Is your opinion disrespectful?

[HK]

I've just come from a discussion elsewhere, where a member on a forum who is deeply christian and in the minority has kicked off because routinely on religious discussion threads she gets personally insulted, takes any form of challenge against her religion as an attack, and ends up complaining to the mods. Her latest thread is because someone posted a picture of a bible that had the caption 'pics or it didn't happen' underneath it.

In response, she's made a thread saying 'all atheists will burn in hell, you all tell me I'm wrong all the time so I'm just telling you what I believe!!'

This is probably why some forums I've been on ban religious discussion. It gets too personal for some people. Personally I like the system here, which appears to be 'you're an adult, grow up and fight your own battles like a man' instead of 'did the bad atheist talk to you? we'll warn them to stop disrespecting you by having different opinions.' But seriously? Do people of a religious mindset believe that atheists and agnostics are openly disrespecting them by questioning their views? And if someone makes a post on a forum on any topic, shouldn't they be prepared for someone to disagree?

At what point does disagreement become disrespect, if at all? Assuming that we're not talking about full-on personal attacks such as 'you're a cock!' but literally just not seeing eye to eye.

 

[Springsteen]

At what point does disagreement become disrespect, if at all?

When it becomes personal insult. The thing with religious debate, and I would attribute this to many other debates, is that each side has their bone, and each side likes to defend this bone with all they have, and thwy won't get rid of this bone because it's what they believe in. The other problem is, debates mainly are about opinion. In fact pretty much all are. Unless something is said which is an absolute stonewall fact, then it will always be disputed. On here I think debates are fine. In terms of both sides are allowed to have their say, and unless they come across as an aids ridden penis, spouting crap and bullshit, it's fine.

 

[Maulds]

Difference of opinion is what makes this or any forum tick. You can disagree without being disrespectful. If we all shared the same beliefs this place would be boooooring.

Most of our members are capable of attacking the post and not the person.

 

[Tangerine]

You called me a cock!!!





Actually, that's how I think some people read forum discussions anyway. There are several paragraphs of well-thought-out points, but people selectively choose one sentence or phrase and only absorb that. That's how I've seen a lot of religious discussion wind up in the shitter - selective reading and taking offense to one simple phrase instead of the entire context.

I also think that people who claim to be religious, yet get easily offended and highly defensive when pushed are usually that way because deep inside, they don't truly believe everything they say that they do. They are internally questioning their own faith, and not willing to accept how little they actually know about WHY they believe it. It's just been told to them so much that they repeat it blindly. When you question them, they feel guilty and pained because they are afraid of being exposed.

 

[porterjack]

calling me a cock is a good thing

do it again

 

[BornReady]

When someone doesn't want anyone to question her beliefs, that's a good sign something is wrong. Some beliefs don't deserve any respect. I don't respect the beliefs it's okay to burn witches, torture people or deny homosexuals equal treatment under the law. Other beliefs I disagree with but find nothing wrong with them, such as someone's belief they will live forever. I don't really respect that belief but I don't disrespect it either.

 

[Azazel]

 

[porterjack]

i often speak gods name when faced with cunt

 

[HK]

Yeesh, as usual, a thread that could have a clean message in it has degenerated into 'well prove to me that God DOESN"T exist then!'

I didn't put in my first post, I'm a mod at this other forum so my replies have to be laced with caution. I'm about an inch away from locking the thread and bashing their stupid heads together though.

I agree with Maulds, difference of opinion makes a forum move along, people like a bit of heat. It'd be nice if people could recognise the difference between personal insults and disagreement though. And like Tang said, some people seem to read what they want, pick out the worst thing you wrote and run with it *facepalm*

 

[Maulds]

Yeesh, as usual, a thread that could have a clean message in it has degenerated into 'well prove to me that God DOESN"T exist then!'

I didn't put in my first post, I'm a mod at this other forum so my replies have to be laced with caution.

Sounds familiar

 

[retro]

You can't have a disrespectful opinion, but the way you choose to convey your opinion could be construed as disrespectful.

Respectful disagreement - I don't believe that your beliefs are true, for these reasons.

Disrespectful disagreement - You're a fucking idiot for believing what you do, only morons have those kind of beliefs.

 

[retro]

I didn't put in my first post, I'm a mod at this other forum so my replies have to be laced with caution. I'm about an inch away from locking the thread and bashing their stupid heads together though.

Screw caution, just let 'em have it

 

[Dana]

Everyone's welcome to their opinion no matter how stupid, or narrow minded. Doesn't mean I have to agree with it and no matter how hard you try if i have a difference of opinion on a topic; you can drop all the "knowledge" you want it's not going to sway me.

 

[porterjack]

Everyone's welcome to their opinion no matter how stupid, or narrow minded. Doesn't mean I have to agree with it and no matter how hard you try if i have a difference of opinion on a topic; you can drop all the "knowledge" you want it's not going to sway me.

so you made your mind up then

opinions are fine just think for yourself - stand up for what you believe

this not directed at you dana, just my 2 cents on ths issue - is important to be passionate about one thing in your life, life without passionate engagement is grey

 

[Minor Axis]

Disagreement does not equal disrespect even if you don't respect a persons views. It becomes disrespect with expressions of heavy sarcasm, name calling, non-grounded accusations, hateful emissions, personal attacks, etc. I believe light-duty sarcasm is just fine.

I would like to point out that respect and disrespect are not the exact opposites as you might think.

As defined online Respect denotes both a positive feeling of esteem for a person of other entity (such as a nation or a religion), and also specific actions and conduct representative of that esteem). Lack of esteem does not equate to disrespect.

Disrespect involves treating someone with contempt, rudeness, or personal degrading statements.

If someone posted "You're gonna burn in Hell", I don't know if I could call that disrespectful. That person is obviously expressing an opinion, which they sincerely believe. I don't think I can call that disrespect without seeing more of the associated discussion.

 

[Peter Parka]

I think it gets disrespectful, like on here the other week, when someone refused to offer an opinion and just resorted to calling me a paedophile.

 

[Carlton]

"Most of our members are capable of attacking the post and not the person"

this is a good statement, springsteen I think it was.. sums it up for me.

 

[sexysadie]

Debating, to me, means debating the issue, not the person/persons you're having the debate with.....

I think that when an individuals character is being bashed, and other members begin using it as a release for some unsettled tete a tete they happen to be having with the said individual, then it's no longer a debate but a lynching....and that's when I know I should exit. DO I exit...not always but I try.

 

[sexysadie]

Personally, I see way to many religious debates happening on this forum....there ARE other topics.

 

[Carlton]

I also believe that people should listen to both sides, then agree to disagree

unless its religion, because religious people cant do that, which I respect. but they cant lol