Who has a bigger following?

[_Mercury]

Steve benson among the tribe of Exmormon.org...

..OR..

...Dan Peterson among the LDS Apologists?

I am not going to be defending (or criticizing) any of these two . . cough...individuals.

[_beastie]

I would say DCP has the bigger tribe. Steve definitely has his followers, but his rudeness knows no boundaries, so I would say the real "steveites" are just a minority of the RfM group as a whole. It's just that they're vocal in his defense.

DCP, on the other hand, isn't really a rude person at all, as far as I've seen. He just has the misfortune of being the apparent personification, for many, of internet apologia. That's why he's derided. Steve, on the other hand, is usually derided because he derided first.

DCP, in my opinion, really doesn't deserve the harsh treatment he receives. If apologia is that bad, and sometimes it is, I think it's more helpful to lurkers to expose the problems underlying the apologia, rather than mistreat the apologist. (unless, of course, the apologist's main tactic is to deride others, then, of course, he/she is open to mistreatment and has invited it, but I still think we're better off ignoring it and forcing them to stick to the topic, as hard as that it is do)

[_Bond...James Bond]

DCP, although Steve Benson makes up for his lack of followers with rudeness, jerkiness, and the ability to repost the same crap over and over again.

[_harmony]

Steve benson among the tribe of Exmormon.org...

..OR..

...Dan Peterson among the LDS Apologists?

I am not going to be defending (or criticizing) any of these two . . cough...individuals.

Are we talking percentages or raw numbers? Because I don't know how many LDS apologists exist nor do I know the population present at any given time at exmormon.org.

[_harmony]

DCP, on the other hand, isn't really a rude person at all, as far as I've seen.

And you said that with a straight face. I'm impressed. As someone who's been on the receiving end of his barbs, I tend to disagree.

DCP, in my opinion, really doesn't deserve the harsh treatment he receives. If apologia is that bad, and sometimes it is, I think it's more helpful to lurkers to expose the problems underlying the apologia, rather than mistreat the apologist. (unless, of course, the apologist's main tactic is to deride others, then, of course, he/she is open to mistreatment and has invited it, but I still think we're better off ignoring it and forcing them to stick to the topic, as hard as that it is do)

I think attacking DCP's ideas is fine. I think attacking his physical appearance is not.

[_beastie]

And you said that with a straight face. I'm impressed. As someone who's been on the receiving end of his barbs, I tend to disagree.

I should have qualified that by saying that I have not had extensive interactions with him myself. For some reason, our interests do not seem to coincide much.

In other words, mileage may vary. ;)

[_moksha]

I think attacking DCP's ideas is fine. I think attacking his physical appearance is not.

Just wait till those attackers are his age, I suspect they will change their tune.

[_Daniel Peterson]

I simply assume that all of my critics are, or could be, professional models. That seems reasonable.

[_Jersey Girl]

DCP, although Steve Benson makes up for his lack of followers with rudeness, jerkiness, and the ability to repost the same crap over and over again.

So true! I find Benson extremely obnoxious. Anyone who witnessed his treatment of Dan Vogel can bear testimony to that.

[_Jersey Girl]

I simply assume that all of my critics are, or could be, professional models. That seems reasonable.

Touche'
;-)