Comments on: Sickened. http://atheists.org/blog/2007/10/16/sickened A Blog of Atheist Thought Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:59:40 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: phreedm http://atheists.org/blog/2007/10/16/sickened/comment-page-1#comment-68215 phreedm Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-68215 Wow Dave...feeling bullied yourself?<br /> <br /> Boy did you miss the entire question raised by this article...all he did was mention facts...<br /> <br /> Instead of wondering why so many of our kids are being killed, you have to play the victim and take the low road...again...and try to twist it around to finding faults with christian kids...<br /> <br /> Stop being such a whimp and address the problem...<br /> <br /> Why has school violence reached such epidemic proportions...?<br /> <br /> What are the solutions...?<br /> <br /> Wow Dave…feeling bullied yourself?

Boy did you miss the entire question raised by this article…all he did was mention facts…

Instead of wondering why so many of our kids are being killed, you have to play the victim and take the low road…again…and try to twist it around to finding faults with christian kids…

Stop being such a whimp and address the problem…

Why has school violence reached such epidemic proportions…?

What are the solutions…?

]]> By: phreedm http://atheists.org/blog/2007/10/16/sickened/comment-page-1#comment-68216 phreedm Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-68216 And now a contest for listing the greatest number of shootings...???<br /> <br /> YIKES...<br /> <br /> How about a contest for the best explanation and solution to the problem... And now a contest for listing the greatest number of shootings…???

YIKES…

How about a contest for the best explanation and solution to the problem…

]]> By: BobC http://atheists.org/blog/2007/10/16/sickened/comment-page-1#comment-68218 BobC Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-68218 Here's the problem: The 14 year old nutjob "threatened to stab everybody". "We didn't think nothing of it."<br /> <br /> The article has some good news:<br /> <br /> "A recent survey, 'The Decline of Religious Identity in the United States,' found that 16% surveyed declined to identify with a particular faith, up from less than 10% in the early '90s."<br /> <br /> This is an improvement but it's still disgraceful. It means 84% of Americans still believe there's an invisible man in the sky. It means the vast majority of Americans are mentally ill.<br /> <br /> It really doesn't matter who is doing all the killing in America. Violent people are not violent because they believe or don't believe in a magic man. Violent people are violent because they are assholes. Here’s the problem: The 14 year old nutjob “threatened to stab everybody”. “We didn’t think nothing of it.”

The article has some good news:

“A recent survey, ‘The Decline of Religious Identity in the United States,’ found that 16% surveyed declined to identify with a particular faith, up from less than 10% in the early ’90s.”

This is an improvement but it’s still disgraceful. It means 84% of Americans still believe there’s an invisible man in the sky. It means the vast majority of Americans are mentally ill.

It really doesn’t matter who is doing all the killing in America. Violent people are not violent because they believe or don’t believe in a magic man. Violent people are violent because they are assholes.

]]> By: 3E8 http://atheists.org/blog/2007/10/16/sickened/comment-page-1#comment-68219 3E8 Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-68219 BobC, not exactly. Violent people are violent because there's an aggressive part of their brain that has a need to fight back (y'know, to survive in an ongoingly uncivilized world). It's a natural part of our evolution. Luckily, for 16% of us, we have the aptitude to make this discernment. Unfortunately, we're vastly outnumbered by folks who still adhere to a cultural legacy that the world is 6000 yrs old and there's an invisible dude in the sky watching us spank it off in the shower. This inability for 84% of us to understand our nature makes us subject to ITS will (instead of our own) and the world thus sadly still keeps a certain degree of uncivility. Nice to hear it's improving by 10% each decade, but I'm sure that as the 84% becomes smaller and smaller, its constituents become more ignorant (like phreedm) and violent (like Adam Gadahn). <br /> <br /> Don't let the number fool ya, tough times ahead. BobC, not exactly. Violent people are violent because there’s an aggressive part of their brain that has a need to fight back (y’know, to survive in an ongoingly uncivilized world). It’s a natural part of our evolution. Luckily, for 16% of us, we have the aptitude to make this discernment. Unfortunately, we’re vastly outnumbered by folks who still adhere to a cultural legacy that the world is 6000 yrs old and there’s an invisible dude in the sky watching us spank it off in the shower. This inability for 84% of us to understand our nature makes us subject to ITS will (instead of our own) and the world thus sadly still keeps a certain degree of uncivility. Nice to hear it’s improving by 10% each decade, but I’m sure that as the 84% becomes smaller and smaller, its constituents become more ignorant (like phreedm) and violent (like Adam Gadahn).

Don’t let the number fool ya, tough times ahead.

]]> By: Dangerman http://atheists.org/blog/2007/10/16/sickened/comment-page-1#comment-68221 Dangerman Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-68221 I'd say just going off the law of averages that 84% of crimes commited by Americans are commited by people of some religion. The only "atheists" I've seen that are more prone to violence and general anarchy are what I have dubbed the "attention atheists". The teenage rebel who because an atheist because the poor kid's parents are forcing christianity down his/her throat. I had a ultra-fundy girlfriend who cheated on me when she went through an "atheism phase" and decided that because there's no god then I can do whatever. I do not consider these people atheists in the slightest. A christian making a rebelious statement or someone who had ultra-bible fundamentals forced upon them and snapped, that's all those people are. Since atheists have to answer the right/wrong morality question on their own, they're less likely to break law and do the wrong thing. (unless you count homosexual rights, abortion, tolerance, and upholding the constitution as wrong, which most christians do) <br /> <br /> ***OFF TOPIC***<br /> I just got back from a weekend in Rome and got blessed by the pope! lol. The irony. It was slightly disturbing to see the thousands of people bowing to his will as he waved out of a window. Gave me a flash of a video from late 1930s Germany. Ring any bells? I’d say just going off the law of averages that 84% of crimes commited by Americans are commited by people of some religion. The only “atheists” I’ve seen that are more prone to violence and general anarchy are what I have dubbed the “attention atheists”. The teenage rebel who because an atheist because the poor kid’s parents are forcing christianity down his/her throat. I had a ultra-fundy girlfriend who cheated on me when she went through an “atheism phase” and decided that because there’s no god then I can do whatever. I do not consider these people atheists in the slightest. A christian making a rebelious statement or someone who had ultra-bible fundamentals forced upon them and snapped, that’s all those people are. Since atheists have to answer the right/wrong morality question on their own, they’re less likely to break law and do the wrong thing. (unless you count homosexual rights, abortion, tolerance, and upholding the constitution as wrong, which most christians do)

***OFF TOPIC***
I just got back from a weekend in Rome and got blessed by the pope! lol. The irony. It was slightly disturbing to see the thousands of people bowing to his will as he waved out of a window. Gave me a flash of a video from late 1930s Germany. Ring any bells?

]]> By: justme http://atheists.org/blog/2007/10/16/sickened/comment-page-1#comment-68222 justme Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-68222 BobC wrote:<br /> <br /> <blockquote>This is an improvement but it's still disgraceful. It means 84% of Americans still believe there's an invisible man in the sky. It means the vast majority of Americans are mentally ill.</blockquote><br /> <br /> Even worse. When the ones that are total nutjobs stop believing a sky-daddy is watching them, think what they will do (not to mention the one that think the sky daddy is telling them to kill someone). BobC wrote:

This is an improvement but it’s still disgraceful. It means 84% of Americans still believe there’s an invisible man in the sky. It means the vast majority of Americans are mentally ill.

Even worse. When the ones that are total nutjobs stop believing a sky-daddy is watching them, think what they will do (not to mention the one that think the sky daddy is telling them to kill someone).

]]> By: charlie http://atheists.org/blog/2007/10/16/sickened/comment-page-1#comment-68223 charlie Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-68223 I dont know if a 14 year old boy can come to a logical conclusion that he is an atheist....<br /> <br /> I think the real issue is how parents are not parenting... I dont know if a 14 year old boy can come to a logical conclusion that he is an atheist….

I think the real issue is how parents are not parenting…

]]> By: hugo http://atheists.org/blog/2007/10/16/sickened/comment-page-1#comment-68224 hugo Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-68224 Wasn't Halo3 launched in a lot of churches (looking for the post on Pharyngula) ah here it is<br /> http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2007/10/laughing_my_evil_laugh_at_thos.php<br /> <br /> Still, like BobC says it ends with a positive note at the end about the growing number of unbelievers and that is always welcome :-) Wasn’t Halo3 launched in a lot of churches (looking for the post on Pharyngula) ah here it is
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2007/10/laughing_my_evil_laugh_at_thos.php

Still, like BobC says it ends with a positive note at the end about the growing number of unbelievers and that is always welcome :-)

]]> By: Ren http://atheists.org/blog/2007/10/16/sickened/comment-page-1#comment-68225 Ren Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-68225 <blockquote>Why has school violence reached such epidemic proportions...?</blockquote><br /> <br /> Easy access to guns from redneck parents. Notice how nobody goes to school on a rampage in their cars, running people over, or with knives, or baseball bats. It is always guns.<br /> <br /> I have a long rifle. A .270 with a high power scope. I keep it hidden, in a locked case, with a trigger lock on it, and I never keep ammo at my home. If either of my children got ahold of it, or anyone else for that matter, the most they could use it for is to beat somebody with, 'cause they couldn't fire it. That is what RESPONSIBLE gun owners do. Not leave loaded guns in easily accessable places for their children to get ahold of.<br /> <br /> If you live somewhere where you feel you need to have a loaded gun handy because of a possible home invasion, then I suggest you move. Here in the mid-west is nice. People have lots of guns, but they also leave their doors unlocked at night. Both on their vehicles and their homes/garages.<br /> <br /> Next question, asshole?<br /> <br /> P.S. I am a supporter of the 2d amendment, but that doesn't mean there should not be limitations on who can or cannot posess firearms. I myself would probably have a hard time buying a gun because of my mental history. I don't have a problem with that. I don't need, nor want another gun. Even I realize I probably shouldn't have one.<br /> <br /> Before anyone gives me a hard time about gun-control, do you really believe your neighbors should be allowed to own fully automatic AK-47s, etc...? Even the guy who brought it home as a war souvineer and now drinks 18 beers a day and hasn't worked in 2 years because of PTSD? Yup, no potential for problems there.

Why has school violence reached such epidemic proportions…?

Easy access to guns from redneck parents. Notice how nobody goes to school on a rampage in their cars, running people over, or with knives, or baseball bats. It is always guns.

I have a long rifle. A .270 with a high power scope. I keep it hidden, in a locked case, with a trigger lock on it, and I never keep ammo at my home. If either of my children got ahold of it, or anyone else for that matter, the most they could use it for is to beat somebody with, ’cause they couldn’t fire it. That is what RESPONSIBLE gun owners do. Not leave loaded guns in easily accessable places for their children to get ahold of.

If you live somewhere where you feel you need to have a loaded gun handy because of a possible home invasion, then I suggest you move. Here in the mid-west is nice. People have lots of guns, but they also leave their doors unlocked at night. Both on their vehicles and their homes/garages.

Next question, asshole?

P.S. I am a supporter of the 2d amendment, but that doesn’t mean there should not be limitations on who can or cannot posess firearms. I myself would probably have a hard time buying a gun because of my mental history. I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t need, nor want another gun. Even I realize I probably shouldn’t have one.

Before anyone gives me a hard time about gun-control, do you really believe your neighbors should be allowed to own fully automatic AK-47s, etc…? Even the guy who brought it home as a war souvineer and now drinks 18 beers a day and hasn’t worked in 2 years because of PTSD? Yup, no potential for problems there.

]]> By: phreedm http://atheists.org/blog/2007/10/16/sickened/comment-page-1#comment-68226 phreedm Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-68226 Comment from: Charlie <br /> <br /> <blockquote>I dont know if a 14 year old boy can come to a logical conclusion that he is an atheist....</blockquote><br /> <br /> Agreed...although someone on this board claims to have had an awakening at age 8...<br /> <br /> <blockquote>I think the real issue is how parents are not parenting...</blockquote><br /> <br /> I couldn't agree more...parents placing their own life above their childs...this is where the phrase "quality time" comes in...makes the parent feel good...does nothing for the child...<br /> <br /> And from my experience...kids need to know adults are really listening and that a childs opinion matters...<br /> <br /> Comment from: Charlie

I dont know if a 14 year old boy can come to a logical conclusion that he is an atheist….

Agreed…although someone on this board claims to have had an awakening at age 8…

I think the real issue is how parents are not parenting…

I couldn’t agree more…parents placing their own life above their childs…this is where the phrase “quality time” comes in…makes the parent feel good…does nothing for the child…

And from my experience…kids need to know adults are really listening and that a childs opinion matters…

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