We didn't lose MadMax to cheap insults. No one ever insulted Max to my knowledge. Seems like he got tired of having to justify and explain his faith to people. Fair enough, that's his call. Seems like he's back now, anyway. Maybe he could give us some insight. Refman is a big boy, I'm sure he can handle a joke. If he chooses to take it personally and leave, then his insight will be missed, but I'm not sure that would be reasonable behavior on his part. Since when do we have to show reverence for other people's beliefs and opinions? Sorry, I don't buy that. Do I personally insult anyone? Maybe basso, but otherwise, no. But do I have to think what is special to you is special to me? I'd sure hope not. That would be an awful way to go about things. If I said Obama was a moron and you got personally offended and left, would that be my fault? And it doesn't seem like this is a conversation about religion as much as it is the law. Some have hinted down that path, but I have no interest in going that direction. No matter what you believe or how exhalted you are, you're not above the law. I'm interested to see where this goes from a legal standpoint, not really wanting to go into theology again...
No...I actually found it offensive. Somebody likens the leader (such as he is) of the Catholic Church to a cheap World of Warcraft character and people are somehow shocked that a Catholic would take offense to that. How can this be? I do not harbor any ill feelings toward Donny. I think he made an ill advised joke. I pointed out my feelings on it. It's over. I now return you to your regularly scheduled program...
to wizards. and I'd like sum up the new Catholic Church slogan being pushed by the Pope apologists on this forum: "Yeah, we have some molesters but fewer than you think."
It's not about handling an insult or two. If you know it's a matter some people hold sacred, the issue isn't about reverence, it's more about respect. I've been critical and unapologetic about Christianity. I also know that crude insults puts people on the defensive, and things devolve right after it. In what part of a discussion matters to you? If it's a silly message board, then you'll get what you put in. I shouldn't single you out. It gets tiring to see it happen time after time. I don't see a big triumph of reason in each situation. That's the part where Dawkins pisses me off the most. In the drive to boost his ego, he cheapens the discussion with snide insults and encourages his followers to do the same thing. He can tell his followers to pray for that great atheist awakening during his book signings while he laughs all the way to the bank. With Dawkins, his (or his friend's) publicity stunts are not about the victims. In this time,the Pope is seen in a bad light, but he's still written encyclicals with more depth than Dawkins can ever admit to. It becomes less about the portrayal of a criminal Pope. His followers have to deal with that complex relationship and also with their Church as a whole. Dawkins, Hitchens, et al. are giving the Vatican an easy out. It's also fine if you don't care what people think about you. But it's reasonable for a person to think less of you with what you say and how you defend it. Common sense stuff, but if you're looking for a reasoned discussion, that'd be the avenue to begin with.
Will it be equally offensive to some here if we shall turn this entire scenario upside down and begin referring to 'Wizard Morey' as 'Morey the Pope'? Actually the title could be quite apt considering he does rape all the little GM's around the league
Just for a different perspective, Dawkins is the closest thing an atheist has to the Pope, and he has been insulted and bashed (in a very non-joking manner) quite a bit in this thread. And it doesn't bother me one bit. I think you're wrong, but are my feelings hurt? No. Do I think less of you for it? No. And you're absolutely right, I'm not really interested in a discussion about religion, the Pope, or the Catholic Church. If I was, I probably wouldn't refer to the Pope as a World of Warcraft character (Sorry Ref, but that was actually pretty funny, too ). Like I said, to me, this thread is about the law. And I'm very interested to see if Snobby McKnowItAll can actually help bring a case against Gandalf, and if so, what are the main points and what will come of it.
While I don't think it's really about the victims either, and that this is a publicity stunt, I think Hitchens at least really thinks that the pope is a criminal and that the catholic church is a genuine danger to society. What exactly do you mean by giving the vatican the easy way out? (I'm not trying to be disingenuous)
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