The Culture within AN

[charmanderp]

I just want religious threads to stop disintegrating into a "your god is dumb, you are dumb for believing in god" type scenario, as the potential for good discussions leading to a change of opinion is there.

Oh wise Truck, please tell me a polite way to tell someone you think they are deluded. No matter how you slice it, they're always going to take offense. It's been ingrained in their identity.

Any attack on the idea is a personal attack on their identity.

Any insinuation that they are deluded is construed as a personal insult about their general intelligence.

The day I actually say somebody is stupid for believing in god, and not that their belief in god is stupid, you'll have a point.

What gives you the right to tell people that they are deluded? Why are your views so obviously correct, that you feel the need to tell others that they are deluded and without any attempt at politeness?

Because the truth is important, and the lies told by religion manipulate people to do evil things.

Not all of us choose to believe in God because we've been told to by another religious party.

[ktrah]

Not all of us choose to believe in God because we've been told to by another religious party.

Most people believe in God because their parents do and they've been conditioned to at a young age.

[MonsieurHulot]

Not all of us choose to believe in God because we've been told to by another religious party.

Most people believe in God because their parents do and they've been conditioned to at a young age.

I agree, however from my experience with people, often the strongest belief is in the person that chooses to follow a particular faith.

[ktrah]

Most people believe in God because their parents do and they've been conditioned to at a young age.

I agree, however from my experience with people, often the strongest belief is in the person that chooses to follow a particular faith.

In other cases, I would say it's usually because religion enhances meaning in life and provides assurance, comfort and a sense of community to people who are desperate (whether it be due to fear, depression, poverty, lack of purpose etc.)

[IndefatigableLover]

A question: do you feel "scared" to post against the view of a prominent moderator or admin?

eg.
- Contradicting mods/admin in religious debate threads?
- Contradicting or questioning Thushan's working or answer in a chem thread?
- Saying you enjoy VCE Physics anywhere in the forum? (not that anyone would...) 
- Fear of getting mass downvoted for stating your views?

On another note, do you downvote or upvote people based on who they are?

Gosh being in China for the last two weeks has made me miss out on SOOO much -_-"

Not looking through all of this thread and just answering this:
Honestly at the start I felt intimidated by just posting on AN due to my age and many people would take me seriously but over time I have started to become more 'carefree' and post on the spur since AN is about giving your opinion that woud benefit others. In terms of posting against moderators/admins...  I guess you do feel some sort of discomfort posting against a person since they have massive amounts of respect compared to myself or anybody else >.<

As for downvoting and upvoting... well it depends if it's helped or not. It doesn't matter who that person is since it's all abut helping people and not having some sort of vengeance against somebody..

Note: If This has already been discussed then I am sorry.

[VivaTequila]

I find that a lot of the work that deserves upvotes goes un-upvoted. I got wayy too many upvotes in my English sticky when the others there are probably more universally useful and they collectivelly don't have as much.

Downvoting should be removed - it's just bruised egos, and really it doesn't accomplish much. Poor Surgy and this recent guy called Heart.

Leave upvoting though, the respect system is fantastic - so long as there's no room for personal attacks or negativity. That's what the "report to moderator" function is for.

[abeybaby]

I find that a lot of the work that deserves upvotes goes un-upvoted. I got wayy too many upvotes in my English sticky when the others there are probably more universally useful and they collectivelly don't have as much.

Downvoting should be removed - it's just bruised egos, and really it doesn't accomplish much. Poor Surgy and this recent guy called Heart.

Leave upvoting though, the respect system is fantastic - so long as there's no room for personal attacks or negativity. That's what the "report to moderator" function is for.

i reckon thats a pretty good idea..

[ninwa]

Upvoting still exists in the education-related boards

[VivaTequila]

Another point;

Upvoting really isn't utilised that much among the education boards. I think all the VCE students in the VCE (and only the VCE education boards [i.e. not uni boards]) boards don't use the upvote function nearly as much as those in uni boards.

Half my friggin' uni board posts get +likes whilst none of the educational posts that undoubtedly and objectively deserve them much more get them.

I'm not saying that there's a problem there, I'm just pointing out a phenomenon.

Keep it as it is though - who doesn't want free respect from posting funny shit in uni boards

[thushan]

I agree, down voting really should be removed.

[pi]

I disagree, if it bruises someone's ego but they learn to not be a douche about the way they post, then I don't see what's wrong with it.

Re: Reporting "douchey" to mods, what do you hope we can do about posts like that?

[VivaTequila]

I disagree, if it bruises someone's ego but they learn to not be a douche about the way they post, then I don't see what's wrong with it.

Re: Reporting "douchey" to mods, what do you hope we can do about posts like that?

It's a fair point I guess. I'm pretty easily persuaded, but even before I kind of agreed that Surgeon was just one of those people who you genuinely would appreciate seeing suffer and failing at life.

Nah, IMO opinion changed. It does result in butthurt posters, but at least they learn not to be dicks that irritate the rest of us.

[Starlight]

^ Yes whatever happened to surgeon? He has disappeared.

[thushan]

AN just wasn't what he was looking for, if you know what I mean. You see, he misread "ATARNotes" as "ATARStalk."

[pi]

AN just wasn't what he was looking for, if you know what I mean. You see, he misread "ATARNotes" as "ATARStalk."

And old Surgy just wasn't what AN was expecting from it's members.