…and this is a 
FYI
Category: Administrative
Posted on: July 12, 2008 11:50 AM, by PZ Myers
By their actions you will know them. We have had a number of raving angry Catholics in various threads here…or have we? I've had a moment to clean up a few threads and post some of the stuff that was held in comment moderation, and discovered that Naz, k8, promo, baker, PZ is a fool, Burns, rumrunner, Dobbs, NYTs, KKKAthiest, Andy, CDV, BradJ, Brett, b7, PCD, NVFU, Your daddy, facebock, baker and several other loud-mouthed asses who have been braying here are all one and the same person.
This is called sock puppetry. It is trying to generate the illusion of a consensus on one side of an issue by pretending to be a multitude. It is cowardly, contemptible, and stupid — not just because a blog owner can look at the stats and detect it, but because it suddenly diminishes your point of view. It makes you look so weak that you have to lie to put up a pretense of popular support, and it makes your side, in this case the fundamentalist Catholics, look like a troop of posturing frauds.
Thanks!
Comments
This whole thing is truly top-notch entertainment. Thank you.
Posted by: aleph1=c | July 12, 2008 11:55 AM
Heh heh heh
The
giftcracker that keeps on giving.Posted by: Sili | July 12, 2008 11:56 AM
Oi, puppets - thou shalt not bear false witness, remember?!
Posted by: Ophelia Benson | July 12, 2008 11:56 AM
It's also a brilliant way of trolling.
also, fyi.
(I don't why I felt the need to say that)
Posted by: Sam B | July 12, 2008 11:57 AM
Ha! Called it! Do I win a cracker?
Posted by: craig | July 12, 2008 11:57 AM
Hah, 'big' surprise right?
Posted by: Stephen Ockhamn | July 12, 2008 11:58 AM
Almost certainly isn't even Catholic.
Told you it was a mentally ill troll posting from his secure lockup cell with multiple IDs.
And he will be back with a new collection within minutes. You'd think if they give the patients internet access, they could also provide a TV so they have something to fill their days with.
Posted by: raven | July 12, 2008 11:58 AM
KennyisNOTdead:
Posted by: Dutch Delight | July 12, 2008 11:58 AM
Incidentally, Kenny was here earlier and admitted to trolling with sockpuppets... so personally I think it's all just him.
Posted by: craig | July 12, 2008 11:59 AM
Sockpuppets!!!! Yaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy!!!! I wonder...... were they all Bill Donohue?
Posted by: joeyess | July 12, 2008 12:00 PM
PZ, you stubbornly refuse to perceive the miracle that is right before your eyes! While the Christian God has at best managed to work up a trinity, Naz et al. has shown up his own triune deity by manifesting himself as an n-headed sock puppet, where n is evidently unbounded. All hail the multitudinous singleton!
Posted by: Zeno | July 12, 2008 12:02 PM
Ditto on #1
I've seen so many catholics use the term "vile" to describe PZ's views. Well, "vile" is a perfect adjective that describes the catholic doctrine.
Posted by: The Pink Unicorn | July 12, 2008 12:02 PM
Well, I can't say that I'm surprised that they did this but... THAT MANY names? What the fuck.
Posted by: Kobra | July 12, 2008 12:03 PM
But Jenn was a separate person? She was amusing.
The more I think about it, the more I realize that cracker doesn't make sense. It was more of a tasteless, dissolving wafer in my day.
"Can't you fit just one more wafer-thin mint?"
Posted by: Nicole | July 12, 2008 12:03 PM
I SMELL DUNGEON!!!
Posted by: E.V. | July 12, 2008 12:03 PM
It's not sockpuppetry, it's miraculous multiplication!
Posted by: Tim | July 12, 2008 12:06 PM
#2: Surely you mean "the cracker that keeps on cracking."
Posted by: Hans | July 12, 2008 12:07 PM
So apparently there are no True Christians. I am shocked, SHOCKED, to learn of liars for cheeses on teh intertoobz.
Now how about that super-dedicated/dessicated concern troll from Houston?
Posted by: True Bob | July 12, 2008 12:09 PM
Sorry, link broke. Which rather screws up the joke. Oh well.
First link here.
I'll get my coat.
Posted by: Tim | July 12, 2008 12:10 PM
The use of multiples is an all too common and unfortunate technique on a number of minimally moderated debate sites. It's so good to see the perpetrators exposed for the fools they are. Congrats and hang in there on the Donohoe thing. Is there a contact authority where I can send a supportive email?
.
.
Jim Et Al
Posted by: Jim Et Al | July 12, 2008 12:11 PM
@ #10, probably!
The entire Catholic League is essentially the biggest sockpuppet scheme of all time - who are the members of the Catholic League?
Bill Donohue, and that's it! BY the WAY Bill I flushed a eucharist craker down the toilet the other day in your honour!
Posted by: Reginald | July 12, 2008 12:11 PM
Can we just make Crackergate go away. I mean, come on, really. I can't imagine the most devout priest in the world actually believing for a minute that a wafer turns into flesh...and still tastes and looks like bread. Hey PZ, can you get somebody to run a transubstantiated consecrated triscuit through some comatography?
Posted by: Fitz Doubet | July 12, 2008 12:14 PM
correction - "chromatography"
Posted by: Fitz Doubet | July 12, 2008 12:15 PM
Damn you sockpuppetteer... bringing shame upon others who would use this handle.
Posted by: andy | July 12, 2008 12:16 PM
Who would have expected a Catholic to have imaginary friends who agree with them about everything?
Posted by: mothwentbad | July 12, 2008 12:20 PM
was that Ron in Houston idiot one?
Posted by: NanuNanu | July 12, 2008 12:22 PM
Your mockery of others' beliefs is shameful, but some are beyond shame. I fear that when most of you realize the error in your ways, it will be far too late. Seek help and have a blessed day. :-) JG
Posted by: John Galt | July 12, 2008 12:23 PM
Comatology - study of the peculiar phenomenon wherein religious believers put the inquiring portion of their brain into a coma.
Posted by: True Bob | July 12, 2008 12:24 PM
So the answer to the sock puppetry question is "I am Legion"? Demon-possessed pig indeed.
Posted by: Mena | July 12, 2008 12:24 PM
Fitz,
For the nth time: It's the substance that's transed - not the accidentals. Do read up on you Aquinas (it was Aquinas who did all this jumping through hoops, wasn't it?).
Sure it looks like a cracker, but it HAZ TEH SOAL UV JEEEEEEEBUS!
Posted by: Sili | July 12, 2008 12:26 PM
Your mockery of others' beliefs is shameful, but some are beyond shame. I fear that when most of you realize the error in your ways, it will be far too late. Seek help and have a blessed day. :-) JG
blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
Posted by: MAJeff, OM | July 12, 2008 12:26 PM
I sure hope that's your actual name, because the irony of a religionist hectoring others about their beliefs and actions while using the pseudonym of an Ayn Rand hero would be just too rich.
Posted by: Tulse | July 12, 2008 12:27 PM
John Galt, Lifetime Membership in Smug Bastards for Cheeses.
Watch out, Loki may be preparing some mischief for you. Have a damned day!
Posted by: True Bob | July 12, 2008 12:27 PM
Jeff, God bless you my friend. Peace. John
Posted by: John Galt | July 12, 2008 12:29 PM
While we're still on a related topic, a peculiarly ironic potential form of cracker abuse just crossed my mind. A few years ago, a Belgian artist created a machine called "Cloaca" that was supposed to simulate human digestion. Essentially it was a poop machine.
Were anyone to construct a similar machine to be used on sacred wafers (as so many have suggested how disrespectful they find digestion and excretion), I could think of no name better than "Deuce ex Machina".
Posted by: Escuerd | July 12, 2008 12:30 PM
No, "Legion" was my nickname for Larry Fafarman... hey! Are we sure this troll WASN'T Larry Fafarman?
Nah... no Monday morning lawyering.
(FWIW, professor Myers, you have this Catholic-raised atheist's support)
Posted by: Aureola Nominee, FCD | July 12, 2008 12:32 PM
Tulse, Alas it is not my true name, but I love irony.
True Bob, God bless you too. JG
Posted by: John Galt | July 12, 2008 12:32 PM
To think he was so prolific typing with just one hand, because, obviously, he was masturbating with the other.
Posted by: E.V. | July 12, 2008 12:34 PM
"Your mockery of others' beliefs is shameful."
And your taunting about my eternal damnation is just plain weird.
Posted by: yakaru | July 12, 2008 12:37 PM
#35:
You, sir, have won the internet.
Posted by: Kobra | July 12, 2008 12:38 PM
JG, you just don't understand. You have chosen...poorly. Picking the wrong god is an epic fail.
I pity the sorry afterlife you will have. God of reason was the correct answer, thanks for playing. Here's a nice parting gift cracker for you.
Posted by: True Bob | July 12, 2008 12:38 PM
Cool. Another vile idiot gets a one-way ticket to the Dungeon. Somehow, I find these actions very entertaining. Keep up the good work, PZ!
Posted by: mewletter | July 12, 2008 12:38 PM
"So the answer to the sock puppetry question is "I am Legion"?"
Perhaps it meant "I have lesions"... All those syphlitic priests from the middle ages, you know.
Posted by: E.V. | July 12, 2008 12:41 PM
Nanunanu
Nope only 1 id for me. Idiot. Real nice. You've shown what a sterling debater you are.
Raven
Mental illness really isn't a joke. I'll be the first to agree that some of the people that continually post are probably somewhat mentally ill, but show a little sensitivity.
I don't know how many of you are also atheists, but a number of you are really pretty sophomoric.
I tend to put a high standard on atheists because like PZ, they tend to be very educated and erudite people.
If you're serious about convincing anyone but yourselves about the necessity of atheism, then you need to lose the attitude and the sophomoric BS.
I'm sorry that so many of you feel ownership of PZ's blog and feel free to call people that disagree trolls, idiots, or the like.
I'd much rather have a discussion with my nice but deluded theistic friends than with most of the people I've encountered here.
This been an educational experience. There are a lot of very ugly atheists. If anyone thought I was being ugly, then accept my apologies.
Posted by: Ron in Houston | July 12, 2008 12:42 PM
To the dungeon!
Posted by: Feynmaniac | July 12, 2008 12:42 PM
Pwned.
Posted by: Matt | July 12, 2008 12:44 PM
craig: Ha! Called it! Do I win a cracker?
Hey, thats a great idea. PZ -- you want to start offering a cracker as a prize, kind of like the OM?
You can buy supplies at the wonderfully named site: www.kingdom.com/Communion_Supplies.
They won't have had the magic words said over them yet, but close enough. And cheap too: $5 for a few hundred.
-kevin
Posted by: Kevin | July 12, 2008 12:46 PM
Oh, goody! The Houston guy is here. Wait... I'm going to make some popcorn. Please don't start without me.
Posted by: aleph1=c | July 12, 2008 12:47 PM
#44:
[There are a lot of very ugly atheists. If anyone thought I was being ugly, then accept my apologies.]
I don't think it's so much that atheist are being "ugly" as it is that the are faced with a completely irrational decision and their brains can't make heads or tails of it. The inanity is overwhelming and any attempts to rationalize the irrational cause them to become flippant and frustrated.
http://www.kobrascorner.com/opine/wafers-donohue-catholic-league.php
Posted by: Kobra | July 12, 2008 12:48 PM
Bah. One person with multiple sock puppets, lots of people with one identity each--who cares? They might as well be clones, for all the originality of thought they demonstrate.
As far as I'm concerned, they all deserve 'special screening' from the security personnel at the nearest airport.
Buncha fucking stupid assholes. John Galt included.
Posted by: Brownian, OM | July 12, 2008 12:48 PM
I, too, have been a pantyhosing marionette. But I have also been Jesus H. Crispycritter and God, and let me tell you, it got me lots of hot dates with Catholic girls. So I'm sticking with that "eat of my body" pickup line.
Posted by: Kevin Hayden | July 12, 2008 12:54 PM
Ron, a mind is a terrible thing to waste, and a sense of humor is a wonderful thing to have. Get one.
You said everything you needed to say in your first two posts, everything after that was just your attempt to control everyone elses' behavior. Yes, we value your opinion, but not over our own individual opinion. Thanks for playing.
-Ugly Atheist
Posted by: E.V. | July 12, 2008 12:55 PM
Ah, transubstantiation is a wonderful thing. Remember the Irish clergy asking for drink driving leeway because they had to finish the wine? "I don't like to use the word wine, as it is Christ's blood in the Eucharist, but it still has all the characteristics of wine when in the blood stream."
Posted by: Don | July 12, 2008 12:58 PM
At least John Galt isn't offering to pray for us.
(Keep the euphemism alive!)
Posted by: Blake Stacey | July 12, 2008 12:59 PM
Thank you Little Paul, Brownian et al. This was my first experience here. Found it via Bill Donohue email -> wiki --> scienceblogs. In my view, you guys are pitiful. Probably just as you view me, but I'm still smiling.
Off to yardwork, cookout with family and friends (real people), then Mass in the morning. If you're ever in Pittsburgh and want to have a real conversation, I'd welcome it. ijohngalt@hotmail.com
God Bless,
JG
Posted by: John Galt | July 12, 2008 1:01 PM
"I don't like to use the word wine, as it is Christ's blood in the Eucharist, but it still has all the characteristics of wine when in the blood stream."
Moderation, my child.Too much of that has been known to cause cirrhosis of the savior.
Posted by: Kevin Hayden | July 12, 2008 1:01 PM
Kobra
I understand the frustration. You could feel it in PZ's cracker post. However, it not about us. It's about getting acceptance of atheism in society. If we don't understand that premise, then nutjobs will continue to issue death threats and fly airplanes into buildings.
I just happen to believe that PZ in his bit of frustrated satire went over some poorly defined line and worsened the acceptance of atheism in society. I really hope that some of the fence sitting Catholic I interact with don't catch wind of the whole debate.
I really don't want to debate you guys. Popcorn sounds good to me also.
Posted by: Ron in Houston | July 12, 2008 1:02 PM
Sooo, where do we go from here, seeing as the much-anticipated, foaming-at-the-mouth, starkravingmad Catholic mob never showed up? Are we off to spray-paint the Wailing Wall ("It's just a f**king WALL, you stoopid Semites!!!") or take a sledgehammer to the Kaaba ("You're worshiping a METEORITE, you muthaf**king camel-humping *&%$#!!!")? Where-o-where do we go, seeing as we're fizzling out here? Personally, I'd like to see the Itsukushima Torii set on fire ("You built a GATE out in the middle of the water--you, you, you....*&%$# Asians!!!")
You see, the Taliban had the right idea when they dynamited the Buddhas of Bamyan a few years back: Who needs some religious wackos and their Sacred Cows in OUR backyard? Sure, they earned the opprobrium of the world, but afterall, that's what the Buddhists get for thinking some ROCKS were, like, sacred or something.
So: Go Taliban! Go Prof. Meyers!! More Götterdämmerung!!!
Posted by: jb | July 12, 2008 1:02 PM
Ron, the problem isn't the discussion, you ought to check the place out once in a while. Drive by trolling, that'll get some dander up. We take our umbrage early in the morning, see.
RiH, you never seemed to consider any of the comments addressed to you. You never considered that there is more than one way to skin a cat. You assumed that your goals are common to PZ's goals.
Do you think all atheists have as their goal the quiet persuasion of theists that they are mistaken? Do you not realize many atheists are sick and tired of being treated as 3rd class subhuman entities (I won't say citizens - care to guess why?).
You are at least as rigid and unbending as the most devoted of those sock puppets. Can you not acknowledge that anger is a meaningful and useful emotion, or is the world all peaches and cream for you?
BTW, are you still in the god-closet? Or are you out as an atheist? You don't seem to want to rock the boat, that's why my guess is you're closeted. Do you fear upsetting someone's tender sensibilities?
Posted by: True Bob | July 12, 2008 1:04 PM
A useful thing that Ace of Spades does -- one of the few intelligent things on that site -- is to hash the commentor's IP address into a 5-character alphanumeric string and add it to the label. That means that sock puppets using multiple names from a single IP are exposed.
They use a "one-way hash" which means that the result string for a given IP is unique but CANNOT be used to determine the IP; the hash cannot be done in reverse. UNIX has been using this trick to store passwords forever; the entered password is hashed and compared to the file.
Posted by: Bob Munck | July 12, 2008 1:06 PM
Oh, my...John Galt has friends who are real people. That puts him one up on us, who only know fake people.
I'll post photos of all the fake people at the Atlanta Pharyngufest late tonight! Unless, of course, god strikes us all dead, which could happen, since there is a rumor that someone went to mass this morning and is bringing a souvenir...
Posted by: PZ Myers | July 12, 2008 1:07 PM
Fine. Bye. Don't come back.
Now this is a typical example of the kind of self-centered posturing that makes people hate Christians. It's pretty evident to all but the most brain-dead, self-involved, morally-masturbating theist that saying 'God Bless' only offends atheists. If John 'Kissing Ass for God' Galt was really interested in bestowing peace upon us, he'd shut the fuck up, or at the very least say something to the effect of "It's clear my presence here only upsets you; I'll leave now. Peace."
Of course, since it's obvious that he doesn't really give a shit about whether we feel at peace or not, but instead is only interested in notching his little scorecard so he can run off to his Cathobot friends or pray to God later tonight and brag about how he "brought the message of peace to atheists, but they just wouldn't listen," he'll just keep on repeating his insincere 'God Blesses' like a fucking parrot.
Posted by: Brownian, OM | July 12, 2008 1:07 PM
"I don't like to use the word wine, as it is Christ's blood in the Eucharist, but it still has all the characteristics of wine when in the blood stream."
"I'm sorry, Father, but your Blood Jesus Content is over 0.08%. I'm going to have to take you down to the station."
Posted by: DrFrank | July 12, 2008 1:08 PM
Ron: "Off to yardwork, cookout with family and friends (real people)..."
Oh, good to know that your family and friends are real people - unlike Jesus, god, angels, sockpuppets over here and whatnot.
Posted by: Roko | July 12, 2008 1:08 PM
Ron in Houston. I am curious as to whether you have ever considered taking the blasphemy challenge or do you think this to be in bad taste also?
Posted by: Richard in Edmonton | July 12, 2008 1:08 PM
E.V.
You're really a sad and pathetic individual.
Posted by: Ron in Houston | July 12, 2008 1:09 PM
One day, jb might realize that ancient works of art do not fall into the same category as mass-produced food products. Until then, we'll, just pray for him.
Posted by: Blake Stacey | July 12, 2008 1:09 PM
Curious. You put "nice" in front of "deluded" when talking about "discussion". I thought the "deluded" cancelled out any possibility of a meaningful "discussion". Let me get this straight -- to you, it's better to wallow in ignorance and stupidity than to be harsh?
Anyway, you had some typos in your last sentence. Let me correct them for you.
Posted by: FO | July 12, 2008 1:09 PM
Sorry, I cited John Gall and attribute the quotation to Ron. Once again, sorry Ron.
Posted by: Roko | July 12, 2008 1:10 PM
s/we'll/well
Pray for my slippery fingers! I don't know what happened. They were certainly functioning well enough when they were clasped in prayer with your sister last night.
Posted by: Blake Stacey | July 12, 2008 1:11 PM
Blake, perhaps your fingers got slippery while praying with said sister...
Posted by: True Bob | July 12, 2008 1:13 PM
Saying "God bless" is just as preposterous as saying "Zeus bless." John Galt and other religious people should realize that they adopt the beliefs they do out of custom/credulity/some other contingency rather than out of an objective view of the world.
Posted by: The Adamant Atheist | July 12, 2008 1:13 PM
Oh looky, in the Anti-evolutionary decathlon, the Baptist entry is giving Donohue some stiff competition.
(h/t to my non-sockpuppet brudder)
Posted by: Kevin Hayden | July 12, 2008 1:13 PM
Multiple pseudonyms from one person? Is this a bona fide miracle?
I mean c'MON y'all! This is like the bread and fishes miracle all over again!
Posted by: Calladus | July 12, 2008 1:13 PM
Art, like religious objects, is in the eyes of the beholder, Blake: Are you saying that if the Eucharist were 'prettier' and 'older' it should be given more respect? Afterall, bread is bread; rocks are rocks; walls are walls (and how does the Wailing Wall fall into the "ancient works of art" category, again?).
All of that aside, the principle should be the same: Sacred. Cows. Should. Be. Done. Away. With. PERIOD.
Posted by: jb | July 12, 2008 1:15 PM
I'll only accept your apology if you promise not to do it again.
Your continual whining that PZ said something that you, personally, didn't approve of went way past annoying. Your protestations that you didn't want to put words in anyone's mouth and, sometimes in the next sentence, demands that PZ clarify or withdraw his initial comment were quite arrogant. Finally, your insistence that you were the sole arbitrator of The One True Atheism were extremely aggravating.
Go, my child, and sin no more.
Posted by: JoJo | July 12, 2008 1:15 PM
As much as I hate sockpuppetry and trolls in general, I would have to consider the alternate possibility that all those posters are not, in fact a single person, but are simply sharing time on a single computer. I have visions of the staff at Bill Donohue's office sitting around coming up with venom to spew, and taking turns posing it. (In that case, though, they might just as well be one person, for all the independent thinking that would be happening.) I still think banning that address is justified; if they are indeed individuals, they should have the sense to go and post from their own computers.
Posted by: Ubi Dubium | July 12, 2008 1:15 PM
Ron,
I'm trying to discuss different atheists' goals and techniques with you. Why won't you discuss this with me? I hope I didn't offend.
Posted by: True Bob | July 12, 2008 1:15 PM
"Your mockery of others' beliefs is shameful."
Your religious beliefs are shameful, and deserves to be made a mockery of.
Posted by: The Pink Unicorn | July 12, 2008 1:15 PM
JB, what fucking lobe did you just have removed? They did show up, fuckface, on cue, as predicted.
I've got an idea for you and some dynamite; why don't you hold a stick in your teeth and see if Jesus comes back before the fuse burns all the way through?
Fucking willfully blind motherfuckers.
I gotta take a break from these asshats. Apparently an H. pylori infection isn't absolutely necessary for a peptic ulcer; constant exposure to abject stupidity works just as well.
Posted by: Brownian, OM | July 12, 2008 1:17 PM
Jenn outed herself as a sockpuppet on the "I get email -special cracker edition" thread.
Don't know if that should get her a seat in the Dungeon. I mean, I think she's a cutter, and this might be enough to move her from razorblades up to steak knives.
Posted by: Capital Dan | July 12, 2008 1:17 PM
Richard
I really want to get away from all the highly unpleasant people on this blog. However, I do want to respond to your question.
No, the blasphemy challenge is not in bad taste. It's probably not productive to getting acceptance of atheism. But to anyone that wants to blaspheme the holy spirit blaspheme away.
I'll be the first to admit that there are a whole lot of religious people need to be metaphorically slapped. PZ does an excellent job doing that to creationists.
However, just because someone is religious, in my opinion, doesn't mean they should be alapped.
Posted by: Ron in Houston | July 12, 2008 1:19 PM
I am shocked--SHOCKED!--to learn that there are sockpuppets posting comments on Pharyngula.
Me, I can't even type with my hand up a sock. It all ends up looking like this:
kfemdsalkvcoortoiiuruygrthmzd;/;,xlkmbxzoij4,,jzfdbnvo['
...which, come to think of it, is as good a Kenny parody as I used to do with all 10 fingers. *shrug*
Posted by: Sven DiMilo | July 12, 2008 1:20 PM
OK, is he gone now?
Posted by: aleph1=c | July 12, 2008 1:21 PM
Ron in Houston
So you believe that the ritual of a cracker taking on the "substance" of christ is off limits as a focus for ridicule but the blaspheming of the holy spirit is not? Why the duality?
Posted by: Richard in Edmonton | July 12, 2008 1:22 PM
I'm feeling very optimistic about this whole cracker "crisis".
Anything that focuses attention on the absurdity of religious claims is bound to help move the zeitgeist forward a bit. Superstition thrives in the dark.
Expose religion and watch it shrivel.
Posted by: The Adamant Atheist | July 12, 2008 1:23 PM
jb, nobody here dynamites cathedrals. At most, we try to get people to consider the possibility that they're wasting their time sitting in them.
Posted by: Blake Stacey | July 12, 2008 1:23 PM
hahaha, awesome. What a loser.
Posted by: LisaJ | July 12, 2008 1:23 PM
Ron, Doesn't that seem inconsistent? You approve of blaspheming the Holy Spirit, the ONLY unforgivable sin in christianity, but you are palpably upset with the notion of desecrating a foodstuff?
Again I must say, it seems your sense of proportion is either entirely out of whack or inverted entirely.
Posted by: True Bob | July 12, 2008 1:23 PM
no ron, YOU are the idiots
and then ron was a zombie
people would take you more seriously if you didnt come into this whole thing claiming PZ was telling people to disrupt masses and other such nonsense
Posted by: NanuNanu | July 12, 2008 1:24 PM
True Bob
You really appear to be the type of person that I'd love to have a lengthy discussion with. If you have a blog or even would like to start one to have this discussion I'll be happy to come by and chat.
There's just too much BS chatter on this place.
Besides I've been told to leave and I really have no desire to stay.
Posted by: Ron in Houston | July 12, 2008 1:24 PM
HA! Rob Zombie reference. I get jokes.
Posted by: True Bob | July 12, 2008 1:25 PM
"However, just because someone is religious, in my opinion, doesn't mean they should be [s]lapped."
I agree. What about because they were issuing death threats?
Posted by: Demonic Gophers | July 12, 2008 1:26 PM
"Naz, k8, promo, baker, PZ is a fool, Burns, rumrunner, Dobbs, NYTs, KKKAthiest, Andy, CDV, BradJ, Brett, b7, PCD, NVFU,"
What is Donahue's IP address? That coincidence would be even more unimaginably megaLOL.
Posted by: franny | July 12, 2008 1:27 PM
Ron in Houston wrote (#44): If you're serious about convincing anyone but yourselves about the necessity of atheism, then you need to lose the attitude and the sophomoric BS.
"The necessity of atheism"? Meh. Secularism, maybe. But not atheism, necessarily. I wonder if you get what atheism actually is.
You see, "atheism" is not really a thing at all. It's not an idea, and it's certainly not a "necessity." It's the lack of a belief in a deity. Nothing more. Nothing less. It requires nothing and expects nothing. It is a description of what we're not, not what we are. In the end, in fact, it's probably used too often and has become entangled with the notion of a belief system and a set of ideals. It has none of the above.
Now, I think it would be ideal if religion disappeared yesterday. In itself, it does nothing worthwhile, other than give people false hope for ultimate judgment after themselves and others die. Letting go of that would be the best option. But it's not necessary, if the people who hold onto these beliefs stop trying to insert it into everyone else's life through public policy.
Atheism would be nice, but it is by no means a "necessity." Secularism is, for the health of the Republic.
Posted by: shiftysquid | July 12, 2008 1:28 PM
Who is joking? You think someone who posts incoherent rubbish 24/7 with hundreds of IDs and threatens to kill people is sane?
And no they are not somewhat mentally ill, they are seriously locked up somewhere crazy.
On another website, long ago, there was a poster who was clearly having difficulties although he was much saner than the christofascist trolls who haunt these boards. He disappeared from the board and then disappeared for good. He was shot dead by the cops during a spectacularly inept daylight robbery of a jewelry store.
People don't self censor on anonymous threads and they don't try to hide their internal mental states. If they seem crazy, they are.
Posted by: raven | July 12, 2008 1:29 PM
Since Donohue has never posted here, I don't know. The sockpuppet's IP is 68.231.166.138, though, which looks like it's at least coming through Atlanta...which is not reassuring to me right now.
Socky, you are NOT invited to the Pharyngufest!
Posted by: PZ Myers | July 12, 2008 1:29 PM
NanuNanu
Dude I wasn't calling you an idiot. You did it and I was saying that such an ad hominem attack was just juvenile.
Honestly it's a total failure to communicate. I certainly have to take responsibility for my 1/2 of that failure.
Maybe you're s really nice person in real life.
Posted by: Ron in Houston | July 12, 2008 1:31 PM