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

...why I started Atheist Fundamentalism.

It was, in large part, to get away from [NAME DELETED} in order to have a serious discussion around atheism without having to start from first principles whenever I suggested that religion might be just a tad nonsensical.

I know he's a decent, well-meaning guy - but sometimes he's bored the a--e off me. Either he's labouring some anally retentive, pedantic point or he's sneering at me for having failed to grasp some esoteric point which he hasn't made at all well. Almost always accompanied by several smilies.

Plus, we fall out right at the start when I dared to suggest that new-age religions are 'Dungeons n' Dragons taken way too seriously'. This was regarded as intolerant and insensitive. On his page, he has a lot of stuff about how to conduct a civilised debate, and words like 'tosh' and 'mumbo-jumbo' and even 'superstition' are against his rules. However...I've stood my ground and I think I've won that one.

He really did take against me, though, in a discussion of religious tolerance. I maintained that, while I might respect religious *people*, I'm entitled not to respect their hilarious views. As my friend Gunnar said on the topic at the weekend 'People are entitled to be wrong.' Thereafter I think he has assumed that I am a thoroughly nasty person.

So...there we are. But you were in the wrong over the drug addiction

I think he misunderstood my context- needing something in order to facelife would indicate some kind of addiction or crutch- but there's no point in going around and around about semantics. I ain't gonna apologize for something I didn't do, though.

Will try not to let anyone, included, get under my skin. He seems to have me pegged as a nasty, intolerant person as well. Oh, well. I still managed to sleep last night.

And I'm as entitled to be wrong as the next person.

Ah, well, see...because you accidentally typed 'addicted to' instead of 'use', your whole argument was invalid and he won.

It wasn't an accident though. People who can't face life without something are obviously addicted to it.

Of course, then the whole thing derailed into an argument about what substances are addictive, and then it devolved into semantics... and it's all the way back to square one.

And you're right, of course, that by my use of two different words in the same example, the whole point of religion being a crutch and an addiction went into the crapper. Sorry.

Back to square one, I guess.

incidentally, for whatever it's worth, I think that is intelligent enough to realize that he quoted me out of context (by posting four words out of the entire posting). I'm not saying he did so deliberately in order to provoke a heated disagreement, but it's a pretty dirty way to win an argument.

I'm reading your current train of ideas on that thread with interest this morning... but keeping quiet and ponderous, since anything I'd have to say would merely be echoing what you're saying.

And like a dolt, I decided to give it another go... got a few reasonable responses from Blathers, Taliesin, Dogster, Noggin... and then P-C starts up again with the circular arguments, the semantics games, and the personal attacks... I give up. I'm just going to unsubscribe for good and I'll see you on the Atheist Fundamentalism thread. Can we get those other guys over there? I was actually enjoying the reasonable discussion.

I certainly get a sense of 'I win, 'cause nobody can figure out what I'm going on about.'

Oh, well. It won't be the first discussion I've bowed out of.

So, how was that flight yesterday? And how's the working away from home going? Honestly, you're braver (or something) than I am... or maybe it's just that you've got more people depending on you, because I don't think I could ever do it.

Yeah, all very confusing, but not too bad.

Last night, after an over-long day - up at 5am and non-stop therafter - I just about managed to climb into bed at about 9.30. But as soon as my head hit the pillow, I was wide awake! So I took one of my emergency sleeping pills, which sent me off OK...only for some reason I woke up at about 3am for half an hour. I was woken by my alarm at 6.45...and the next thing I knew the phone was ringing - reception telling me they'd be stopping breakfast soon! It was 8.20 so I just hopped into the shower, got dressed, guzzled a Toblerone and headed for work.

All very challenging and a lot of detail to get my head around - but I think so far I'm managing to impress people by having good ideas and leaving the detail to others.

"guzzled a Toblerone"? Is it a drink there? Here it's a big lump of chocolate candy, which I'm not overwhelmingly fond of...

I hate mornings like that, where you waken early, drift back off for a few minutes, and wake up again waaaaay late. What a way to start your day!

Glad it seems to have improved some, though!

Challenging can be a good thing- keeps you from getting bored and opens up lots of opportunities to impress. Which I'm sure you will continue to do, as I can imagine the kind of quality ideas you're capable of.

Do you return home tomorrow evening?

Toblerones are 'candy' bars which come in smaller than Airport sizes here. Not the ideal breakfast food...but it was there.

Yes, flying home early evening.

Welcome back home! Hope you'll have a (relatively) relaxing evening- it must be nice to be back. Bet the wife and the little ones are thrilled you're home.

I've had a taste of a Toblerone bar once. I'm weird and don't like eating chocolate much, but that Toblerone stuff was All Right!