Who is "Mr. Scratch"?

[_Ray A]

So. . . answer my questions. How many times have you had dinner with Pres. Hinkley? Been fishing with him? How well do you really know him, since you seem to accept him carte blanche, and according to you, only a fool would accept someone without knowing everything about them.

What a dumb analogy. I have met President Hinckley, and we all know who he is. This is too silly a comparison. Go ahead, defend your board verbal terrorist and keep the mask over his hideous and slanderous face. Pity "Mister Scratch" doesn't bother anyone here like "Mr. Itchy" did.

[_Bryan Inks]

So. . . answer my questions. How many times have you had dinner with Pres. Hinkley? Been fishing with him? How well do you really know him, since you seem to accept him carte blanche, and according to you, only a fool would accept someone without knowing everything about them.

What a dumb analogy. I have met President Hinckley, and we all know who he is. This is too silly a comparison. Go ahead, defend your board verbal terrorist and keep the mask over his hideous and slanderous face. Pity "Mister Scratch" doesn't bother anyone here like "Mr. Itchy" did.

I agree that it's a dumb analogy. One might go so far as to call it purile, trite or even asinine. But it's your analogy. I'm merely showing you how stupid it really is when you actually apply it. But to continue on. . .

Ray, since you know Pres. H. . . does he prefer his steak medium rare? With or without steak sauce? What about his corn-on-the-cob? Does he prefer it with or without butter? Pepper? Does he like a bit of garlic mixed into the butter? What are Pres. H's feelings on the ramifications of banning dihydrogen oxide? What are his thoughts on Christopher Reeves' actinig ability as demonstrated in Superman 2?

Are you getting my point yet, Ray?

If I'm understanding you correctly, facial recognition and a chance shoulder bump suffice as "knowledge" enough to accept someone?

If that is correct, everyone here knows Mr. Scratch well enough to accept him, as his online alias and chosen avatar are recognizable and we've all bumped shoulders with him intellectually.

But, I'll admit, I might have completely misunderstood your highly advanced proposition. I am only a partially educated adult and such a complex behavioural premise could, like a simple belt-buckle or rotating door, be way beyone my ability to comprehend.

[_Ray A]

I agree that it's a dumb analogy. One might go so far as to call it purile, trite or even asinine. But it's your analogy. I'm merely showing you how stupid it really is when you actually apply it. But to continue on. . .

No need to. You've already conceded your anaology is dumb.

Ray, since you know Pres. H. . . does he prefer his steak medium rare? With or without steak sauce? What about his corn-on-the-cob? Does he prefer it with or without butter? Pepper? Does he like a bit of garlic mixed into the butter? What are Pres. H's feelings on the ramifications of banning dihydrogen oxide? What are his thoughts on Christopher Reeves' actinig ability as demonstrated in Superman 2?

Are you getting my point yet, Ray?

Very clear. You're upset that your star, slanderous anti-Mormon commentator is being questioned on your "free speech" forum. You belch sourness and sound like a whining old goat defending an equally whining old goat. Does it rattle your funny bone to have your resident vilifier under scrutiny?

If I'm understanding you correctly, facial recognition and a chance shoulder bump suffice as "knowledge" enough to accept someone?

You're right. Let me explain. A belt buckle, attached to a belt, holds trousers up. A rotating door, more commonly known as a revolving door, assists the flow of "people movement" through large buildings where human traffic is large. Understandy now?

If that is correct, everyone here knows Mr. Scratch well enough to accept him, as his online alias and chosen avatar are recognizable and we've all bumped shoulders with him intellectually.

Because "everyone here" accepts Scratch's innuendo mostly without question. Apparently. Like attracts like.

But, I'll admit, I might have completely misunderstood your highly advanced proposition. I am only a partially educated adult and such a complex behavioural premise could, like a simple belt-buckle or rotating door, be way beyone my ability to comprehend.

Amen.

[_The Dude]

We know who Tal Bachman is. We know who Steve Benson is. Both outspoken critics of Mormonism. So who is "Mr. Scratch"? I would normally never in my right mind stand up for Bachman or Benson, but at least they have the guts to let the world know who they are!

Tal Bachman and Steve Benson are interesting names because they've been in public, so to speak. So if you meet them on-line, knowing who they are immediately opens up a lot of past information, which can be like turning on additional lights in the room where you are reading. It makes a small difference to know that Tal Bachman has a musical career and is responsible for a song you've heard a hundred times on the radio (the size of the difference depends on how much you liked She's So High -- I liked it very much before I knew the name of the guy). It makes a somewhat larger difference to know that Steve Benson is an award winning cartoonist, not to mention the grandson of a dead LDS prophet. But in fact, it doesn't have to be like turning on a light, when you know about a person's public life. The significance is subjective, no doubt. If you know Bob McCue is a Canadian lawyer, does that influence your opinions when you read his stuff? Or do his writings tend to stand on their own, apart from his non-public past? For me they do. But I guess it depends on how you feel about Canadians.

If Mr. Scratch had a public life of any significance, he could tell us and that might make a difference. Or if he was your cousin, or an old classmate, I guess that could make some personal difference to you. But if he's just an ice cream man, or a roadie for Metallica, or a college professor in Chicago, I can't think of how it matters for us to know who he is.

Can you explain your fascination with Mister Scratch? How come you aren't as fascinated with me?

[_Ray A]

Can you explain your fascination with Mister Scratch?

It's not a fascination, Dude - it's disgust.

How come you aren't as fascinated with me?

Because you don't write with a poisoned pen. At least I know you have a Ph.D, like marijuana, are a former practising Mormon, have a sense of humour, and your avatar doesn't look like some stern, dour prosecutor. Does "Scratch" even have a sense of humour? Maybe Bond needs to tutor him.

[_Rollo Tomasi]

Time to turn the spotlight on you, "Mr. Scatch". The noble defender of all things anti-Mormon. One thing I have noticed about "Mr.Scatch" is that he's not very well informed about Mormonism in general and I've been surprised at some of the things he's been ignorant of. My hypothesis, at this stage, is that "Scratch" may never have been a Mormon at all, but someone who has closely followed Mormonism for many years, and like all of his other lies and exaggerations he's feeding this line about wanting to "reform Mormonism" from the perspective of an outsider who hates "Mormon absolutism", indeed, all things Mormon.

How posters on this board can tolerate an anonymous poster like this, with all of his vile personal accusations, without question, merely because he mouths criticisms of Mormonism with which they agree, is beyond me, for people who criticise "blind obedience" in Mormons. So I ask you: WHO is "Mr. Scratch"? Do the anti-Mormon sycophants ever ask this?

I don't think anyone here should be "beyond question," and I don't think anyone is. I do think that Mr. Scratch is/was a Mormon and has a vast knowledge of things Mormon.

[_Ray A]

I don't think anyone here should be "beyond question," and I don't think anyone is. I do think that Mr. Scratch is/was a Mormon and has a vast knowledge of things Mormon.

Well that's a start. Let's find out if the prolific "biographer" is prepared to write his autobiography. I'm afraid to admit my admiration for Benson and Bachman soars when I think of "Mister Scratch". I would totally disagree that he has a vast knowledge of things Mormon. I think he has a vast knowledge of LDS personalities, and uses this as a weapon. He digs up more dirt than a graveyard labourer.

[_The Dude]

Does "Scratch" even have a sense of humour?

Unequivocally "yes".

[_The Dude]

Because you don't write with a poisoned pen. At least I know you have a Ph.D, like marijuana, are a former practising Mormon, have a sense of humour...,

But this is my point, Ray. You know all this stuff about me by reading my posts, and not because I've told you who I "really" am (meaning giving you a bunch of irrelevant personal information, like the name of my cat, or my real name).

...and your avatar doesn't look like some stern, dour prosecutor.

Oh yeah, and your avatar is so great Ray.

[_Ray A]

Does "Scratch" even have a sense of humour?

Unequivocally "yes".

Okay, but I think I'll find his humour after horse bones show up pre-Columbian archaeology. (With a nod to beastie.)