trolling and even use their own bigotry to justify it to themselves.

I keep seeing requests to delete the forum. If you don't like the forum, don't click on it. Just ignore it. Quit asking for it to be deleted. I'm not going to do that.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sigh.

NP here.

Looks like many people use the Report button like a thumbs down.
It is disturbing that on a free, open site, people would insist on the censoring of other's speech.

Absurd that topics are assumed to be limited to those with bona fides to be there....many DCUMers don't even live in DC yet they are allowed to engage in the discussion, mostly without criticism (though you are obvious by your unfamiliarity with things like traffic, high cost of living).

It is also preposterous to think you could keep forums closed to just those who are religious -- how would you screen for membership??

Lastly, the beauty of a forum is the contribution of a diverse assortment of views, like this country. Ignore the trolls and the johnny-one-notes and let your eyes focus on the substantive conversation. You might learn something.

Signed,

An atheist

PS -- the original meaning of proselytize hinges on conversion to a religion. Most atheists don't try to recruit people to be atheists.

Yes, discussion is a beautiful thing. Trolling everything you disagree with—see the atheist at 17:24—is not because it impedes discussion.

Why won’t you delete the forum, Jeff? As it stands, “Religion Forum” is false advertising. It’s a forum where children like 17:24 can get their sorry rocks off by trolling and even use their own bigotry to justify it to themselves.

I keep seeing requests to delete the forum. If you don't like the forum, don't click on it. Just ignore it. Quit asking for it to be deleted. I'm not going to do that.

Why won’t you hide it from Recent Topics?

[Anonymous]

OK guys, I guess the only recourse is to report every instance of atheist trolling. Probably multiple times if we all do it. For example, I just reported a pair of rolling eyeballs on the “I love God” thread.

It’s only fair that bad posts from religous people get reported too. Although there seem many fewer of those.

Either the moderator will get sick of the trouble and delete the forum, or the forum will be cleaned up. Win-win.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Why won’t you hide it from Recent Topics?

I don't think that is good for either the forum or for DCUM as a whole. First of all, we don't even know how the majority of the forum's posters feel on the topic. We have gone around and around with this request from posters in the Kids with Special Needs forum. Many posters argue that forum should be removed from Recent Topics and many argue that it shouldn't. Both of these forums are relatively low traffic and I am pessimistic that they would survive for very long if they were removed from Recent Topics. Removing threads is not a simple process and requires modifying configuration files by hand and then restarting multiple servers in the cluster. I just don't want to do that willy nilly.

[Anonymous]

OP...it’s time to pick up your ball and go home. Jeff has made it clear he is not going to alter the forum to create a safe space for you.