h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It goes to show how infrequently I do my lurking: I visited Justin the Preacher's personal space today to find out his latest opinions on God, doom and morality--only to find that he abandoned h2g2 last March.F92252?thread=396160

Poor Justin. I never knew anyone who received as much hounding as that man got. It was like watching a pack of bulldogs hanging on to the guy and not letting go until he bled to death.

Justin used his journal as a place for writing sermons and thoughts on God. God was his one obsession and Justin was a believer in Evil; he was not afraid to name this 'evil' in all its forms, and I expect this is why so many people shouted him down. Yet he seemed pretty clear on the fact that he hated no-one but himself and was not out to convert anyone. It was not as though he trawled h2g2 telling everyone they were all going to burn in Hell. No, they visited his space specifically to be told they would burn in Hell. A lot of people were obsessed about trying to convert Justin, and he took this as a sign that the Devil was beseiging him. It's as the saying goes: "just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you."

I only saw one thread not started on his space which contained a post from Justin, and here he expressed heartfelt sympathy about someone's troubles. This sympathy was immediately rebuffed, to the delight of everyone on that particular thread.

I don't think there are many on h2g2 who didn't see Justin as either a threat or a joke. He had no friends on here, and attacking him was like shooting fish in a barrel (and many a brave crusader rose to the challenge). But there were others able to distinguish between words and actions: Saturnine tried to defend his right to have opinions; and Gradient treated him with the kind of respect every human being ought to be allowed to have (F92252?thread=386723).

But there's one thing about Justin the Preacher which nobody can deny: he was a compelling read. And now he is no more.

You are far more tolerant than I Snailrind.

It is sort of sad that he abandoned h2g2. I hate to see anyone leave including Justin. I avoided Justin threads cause he just irritated me too much. But the badgering he recieved was irritating too. The arguement never went anywhere and I don't know why people bothered. You're right, that Justin wasn't trying to convert people that I could see. I don't think his leaving can be put on the other researchers though. He was here for his own reasons which were never clear to me. I would guess that he left for his own reasons too.

I heard about the guy, and even visited a thread to see what he thought about me, you could say I was one of the 'goaders' too which after reading your posting..makes me feel ashamed.

Oh...and he never did actually post anything to me...he had already left the thread, which was a good thing....cos what people were saying about him was quite awful and I left the thread shortly after...I don't tolerate very well, discussing people when they are not around to defend themselves.

"I would guess that he left for his own reasons too."

You could be right there, Hellbound. He did seem as tenacious as those who visited his space.

I must admit, the invective he attracted was frequently as entertaining as his personal thoughts, and he usually gave as good as he got.

"I don't tolerate very well, discussing people when they are not around to defend themselves."

Good point. Time to summon some Justinists to this journal entry.

Well, I put a message at the end of the most recent thread on Justin's page, but I'm not sure that many people are subscribed to it. What to do now?

Wait, I suppose.

I'm hoping for someone to come along and tell me in no uncertain terms that I'm wrong, and why. I haven't read everything Justin wrote, after all, and I didn't visit his website. Perhaps someone can tell me something I didn't know, which will change my mind. Or perhaps not.

But there must be someone out there who's up for a discussion about the rights and wrongs of Justin's sermonising.

*waits*

*taps foot*

I'm sure they'll come. What else do they have to do now that he's gone?

Its the same old,same old,people can shout there mouths off,sitting behind a screen,but in reality confrontation,would any of these researchers have the guts to say it to justins face?We can all hide behind our screens and feel..erm!! power? superior?

I always enjoyed talking to/argueing with Justin, even when he was being at his most irrational. I actually learned some things from him, not that he'd agree with them.

I'm sorry to see that he left durring my absence, but I'm sure he'll be back.



"I don't think there are many on h2g2 who didn't see Justin as either a threat or a joke. He had no friends on here, and attacking him was like shooting fish in a barrel (and many a brave crusader rose to the challenge). But there were others able to distinguish between words and actions: Saturnine tried to defend his right to have opinions; and Gradient treated him with the kind of respect every human being ought to be allowed to have "

And some of us, myself included, made an effort to not yikes him no matter what he said; he had a right to say it no matter how crazy he was. I even stood up and defended what he said on the rare occasions that he made sence.

I too read his postings and like most people (i hope) believe in the freedom of speech,although in todays society we are not granted this liberty,in justins case,he was condemed for his beliefs or opinions,some morals should be learnt here.

Hi, RDO. Thanks for joining this thread. I don't recall seeing you on Justin's space, but then I seldom check the names of posters when I'm reading stuff.

"some of us, myself included, made an effort to not yikes him no matter what he said"

It's just that I think he wouldn't have said anything personally offensive if he had not been challenged in the first place. To tell you the truth, I don't remember him making any personal attacks, but as I said above, I'm an infrequent lurker. Can you recall an example?

A lot of us on Hootoo enjoy a good argument now and again, but Justin did not seem to be such a person. He was more about dogma, wasn't he? In which case, I suppose the question is, should his views be allowed to be expressed and perpetuated?

I notice you've added a post to the 'Was it something we said?' thread, about the fact that he's had previous incarnations on h2g2, and that he'll probably return. I didn't know about that. Did he have different personas too, or has he always said pretty much the same kind of stuff?

"in reality confrontation,would any of these researchers have the guts to say it to justins face?"

Good question. Would anyone have dared, would anyone have cared?

It's probably worth pointing out that before arriving on h2g2 Justin actually succeeded in getting himself banned from the BBCs Christian Messageboards (at the behest of other Christians), something that never happened here, where his right to post was defended even by his detractors. Yes, Justin was usually in a minority of one, but if you adopt the belief that you *are* a special minority of one and everybody else is doomed because they're not part of that minority, what do you expect, really?

Noggin

I will add to Noggin's posting that although some on this thread seem to feel Justin was unfairly 'baited' by people they presume 'had nothing better to do' they seem to find it quite good and fair sport to bait the presumed baiters. Curious.

None of you have had the on-going debates with Justin that many others have had. You cannot know our reasons for doing so, though you presume to know.

You might have asked before presuming. You have made some comments about myself and my friends that are quite insulting. I can only imagine that you find this somehow fun?

az

One further point. Justin did not limit his 'preachings' to his journal entries. He was also quite active on 'ask h2g2'.

az

"Hi, RDO. Thanks for joining this thread. I don't recall seeing you on Justin's space, but then I seldom check the names of posters when I'm reading stuff."

I was there quite a bit back when Hoovooloo was around. After a while, I did fade away.



"It's just that I think he wouldn't have said anything personally offensive if he had not been challenged in the first place. To tell you the truth, I don't remember him making any personal attacks, but as I said above, I'm an infrequent lurker. Can you recall an example?"

He may have, but it isn't just personal attacks he made. He listed all sorts of people who were going to hell, said that many religions' deities were Satan or other demons, ect.



"A lot of us on Hootoo enjoy a good argument now and again, but Justin did not seem to be such a person. He was more about dogma, wasn't he? In which case, I suppose the question is, should his views be allowed to be expressed and perpetuated?"

Yes, but if he wishes to express them in public, he must expect that others will express their views about his views in the same forum.




"I notice you've added a post to the 'Was it something we said?' thread, about the fact that he's had previous incarnations on h2g2, and that he'll probably return. I didn't know about that. Did he have different personas too, or has he always said pretty much the same kind of stuff?"

He's always been about the same--he just retreats into a shell for a few weeks or months without clear reason. The most recent time he did seem a bit politer to me.

"Yes, Justin was usually in a minority of one, but if you adopt the belief that you *are* a special minority of one and everybody else is doomed because they're not part of that minority, what do you expect, really?"

Well, if you say things like he did (or really anything) in public, you should expect those who disagree with you to voice their opinions.

Actually, I suppose it speaks well of us that we didn't get him banned (unless you take the HVL view that the moderators protect certain people and place them above the rules for no clear reason).

I have no more idea what goes through the minds of the Mods than I ever did with Justin.

What I can say is that when Justin was not being deliberatley inflamitory in his postings. He was obstinately denying that anyone else could ever be right.

So by posting his thoughts here he can only be seen as attempting to convert our way of thinking into being closer to his. Despite what he said. Still I dont mind that approach dishonest though it is to be a problem in its self. It was the inflamitory nature of his postings that was the real problem. Not content with posting in a way which any fool could see would harm some others emotionally, he posted the sort of rhetoric designed to engender intolerance in its readers that ought never to see the light of day.

When it became clear he would not take anyone else's arguments or protests into consideration I took to ridiculing his totally ridiculous stance. One of the last posts I made to him said that while he posted the rubbish that was his stock in trade he would never find one of his posts not responded to by one or other of the "pack".

Soon after he did an Elvis.

I cant say I miss him. He added nothing to the site that we could not have learnt from uncritical reading ot the bible and detracted from the general ethos of the site by posting almost entirely in a way that would offend many deeply and engender hate for feminists, homosexuals etc...etc...


He did have a few people who attempted to befriend him but he did not seem to extend nuch in the way of friendship to them.



one love

blicky and RDO,

Really, why waste your bresth? Anyone who could say about Justin: <> obviously does not know Justin and has not read his postings and diatribes.

Just about everything Justin ever posted was personally offensive.

It seems that the people on this thread are simply trying to use Justin as a means to have some sort of - what? Interesting discussion? They have nothing better to do?

They never knew Justin. They seem to be just using him.

I will not discuss Justin with people who never knew him. People who only occasionally lurked and came to their own conclusions. And especially people who think that baiting those who they feel once baited 'poor ickle Justin' is somehow something clever to do.

And no, I have never talked behind Justin's back. In fact, I'm quite sure he will be reading this posting.

az

"Not content with posting in a way which any fool could see would harm some others emotionally, he posted the sort of rhetoric designed to engender intolerance in its readers that ought never to see the light of day."

Well, the problem is that he really believed in that intolerance. Unless he is an enormous cherade that is far beyond the abilities of Hoovooloo, he actually believes that that intolerance is right.

Doesn't he have a right to express those opinions without being censored? On the other hand, those postings certainly do deserve a responce.

Get a life!
unsubscribe.