Will you reconsider traveling to the USA?

[bush_cheney2004]

I love the "what if it's true?" reasoning. Yeah, right. Moonlight Graham says you're a troll and Smallc says I'm a bigot for holding different views that he does, so that means "it's true." Honestly, nothing brings down discussions quicker than such constant, mindless accusations.

I don't get it....I can respect an opposing view presented with clever wit and supporting facts, but when a member just goes off the deep end stomps their feet like a two-year old it becomes silly. Few here are going to have their minds changed about different issues. And that's OK.

[cybercoma]

ha-ha-ha...he put me on ignore for the longest time. He came crawling back to me.....I'm hoping he'll put me on ignore again. Looks like I'm stuck with him! Now, he's my favorite wart. It's a term of endearment....

I've never had you on ignore. You're comedy gold.

[Moonlight Graham]

No, I meant them. I did though make an error in my search, apparently, somehow.

And you admitted your mistake, yet with a lack of evidence to make the conclusion, betsy accused you of being a (and this is a direct quote ladies and gentlemen of the jury):

Liar, liar, pants on fire.....

And she's calling us the childish ones who throws accusations around like Santa throws around candy?

[betsy]

Are you ducking again, Moonlight?

Since you brought up the rules, look at these rules you're breaking with your insignia. It says, "gay Jesus offends Christians." Are you deliberately being offensive? And you're trying to offend Christians in particular who come to the forum?

Be Polite and Respect Others

Mapleleafweb operates these forums in the hopes that they will promote intelligent, honest and responsible discussion. We encourage you to speak your mind on relevant issues in a thoughtful way. Please respect others using this board and treat them with respect and dignity.

We define "trolling" as a message that serves no constructive purpose and is likely to cause offence or arguments. We define "annoying" as any message that results in a complaint from a registered user -- we will then decide whether to take action.

(NOTE: you know your photo, with its message, is annoying to Christians)

Insults leveled at third-parties (companies, political parties, nationalities) are also forbidden in the forums.

(NOTE: In this case, towards Christians)

You're clearly breaking these rules.

Edited December 17, 2012 by betsy

[betsy]

I've never had you on ignore. You're comedy gold.

Oh yes you did so! You went stomping off when I clobbered you good in a debate years ago....and you said you were going to ignore me. I must say you did stay away for a long time. You came back to me about two years ago?

Edited December 17, 2012 by betsy

[Moonlight Graham]

If someone is indeed trolling, as it's against the rules, a report to the admin/moderators should take care of it. In other words, it's their call to make, not yours - and the constant accusations of trolling by too many here - as well as the accusations of "bigot/racist/hasbarabot/et al" do nothing to add to the discussion. Since you're on about the rules, the rules say to debate the idea, not the person - and such accusations are nothing more than name calling; ie: attacking the individual, which is against the rules.

I'll agree with that for the most part. Though on the very rare occasions I call someone out for being a troll, it's not name-calling, but it is an accusation.

[betsy]

I'll agree with that for the most part. Though on the very rare occasions I call someone out for being a troll, it's not name-calling, but it is an accusation.

Looks like you're ducking....

Well you better not be accusing anyone of trolling or breaking any rules in the forum...what with that picture you're sporting on your handle. That would be the height of hypocrisy, wouldn't it?

Edited December 17, 2012 by betsy

[Moonlight Graham]

What about the photo on your handle? Wouldn't you consider that, trolling?

A single post or a single photo isn't trolling (and there's no rules here on user photos from what I can see), a troll is someone consistently baiting and annoying with ill intent. I didn't accuse BC based on one post, I based it on the 30,000 or however many posts he has, and I put up with literally years of his behaviour until finally making the first accusation based on overwhelming evidence.

[The_Squid]

Looks like you're ducking....

Well you better not be accusing anyone of trolling or breaking any rules in the forum...what with that picture you're sporting on your handle. That would be the height of hypocrisy, wouldn't it?

I've never seen anything on this forum quite so childish.

[Moonlight Graham]

And since you're targetting to offend a particular group of people....isn't that bigotry?

I addressed the trolling accusation already. As for me being a bigot:

- bigot

noun

a person who is utterly intolerant of any differing creed, belief, or opinion.

bigot

n

a person who is intolerant of any ideas other than his or her own, esp on religion, politics, or race.

I'm not intolerant of all other differing belief, religion etc. other than my own, but there are certain opinions/beliefs that I think are absolutely wrong. So by definition, no I'm not a bigot.

[cybercoma]

Oh yes you did so! You went stomping off when I clobbered you good in a debate years ago....and you said you were going to ignore me. I must say you did stay away for a long time. You came back to me about two years ago?

I might have told you that i was ignoring you nonsense, but I have never used the ignore feature to block your posts. There's only a couple posters I've done that for and 1 of them hasn't posted here in years.

[Moonlight Graham]

I love the "what if it's true?" reasoning. Yeah, right. Moonlight Graham says you're a troll and Smallc says I'm a bigot for holding different views that he does, so that means "it's true."

In the span of two sentences, in something you quoted in the previous sentence mind you, how do you get me saying definitely "it's true" from me actually rather asking "what if it's true?". Seriously.

[Moonlight Graham]

Are you ducking again, Moonlight?

Since you brought up the rules, look at these rules you're breaking with your insignia. It says, "gay Jesus offends Christians." Are you deliberately being offensive? And you're trying to offend Christians in particular who come to the forum?

You're clearly breaking these rules.

First of all, even if I did break any of those rules you posted,t they're all referring to messages posted in the forums. I see no rules regarding avatars.

Secondly, gay Jesus does offend Christians. A gay president would also offend Christians. If I change my photo to a pic of two men kissing, Christians would also get offended. Jesus never married, never had kids, never had a female lover (unless you read the Da Vinci Code) and surrounded himself with a dozen men who followed him everywhere. For all we know, he could have been gay. Statistically there's a 10% chance he was. The question is, if he was gay (or even the very act of me questioning if he was), why does that offend you?

Edited December 17, 2012 by Moonlight Graham

[cybercoma]

I'm not sure why gay Jesus would be offensive. That implies that there's something offensive about gays.

[Bryan]

I'm not sure why gay Jesus would be offensive. That implies that there's something offensive about gays.

Just because you're not offended, doesn't mean others aren't. That's kind of how it works. The offender is seldom the one who is offended by whatever action or remark they make.

The "Gay Jesus" meme is offensive to Christians for far more reasons than that though. It's a deliberate provocation claiming that Jesus was a hypocrite. Offending people is it's sole purpose.

[Guest American Woman]

Offending people is it's sole purpose.

It certainly would appear that way. It says so right in the photo.

[betsy]

A single post or a single photo isn't trolling (and there's no rules here on user photos from what I can see),

Yes you're right, there's no rules on user photos. What do they call those photos by the names, btw - do they have specific names for those?

Basically, we can use any photos like a bare-breasted woman, or any crude or offensive photos?

a troll is someone consistently baiting and annoying with ill intent.

Your photo - with its intentful message at causing insult and offense directed at a particular named group - can be considered consistently baiting and annoying since it's prominently displayed, permanently.

Furthermore, it's worse than posting a comment since your photo cannot be buried among other decent and rule-abiding posts.

Your deliberate baiting comes out prominently everytime you post, and it stays prominent numerously depending on how often you post.

I didn't accuse BC based on one post, I based it on the 30,000 or however many posts he has, and I put up with literally years of his behaviour until finally making the first accusation based on overwhelming evidence.

What about you??

How many times did you DELIBERATELY and PURPOSEFULLY insult, offend, annoy and bait Christians who come to this forum - most of whom are silent readers? If you think your intent is directed solely on the Christians who dare to post their belief on this board, think again!

Just look how pathetically you try to squirm out when it's pointed out that, YOU - of all people on this board - shouldn't even think of accusing ANYONE or ANYBODY of trolling....not even BCheney or whoever that poor "socialist" might be!

At least posters who sometimes end up hurling insults can say they got caught up in the heat of the discussion - and it's understandable.

But you don't have the luxury of that as an excuse. Your photo is deliberately aimed at insulting and offending Christians - whether you're debating with them or not - simply because of their faith. That's bigotry, isn't it?

And you're flaunting it for all to see.

Edited December 17, 2012 by betsy

[betsy]

I might have told you that i was ignoring you nonsense, but I have never used the ignore feature to block your posts. There's only a couple posters I've done that for and 1 of them hasn't posted here in years.

But if you didn't....you did a good job of it. That was quite a long break from one another.

So what made you come back in my arms? I'm still spouting the same nonsense....perhaps even much worse than ever!

Edited December 17, 2012 by betsy

[Guest American Woman]

Yes you're right, there's no rules on user photos.

I think it's assumed the the rules apply to user photos given this exchange:

What about in status updates? - Are insults and/or personal attacks against the rules same as on the board, or is that more or less anything goes?

An insult is an insult, no matter were it happens in the forum, it's against the rules.

In the span of two sentences, in something you quoted in the previous sentence mind you, how do you get me saying definitely "it's true" from me actually rather asking "what if it's true?". Seriously.

Where did I say I was quoting you? Seriously.

Edited December 17, 2012 by American Woman

[betsy]

First of all, even if I did break any of those rules you posted,t they're all referring to messages posted in the forums. I see no rules regarding avatars.

Secondly, gay Jesus does offend Christians. A gay president would also offend Christians. If I change my photo to a pic of two men kissing, Christians would also get offended.

Jesus never married, never had kids, never had a female lover (unless you read the Da Vinci Code) and surrounded himself with a dozen men who followed him everywhere. For all we know, he could have been gay. Statistically there's a 10% chance he was. The question is, if he was gay (or even the very act of me questioning if he was), why does that offend you?

Then why don't you post all those concerns, and let everyone have a discussion about it! That's the whole purpose of a forum, isn't it?

What good is a photo - with just that simple statement - and no one even suspect the kind of things rattling inside that head of yours! You think we're all mindreaders? All we see is just a statement that says -Gay Jesus Offends Christians. Period.

Now you're talking about questions? It doesn't offend me personally btw, because I see it as just a moronic statement by someone who most likely have an ax to grind against Christians. Like a t-shirt with a stupid slogan, it reflects more on the poster who wears it. I only brought it up because of your hypocrisy.

To be honest, when I visualise you....I end up equating that photo as you. That's not the picture of the Jesus I grew up with....so it doesn't "ring a bell," you know. I equate Jesus with a beard. I don't know about other Christians....but no, I never equated your photo with Jesus that's why probably it did not give a sting. That proud cool pose with that long hair....I secretly assumed you're gay. And so prominently displayed it screams, PRIDE.

So now you're saying you've got a question. Why it offends Christians? How should we know you've got questions??? Why don't you post your questions? DUH?

Edited December 17, 2012 by betsy

[cybercoma]

Just because you're not offended, doesn't mean others aren't. That's kind of how it works. The offender is seldom the one who is offended by whatever action or remark they make.

The "Gay Jesus" meme is offensive to Christians for far more reasons than that though. It's a deliberate provocation claiming that Jesus was a hypocrite. Offending people is it's sole purpose.

it has nothing to do with my personal level of offense. My argument is that one must consider homosexuality itself offensive to be offended by the notion of a gay Jesus. If homosexuality isn't offensive then gay Jesus would just get a shrug of the shoulders because there would be nothing inherently offensive about it. That's logical, not my personal opinion of it. For example, I could accept this premise and find homosexuality offensive, thus finding gay Jesus an offending notion.

edit: autocorrect typo

Edited December 17, 2012 by cybercoma

[cybercoma]

I'm still spouting the same nonsense....perhaps even much worse than ever!

I'm proud of you. Recognizing you have a problem is the first step to recovery.

[Moonlight Graham]

If you think your intent is directed solely on the Christians who dare to post their belief on this board, think again!

...

Your photo is deliberately aimed at insulting and offending Christians - whether you're debating with them or not - simply because of their faith. That's bigotry, isn't it?

...

It doesn't offend me personally btw, because I see it as just a moronic statement by someone who most likely have an ax to grind against Christians.

I guess I'm a bigot to myself then. Fun fact: I'm a Christian, have been all my life, baptized, with all my sacraments completed. Went to a Christian school from kindergarten through high school graduation. I have a close sibling who is gay, and is getting married next year to another homosexual, and they're getting married in a Christian church (no, not in a Catholic or Anglican one LOL). Try again.

Edited December 17, 2012 by Moonlight Graham

[Boges]

Interesting that a thread about unfounded fears of traveling to the US turns into a conversation about Gay Jesus. That's probably the biggest thread shift I've ever seen on this site.

Edited December 17, 2012 by Boges

[Moonlight Graham]

To be honest, when I visualise you....I end up equating that photo as you. That's not the picture of the Jesus I grew up with....so it doesn't "ring a bell," you know.

Yes, the drawing of gay Jesus is almost certainly historically inaccurate. They didn't have those badass jackets around back then.

....but no, I never equated your photo with Jesus that's why probably it did not give a sting. That proud cool pose with that long hair....I secretly assumed you're gay. And so prominently displayed it screams, PRIDE.

Hypothetical gay Moonlight does not offend Moonlight.