Been a while since I have been here. Mainly because I was bombarded by attacks by other members for simply saying what my honor code was. But I am back, and hope I don't get such a sour reception again. After all, this is Agnostic.com. The people here are "supposed" to be a better class of people than holy rollers. We shall see how this goes.
If we air our views in any public forum...including this one, we invite others with differing views to voice theirs. I’m sorry if you felt under attack, but that is the nature of this medium, be that good or bad, it is certainly a fact, and should only become a problem if the attacks become personally abusive and attack the person, and not the argument or position. We do have the option of blocking other members here, but I only use this in cases of extreme personal attacks or wilful ignorance in the face of reasoned argument. If we only want an echo chamber where everyone thinks our ideas are brilliant ...this is not the site for us!
“Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
I must be ignorant. I've never heard that quote before. That's great!!
I am sorry that your earlier experience here, was a disappointment. One thing that caught my eye in your post was your statement of, ‘people here are supposed to be a better class of people.’ Is this site a ‘class of people’ or just a mixture of people? I found people here to be a ‘duke’s mixture!’ It is attempting to communicate with so many different personalities, that is the challenge!
I have used this site to get more comfortable about what I stand for and to present my ideas clearly and to be among people who have doubts or are non-believers. The back lash from the religious zealots, is not something that helps me in any way, with discussing how I feel about gods and religion. But, I can leave them to their own devices and except them with their religions. I am just not one with them!
It will help if you do not attack other people, at their human level, (even if you are attacked) but anyone’s ideas are up for the challenge. This site has helped me to accept others as they are, and I can still stand in my own truth, even if few agree or no one agrees with me! I am only able to change my mind when I see the evidence and logic behind certain issues/truths. I simply cannot fake it.
Welcome back and best of luck!
Interesting. Not so much the code itself, but the driving need to have others accept the statement. OK, so let's say for discussion's sake all of this is true. Now what? Do we discuss it? ...Why? ...How???
Me, I am a rapscallion, a deceitful, selfish and wicked Cattus. I have broken at least a dozen of the Ten Commandments, and that was just today, before breakfast. Gluttonous, sybaritic and self-serving.
But wait! There's more!!
I am also stingy and quick to anger. I am not interested in anyone else until they have something I want. Then, I am as sweet as pie, but only long enough to get what I want, then I won't return their calls. I am a professional bad habit.
Unrepentant and unashamed, I succeed in feeding my vices continually. Then I sneak away and find a warm comfortable spot to sleep off my good fortunes. Any redeeming qualities I may possess are used to full advantage to facilitate my greed.
And I have fleas.
I'm sure there's more, but I see a child from whom I must take candy. Kids shouldn't have candy anyway; I am doing them a favor by saving them from a lifelong struggle with obesity....
At least you have nine lives.
@Gwendolyn2018 - I am.
Fortunately, I learned where I wanted to go early on and that allowed me to stop living for others and start living for me, if that makes sense.
I can't say that I am the best Cat. But I can say that I am my Cat. Comfortable in my own skin, as it were.
But if we are teaching the OP, then best they listen.. ::::looking at you, Meiliken::::
Hello everybody, I'm Bernie the dog. (hello bernie, from the crowd). I'm here because I drink too much,,water. (we are here for you Bernie)...I started drinking when I was a puppy. Now I can't stop. ( be strong, we are with you)............Hold on,,,,,,I gotta pee.........drinking too much water again................
@Gwendolyn2018 - Jellical cats. Even when we are bad, we're that good!
I followed the link and read your previous post that is your honor code.
My take I will reserve for now. I am, however, confused as to why, with that specific honor code, you would not welcome dissenting opinions? The dissenting view is the one that creates thought in the originator, it is the seed of growth. If one honestly looks upon an argument and can honestly dismiss it then it has no value and you've wasted nothing. However, if you reflect on the idea and find merit in the volley then you've gained so much.
The code you cite seems more in line with one that would cherish the debate for the opportunity for growth rather than to seek out the comfort of conformity.
This is an attempt to communicate and understand. I'm not attempting to be confrontational.
Yes you are. LOL.........
And don't argue with me.
@PondartIncbendog I would never dream of arguing with you.
@ponderingatheist Yes you would.
@PondartIncbendog no I wouldn't
You poor sensitive soul. I hope life is a lot more gentle with you in future and you don't have to face any serious criticism of your strongly held beliefs
Some of us grew up in a sarcastic whirlwind of insults. It meant you were loved. Pity the one growing up without a nickname,
Oh, please let us know if we live up to your expectations. We wouldn't want to disappoint you again.
"The people here are "supposed" to be a better class of people than holy rollers."
Really, how so?
Honor is a funny thing sometimes.
I don’t share my code. That can appear pretentious.
I agree with that. Our behavior speaks for us. The need to broadcast one's philosophy is a social phenomenon, seeking approval or disapproval, and doesn't affect one's character.
I've never killed anybody. I've never mugged anybody. I 've never ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,WE DON'T CARE!!
Good luck thoughts and prayers let the force be with you
Perhaps there's still something for the modern generation---and for us all---to learn from Shakespeare. Here is the famous soliloquy by Falstaff in HENRY IV, pt. 1: "Tis not due yet; I would be loath to pay him before his day. What need I be so forward with him that
calls not on me? Well, ’tis no matter; honour pricks
me on. Yea, but how if honour prick me off when I
come on? how then? Can honour set to a leg? no: or
an arm? no: or take away the grief of a wound? no.
Honour hath no skill in surgery, then? no. What is
honour? a word. What is in that word honour? what
is that honour? air. A trim reckoning! Who hath it?
he that died o’ Wednesday. Doth he feel it? no.
Doth he hear it? no. ‘Tis insensible, then. Yea,
to the dead. But will it not live with the living?
no. Why? detraction will not suffer it. Therefore
I’ll none of it. Honour is a mere scutcheon: and so
ends my catechism."
What was the controversy about your honor code, if I may know?
Yes, me too, please. thanks.
@Gwendolyn2018 Holy crap. This guy is a psycho. "I'M THE GREATEST SHIT IN THE WORLD"............Sounds like Lewis Black.
@PondartIncbendog I have a slightly different take on this ‘honor code.’ These are great things to strive for...but, living them out in daily life is a horse of another color! If one tried to follow these declarations ‘to the letter,’ we would fail...at least in our own eyes and that is where our value matters most! But, these are ideas that I have kept close in my own mind...I just never posted any of them someplace (if I remember correctly). It is overwhelming seeing ALL of them posted as some one’s personal declaration! Sounds too-o perfect, but maybe we should strive for the highest ideals? This brought to mind Marcus Arileous, and his striving to be a great person, leader and Emperor. (I think I spelled it right.)
@PondartIncbendog Hey wait a minute. I love Lewis Black....I think he's hysterical!!
@Gwendolyn2018 Wow. That's some impossible shit right there.
Let's just start with his #1, "I never lie." That's a lie. Everyone shades the truth, to themselves and to others, even subconsciously. Not realizing when we're lying is part of lying to ourselves.
I just went through a very difficult time because someone failed to reveal some information to me, even though they insisted they had been completely transparent about things; and while I had been told the truth as far as it went, I hadn't been told the whole truth, which put a different complexion on things as far as I was concerned. They left out some crucial information because it would have put them in a bad light, but they didn't consider that lying. Well, that's human nature. I almost positively guarantee the OP is no different.
Here's his honor code:
Actions speak louder than words. Methinks thou dost protest too much. (Shakespeare)
Your defensive reaction says more about you. Insulting members is not kind or respectful, two parts of your professed honor code.
Insulting members is against community guidelines. [agnostic.com]
Try listening and learning instead.
Don't kill him yet........lets play this fish........
Yowza! That's a lot !
Why not just write: "I'm doin' the best I can?"
What is your honor code? I've been here for quite awhile and I've not seen you before...
You can read his posts. Make up your own mind.
Not...saying....anything.
@BufftonBeotch I'm not all that interested in him
You’ve gotten me curious. What sort of honor code would generate such criticism?
Just read them.
As with any online area you have to block some of the troublemakers before you can have a decent place. Block and move on. Spending time in online atheist areas has taught me they are most definitely not an exception to this. In fact some are extremely self righteous and think they are better than everyone else. We are all mammals after all. Just like the religious ones.
Welcome back. My suggestion so that you have an uneventful but interesting time now would be to carefully select the groups where you can post whatever it is you want to post. Read carefully the description and limits or rules of each group you join and always expect dissenting opinions. Most interactions are respectful, many are blunt, some even nasty. Yet, overall, this site is one for sharing opinions or points of view, back your pov/opinions with real facts and you'll see that if you chose the right group to post not many people will challenge facts, as long as they are real facts and not some conspiracy theory posted as a fact in countless sites all over the internet. It is up to you to verify this, look in reliable news media like reuters, AP, BBC, etcetera. And remember there are always trolls anywhere.
Example: if you post anything remotely favorable to the current USA administration in a site called Trump Piñata, expect some nasty responses. If you post tea is much better in a site called coffee lovers, expect shit from everybody. Follow those common sense rules and you will be fine. If you post in general sites that everybody reads, depending on what you post, always expect someone to have an opposing view and do not be offended or take dissention as a personal attack. A lot of people take it very personal as an offense if anyone says differently. Don't take dissention personally. Not against you. They counter your point with another point. And if someone gets way too nasty you can always block them and never hear from them ever again.
Good luck and enjoy your stay.
Supposed to be? I don't recall taking an admissions exam.
I did, but I failed anyway.
@PondartIncbendog I hate it when that happens.
@oldFloyd Yeah. But I failed the part where they asked, "what is your name"? "what is your quest"?
@PondartIncbendog but you did get to meet Greg the shrubber didn't you?
"Honor code?" Explain? Hope it is The Golden Rule!
Hi there. I didn't see any of your previous posts or any of those attacks because I haven't been on here lately myself. But welcome back.