One more question for all R&S users regardless of your faith/non-faith.....?

Question

Given the (mostly) good answers to these two prior question:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=A0WTc6l3o31GUa0A_RXsy6IX?qid=20070623153458AApZyjV

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=A0WTc6l3o31GUa0A.BXsy6IX?qid=20070623153949AAlFENZ

Why must so many people get so hostile with each other in R&S? Why must there be so many ad hominem attacks and intolerence?

Again, this is regardless of faith/non-faith.

Answer 1

People of all types will feel that way and act in that manner when they feel that their belief is threaten or under attack.
It is silly to act in such a manner, things would be better if everyone acted civilized on this and all other topics for that matter.

Answer 2

Even outside of here the two topics that seem to mostly make people seem to feel cornered are politics and religion and a lot of times there is a crossover between those two topics. We tend to hold our strongest opinions on these and to dig our heels in to ~defend~ our position. Then of course, being that we humans are emotional beings it escalates and gets out of hand.

As I am a great believer in humanity, I do not think that a lot of is intentional when things get escalated as we are all more than capable of shooting off our mouths before our brain has a chance to catch up. I take it with a grain of salt, because once people have a chance to calm down a bit, it's usually like dealing with a whole different person.

Answer 3

I don't believe I've ever been hostile - at least I hope no one has ever perceived hostility in me. :)
those of us who know each other from here - of all faiths, beliefs and non-beliefs - have a healthy respect for each other. We relish the debate, but are never insulting to each other that I've experienced.
There are many who come here with "bating" on the brain.... those can get pretty furious and hostile. That can get discouraging. But on a forum such as this, where everyone comes and goes and is basically anonymous, the fur can fly.... it's human nature eh.


blessings and peace :)

Answer 4

I get downright fed up. I've been picked at for being an agnostic. People have assumed that I'm interested in being converted. The constant barrage of downright offensive statements about perfectly wonderful people all in the name of belief wears on me. And I get sick of it. So, I fight back.

There's nothing wrong with anger, by the way. It is a normal, healthy human emotion.

I do my best to be fair and avoid attacking people, but every now and then, I run into someone who deserves a taste of their own medicine.

(Of course, I'm really irritated by it tonight. Some other night, I know I'll re-read that last statement I made, and I'll kick myself for letting my emotions get the best of me. But sometimes, you just have to go with it, and let it out.)

Answer 5

I'm just aware that there are many "false" Beliefs and "False" Prophets. And I am also aware that for some strange reason that self professed "Atheists" seem to be drawn like bugs to to flame to R&S and slam everyone, while saying we are all trying to shove our beliefs down there throats. This is an R&S forum, if you are a Non-Believer then why are you here? If you want more of the the word of GOD go to church. But stay away from R&S and leave us alone. But Satan's Minions are at work everywhere.

Answer 6

That is an excellent question. I don't know why so many are so hostile. Look at the questions that "Atheist will eat you alive" is asking. I think that perhaps it is human nature for some people to just be angry and rude. Peace and happiness to you and yours.

Answer 7

I think we (as a group) forget that we shouldn't take ourselves too seriously.. I think people also forget that there are tons of trolls on here who look to incite one group against another.
We forget to respect each other and it leads to attacks.. or .. sometimes we feel that someone of another belief/non-belief has been wronged and we feel the need to take up for them.

The more of us that could agree to disagree politely and with respect, the better off we'd all be.

Answer 8

I have a theory about that called the "Yo momma effect" basically for example when one makes jokes about another's mom they may or may not know or hate their mom but it's something they know can hurt the other very badly. Same with sensative subjects like relgion and politics. One Christian may hate one particular Atheist but attacks all of Atheism even though he might not know any other Atheists or hate any other Atheists.

Answer 9

Personal attacks breed more personal attacks, so a cycle starts... As for how more get introduced, well, that tends to happen when someone thinks they're right, and everyone else is wrong to the point where they think the "wrong" person deserves to suffer forever for being wrong.

Answer 10

Some people feel really strongly about their beliefs and don't like to be told their wrong, some people are just plain immature, and it doesn't help that this is the Internet and anonymity brings out the worst in people.