Thread At MA&D About Doubting Members and Fair/MA&D

[_Yoda]

OK, I posted this on Runtu's MAD validation thread, but I think it's worth posting here as well:

Actually, I looked at topics.

I was accused here of thinking of apologetics as a game. And it is true that if it weren't for anti's and critics, there would be no need for apologetics. But validation? I've met most of the people you talk about in real life. And they do have real lives, unlike what is portrayed here.

I didn't mention any names. Who are you talking about? And I certainly didn't accuse you thinking apologetics are a game. I just thought it interesting that some people over there seem to relish being disliked so much over here. I thought it was an interesting sociological phenomenon.

Oh, let's quit being coy and mention names.

;)

Unless you have been under a rock somewhere, it is obvious that Harmony is right. Juliann thrives on the attention, be it negative or positive.

And, since she is the originator of the MAD/FAIR board, she gets a free pass with what she can say, no matter how outrageous.

Those she deems as her friends gain the same privilege.

Hey, it's her board. If she wants to run it that way, then more power to her.

But she should at least have the balls to call a spade a spade and spell it out that way.

Her fake coyness about her supposedly not being a moderator, when everyone knows she is, is annoying, and just plain stupid.

Also, I think that to be fair to investigators, and those who have sincere questions about questionable Church history, there ought to be a huge warning about participation.

Frankly, I think they are taking a step in the right direction in referring those folks to LDSForums.

They should have, in huge black letters on the home page for MAD, "If you doubt any part of the LDS doctrine, and you don't enjoy being chewed up and spit out verbally, this is not the place for you."

Charity, you and I have had this discussion in PM on several occasions when we were on the FAIR board together.

Not everyone has access to the same type of information that you may have been blessed to have. Incredulous as you find this to be, it's true.

There are many difficult doctrinal points that I did not know about until I went to BYU and was involved in Religion classes.

Not everyone has access to a vast library, and when they come across hard-line issues such as MMM, Joseph Smith's polyandry, etc., like it or not, it is a shock!

[_barrelomonkeys]

This is so nuts!

It's their board, and they can run it the way they want. The problem for me comes in assuming wrongly that other people are basically good and decent and want to do the right thing. My father calls me an altruist, but maybe I'm just too naïve.

I am indubitably too naïve. I'll consider myself in good company. :)

[_mms]

You know what's frustrating? I know the game Juliann plays, and I still take the bait. Yesterday I was going to put her on ignore just so I wouldn't be tempted to respond to her sneering. Too late for that.

I can't see the board at all, but 20 bucks says she's gloating publicly about suspending the "board nanny."

John,

You really should be able to see the board--are you just getting that screen that says your suspended? If so, I found that if you go into your cookies and delete the cookie for MA&D, and then refresh the website, it comes up and you can navigate it/view it as usual. By doing this, I have never been unable to see the board when on suspension.

mms

[_Yoda]

You know what's frustrating? I know the game Juliann plays, and I still take the bait. Yesterday I was going to put her on ignore just so I wouldn't be tempted to respond to her sneering. Too late for that.

I can't see the board at all, but 20 bucks says she's gloating publicly about suspending the "board nanny."

John,

You really should be able to see the board--are you just getting that screen that says your suspended? If so, I found that if you go into your cookies and delete the cookie for MA&D, and then refresh the website, it comes up and you can navigate it/view it as usual. By doing this, I have never been unable to see the board when on suspension.

mms

Unless your IP is blocked, you should also be able to go to the site and just not log in. You can view everything as a Guest.

[_Runtu]

You know what's frustrating? I know the game Juliann plays, and I still take the bait. Yesterday I was going to put her on ignore just so I wouldn't be tempted to respond to her sneering. Too late for that.

I can't see the board at all, but 20 bucks says she's gloating publicly about suspending the "board nanny."

John,

You really should be able to see the board--are you just getting that screen that says your suspended? If so, I found that if you go into your cookies and delete the cookie for MA&D, and then refresh the website, it comes up and you can navigate it/view it as usual. By doing this, I have never been unable to see the board when on suspension.

mms

Unless your IP is blocked, you should also be able to go to the site and just not log in. You can view everything as a Guest.

Thanks. I can see it now. Someone owes me 20 bucks:

Was it our token board nanny? If so didn't you know we have him on ignore. So someone else had to
report it for you huh.

[_mms]

I was impressed by mms presenting his case and standing his ground.

Thanks. I am somewhat impressed that they have not suspended me again . . . yet.

[_Yoda]

I was impressed by mms presenting his case and standing his ground.

Thanks. I am somewhat impressed that they have not suspended me again . . . yet.

I agree with Mok.

What you wrote was very well-stated.

Who knows? Maybe it will touch somebody?

[_Yoda]

Thanks. I can see it now. Someone owes me 20 bucks:

Sorry, my friend.

No one would be stupid enough to take you up on that bet!

;)

[_Gaia]

There is a thread at MA&D entitled "Madb as part of a decovnersion narrative"--it is near the top right now. Juliann started it and she states within the thread (a few posts down) that the doubting members that come there usually don't stick around. Would one of you kindly go over and post that "mms" (I) would have been happy to stick around (a doubting active member) and would like to contribute to this particular thread, but cannot because I was suspended for the most innocuous disagreement with DCP. Indeed, they should not get away with claiming we do not stick around while they prohibit us from posting.

mms

GAIA:

Uh, here's another with the very same experience.

I was suspended for posting a reply to "Why People Leave" the Church, that tried to actually UNDERSTAND some of the reasons why people leave, rather than just marginalize and label them all as faithless, sinful, or superficial brats who "get their feelings hurt", and "never had testimonies to begin with" -- but hey, that was violating the most basic rules, . . . .

[_Alter Idem]

They never responded that they would do so, but continued the attacks. It seems if it was worth their time to attack me, it would have been worth their time to inquire of the Lord re whether I was a doubting High Priest or a troll. If they did pray about it (they may have) and received the answer that I am a troll, then they should be questioning their own abilities to obtain answers to prayers. I was not mocking prayer in the slightest--I meant every word I said and did not think it was silly for them, with what they claim to believe and with the time they were taking to attack me, to engage in this process before further hurling attacks and accusations my direction.

That's really interesting. Did you PM either one of them, by any chance?

I'm just wondering if they would have responded to you in a private conversation.

Can any of the Pro-MAD'ers (Charity, Alter Idem, Why Me, Wade, DCP, et. al.) answer as to why such a sincere request wouldn't be honored?

I'm afraid MMS's request probably came off as "mocking"--they did not read it as sincere. I've learned that it can be hard to convey tone in a written message. When dealing with some posters, they automatically react from a position of defense--they are on edge, expecting that you are ready to pounce on them if they let their guard down.

It's easy to be labeled and categoried with your first few posts and then it's hard to get others to change their mindset.

MMS, I remember that thread and felt you were sincere when you posted, but it was clear you were appealing to the wrong crowd. As a newbie, you wouldn't have known that. That's what I meant about the dynamics of a board on the Deconversion thread at MADB.