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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - Some of the atheist expressions are like a broken record:

"I don't believe in organized religion"

"Religious people here are crazy cakes"

"Religious nutcase"

"You religious people have Stockholm Syndrome"

"It's a fairytale" (insert whatever religious practice)

and all time favorite "There is no god".

We get it. You don't believe. It is fascinating that you have uncontrolled need to explain and expound your atheism on every single thread, even though one of you started a thread about what led you to atheism
I asked you to explain why you have that compulsion to explain your atheism and put down every believer.
We almost got somewhere before the thread was deleted.
I would like Mr. Steele to create tow separate forums: Atheism and Belief.

Op, now you're like a dog with a bone. You asked your question, and received answers even if you didn't like them. Apparently the only right answer was "to derail threads and spread atheism."

The thread is gone, yet here we are.

I won't be surprised to see this thread locked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - Some of the atheist expressions are like a broken record:

"I don't believe in organized religion"

"Religious people here are crazy cakes"

"Religious nutcase"

"You religious people have Stockholm Syndrome"

"It's a fairytale" (insert whatever religious practice)

and all time favorite "There is no god".

We get it. You don't believe. It is fascinating that you have uncontrolled need to explain and expound your atheism on every single thread, even though one of you started a thread about what led you to atheism
I asked you to explain why you have that compulsion to explain your atheism and put down every believer.
We almost got somewhere before the thread was deleted.
I would like Mr. Steele to create tow separate forums: Atheism and Belief.

Op, now you're like a dog with a bone. You asked your question, and received answers even if you didn't like them. Apparently the only right answer was "to derail threads and spread atheism."

The thread is gone, yet here we are.

I won't be surprised to see this thread locked.

Also, anyone who disagrees with your premise is told "you are wrong." In reality, you don't know that. But carry on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - Some of the atheist expressions are like a broken record:

"I don't believe in organized religion"

"Religious people here are crazy cakes"

"Religious nutcase"

"You religious people have Stockholm Syndrome"

"It's a fairytale" (insert whatever religious practice)

and all time favorite "There is no god".

We get it. You don't believe. It is fascinating that you have uncontrolled need to explain and expound your atheism on every single thread, even though one of you started a thread about what led you to atheism
I asked you to explain why you have that compulsion to explain your atheism and put down every believer.
We almost got somewhere before the thread was deleted.
I would like Mr. Steele to create tow separate forums: Atheism and Belief.

Op, now you're like a dog with a bone. You asked your question, and received answers even if you didn't like them. Apparently the only right answer was "to derail threads and spread atheism."

The thread is gone, yet here we are.

I won't be surprised to see this thread locked.

Yep.

OP was looking for answers, and receiving ones that didn't fit what they wanted to hear: "I just like being an a-hole."

Since people actually responded with their personal stories and curiosities, and it didn't fit what OP was looking for, they kept prodding, and things got out of control.

[Anonymous]

^^ Two previous PPs: You are not being truthful. The thread was, of course, conveniently deleted to help you spout what's not true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^ Two previous PPs: You are not being truthful. The thread was, of course, conveniently deleted to help you spout what's not true.

Here we go again: "You're not being truthful, I'm going to ignore everything you said, now let me tell you your real thoughts and intentions."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^ Two previous PPs: You are not being truthful. The thread was, of course, conveniently deleted to help you spout what's not true.

You need serious help. Once again someone who disagrees is not being truthful and it's about spreading atheist lies. (I think that's what you are eluding to)

Jeff perhaps we need a mental heath forum!

[jsteele]

The biggest problem I see with the Religious forum is that posters who disagree with one another argue until one side feels that it’s losing and then reports the thread. I am then asked to clean up a mult-page thread. I’m not going to do it. Either report things earlier, get used to threads disappearing, or just give up on moderation all together.

If someone is derailing your thread, report it immediately. If you argue for 20 pages, the outcome may be disappointing for you.

[Anonymous]

*thumbs up*

[Anonymous]

Once it was established that atheists by their own admission don't have a soul ... The implications were too much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - Mr. Steele - if you are on the side of atheists and do not want to support balanced discussions and positive turn around in the Religion forum that could have resulted from the thread that you deleted, why don't you rename the Religion forum into Atheist forum?
Others, besides me, told you numerous times that atheist are derailing every topic on the Religion forum and you chose to ignore those complains. Most religious people of all faiths have left and the forum has lost its purpose. With you deleting this thread that could have been a turnaround in the way things are discussed, why simply not rename the forum to Atheism forum and open another forum called Belief forum where religious people of all faiths can congregate.

I agree 100% with this. Please rename it the Atheist Forum. PP is right that it’s impossible for believers to have real discussions there, give the atheist hostility and trolling, and most believers have fled the forum in droves.

As for a Belief Forum, I don’t have much confidence the atheists world refrain from trashing it. I think we just need to accept that DCUM is not a place for discussing religion, given the aggesssive hostility of its atheist participants.

I'd be all for a Belief Forum and an Atheist Forum, just as I would be for a Liberal Political Forum and a Conservative Political Forum - and for the same reason. It is impossible for conservatives to have real discussions, given the liberal hostility and trolling, and most conservatives have fled - or intentionally driven out from - the forum in droves. (I imagine there is overlap between the groups, since liberals tend to be more non-religious and conservatives more religious.)

I wish there were a "crazy troll liberal" forum, a "crazy toll convservative" forum and a "normal people political" forum. All the people who feel an urge to make sweeping generalizations about liberals or conservatives would be moved to the crazy forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^ Two previous PPs: You are not being truthful. The thread was, of course, conveniently deleted to help you spout what's not true.

So let me get this straight. You believe that Jeff actively takes the side of atheists in order to help them spout lies. That’s a bold accusation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Once it was established that atheists by their own admission don't have a soul ... The implications were too much.

Nobody has a soul.

signed,
atheist

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Once it was established that atheists by their own admission don't have a soul ... The implications were too much.

Nobody has a soul.

signed,
atheist

Which is why might makes right and guilt is pointless.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I think there were a lot of thoughtful replies and responses from Atheists.

It did devolve into "I don't believe you, here's why you're really here" completely ignoring those responses, and presuming bad intent.

There were at least a couple responses by people of faith that actually read and understood the atheist responses, but it was overrun by (some) people so insecure in their faith that they couldn't digest alternative ideas or viewpoints.

Please. The atheist responses on that thread are easily categorized.
1. Let me ignore the thread topic and tell you why I’m an atheist
2. Oh goodie, another chance to troll believers
3. If you don’t like my bad behavior, it’s because you’re insecure in your faith, not because my derailments and trolling are making it impossible to have a conversation (see above).
4. Some thoughtful replies by atheists that could be counted on one hand.

Only a tiny percent of the atheist participants on that thread actually wanted to join a discussion on the thread topic. Wish the moderator had left it up so this would be evident.

Case in point.

Exactly.

Wish the thread were still up so people could read exactly how you guys behaved on it.

I behaved fine in it, I responded to OP's question, I engaged in zero name calling. And now I'm being told again, "I don't believe you, here's what really happened" as pp proved by being dismissive again. Some people are so resistant to hearing differing ideas, that they immediately assume mal intent.

So many of you think that ”behave fine” means responding to every and all thread topics with, “I’m an atheist because...” and “religion is fairy tales.” Wish that thread were still up so we could see this in action.

What's wrong with someone telling you why they're an atheists? It was pertinent to OP's question. For me, I mentioned that I take an interest in religion because I come from a mixed religious background/family, and it caused rifts in our family. And that I find the "loyalty" to a particular religion, or how people draw their conclusions, interesting. It's personal and not disconnected from my own identification to being an atheist. I truly fall to understand how someone's anecdote is irrelevant - it's *completely* relevant.

As for the latter, I did not read every post (but like 75% of them) and I never, ever saw someone post "religion is fairy tales."

What I did repeatedly read, are a lot people lump summing Atheists as one lump, monolithic other, and not responding to people individually. You can see that in this thread as well.

The thread question was “why are you here?” It wasn’t “why are you an atheist?” If the answer is, “I’m here because I want to talk about myself,” or “I’m here because I’m proselytizing for atheism,” then you need to own that, and respond directly to the thread question.

This happens every day on so many threads, where some subset of atheists thinks the answer to any question is to talk about themselves.

The OP asked “why are you here?”. I answered for myself. Am I supposed to answer for others?

You didn’t answer the thread question. Your answer, apparently, is “I come to the Religion forum to talk about my atheism.” Which would have been a fine, appropriate answer if you had given it. Can you see the difference?

The upshot is that so many religion threads get clogged with “I’m going to tell you why I’m an atheist” no matter what the thread topic is.

Nobody has asked you to respond for others.

I did directly answer OP. A couple of times.

What did you say?

I said OP’s premise was wrong. Atheists aren’t “on” the Religion board. I ignore most Religious topics but get drawn in by atheist-hater threads and posts. I post on Religion threads to address those posts. That’s why.

Op here - you do not speak truth. You lie. Anyone can go to Religion forum now and can see that there are no atheist-hating threads. In fact, 99% of atheist threads are started by atheists themselves. I was the first person ever to start a conversation about atheist hostility on the forum by asking what compels atheists to relentlessly derail all topics. Again, I stand by by my request to Mr. Steele to create two separate forums: Atheism and Belief forum.

You’re right. Your thread was deleted so there are no atheist-hater threads on Recent Topics at the moment. There haven’t been any I’ve noticed recently which is also why I haven’t posted on any Religion threads lately. Aside from yours. I’m happy to go dig up some old ones though if you want to take a look.

Are you sure you’re the “first person ever”?

And are you really sure you want to poke the bear?

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:The biggest problem I see with the Religious forum is that posters who disagree with one another argue until one side feels that it’s losing and then reports the thread. I am then asked to clean up a mult-page thread. I’m not going to do it. Either report things earlier, get used to threads disappearing, or just give up on moderation all together.

If someone is derailing your thread, report it immediately. If you argue for 20 pages, the outcome may be disappointing for you.

It’s already possible to report derailments, and this isn’t working.

Do you really want to have to adjudicate every time somebody asks if they can leave Easter Mass early with their small kids and an atheist responds with “there is no God” or “I’m an atheist because...”? And religious people don’t want to have to hit “report” constantly for this nonsense. It’s the endless torrent of this abuse that derails, not the single episodes. And so far it’s not possible to report multiple incidents at the same time. Derailment can be cumulative rather than a one-time “aha” and it’s a slippery slope of determining when “I want to talk about my path to atheism instead of answering OP’s question” is really derailment. I don’t think a single person here objects to the occasional “there is no god.” When it’s on every.single.thread, though, that’s when all conversation grinds to a halt.

The atheist posters here know this well, to the point that this is going to be a non-policy.