An introduction

[marc]

HI all,

infidel's posts, under a gruff front, make what are to me some very valid points and they inspired me to introduce myself first before jumping into the fray.

Let me intorduce myself. I'm marc, I'm 40, live in Scottsdale AZ, am a registered Independent (a bit left of the usual Democrat, Kucinich is my man) work as a compter programmer, am single ... well I'm sure there's more but that's a start. I was born in New York City to a couple of almost hippies both of Jewish families. I was brought up with almost no religion, almost. We did the Hanukka/menorah thing but we also had X-mas trees. As a youth I'd probably been in as many churches (for weddings etc.) as synogogues (see I bet I can't even spell it right). I was Bar-Mitzvah'd to appease my dad's dad (I never learned Hebrew, I read it all phonetically). Dad was a salesman (corporate, outside-sales) and mom was a teacher. I'd say we were lower upper-middle class. Lived in a nice apartment in Queens, never needed for anything and always had lots to do and see.

When I was 13 we moved from NYC to the fairly small ski/tourist/shopping town in New Hampshire (hi NHB) North Conway, population 2500. Big culture shock. We probably had 2500 people in our 6 building complex in NY. Sucked for a little while but I soon made friends, got into riding motorcycles, learned to ski, got my first job , went to school and fell into the new life. After high school I did one party semester at UNH and went back home. Worked through HS and into the post HS phase of my life in restaurants mostly as a cook. Spent way too long doing this (and a lot of fun times too), moved west for a short time then back, and finally in my mid-20's went back to UNH and moved into the Dover/Portsmouth NH area. Lasted a lot longer this time but still didn't finish school. Half way into my 3rd year, working 2 part time jobs and having a live in girlfriend, I got an interview and a job working software phone support. I'm now 12 years or so into my tech career and still no degree ... but I get by without one pretty well. Moved out to the desert 5 years ago and can't imagine ever going back. Riding my motorcycle on Christmas and New Years that first year was enough.

I went many years caling myself a "spiritual agnostic". Dawkins convinced me and now I call myself an atheist (note the lowercase).

I've listened to every podcast. I've lurked on the board (addicitvely actually) for quite a while.

I agree most often with Jim, SB, NHB, A37, MR. S, darkumbra and that whole crowd. I must admit a special fondness for Jim, he reminds me of all the old (sorry Jim) 'Nam vets I'd worked with and partied with over the years who helped make me the person I am today. From the 2 guys I worked ski patrol with, the grunt who rented the room next to me at one time and the medic who was the janitor at our school (and sold me a motorcycle once) to my buddy Rog, and my riding buddy Harry, all dear friends with lots of memories and all Vietnam vets. And also all very liberal (except for Harry) and smart and Jim reminds me of them all.

Sue and OzAnt I strongly agree with sometimes and strongly disagree others. I disagree strongly with but highly respect Scot and Percival. I sometimes agree/disagree with the more liberal but still religous types like StillSearching and Pseudonym. All these people I respect and would probably like in person.

I almost always disagree with Rian, Tony, mike and cleve and sorry to say I have little respect for their words and will try hard not to get into arguments with their kind.

I haven't posted earlier because I'm usually busy and don't have much time especially for lots of the arguments I read here. Contrary to popular belief, this socialist leaning liberal has to work and can't spend all day arguing pointless crap with people I consider fools. I respect SB, NHB, Rian and others who can but I just can't. So lurker I was. Then something happened. Tony made a remark in passing in one of his comments that almost made me reply. But I felt it would be rude, having never posted before, so I let it go. Then something else happened. infidel put up his post. He/she wasn't shy about expressing his feelings. I think under the roughness though infidel has some valid points. I wanted to chime in and now that we've been formally introduced, here I go.

--marc

[StillSearching]

Welcome Marc!

Thanks for introducing yourself. It's good to have you here.

I'm 38, married with 2-yo son, live in Tampa, raised in the UCC denomination, a preacher's kid, now attending an Episcopal church. I've pretty much discarded all of the Christian fairy tales that were ingrained during my childhood. Unlike many here though, I have not thrown the baby out with the bath water. I still find it fulfilling to attend church for a variety of reasons: music, fellowship, charitable work, etc. I do not, however, attend church in order to worship the white bearded guy in the bathrobe or to reserve my place in heaven.

That's the short and skinny on me. Looking forward to reading your opinions here. Oh, and...

I almost always disagree with Rian, Tony, mike and cleve and sorry to say I have little respect for their words and will try hard not to get into arguments with their kind.

Then you'll miss out on half the fun! Oh well, suit yourself.

See you around the boards.

[Rian]

I almost always disagree with Rian, Tony, mike and cleve and sorry to say I have little respect for their words and will try hard not to get into arguments with their kind.

"their kind" - my goodness - macroevolution apparently DOES happen!

Or actually, it's the Bible that talks about "kinds", so marc must be ... a Creationist!

Well, welcome, and I hope it works out for you here. However, to be just as "blunt", what you and infidel seem to think of as bluntness and being not "shy", I think of as intentional rudeness and a dismal lack of self-control. I'll give "your kind" a chance, anyway

Contrary to popular belief, this socialist leaning liberal has to work and can't spend all day arguing pointless crap with people I consider fools. I respect SB, NHB, Rian and others who can but I just can't.

Hey, SB and NHB, do you do this? I don't. I don't consider the people I talk with "fools" - I find the vast majority of people that I post with here polite, thoughtful, and interesting. I don't consider our conversations to be "pointless crap", and apparently they don't, either, or they wouldn't be here. And I certainly don't spend "all day" here!

And why would you "respect" people that you think do this? Or is this just a thinly-veiled slam hiding behind "bluntness"?

Methinks you're just another person who hides behind "bluntness", using it as an excuse to slam people you're angry at. But as I said, I'll give you a chance.

[Rian]

Dawkins convinced me and now I call myself an atheist (note the lowercase).

Why would "atheist" ever be uppercase, except at the beginning of a sentence?

[whoosanightowl]

Hi Marc, and welcome to the forum!
I really never think about the idea that anyone else is listening in on our conversations other than those who are actively posting, so it seems sort of funny when someone finally joins who's been "listening in" for a while, like a fly on the wall.
Anyway, I hope you don't judge the opposition too harshly because for the most part, they really are an intelligent and sincere group who put just as much thought into what they believe and why they believe it, yet come to very different conclusions on some issues than we do.
Seldom is anyone intentionally antagonistic, although fuses do run short occasionally, usually due to misunderstanding the others POV. But I think our goal is to keep it real and cordial.
I hope you enjoy it here as many of us do !
Sue

[NH Baritone]

When I was 13 we moved from NYC to the fairly small ski/tourist/shopping town in New Hampshire (hi NHB) North Conway, population 2500. Big culture shock.

We specialize in culture shock here. Once we harness it, we'll start selling it as carbon-neutral energy source. *!*!*BZZZZZZ*!*!*

I agree most often with Jim, SB, NHB, A37, MR. S, darkumbra and that whole crowd.

I frequently forget that, like Emery and his partner(s) du jour, we, too, have an "audience." And apparently just like X-Men or professional wrestlers, we hang about in clusters, to wit:

X-MEN


WWE:


C&A

I haven't posted earlier because I'm usually busy and don't have much time especially for lots of the arguments I read here. Contrary to popular belief, this socialist leaning liberal has to work and can't spend all day arguing pointless crap with people I consider fools. I respect SB, NHB, Rian and others who can but I just can't.

You "respect" us for wasting our time on this site?!?! Somehow that concept just escapes me. But for the record, I have a demanding job as a psychotherapist, but one that has variable hours. For example, tonight I'm seeing clients until 9 PM. But sometimes (like now) I check in here at lunch. Other times, it can be a couple of days before I can get back here. And don't mistake frequency of scribbling with immensity of insight. (After all, Rian's the most active contributor here. )

[Rian]

Hey, it's because of my kind heart - I just want to bless y'all with the incredibleness of my insights!

(note I didn't say they were particularly good - just incredible ... incredibly [fill in the blank] )

JUST KIDDING!

(but about which part?)

[Pseudonym]

G'day marc, and welcome to the forum!

don't consider the people I talk with "fools" - I find the vast majority of people that I post with here polite, thoughtful, and interesting. I don't consider our conversations to be "pointless crap", and apparently they don't, either, or they wouldn't be here. And I certainly don't spend "all day" here!

Agreed, agreed, partly agreed, and agreed!

The part agreement is that there are some conversations which arguably cross over into "pointless crap" territory.

But yes, I haven't noticed anyone on the forum who I'd call a "fool". Some have days when they get a bit short with others, but that's what being a community is all about.

(Aside: I didn't know I was in a cluster with SS, but I guess on reflection there's something to that.)

[Rian]

The part agreement is that there are some conversations which arguably cross over into "pointless crap" territory.

Well, yeah, but hey, that's life!
But the good stuff/pointless crap ratio is pretty good.

[Atheist37]

Busy, busy, busy.

Welcome to the karass!