Do you find other peoples comments on your beliefs insulting?

Question

On yahoo answers there are some insulting comments put down by people against atheism or religions. Why do they do this and do you find this insulting?

It's not that I don't mind them expressing their beliefs Dana S it's just the thoughtless way they do it.

Answer 1

Only when they are playing God and pretending to be all knowing, all powerful and able to see my heart.

God is the only ultimate authority on scripture and on my heart.

Answer 2

I am not easily insulted (thick skin, you see) and when I expose my beliefs and opinions, I expect to be ridiculed by some people. Especially ignorant, biased and self-opinionated people. I don't mind that.

What I do mind, however, is when ignorant, biased and self-opinionated people take perverse delight in attacking the person who asked the question, or the persons who disagree with them. There have been a lot of verbal attacks on people responding to questions about Jehovah's Witnesses, for example. All I can say is those persons who attack the individuals who disagree with them are not acting in a Christ-like manner and give Christianity a bad name. Debate is fine. Attack is not. I have found that some of the best answers have come from atheists - God bless 'em!

Anyway, I have yet to be insulted. (Famous last words?)

Answer 3

Hehe, no because too many people trying to insult me attack some belief I don't have, I've been sent hate mail accused of being: An Atheist, A Wiccan, A Satanist, A Muslim and most shockingly of all a Christian. >_<

Don't pay attention enough obviously, so they rarely attack my religion, Asatru.

As for just general posts on answers, well I expect it. And as they say if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen. I can stand the heat. ;-)

Answer 4

I don't usually find comments insulting because everyone has their own opinion but it does get annoying when people go further than just voicing their opinion (this means everyone even the christians who share my basic beliefs). I think people do this for a couple of reasons
1) They don't realize how their comments sound
2) They want attention OR
3) They are honestly and truly clueless when it comes to interacting in a social enviornment

Answer 5

No, in fact I doubt anyone on here even knows what my beliefs actually are.... most of what is debated are mainstream religious beliefs or lack thereof. My beliefs are mine and mine alone... nobody has ever even asked me what those beliefs really are at least not in detail... most people just ask what god/s you believe in, that doesnt apply to me. I am a spiritual agnostic with my own belief systems based on nothing but my own life experiences. In reality nobody can insult those beliefs or challenge them or even really understand them... they are my own and no on elses. Nothing can change what I believe and nothing can insult or hurt me by disagreeing with what I believe. One of my favorite poems pretty much sums it up..

A mighty wind blew night and day, it stole the oak trees leaves away, then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark, until the oak was tired and stark.. But still the oak tree held its ground, While other trees fell all around. The weary wind gave up and spoke, "How can you still be standing oak?" The oak tree said, "I know that you can break each branch of mine in two, carry every leaf away, shake my limbs and make me sway But I have roots stretched in the earth, growing stronger since my birth, you'll never touch them, for you see, they are the deepest part of me. Until today I wasnt sure, of just how much I could endure, but now Ive found with thanks to you, Im stronger than I ever knew"

Answer 6

a comment in itself is not in the least insulting. The insult
and the annoyance comes with personal character assassination
of the commentor. An opinion should be viewed on it's
own merit without passing judgement -- we are all different,
with a multiple of environments, education levels and national
viewpoints.

Answer 7

Everybody wants to think they're right. It's human nature. Some are abusive and insulting when doing so, which is bad manners...but that's human nature, too :)

We should respect everyone's right to believe as they wish...but that doesn't mean we should respect the beliefs themselves. Only "beliefs" which earn respect should be respected...and nonsensical, mythological, superstitious beliefs with no evidence to support them and lots of evidence against them haven't earned respect. Critical discussion of the beliefs themselves is and should be fair game -- but the discussion doesn't need to get personal, and calling people stupid (and similar insults) isn't a critical discussion of the validity of beliefs. :)

Peace.

Answer 8

Welcome to "Human Nature 101". Some human beings defend their beliefs by insulting those of others, not realizing that isn't a valid form of logical debate in regards to their own beliefs.

I've had to develop a "thicker skin" to deal with some of the comments of those who doesn't agree with what I think, but ultimately, I don't care what others think of me - I'm not going to change my mind because they might disagree with me or are insulting. If they have a right to their opinions, then I have a right to my own opinions too, whether they agree with theirs or not.

Answer 9

There's a lot of insults against two of my labels, atheist and pagan, but I'm quite used to those. I just get angry sometimes when people act like jerks.

My other one, Taoism... no one seems to have anything bad to say about. I think that's interesting. Maybe it's because they don't know enough about it to put it down.

Answer 10

I don't because i feel that everyone has the right to believe what they want to believe! If you (the person) can't take the criticism then why post the question if you know that you are going to get it. They are pretty much just setting themselves up to get insults because not everyone in this world is mature enough to respect other peoples beliefs!

Answer 11

As a Yahoo Message Board refugee, I think the insults are pretty lightweight here. Maybe I'm jaded.