lifeistoshort: To me this is just really important and if this guy succeeds in scary people from even trying it which really appears to be his goal it just makes me crazy. The subject of the pedophiles is so close to me that for someone to try to stop it like he is coming off as doing makes me lose it. I do agree that it is just a huge waste of time to debate them.
Yes, a thread like the one you mentioned is a significant thread and people like RO, once they decide to throw a wet blanket on it, can cause those who read his posts to have doubts and fall back into the Watchtower rationales and thought patterns. I, too, feel it is a huge waste of time to try to debate with Richard, however...I think the same way as Outlaw and others, it isn't RO we are arguing with - we are taking a stand against the Watchtower excuses for their vile behavior. RO is simply spouting all the nonsense he has been spoon fed by the WTS.
RO isn't RO per se - he represents all those dumb ass lawyers that the WTS has employed in slave labor to them. Arguing with RO is like getting a chance to debate with one of those suits that we saw sitting behind Angus Stewart at the ARC. RO represents those WT lawyers who made complete fools out of themselves.
Yes, Smiddy - RO's threads are annoying as hell - but I think they serve a purpose. For you, that purpose could be just learning to walk away when those kind of threads pop up. You don't have to read them and you don't have to participate. But it is perfectly fine to bitch about it too! Whatever kicks your turtle, Smiddy