Calling Thayne, Can I Help With NOM?

[_Res Ipsa]

your opinion is noted, mentalg, and your mis-use of this topic in order to push your whiny agenda is especially noted. Now that you've told everyone multiple times what meanies people here are, I'm more interested in hearing from other NOM posters.

MG seems to be strangely vested in convincing NOMs not to come here. What do you suppose he is really worried about? Why would he care about members of a group that he says himself that he left years ago?

ETA: He must think we are a bad influence.

I think it all depends on what the individual wants in a forum. One of the things that attracts me to this forum is the relative lack of moderation. The main method for moderating is simply moving a post or thread to the appropriate forum. It results in a freewheeling conversation where folks are free to speak their minds. If that's what folks want, this is the best LDS related forum there is, in my opinion.

However, I would not consider this a "support" forum. Yes, I agree with Jersey Girl that folks here are terrific about lending support when a member is in crisis. But outside of that, I would not describe the general tone here as supportive. In fact, I'd describe lots of the tone here as confrontational and antagonistic. For LDS folks out there who are being put through an emotional wringer because they are struggling to find a way to reconcile their personal beliefs with what they think Mormonism demands, having folks like tear into them for not being good Mormons or tear into them for not simply leaving, this place may not be what they want or need.

That doesn't make this place bad. It is simply a recognition that different people have different needs and that one size doesn't necessarily fit all.

[_mentalgymnast]

You continue to "chime in" with complaints almost every time I see you start posting here. What are you doing to proactively change your situation?

Nothing, buddy.

Just stating what I see as being the facts ma'm.

Not complaining.

I've gone into some detail as to why I think many NOM's would not find this an inviting place.

People may disagree. That's fine.

Thanks for your input.

Regards,
MG

[_mentalgymnast]

Honestly, you complain about the same things over and over again and yet you take no action whatsoever to prevent them. I barely read the threads that you participate on for that very reason. I know, as I'm reading, it's going to devolve into complaints. And, like clockwork, here it is again.

Yep.

People have given you advice that you fail to act on. I'm sorry you're unhappy, but half of the equation is you, buddy.

I'm OK. Just stating my opinions and having a conversation or two here and there.

Regards,
MG

[_mentalgymnast]

Obviously, where I am an 'outlier' I have to respond more than you do and keep some things going so as to not be called a chicken**** or some other contrary pejorative.

No you don't have to do anything here. You're under no obligation to respond to every post that's directed at you. Engage it, ignore it. It's your choice.

Yep.

Regards,
MG

[_mentalgymnast]

You're definitely not the fragile bunnies mentalgymnast has apparently pegged you as. Welcome.

There is a certain segment of the NOM's that will feel comfortable here. I agree. But I've already said that.

Regards,
MG

[_mentalgymnast]

Sure, your typically poor thought process has lead you to blow right past my apology to Amore and also to turn a blind eye on all of the other posters who stated they weren't fragile bunnies, to pick out one little out of context piece to support your already thoroughly refuted position.

You are so obvious, mg.

I saw your apology. Some non-fragile bunnies will show up here. I realize that. I stick with my original position. I see it as being reasonable.

Regards,
MG

[_mentalgymnast]

...your mis-use of this topic in order to push your whiny agenda is especially noted. Now that you've told everyone multiple times what meanies people here are, I'm more interested in hearing from other NOM posters.

Not whining at all, Lemmie. Thanks for your input. I've stated some of my thoughts/opinions earlier in the thread when there was a 'conversation' going on. You don't have to agree with what I said. I don't have to agree with you're interpretation of what I said. It's all good.

Regards,
MG

[_mentalgymnast]

Again, I think that this forum...the way that it is now...is somewhat inhospitable towards many NOM's. Some of the hardcore disbelievers that would come here from NOM are going to fall right into line, but the softcore/questioning types would find this place unattractive and/or very uncomfortable.

Regards,
MG

The way it is now? You'll forgive me, but as one who has been here since the board's inception, I feel compelled to correct you on this.

This board has always had it's challengers. In varying degrees, I have been one of them and of course, I will be again.

The part you are missing (take your blinders off) is that from day one, this board has also always offered support to it's posters.

Believe me, if you or anyone else here, announced a serious event in your life or a strong need, the posters on this board would come out in droves to support you, both on the board in full public view and behind the scenes. And I would be one of those as well.

Stop trying to fit this entire collection of independents into a box, based on your one-sided experience that regularly finds you complaining without doing anything to solve the problems you encounter here. You can only cry wolf so many times before people decide that you are non-serious.

In other words, stop talking about it and DO something about it.

I appreciate what you've said here, Jersey. But I'm comfortable in my own skin having said what I said. I'm also comfortable with the fact that I'm going to get some pushback.

I've stated my opinion a number of times now in regards to the topic of this thread. Others can have theirs. And so it goes...

Regards,
MG

[_Lemmie]

However, I would not consider this a "support" forum. Yes, I agree with Jersey Girl that folks here are terrific about lending support when a member is in crisis. But outside of that, I would not describe the general tone here as supportive. In fact, I'd describe lots of the tone here as confrontational and antagonistic. For LDS folks out there who are being put through an emotional wringer because they are struggling to find a way to reconcile their personal beliefs with what they think Mormonism demands, having folks like tear into them for not being good Mormons or tear into them for not simply leaving, this place may not be what they want or need.

That doesn't make this place bad. It is simply a recognition that different people have different needs and that one size doesn't necessarily fit all.

Very good summation, Res Ipsa. If NOMs temporarily arrange a NOM thread for support here, I think it would work -temporarily. There is a need for shorter run support, and a NOM board is definitely a benefit in that respect.

But I agree the general tone here is challenging- something I find intellectually stimulating, and something which, as a no-longer-Mormon, in the long run I find very helpful. I can definitely relate to that in between stage, however, and I empathize with that more than people like mg can possibly realize.

It's unfortunate mg insists on forcing this point that he considers 'disagreement" here to be confrontational so that he can justify his personal position; I would hate to think there is someone out there missing out on companionship and support because they believe his nonsense.

[_mentalgymnast]

your opinion is noted, mentalg, and your mis-use of this topic in order to push your whiny agenda is especially noted. Now that you've told everyone multiple times what meanies people here are, I'm more interested in hearing from other NOM posters.

MG seems to be strangely vested in convincing NOMs not to come here.

Nope.

What do you suppose he is really worried about?

Not worried...except that a number of these folks may not find this to be the place for them. That is my opinion. Earlier in the thread I went into more detail, etc.

Why would he care about members of a group that he says himself that he left years ago?

The dynamics/operations/personality of this board compared to the NOM board and a number of its members I see as being somewhat at odds. Again, in my opinion.

ETA: He must think we are a bad influence.

Not at all.

Especially when there are some decent conversations that don't evolve into what this thread has evolved into. I wouldn't have come back in except that I want to 'set the record straight'.

That's the way I see it. Your mileage may vary. Fine. Guess what? I'm OK with that.

Really.

Regards,
MG