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

Ben, hi! I am here because of Blatherskite the Mugwump, who referred me to you in support of his contention that the BBC was pro-Saddam...
I have been in contact with you before, and I find it hard to believe that you would have said what he said you said, in the way he says you said it (if you understand...) The discussion is on the 'It's Saddam...It's Bush thread.
Get in touch! In any case it'll be great to hear from you again.


Della the Woman

Blimey! I never done tht, no never no never!

We were discussing someone else's views of the war, and we did discuss the BBC's reporting, but it was in an AIM chat, and it was late and I was tired, so I skooted over the surface of the discussion, instead of getting stuck into the nitty gritty of the details. I *did* say that the BBC was mroe challenging of the Government's decision to go to war than it is of other Government decisions - but that is a million miles from being pro-Saddam.

Hey ho.

Thanks for asking, and good to see you again.

B

PS - I am struggling to find the conversation - can you drop me a link please?

B

I'll do my best! I haven't proven very good at that in the past. Nice to hear from you again, and I didn't think you could have said what he said you said...

I found it anyway.

Isn't it interesting how people misunderstand what one says, sometimes?

B

Scary, too...

It makes me wonder how much I misunderstand, too.

B

I am having an email argument with an old acquaintance about the meanings of words - he is *hypersensitive* and I am baffled at how many ways and in how much details he cantake offence where none was ever intended!

Oh, painful. I tend to withdraw in those situations, because I hate causing personal offence. Painful for you my dear. I wish I could help.

B

I may have to withdraw eventually - he seems to really, really want to pick a fight...Maybe so he call feel 'martyred', which is ironic - he's a campaigning atheist, and that's what the argument's about!

I find it deeply ironic that the styles and behaviours of evangelical or campaigning atheists are so similer to the styles and behaviours of evangelical religious folk.

And the illogic of it! If there is a god, it might be a bad move to be an atheist; if there isn't a god, it doesn't matter if you 'talk to the weather'.

Good luck with it.

B

Aaaarrrrgggghhhh!I got an email from him today, which amounted to : 'I'm still offended, and we really *are* superior to you dimwit Christians. I am tired of trying to educate you'... What possible reply can I make? He doesn't *want* to listen!If I *don't* reply, he'll tell everyone that I was (a) unable to think of an answer or (b) prejudiced against him. Sigh...

"Dear friend,

A friend of mine told me recently that the British Army used to have a rule thta they could discuss anything in the Officers mess except religion, politics or women, the reason being that these are the three subjects that close friends can really fall out over.

I value your friendship a great deal, and it hurts me that we are fighting over this. Your beliefs are too deeply held for me to change them, and that's fine. Can I ask you a favour, for the sake of our on-going friendship, can we just let the subject of atheism and religion drop from our conversations? It is interesting, it is important, it matters to each of us, but our friendship matters to me a great deal, and is too important to me to let something which we are never going to agree on come between us.

love and purrs

Della"

Or something similar - it may work, or it may not, but at least you will have tried. It looks like a surrender, but it isn't, and it tells you that you value him greatly.

Use your judgement - you know the man, and can tell far better than me if something like this would work.

Another thought, if he is insecure, then this discussion may be chipping away at his world view. Have you read The Hound of Heaven by Francis Thompson? It is a poem about the relentless persuit of his soul by god: http://www2.bc.edu/~anderso/sr/ft.html

Take care Della, I know whatever you do, you will do deftly and with love.

B

Thank you Ben, for your marvellous suggestions! I shall try just that on him (suitably reworded, it wouldn't be fair to use your ideas wholesale) and see how it goes!
I'm going to check out the poem *now* - I've seen it quoted but have never read all of it.

Ben, I sent a version of your suggestions to Bill and await developments.Re the poem, I went and read it, and followed the links - wow! Thank you! I've really had an awesome time!