DISCUSSION board.......or.....COMMENT board?

by Terry 53 Replies latest jw friends

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  Aussie Oz

  This is the fastest fastest moving board i have been on.

  Is it possible that almost every item of interest or in depth research about the WT has been done and we are left with the Atheist V christian debate that can never be won by either side?

  It feels to me that we are waiting for the next big thing to sink our collective teeth into... like some new ray franz or a major collapse of the WT, perhaps until something new turns up we will have to tread water?

  With the 'good stuff' being covered it may well have become a comment forum more. I have only been here a year so i cant speak for the last 9 of course.

  Recent activities have caused me to ponder more deeply my own place on it and realize that i have at times contributed to some of its loss of respect for others veiws, something i personally will change.

  But, it will always be an evoving thing, and we need all types here. I like the short pithy concise posts better than the super long ones, but something tells me that wont change! So i am going to settle back and let people be what they are.

  At the end of the day, it needs to be both doesn't it?

  A discussion AND comment board...

  oz
• 

  charlie brown jr.

  Well Said OZ!!!

  Glad Your Here
• 

  mrsjones5

  My posts used to be more wordy (I think) but I guess I've reduced myself to pithy. I could be wrong.
• 

  PublishingCult

  I agree with Oz. So much of what needs to be said has been said. All things fit for discussion have been discussed, and are archived here like some uncatalogued library of experiences and knowledge intermingled with fluff and conflict. It is my hope that if ever the owner of this forum decides to shut the doors, he/she might consider leaving the contents accessible to the public. I find invaluable the topics and writings here, a knowledge base that should never be deleted or lost.

  Also, being so new to this forum, I wonder whether the majority of those who incited and elicited such deep discussion have come and gone?
• 

  TotallyADD

  Terry I read your post about 2 hours ago and have been thinking of a reply to you and others about what you brought out. When I started lurking serveral years ago I remember many great discussions from people who at first scared me. Then after thinking it through I finally got what they were talking about. After awhile I was able to understand the points they were getting at. Finally I join the board back in Jan. this year. I can only speak for myself but I still have a very hard time being confrontational with my view point with others. I guess it is my upbringing as a JW. In the 50's - 70's JW were confrontational at the doors were I came from and it was always a one way discussion. So it is really ingrain in me when I see this I shutup and give in to what is being said. When I have to make a comment as a defense mechanism I always use a understanding way of speech. My father loved confrontation he seemed to thrive on it. Me on the other hand consider it abusive. If I did not agree with him on anything he would confront me and let me have it in a way only a true blue JW cult member could do it. It left me feeling 2 feet tall. I think alot of us new ones may have gone through similar experiences. I don't know but this many explain why you get more comments and not discussions. As a born-in imformation is one way street. That's leaves no room for your thoughts and contrary ideas. So I am still learning to express my thoughts on matters discuss here even if it is contrary to others people thinking.

  I hate to say it but some of the threads I read I have never thought about before. Me with my JW education it takes me alot of time to understand what is being talk about. When it comes to deep bible discussions with references on interpretation of how a word is translated I soon lose interest. I feel like I am back at the KH during a boring WT lesson on their viewpoint of what is the right way of believing it. I know it is me, I will have to work my way through all of this. I have never been much of a book learner mostly because of my ADD until recently. So for now this is about as much of a discussion I can give you. I will try to be more assertive in my up coming dissusions in the future. Thanks for making me think. I need that. Totally ADD
• 

  Berengaria

  TADD that was an a awesome comment, and an excellent contribution to this discussion. IMHO.
• 

  lovelylil

  I think this is a great discussion board. I've had some pretty heated discussions on here about God, the bible and evolution and I really enjoy them. I find it interesting to learn what others thoughts are on things. Even though we may ultimately not agree, I think it is great that we can express our opinions in a relatively safe environment.

  At least here we can have differing opinions without fear of be Df'd and shunned. You cannot take things personally though. I've learn to grow up in my beliefs where I can defend them if I wish, but don't have to feel obligated to defend my position all the time and I also know I am not going to change everyone over to my way of thinking and that is fine by me. If you put things in the proper perspective, you can have some great discussions here. At least thats my 2 cents worth. Lilly
• 

  garyneal

  1.Do you see a Thread Topic and read ALL of the posts before you comment? Or, do you jump to the end and have your say?

  I try to read everything before I post but sometimes the threads are too long, my adhd kicks in, a poster posts paragraphs of nothing, etc, and I move on to the next post.

  2.Do you consider what the actual Topic started off being rather than where it may have derailed?

  I try to stay on topic though I will admit to going off topic sometimes from time to time.

  3. Do you ask and answer questions factually, with references, quotations? Or, is yours exclusively an emotional response?

  I try to answer as logically and objectively as possible. If I have references, I include them but most of the time I try to operate on pure logic and objectivity with information that tends to be 'common knowledge,' at least for the members of this board. That's not to say that my posts aren't occasionally emotional or sometimes opinionated.

  4.Do you care if there is a fundamental difference between an opinion and a fact?

  Yes I do, facts can be proven, opinions cannot. But at the same time, it depends on the topic at hand. Some are just more oriented towards opinion rather than fact, such as 'Do you think Obama is a good president?'

  5.Are your posts HUGE CHUNKS OF DENSE PARAGRAPHS THAT GO ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON?

  Not me, yeah occasionally I write a lot but most of the time my posts are small and manageable.

  6.Are you pithy (like Minimus) and to the point?

  Maybe not that pithy, it depends.

  7.If you had to characterize your own contributions to JW-net in one word or two at the most; what would it be?

  Mostly logical and objective, at least in my humble opinion.
• 

  AGuest

  Greetings, dear Terry, and peace to you!

  1.Do you see a Thread Topic and read ALL of the posts before you comment? Or, do you jump to the end and have your say?

  It really depends on the topic and some of the other comments. Some require full reading, some don't.

  2.Do you consider what the actual Topic started off being rather than where it may have derailed?

  Always, and I always try to respond to that; however, I realize we're human and can get sidetracked, especially if a worthy comment is made.

  3. Do you ask and answer questions factually, with references, quotations? Or, is yours exclusively an emotional response?

  Well, personally, I tried but since those who take issue with me tend to also take issue with my sources, I kind of stopped. I can honestly say that I rarely (if ever) respond emotionally, though. Not really an emotional person, actually. And sometimes, unfortunately...

  4.Do you care if there is a fundamental difference between an opinion and a fact?

  Well, yeah, but the situation doesn't always present itself that way. And people are entitled to their opinions, right? One just doesn't have to agree with them...

  5.Are your posts HUGE CHUNKS OF DENSE PARAGRAPHS THAT GO ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON?

  LOLOLOLOLOLOL! Ummmmmm... yeah, probably, LOLOLOLOLOL! Unfortunately, while I am not emotional I am, admittedly, verbose. And so perhaps I do go on. I do try to do it kindly, though, and without vulgarity. Some like it. Some don't.

  6.Are you pithy (like Minimus) and to the point?

  Not usually. Does that make me a criminal of some sort?

  7.If you had to characterize your own contributions to JW-net in one word or two at the most; what would it be?

  Truthful... genunine... always. I know, I know: three words. But then I wouldn't be being verbose myself had I left it at one or two, would I?

  So, that's my contribution. I hope it suffices. Again, peace to you!

  Your servant and a slave of Christ,

  SA
• 

  garyneal

  Terry,

  I will admit, I do miss the old posters on here and the diverse opinions available here. AllTimeJeff and Narkissos are a couple of posters who I have not seen in a while. Billy the ExBethelite is a poster who I see pop in occasionally now. I also miss Perry's and Chalam's posts. I even miss Scholar's posts. Djeggnog does not compare to Scholar in my humble opinion.

  Someone had already pointed this out and I agree that it seems like this board is a Christian vs Atheist type forum now. I miss the real intellectual discussions, too much emotion now.