Trying to find the root of this

[Comte de Saint-Germain]

Commented. No, I don't think they have a point, actually. There are precious few forums where people that actually know what they are talking about contribute.

[Millefleur]

I thought posting what we were clearly thinking in the 'Clear-Thinking Oasis' was permitted

Foul language? For fucks sake, as already said what the fuck do you expect on the fucking internet (fuckety fuck)? I would've thought a man who champions atheism would be pleased to have his name associated with an upto 85,000 strong atheist community with members capable of trampling fundies with their intelligence, who could post informative, educational material viewable by the masses, share experience, support and nurture ex-theists. So what if people swore and bonded over lolcats? Sometimes swearing is justified.*



* lolcats don't need justifying.

[Hermit]

Nora just posted this on Facebook. Apparently, Richard was under some amount of criticism regarding the forum in his website.

http://www.gavinorland.org/religion/the ... ns-forums/

http://www.reasonproject.org/forum/view ... 06/#182823

Maybe he thought this forum was doing more harm to the foundation than good?

Or himself personally. I suggested a scenario along those lines here.

[David M]

If the reason was solely that some language or topics were thought to be out of line with the image of the RD "message" on the web then the logical thing to do would be to change the rules to stop this.

If the people in charge had come out and said, for instance, that "to bring the forums more in line with the other parts of RDF the posting rules will be modified to ban swearing, in addition the rules on policing off-topic posts will be tightened so that only posts that directly and completely address the topic under discussion will be permitted."

So no more saying "fuck" and no more Shay Laren images, people may have grumbled a bit but very few would have stopped posting altogether and in a few months people would be accustomed to the new rules.

Instead someone decided that the best solution was to piss all over a very large community many of whom had supported RDF with their time and money.

[fuck you & fuck your god]

The second link, the guy rays says "Richard Dawkins forum is a very suppressive place." The next comment, from SkepticX quotes this and says "A pretty solid endorsement. I may check it out again." Sounds sarcastic like it's known rays is a nutjob. Looking down the page, everyone is ridiculing rays.

[Mr.Samsa]

Nora just posted this on Facebook. Apparently, Richard was under some amount of criticism regarding the forum in his website.

http://www.gavinorland.org/religion/the ... ns-forums/

http://www.reasonproject.org/forum/view ... 06/#182823

Maybe he thought this forum was doing more harm to the foundation than good?

That Gavin Orland guy sounds like a nutjob.

Paraphrase: "RDF is a terrible place because people use such naughty words all the time, and furthermore, they don't allow racism or sexism! No Sir, that does not sound like my kind of forum at all - in my perfect world everyone on the internet would be clean mouthed racists!"

He complains about political correctness and censorship of free speech with regards to the bigotry clause, but then demands they crack down on people for using "foul" language! Make up your fucking mind you wanker (@Gavin).

[RPizzle]

I think this needs to be here.

[Agrippina]

I wondered when she was going to put in an appearance.

Those links (thanks for those) cleared it all up for me.

I was very disappointed about the close because after years of having to fight censorship and pc-BS around the internet, I thought I'd finally found a place where free speech was encouraged and where everyone was expected to open their minds. It seems that even among atheists there are the prudes and bigots who want little boxes so that everyone is nicely monitored and protected from reality. Please don't let this happen here. Free speech, open minds, individuality and thinking for yourself is what brought us down from the trees, out of the caves and on to the moon. If we allow bullies (I hate to use that word but it's early in the morning and my lexicon hasn't gone into full function yet) to tell us how to think and how to fit into an image of what we ought to be, we'll all end up dressed in black from head to toe and reading only one book. Whatever you do, protect your individuality, enjoy your personal life, use every word you come across to expand your language skills, open your mind wider and wider, use your brain, and don't let thought police and narrow-minded bloggers make you and your descendants into little production-line robots.

I warned you - I waffle and also I lecture....

[Mr.Samsa]

I think this needs to be here.

Ah good, just checking I had the hang of the quote function on this forum. All seems to be in order.

[HughMcB]

They see us rollin, they hatin!

[anthonzi]

* lolcats don't need justifying.

Of course they need justifying. However porn:

I think this needs to be here.

does not.

[heyjude]

Did you catch Gavin Orland's comment/reply? It had this bit:

Richard Dawkins introduced himself in person to my wife about a year ago. This was a great honour for her, as she owns many of his books and had admired him greatly. It was also an honour for him, I will add, as he would be very hard pushed to meet a nicer and more dignified lady, aged only 24.

She wrote to him recently about the disgusting state of his forums. She received no reply.

awwww.....poor baby got dissed by the big guy. Maybe she didn't make as much of an impression as she/he hoped.

[Mr.Samsa]

Did you catch Gavin Orland's comment/reply? It had this bit:

Richard Dawkins introduced himself in person to my wife about a year ago. This was a great honour for her, as she owns many of his books and had admired him greatly. It was also an honour for him, I will add, as he would be very hard pushed to meet a nicer and more dignified lady, aged only 24.

She wrote to him recently about the disgusting state of his forums. She received no reply.

awwww.....poor baby got dissed by the big guy. Maybe she didn't make as much of an impression as she/he hoped.

Aw poor diddums!

I met Matt Bellamy of Muse a few years ago, do you reckon if I write to him with suggestions on how to improve his lyrics he'll write back to me thanking me for my contribution to his career and taking me up on my advice?

[Agrippina]

Did you catch Gavin Orland's comment/reply? It had this bit:

Richard Dawkins introduced himself in person to my wife about a year ago. This was a great honour for her, as she owns many of his books and had admired him greatly. It was also an honour for him, I will add, as he would be very hard pushed to meet a nicer and more dignified lady, aged only 24.

She wrote to him recently about the disgusting state of his forums. She received no reply.

awwww.....poor baby got dissed by the big guy. Maybe she didn't make as much of an impression as she/he hoped.

Aw poor diddums!

I met Matt Bellamy of Muse a few years ago, do you reckon if I write to him with suggestions on how to improve his lyrics he'll write back to me thanking me for my contribution to his career and taking me up on my advice?

Well I'm going to write to Gordon Brown and tell him that I think he should be mean to a few other slackers, I haven't met him but maybe he needs some positive feedback,

[Matthew Bailey]

Nora just posted this on Facebook. Apparently, Richard was under some amount of criticism regarding the forum in his website.

http://www.gavinorland.org/religion/the ... ns-forums/

http://www.reasonproject.org/forum/view ... 06/#182823

Maybe he thought this forum was doing more harm to the foundation than good?

Hi Nats,

Thanks for the links.

I have to say that many I hang with in Silicon valley had a dim opinion of RDF as well. Some of their opinions were raised a bit when I allowed them to read some of the threads in the Religion section, but they all complained about the language (As I began to of late - they were the same people who got me to cut back on my cussing).

I would not doubt if this had something to do with the closure of the forums. I am sure that something will arise sooner or later that will give us a more definitive answer.

So far, though, the only good thing I have seen come out of it is that Sam Harris' forums seem to be increasing in activity.

Matthew Bailey
P.S. In case anyone here wonders why I always sign my posts, it's a cognitive tool... So, I don't want to put it into a sig line.

P.P.S. Just meeting someone is not that big a deal. I've met two US Presidents, for instance... It's when they give you their number/card that makes all the difference.