I have been trying to inculcate this same trend on another forum I frequent (Richard Dawkins’ Forums). Most of the respondents are horrible crass toward the ideas and beliefs of others on that forum (well, the crass towards the ideas and beliefs of theists), when it might be the case that the theist is there to try to figure out whether he/she should give up their faith.
Although, since adopting a be nice to strangers policy on that forum, I have noticed that the vast majority of theists who come to Richard Dawkins’ forums are simply out to preach and tarnish Richard’s scientific works.
I still maintain that we should remain nice (at the very least polite) to these people, as it will not give them further ammo to charge atheists with being “Mean, grumpy people who have no morals because they don’t believe in God”
On this forum, I have made an effort to use the same strategy, mostly because I am here to learn from others who seem to have more knowledge than I, and I don’t wish to step on others’ feet.
I do understand however, that when in a group of intellectuals of copious skill and knowledge that social graces can be neglected due to an intense focus upon the information and knowledge in question. I have learned to grow a thicker skin when I am told that an idea of mine is wrong, because it might well be wrong, and the faster I learn why it is wrong, the faster I may replace the inaccurate knowledge with accurate knowledge. I think it is this latter piece of information that most people forget when in crowds of highly intellectual effective people.
And, because of this, I always try to take into account that another person may not be thinking this way when I make an attempt to correct or query them about a fact or knowledge that may be in error.
I have been trying to inculcate this same trend on another forum I frequent (Richard Dawkins’ Forums). Most of the respondents are horrible crass toward the ideas and beliefs of others on that forum (well, the crass towards the ideas and beliefs of theists), when it might be the case that the theist is there to try to figure out whether he/she should give up their faith.
Although, since adopting a be nice to strangers policy on that forum, I have noticed that the vast majority of theists who come to Richard Dawkins’ forums are simply out to preach and tarnish Richard’s scientific works.
I still maintain that we should remain nice (at the very least polite) to these people, as it will not give them further ammo to charge atheists with being “Mean, grumpy people who have no morals because they don’t believe in God”
On this forum, I have made an effort to use the same strategy, mostly because I am here to learn from others who seem to have more knowledge than I, and I don’t wish to step on others’ feet.
I do understand however, that when in a group of intellectuals of copious skill and knowledge that social graces can be neglected due to an intense focus upon the information and knowledge in question. I have learned to grow a thicker skin when I am told that an idea of mine is wrong, because it might well be wrong, and the faster I learn why it is wrong, the faster I may replace the inaccurate knowledge with accurate knowledge. I think it is this latter piece of information that most people forget when in crowds of highly intellectual effective people.
And, because of this, I always try to take into account that another person may not be thinking this way when I make an attempt to correct or query them about a fact or knowledge that may be in error.