What's your story of online lunatics? Here's mine:

[Random_Australian]

Right now, as we speak, on another site, me and a creationist are going head-to-head, blow-for-blow in a debate.

In most of these, he is responding with suprising intelligence.

However, for one of these, that is, the subject of whether "talking to God" involves a process external to the mind, he keeps insisting that I need to talk to God.

Our conversation went like this:

Me: So, I have had a great deal of experience with that type of religious phenomena. I just don't believe that the effect is external to me, and in fact if you have evidence to the contrary I would love to hear it.

Him: Well, it's simple, you need to talk to God.

Me: But I don't believe there is a God.

Him: That's exactly why you need to talk to God.

Me: I don't know what you mean. How do I talk to something I don't believe in?

Him: You don't need to see another person on the end of the phone to talk to them. Go on, talk to God. Are you stone-cold scared of it or something?

Me: I don't even know what you mean by "talk to God" - am I just supposed to say "hello God" internally or something?

Him: It's no good stalling, trying to buy time. Go on, talk to God.

Me: I have already told you, I don't have the faintest clue what you mean when you say that.

Him: God's not a moron, you know. Go on, talk to God!

(It's still going)

So, what are your stories of internet weirdos?

:)

[Guava Jelly]

1. I got one and it's scary

There is this really creepy dude who likes to start picture threads and pm his butt to women.
A few Totally sane people :sarcasm: even think he's some sort of sexual predator or something.
Guy once in a while goes nuts on the boards and acts like a drama queen.
Not to mention he post pictures of himself with a guitar he cant play.
Guy is 2 tacos short of a combo platter
You should check out his grammar also.
His name is GoPsomethun
:shrug:

[Kutjara]

3. Yeah, I've encountered him.

He's a major loony. Definitely one for the rubber truck, as far as I'm concerned.

[Guava Jelly]

5. You aint kidden

seen him around lately :silly:

[Random_Australian]

7. Of course he's not kidden, his kutjara!

Seen him around too. I did.

[Guava Jelly]

9. guy gives me the creeps

:hide:

[Random_Australian]

13. Me too, did you see him in that thread about weird online people.

He and this other guy where there awful fast.

Makes me think that the OP and both the responders were all the same person; a bunch of sockpuppets I tells ya!

[Kutjara]

20. I am not a sockpuppet!!!!!

That photo of a me with a guy's hand up my ass was photoshopped, I tell you!!!!

[Random_Australian]

22. I'm so sorry little man, I thought you were a hand-puppet.

Is the name of a book I know.

[Kutjara]

24. That was just a scurrilous rumor, passed around by...

...a group of disgruntled ventriloquists.

[Kutjara]

19. And don't call me Shirley. n/t

[Kutjara]

8. When I do, I run for the hills!

God I hope he doesn't live in the hills :scared:

[Guava Jelly]

10. I heard he does!

And he likes to steal garden gnomes.
Be afraid be VERY AFRAID!:7

[Kutjara]

14. Gaaaahhh! Not my gnomes!!!!!!!!! n/t

[gr8dane_daddy]

17. I heard he had a hook...

for a hand too! Major whackjob!

[Guava Jelly]

26. He is quite the fruit loop

:crazy:

[Random_Australian]

4. I see from your sigline that some people are practicing voodoo.

It's too dangerous to let them have those dolls; they should be taken away and burned.

If you didn't get the joke, you need coffee, sleep, or coffee in your sleep.

[Guava Jelly]

11. But that could hurt

Is it getting hot in here?

[Random_Australian]

16. No, it's just my imagination. (FROM NOW ON I WILL REPLY ONLY

USING SONG TITLES)

[Kutjara]

2. Your experience, or one very much like it,...

is what frequently happens to me when I get into religious debates with fundies. Very quickly, we arrive at the central lacunae of their belief, the theological singularity where all rules of sensible discussion break down; the moment when reason is abandoned and they make a "leap of faith." For me, that's when I hit a stone wall. I am not willing to believe in something purely because it's "something that should be believed." That is circular reasoning and has no place in a rational mind.

It's probably also why I find such discussions fundamentally (no pun intended) unrewarding. From the moment the first words are uttered, I know how things will end. There is no possibility of affecting the other's beliefs, because such beliefs are, by nature, incapable of proof or refutation. There is no argument because there is no basis for an argument. It's the same as trying to argue against the statement "it's so because it's so." The belief is so empty, it isn't even untrue.

[Random_Australian]

6. If you studied psychology more, you would find this lot fascinating.

I usually have to say to them "If this conversation gets too much for you, you won't lose my respect if you decide to take a break". I'm learning to take shots at faith itself, so I gotta be careful not to hurt!

:)

[Kutjara]

12. They're certainly interesting from a psychological perspective.

As case studies in wishful thinking and self delusion, I'm sure there are several careers-worth of material in every true believer. I just haven't found discussions with such people to be very interesting. Having what is basically the same argument over and over soon gets wearying. Then I find myself baiting them and trying to tie them up in logical knots. I don't find this a particularly attractive side of myself and, anyway, if their beliefs give them some comfort, who am I to try to try to show them the man behind the curtain? I'm sure I suffer from my fair share of comforting delusions, and I wouldn't thank someone who made it their business to destroy them.

[Random_Australian]

15. I'm careful. My logic may be extremely blunt but I am always careful

not to go too far.

As it happens, this person was one of two intelligent creationists I've ever met, and so the rest of the conversation is interesting thus far.

[Kutjara]

18. It is a constant source of facination how...

...people can be both intelligent and still hold absolutely absurd beliefs, unamenable to any change. It's as if they apply rational thought to some aspects of life, but not others; as if rationality is a condiment that can be used to garnish some dishes, but not others. This strikes me as fundamentally dishonest: reason is accepted where it supports (or doesn't conflict with) belief, yet is abandoned where it doesn't.

Believers often say "science can't explain everything." No it can't, but it can explain a hell of a lot of things (and that number is increasing exponentially). Religion, on the other hand, can't explain anything. It simly asserts. It's so because some arbitrarily-definitive text says so. End of research, end of debate. Creationism (or its pseudoscience incarnation ID) is just more assertions unsupported by evidence. The Bible says the world was created, so that's obviously incontrovertible fact. Now, knowing that, let's cook up a theory that describes the way the world looks today. If your original premise is fatally flawed, and you accept no evidence that contradicts that premise, then your theory is fatally flawed. And I'm afraid that is the end of the argument, as far as Creationism is concerned.

I admire your patience and persistence in debating these people. I'm sure you are gaining some invaluable insights into the minds of Creationists. I wish I had the same stamina.

[Random_Australian]

21. I take large breaks, and I keep to my logic.

Usually it comes down to sifting through idiots until someone gives themselves away by making an intelligent comment (though places like FR are no good for that - you have to trawl through a lot to find some sane person), and then go the "does God exist" with them.

:)

And I have a six-step process for making the debate not dumb:

1) Background info. (Are they Muslim, Christian, etc.)
2) Assess style. How logical they are.
3) Communications #1. Make sure you are "hearing" them properly
4) Tell them that they can withdraw without negative consequences
5) Communications #2 - Can they here me?
6) Found arguments

Then you just go from there!

Simple.

:)

[Random_Australian]

23. I'm going to bed. Goodnight all.

[Kutjara]

25. Night night RA.

Sweet dreams. :hi: