Well that's three. Three to go.

[TM99]

1. As a non-theist who would self-identify my

psycho-spiritual path as Buddhist (been involved with the Dharma for over 30 years now), I have found the following to be true for me here at DU.

I know I am not welcome nor do I ever post in the AA group. While there are many good men and women who are non-believers and non-theists on these boards, the anti-theist/anti-religion cabal rules that group and overshadows AA's in general. They may have legitimate grievances from childhood about their experiences with the most literalistic and fundamentalist forms of Christianity in America, however, they still hold that immature mode of thinking as they attempt to psychologically work through these issues with their animosity, venomous, and bluntly raging behavior. I see no reason in frequenting that room for discussion as those are simply not the issues I deal with nor are they the types of individuals that a stimulating or thought-provoking discussion could be held with.

The Religion forum, I choose now to rarely post in. Even after putting most if not all of that cabal on Ignore, that forum and its devolving discussions can simply push my buttons too much especially the lack of scholarship, the insistence on religion=delusion, and 'privilege' theory.

I am choosing more and more to post in Interfaith when I do want to discuss these types of topics. Why?

First, I have not experienced a single bit of bullshit from even one believer or religious person in any discussion on DU. I have never had them call me names. I have never had them disrespect me. I have never had them mock or deride me. I simply can not say the same for at least one very vocal cabal of self-identified Atheists on these boards.

Second, I do feel welcomed here. That same sense of respect and civility exists here in the Interfaith Forum. I served on the Jury the other night in that contentious thread. I fully understand why you lost your temper. I have done so in the past as well.

Someone who constantly derides and is obnoxious towards anyone, believer or not, with an interest in religions should not be welcomed here. If they have shown an unwillingness to converse with respect to differing positions on the topic in the Religion group and spend time in the AA group constantly being combative and well bluntly, assholish, what possible intention other than the continuance of such behavior could they even have in the Interfaith forum? Reading the threads during the issue the other night, it is apparent that those in question (I won't mention names so my post is not sent to a Jury!) had every intention of 'picking a fight'.

Please consider putting these individuals on full Ignore. Then let's police ourselves here. We don't have to 'name names'. We don't have to bicker. We also don't have to put up with bullying or bullshit either. If something like the other night occurs again, alert the hosts, alert the post, and bow out. These individuals have wood to burn on issues that are unresolved for them. Don't become a part of their fire. I had to learn the hard way myself. I had several posts hidden because I just couldn't tolerate the bullshit nor could I keep from having them push my buttons. Spend enough time around toxic and dysfunctional people and it is very easy to begin acting that way yourself.