If you want to engage in debate and discussion where decorum is maintained and there is no name calling and you stick to facts and not conjecture most people here are willing to debate. If you throw bombs, stoop to name calling, say things not that you believe, but what you think will get a reaction, then there are a lot of people on this site that will call you out on that.

I think it’s more of an echo chamber. Perhaps with some exceptions, I don’t see people here seriously open to the Idea god is real and religion is a positive aspiration. That’s what the rest of the world shoves down our throat ... we come here to escape that, and to poke fun at that nonsense.

As far as I am concerned be who you are. Make a statement or argument and back it up, then we can get stuck in. I personally don’t care what you believe.

Please don’t be another of those with a Trump/anti-Trump fixation. It is the dullest discussion for an international site

Living in the Bible Belt, I find it refreshing to rub shoulders with people who do not condemn me for my atheism. That's why I enjoy this site.

No, it’s not an echo chamber for me, although it may be used as such for a few others. On the whole there is quite a spectrum of views on display across a wide variety of different topics, some can get quite heated at times. As long as the debate doesn’t descend into personal attacks or abusive language I’m happy with the general discourse on site.

When I first came on the site I got into a "conversation" about men's responsibility towards the offspring they father. It was heated. It was amazing. It was civilized, and I learned who my peeps were. And I learned. I've even had my mind changed on a couple of topics, but not that one.

This site is many things and provides to its members what they come to seek.
We laugh here, share opinions, debate, vent, offer support and, in some cases, people join to troll.

For some people it may be an echo chamber and that's okay, in my opinion. There has to be a place where one can go to feel ease and comfort and in agreement with his fellow man.

For the most part you can agree/disagree with impunity. There are groups, however, (ex: Trump Pinata, Leftists) that do not encourage disputation. I wondered about this myself at first, but as long as it's stated up front, it's OK with me. Hope you feel the same.

I don’t understand .
How a web site “ accommodates “ ? We are this web site .
Anyone has the ability and the freedom to create a group or to post whatever they want .
And anyone has the ability and the right to disagree or comment with whatever they read and don’t like it .
What accommodating means ? So if u post an article or an opinion that I find ridiculous , should I zip my fingers to “ accommodate “ it ? Will that make me a “ good person , open mind person “, etc ? M I aloud to confront and discuss ?

What “ alternative “ views means ? U listing science , food options and politics as examples .
There is no room for alternative when u talk vegans vs meat eating . Some people don’t eat animals some do . Don’t join the vegans group if u don’t like them , and most of them have the good taste to laugh w vegan memes at meme group . U won’t change their mind and they won’t change yours , and I don’t see what’s the alternative view need about it or y .

Science alternative ? ok . Let me see how u think I should be more “ accommodating “ here . So , if u make a post that a bp of 180/110 that comes w a headache is not a good reason to take a trip to ER but u should first try to rub some coconut oil of your temporal areas and your wrists , and breathe some essential oil , what do u want me to say ?
I have two options : scroll to next post , or tell u that alternative treatment of a potential stroke can kill u .
The first option sounds very accommodating and I am such a nice person for accepting your alternative view of science .

Politics ? What is the use of alternative views there , as it is we struggle to get facts and information .
Plenty of groups on this site that good discussions happen .
I am sorry to see that most people who are on this site , are liberals and Democrats , but not surprised .. If u don’t understand y , ain’t their fault or the job to educate the rest . The right side supports religion and all the crimes against humanity that comes with it . U are on a web site that religion is not the favorite dish . Do the math ?
What is exactly that u wish or u ask for ?
Btw , religious folks can access this site and be members . The same way u can be a member on any of their forums .
R u a part on any of these forums ? Y not ? Yeah I know , birds and feathers .
If u want a cup of coffee , u look for the coffee shop . If u want a drink , u go to the bar . If u want to research and educate self about either beverage , u go to the library .
U can sit at coffee shop and discuss about alcohol thou . And that is happening here . Some are able to do more classy than others . Some are not .

It is somewhat of an echo chamber in that a high proportion of the posts are made by people who 1) angrily attack religion in any form using mockery and derision. 2) angrily attack political conservatives using mockery and derision 3) angrily attack any metaphysical idea that they deem to be “unscientific”, ie not in alignment with their personal materialistic/physicalistic world views. It is apparent that these posters consider themselves to be intellectually and morally superior, and they can not tolerate alternate opinions.

Those who have the most negative outlooks and are stewing in hatred and grievances are the ones who make many repeated posts in attempts to bolster their angry, untrue states of mind. Those repeated posts might give the impression that everyone here is like that, but actually there is a bulwark of reasonable, loving participants. There is also a cadre of those who habitually make beautiful, substantive posts that are provocative but open-minded and respectful of all. Examples are Skado, Matias, Middleway, and there are others. I would like to be that way but I sometimes lapse.

There are interminable discussions on such topics! Enjoy the buffet!

The people o this site are self selecting. However, outside of religious beliefs, people here seem to have differing views. Generally people on this site are (mostly) critical thinkers, so it may seem like an echo chamber sometimes.

There's a wide variety of views. I guess the "safe space" is that no one argues from sacred texts, so you have to make your own case for whatever view you might promote. I got kicked out of a Republican atheist group for calling them out too often on their BS (in my opinion). They do in fact seem to want to make it an echo chamber.

No.Because we have groups for everyone liberal to ultra-conservative. If you want an echo chamber you stay in your group. If you enjoy debate you venture to the main page. I run 6 groups of different interests - Singles/Mingles/Chat. Leftists, Me Too, Cancer Sucks, Hippie Land and Jewish by Culture. Welcome to the Community.

Using right wing red pill terminology to ask the question leads me to believe you might not get along with some folks. It would depend on your "alternative views" there does seem to be a low level of tolerance for science denial and "woo".

I'm here in search of like minded people. I don't have any in real life. Secular is only part of that but is does weed out some of the people I wish to have conversations without sometimes.

Theres various beliefs systems in this issue. Some users really like an echo chamber, they block anyone who had opinions they don't want to hear, and they also sign up for groups that focus on topics and opinions they like. There are also users who value diverse opinions, even though they will try to argue with anyone and anything- that's just how they relate to the world. Then theres thebpeople who read everything, but never comment. And a whole bunch in between. You have to find your comfort zone, knowing that there always will be some people who are trying to "police" the words and opinions of others, to suit themselves.

I didn't join too learn.l joined to associate.

There are atheists that make a religion out of non-relgion. Some people only want to hear views thatsupport their view. I would argue that a true atheist is open to all views and will judge them based on the merits.

Just replace you "versus" with a comma, and you have the spirit of this site.
May I suggest thay you write a bio, as suggested when signing on.

Not in my experience.

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Alternative views to what? Is that like alternative facts? I see a lot of things discussed here and do not agree with all of them, of course. The best I can say is this is not a site for a believer and not a site for and of debates. We either have our opinions or both opinions and evidence for them. This site does offer a certain kind of therapy for many of us.

I really think, this might just be the perfect question for this site. a question I think a great many of us here keep in the back of our minds, after all, shouldn't that always be a worry when you are knowingly communicating with people for the express reason of agreeing with them on at least very basic philosophical issues. I saw your post right before I went to bed last night, and when I got up, turns I'm the 60th comment thread. Reading through them, I really don't feel like I have anything to add, but thank you for asking the question, it's always something good to be on the watch for.

Well, everyone has a different view and opinion about things. I don't think there's anyone here who agrees 100% with the other.

I think if we were all "preaching to the choir" it would be a bit boring. It seems to me that nobody would attend a debate where only one side of the resolution were represented. What do the guidelines say about it?

I'vr spent the year and a half I've been here advocating for more theists on the site so that we can avoid the echo chamber effect. That suggestion has been met with comments like "I'm here so I don't have to listen to theists." or "I'm not here to argue religion."

I think a diverse community of theists and non-theists would make for a more stimulating environment.