Economics of Anti-Mormonism

[_wenglund]

I just read through each of the responses thus far, and I appreciate the input. I have been otherwise occupied today, and am preparing now to head out of town until Sunday, and so I apologize that I wont have a chance to respond until then. I look forward to it. I think this could become a mutual meaningful discussion.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[_Coggins7]

I have posted this on several other boards, but I wanted to give those here to whom it may apply, a chance to respond as well:

The choices we humans make typically amount to an informal cost/benefit analysis, where we each weigh the cost against the benefits of known options, and choose the option that we believe will give us the most benefit.

I believe this applies even to choices made in regards to anti-Mormonism of all sorts, including what often occurs here at MD.

Would those who are interested, and to whom it applies, be so kind as to briefly, though thoughtfully, let me know what PERSONAL costs (if any) or PERSONAL benefits you get from griping about and deriding the LDS Church here?

I promise to read all of the responses, though I may not respond to all of them.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

Very interesting, as this coincides quite well with one of Dr. Sowell's most important insights which is that all of life is essentially economic, in the sense of choices made at the intersection between knowledge and decision. Economics is the study of what Mises would call "human actions"; or, to be more precise, the making of decisions against a background of possible alternatives (or, in the strictly economic realm, scares resources having alternate uses).

A fascinating perspective to take, especially within the context of the concept of free agency.

[_Coggins7]

Benefits: I get feedback on my own perceptions of things which helps me correct or strengthen those perceptions. I also learn quite a bit from other's responses, sometimes sparking new interests or adding information about topics I'm already interested in.

But this isn't really anti-Mormonism as much as a kind of questioning Mormon agnosticism. A rather large gulf exists between the two mind sets.

[_Coggins7]

While sometimes this may be the method used to make decisions, more often than not we do what we want to do, regardless of perceived cost/benefit. We typically make emotional decisions and look for logic (cost/benefit) to justify them.

Also, a salient point.

[_Jersey Girl]

Good grief, Wade. Why you feel the need to ascribe such complex theory to an intrinsically human characteristic that is rooted in our behavior from infancy is anyone's guess. Human beings, from infancy, repeat behaviors from which they profit.

An infant learns this by engaging their caregiver. The child cries and unless the child is being cared for by a neglectful adult, the cry illicits a response the underlying aspect of which is having one's needs met. The primary circular reaction, having been tested and proven to provide the response, is repeated via ongoing exchange between caregiver and infant. And so it goes throughout our lifetime.

Here, you have essentially lumped individuals whom you label "Anti-Mormon" and assigned them the characteristic of engaging in "griping about and deriding the church"...and you expect people to respond to this.

What is an Anti-Mormon? Do all anti-Mormon's gripe about the church and deride it?

Doesn't the not so transparent claim that you're making simply smack of bigotry?

Yes, we're all griping, deriding and calculating our cost benefit in advance.

Mote/Beam

Jersey Girl

[_Coggins7]

Doesn't the not so transparent claim that you're making simply smack of bigotry?

In all actuality, most of the, what I would call "anti-Mormonism" is virtually identifiable with religious and intellectual bigotry, from both the Evangelical Protestant and secular materialist perspective respectively. I've seen some criticism that is well within the limits of civil discourse and intellectual civility, but this is rare within the realms of serious anti-Mormonism, particularly within the world of the Protestant Fundamentalist counter cult movement.

Perhaps there are critics of the Church who should be separated from Anti-Mormons?

[_Jersey Girl]

Doesn't the not so transparent claim that you're making simply smack of bigotry?

In all actuality, most of the, what I would call "anti-Mormonism" is virtually identifiable with religious and intellectual bigotry, from both the Evangelical Protestant and secular materialist perspective respectively. I've seen some criticism that is well within the limits of civil discourse and intellectual civility, but this is rare within the realms of serious anti-Mormonism, particularly within the world of the Protestant Fundamentalist counter cult movement.

Perhaps there are critics of the Church who should be separated from Anti-Mormons?

There are those amongst us who take great offense to being categorized via lump sum evaluation of who and what we are or what we think and why we think it or what we do and why we do it, based on the simple distinction that we disagree with the doctrines of the Mormon church.

It's far easier to attack the pile than take a moment to look at the faces contained in it. How bloody convenient!

Jersey Girl

[_Lucretia MacEvil]

I've gotten paid $2.79 per word for everything I written on Mormon boards since 1997 (sorry, I can't say where the money comes from). The reason I don't write so much any more is that I'm already a very rich woman.

[_Mr. Coffee]

what PERSONAL costs (if any)

$79.99 a month plus tax for a 100mb fiber line.

or PERSONAL benefits you get from griping about and deriding the LDS Church here?

I get a good laugh and I get to indulge in my hobby of pissing people off.


But the real question is WHY I would do this?

The answer is...

Because I can and I know you're watching.

[_Mercury]

I have posted this on several other boards, but I wanted to give those here to whom it may apply, a chance to respond as well:

The choices we humans make typically amount to an informal cost/benefit analysis, where we each weigh the cost against the benefits of known options, and choose the option that we believe will give us the most benefit.

I believe this applies even to choices made in regards to anti-Mormonism of all sorts, including what often occurs here at MD.

Would those who are interested, and to whom it applies, be so kind as to briefly, though thoughtfully, let me know what PERSONAL costs (if any) or PERSONAL benefits you get from griping about and deriding the LDS Church here?

I promise to read all of the responses, though I may not respond to all of them.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

Wade, I find your likely assumptions made in your cost/benefit question that I expect I will be countering (with a long sigh and a pinch the bridge of my nose. downcast and sigh) uninformed, unbelievable and unintelligible. Your main assumption being that God gave joe plates, yadayadayada faith. One sided childish stunts like this S*** do not pass the sniff test and the only reason I reply to it (my benefit) is to laugh at your pathetic questions and await more wit from Blixa and Port.

So here is my take on it anyways.

The cost:

* Time
* Effort
* Biting wit and spot on commentary (actually I throw this one in for free...Rimshot please!!!)

The Benefit:
* I get to beat up on the retarded and get away with it
* I get to beat up on the retarded and feel good about it, as the retarded are by choice being retarded.

[MODERATOR NOTE: Please do not use the "S" word in the Terrestrial Forum.]