The Atheism Plus "movement" -- good, bad, ugly?

[hadespussercats]

Jest fucking raping Christ

http://atheismplus.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6

Yeah.

Don't conflate social awkwardness with obnoxiousness: Having poor social skills and behaving like a jerk are completely different things. The former can sometimes inadvertently lead to the latter, but the two are not intrinsically linked. Someone can be kind and considerate, but at the same time be poor at picking up social cues and appear shy and awkward in conversation.

Doesn't this describe the fabled "elevator guy" to a "T"?

Doesn't this describe precisely what the FTBSCs did to him?

And btw, has anyone heard from this guy at all? Did he even ever exist, and if so, was he actually a member/participant of the conference in question?

Hello Taqiyya Mockingbird (nice name)

Thank you. It's sort of a slam between the obvious, and the name of a local band, and a slam on the islamic doctrine of lying to make their religion out to be peaceful, called "taqiyya and kitman".

This was posted to YouTube a few weeks ago .. Apparently there's audio on this ... though I haven't been able to hear it, others can. Seems to be considered legit by many ...

There is indeed audio. I have transcribed it, to the best of my ability:


[quote="Elevator Guy" in YouTube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9DWGcFEw2s"]
.

"I think it's about time I came out to the world. I am the "elevator guy". I was at the atheist conference and I, uh, was in the bar afterwards. I'm really shy and I wasn't really, um, involved in the conversation, I was kind of lurking in the background, you know, listening to everyone else, and this girl was there, uh, her name was Rebecca, and she was such an eloquent speaker and I was just, like, thinking, you know, how could I develop a repoire with her, how could I, maybe, like, get someone like this in my life, and, you know, for once I thought "I'm going to go up there and do something, and try to make it happen". And so I'm really shy. I kept thinking about approaching her in the bar, I had a few drinks, by the end of the night I was...kind of drunk, probably more drunk than I should be, and I finally built up the nerve to go talk to her, and she was leaving. I followed her into the elevator and I said, "I think you are interesting, would you like to come and have coffee with me?"
She kinda gave me this look of disgust, and I...pushed the floor button and we kind of awkwardly rode the elevator together and I got off, kind of left with my tail between my legs, it was really embarrassing and awkward and I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause this whole big controversy.
You can't blame a guy for trying, OK, give me a break, I'm sorry, Rebecca. I'm sorry I did that."

He sounds agonized. His tone in his last sentence seems to also seems to reflect a lot of frustration as well. If this is the guy, he seems sincere to me. I imagine that time will tell.[/quote]

There was a post at Ratskep that showed this same guy has made other parody videos. I forget the details. If I find it again, I'll come back with the appropriate information.

[SteveB]

Elevator Guy is most likely a figment of RW's inebriated imagination.

[hadespussercats]

Elevator Guy is most likely a figment of RW's inebriated imagination.

I don't think so.

[Robert_S]

It's interesting-- one of the rules is something to the effect of "Don't dismiss a severe problem by conflating it with a less severe problem." Then went on to use as an example FGM versus male circumcision.

Apparently they've already decided the latter isn't severe. I think there are many progressively-minded atheists who would disagree with that assessment. Apparently the site owners consider it beyond reproach.

I was circumcised and I'm not really all that happy about it, but they left the glans. So, I consider it orders of magnitude less severe than FGM.

See, I happen to think it generally isn't as severe, too. But I don't think my opinion is the clincher. It's a fraught subject. Jeez, why do they want to talk to each other if they already agree on everything?

Oh, I don't think they agree on everything. But they do generally do agree on some core issues which is their reason for existing in the first place.

[hadespussercats]

It's interesting-- one of the rules is something to the effect of "Don't dismiss a severe problem by conflating it with a less severe problem." Then went on to use as an example FGM versus male circumcision.

Apparently they've already decided the latter isn't severe. I think there are many progressively-minded atheists who would disagree with that assessment. Apparently the site owners consider it beyond reproach.

I was circumcised and I'm not really all that happy about it, but they left the glans. So, I consider it orders of magnitude less severe than FGM.

See, I happen to think it generally isn't as severe, too. But I don't think my opinion is the clincher. It's a fraught subject. Jeez, why do they want to talk to each other if they already agree on everything?

Oh, I don't think they agree on everything. But they do generally do agree on some core issues which is their reason for existing in the first place.

I was just checking out the forum. Someone posted about how, since that forum is supposed to be a refuge for the good folks, that people from the "slyme pit" shouldn't be able to register.

I think I agree with most of them on the core issues you're referring to there. Still, sounds like they'd rather not have me around. Especially since I'd have to use my slave name, or whatever you want to call it-- I've already been labelled an apologist and worse over at chez PZ.

Guess I'm stuck eating lunch with you losers.

[Bella Fortuna]

Guess I'm stuck eating lunch with you losers.

You can steal my milk money any day.

[Robert_S]

I was just checking out the forum. Someone posted about how, since that forum is supposed to be a refuge for the good folks, that people from the "slyme pit" shouldn't be able to register.

I think I agree with most of them on the core issues you're referring to there. Still, sounds like they'd rather not have me around. Especially since I'd have to use my slave name, or whatever you want to call it-- I've already been labelled an apologist and worse over at chez PZ.

Guess I'm stuck eating lunch with you losers.

Their proposed rule:

Don't import hostility to the forum: If a user has behaved badly elsewhere, but posts only sensible comments here, these comments should not be greeted with hostility. As with carrying arguments between threads, importing hostility is disruptive, and looks dreadful to outsiders.

I'm actually interested to see how this turns out, so I have an account there.

[DaveDodo007]

Oh, I don't think they agree on everything. But they do generally do agree on some core issues which is their reason for existing in the first place.

I was just checking out the forum. Someone posted about how, since that forum is supposed to be a refuge for the good folks, that people from the "slyme pit" shouldn't be able to register.

I think I agree with most of them on the core issues you're referring to there. Still, sounds like they'd rather not have me around. Especially since I'd have to use my slave name, or whatever you want to call it-- I've already been labelled an apologist and worse over at chez PZ.

Guess I'm stuck eating lunch with you losers.

Their proposed rule:

Don't import hostility to the forum: If a user has behaved badly elsewhere, but posts only sensible comments here, these comments should not be greeted with hostility. As with carrying arguments between threads, importing hostility is disruptive, and looks dreadful to outsiders.

I'm actually interested to see how this turns out, so I have an account there.[/quote]

Well good luck with that. Maybe I'm a cynical old cunt but I wish you all the best. Though I smell McCarthyism in my nostrils and that makes me uneasy.

[Robert_S]

In case you're wondering, although I feel welcome over there and will only participate constructively. I have no intention of leaving here.

Whatever beef some people here have with some people there, there seem to be a LOT of people who want something like this.

[Taqiyya Mockingbird]

Jest fucking raping Christ

http://atheismplus.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6

Yeah.

Don't conflate social awkwardness with obnoxiousness: Having poor social skills and behaving like a jerk are completely different things. The former can sometimes inadvertently lead to the latter, but the two are not intrinsically linked. Someone can be kind and considerate, but at the same time be poor at picking up social cues and appear shy and awkward in conversation.

Doesn't this describe the fabled "elevator guy" to a "T"?

Doesn't this describe precisely what the FTBSCs did to him?

And btw, has anyone heard from this guy at all? Did he even ever exist, and if so, was he actually a member/participant of the conference in question?

Hello Taqiyya Mockingbird (nice name)

Thank you. It's sort of a slam between the obvious, and the name of a local band, and a slam on the islamic doctrine of lying to make their religion out to be peaceful, called "taqiyya and kitman".

This was posted to YouTube a few weeks ago .. Apparently there's audio on this ... though I haven't been able to hear it, others can. Seems to be considered legit by many ...

There is indeed audio. I have transcribed it, to the best of my ability:


[quote="Elevator Guy" in YouTube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9DWGcFEw2s"]
.

"I think it's about time I came out to the world. I am the "elevator guy". I was at the atheist conference and I, uh, was in the bar afterwards. I'm really shy and I wasn't really, um, involved in the conversation, I was kind of lurking in the background, you know, listening to everyone else, and this girl was there, uh, her name was Rebecca, and she was such an eloquent speaker and I was just, like, thinking, you know, how could I develop a repoire with her, how could I, maybe, like, get someone like this in my life, and, you know, for once I thought "I'm going to go up there and do something, and try to make it happen". And so I'm really shy. I kept thinking about approaching her in the bar, I had a few drinks, by the end of the night I was...kind of drunk, probably more drunk than I should be, and I finally built up the nerve to go talk to her, and she was leaving. I followed her into the elevator and I said, "I think you are interesting, would you like to come and have coffee with me?"
She kinda gave me this look of disgust, and I...pushed the floor button and we kind of awkwardly rode the elevator together and I got off, kind of left with my tail between my legs, it was really embarrassing and awkward and I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause this whole big controversy.
You can't blame a guy for trying, OK, give me a break, I'm sorry, Rebecca. I'm sorry I did that."

He sounds agonized. His tone in his last sentence seems to also seems to reflect a lot of frustration as well. If this is the guy, he seems sincere to me. I imagine that time will tell.

There was a post at Ratskep that showed this same guy has made other parody videos. I forget the details. If I find it again, I'll come back with the appropriate information.[/quote]


If that is the case I stand corrected and retract all.

[SteveB]

that people from the "slyme pit" shouldn't be able to register.

Slyme Pit is no euphemism, it refers to this forum.

[hadespussercats]

that people from the "slyme pit" shouldn't be able to register.

Slyme Pit is no euphemism, it refers to this forum.

AAahh.

Thought it was a reference to PZ's name-calling. I guess we're the slime pit.

[hadespussercats]

There was a post at Ratskep that showed this same guy has made other parody videos. I forget the details. If I find it again, I'll come back with the appropriate information.

If that is the case I stand corrected and retract all.

I wouldn't, just yet-- let me see if I can locate the evidence.

[Robert_S]

Elevatorgate is a Rorschach test. Just enough detail to keep our interest, but just enough vagueness for all of us to project our own worldviews upon it.

The controversy is ultimately not about the incident at 4:00 AM. It is a barometer of the fears, hopes, prejudices, pride, and dietary habits of the people who make up the atheist community. I recommend more fiber, unsaturated fats, and maybe a daily B12 supplement.

Seriously though: More fiber! There is no way you guys should be in on the crapper that long.

[hadespussercats]

I was just checking out the forum. Someone posted about how, since that forum is supposed to be a refuge for the good folks, that people from the "slyme pit" shouldn't be able to register.

I think I agree with most of them on the core issues you're referring to there. Still, sounds like they'd rather not have me around. Especially since I'd have to use my slave name, or whatever you want to call it-- I've already been labelled an apologist and worse over at chez PZ.

Guess I'm stuck eating lunch with you losers.

Their proposed rule:

Don't import hostility to the forum: If a user has behaved badly elsewhere, but posts only sensible comments here, these comments should not be greeted with hostility. As with carrying arguments between threads, importing hostility is disruptive, and looks dreadful to outsiders.

I'm actually interested to see how this turns out, so I have an account there.

I wasn't sure if that was really the consensus, given some other posts I've read. I mean, why insist on certain name use, if that's the case? Why follow people outside the forum?

I'm interested, too. But I'm not sure why. And I don't have much time for a new internet time-suck. Especially if they turn out to be as intolerant as they have sometimes seemed.