I'm sure if you're an outspoken atheist, you must get a lot of emails from nutjobs saying ridiculous things about their religion and so forth.
By nutjobs, I don't mean EVERYONE, just the ones that make it clear that they're crazy.
When you get emails from these people, do you consider it worth the effort to explain why they are wrong, and give them a little "education"? Or do you just tell them to go kiss a duck?
Unfortunately, I usually do the latter, as I figure "crazy is just crazy" and having a rational discussion is pointless.
Has anyone here ever had a good conversation with one of these types?
2007-12-13 05:01:54 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I have had e-mail discussions with several of them. I dont know why I do it. Usually it involves me pointing at all of the logical fallacies in their "argument". That gets ignored in the responses and eventually comes down to them threatening me with eternal damnation.
completely mindless section of the population. Just worries me because it is the same thought process that allows oppressive regimes like the Taliban and the Nazis take advantage of people and gaining momentum towards power.
2007-12-13 06:50:31 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I don't get those anymore.
I've had a couple crazies threaten me and a couple racists talk crap about white people but generally the conversation goes for the better.
One time I had some cop or cop wannabe write a whole bunch of obscene letters to me. He stopped after I wrote a letter back telling him that: You act like a cop who has something to prove but so far all you've been proving is that you are an @sshole.
With my old account S.L. I had many more of said e-mails. Now most of them are just social. Maybe it was because my old screen name was Saint L.
2007-12-13 15:20:56 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I used to keep it closed because I was worried about just that kind of thing. But I decided to open it as an experiment, and, I have to say, I very rarely get the kind of emails you're talking about.
When I do, I assume that crazy is just crazy, and go about my regularly scheduled day.
2007-12-13 15:18:57 · answer #3 · answered by Let Me Think 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ive received some that were very nice & some that just said that I was wrong in my answer. Usually I have no idea what they are talking about as (most of the time) they don't reference anything. But there is the occasional "whack-job" rant. Those I usually respond with "Muhahahahaha". Explaining is pointless to those types.
2007-12-13 13:08:58 · answer #4 · answered by ? 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I'm not an atheist as you are well aware, but I've left all means of communication open specifically to try to get people to contact me - the wackier the better.
Heck, I need something to brighten up my time here at work.
2007-12-13 13:09:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
i have my e-mail open, but i rarely get e-mails unless i e-mail someone first. I guess people just dont love me, think me to insane to challenge, or dont know what to say
occasionally i'll get a "jesus loves you" e-mail.
but on the positive side, i am now engaged in an ongoing e-mail with someone, a christian, who may have different views than me about religion, but who can respect me as a person, and who i respect. Its great to find a christian who actually practices what they preach.
2007-12-14 13:15:27 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nah... it's really not worth it. I don't keep my email or IM open for just that reason. My 360 is open to anyone wishing a nice conversation.
2007-12-13 15:13:27 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I rarely get email. I'm just not that noticeable, I guess.
When I do, I usually completely ignore it. I have sent back optimistic and positive responses, on occasion. That is pretty much a guarantee that they will leave you alone, since they want you to get ticked off.
I try not to encourage stalkers.
2007-12-13 13:07:37 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
My email is open. I would have no problem explaining my beliefs if I got rational emails, but most of them are something like "u stupid athist! u r going to hell!" I usually ignore those or send them a snarky reply I am sure they don't understand.
2007-12-13 13:07:42 · answer #9 · answered by Nea 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋
The dearth of hate-mail indicates I must not be incendiary enough, though my violation for asking "Do dyslexics have to clean up after their God if it makes a mess" indicates that theists sorely lack the funny bone. Intelligent design, indeed!
2007-12-13 13:07:54 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋