I think people are way to sensitive. Let me break down the three things that get people emotional and hot on here.
- Religion/God
- Politics and political issues
- Debating for the sake of debating
let take the first two together,
Religion/god and politics/political issues
Nothing incites more argument and division in people than religion and politics. So to be surprised that people would get worked up and hurt your feelings when discussing these two things is silly. Here is the problem in the context of the JW religion.
As a witness your religious and political opinions were given to you. You could not discuss politics, and there was one correct religion, the one you were in. You aren't there anymore, people can make their own opinions and debate them from a variety of angles.
Now political/world event issues get heated, so what. What is the big deal. I can have a 180 degree different opinion than someone else and still take them out for coffee, agree on many things, laugh etc. GROW UP! Put your big boy pants on.
Religion... many theists feel attacked on here, and I think this comes in varying degrees. Respecting someones religion is not something I subscribe too. I will welcome you, if you were in my neighborhood we could even hang out. Don't expect me to not make fun of your religion. Being embarrassed by the actions of your religion and belief system is a major reason people come to their senses and leave! But if you simply express "I believe in god" I imagine you will be met with questions and challenges, if you say "I believe in god because.." you will be challenged, and the "because" will attract ridicule. The truth should stand to ridicule and scrutiny. And religious ideas do not deserve respect, they aren't people, they are ideas. Many of us left to become atheists, some took a scenic route and tried some other religions, even ones not that different than JWs, and still arrived at atheism. No one is here to convert theists to atheists, most of the time they want to destroy imprisoning ideologies that are suppressing and harming mankind.
Theists think the atheists that were once JW are harsh? Go have a debate with an atheist that came out of any other religion or always has bee. They may disrespect your ideas the same but probably more!
Debating for the sake of debating...
The debate black hole, you will see atheists, agnostic, irreligious folks seemingly turn on each other into a semantic nose dive. These can be fun, they can also get heated, sometimes go nowhere. But I feel these are a great exercise for pushing your own ability to research, and understand. Generally I think this may look ugly and violent, but I do believe less feelings are hurt. It may seem like it, but its just logical exercise. Stop taking it so personal.
lastly, its the internet people, its a discussion board you have chosen to join. It is not your life, and you just can't control everything in this world. Learn to live with the indifference. or go somewhere else, but the internet is not the end all. Someone here can call you names etc... its just someone on the internet at the end of the day, stop giving it so much impact on your life. Ive called people assholes I've been called an asshole, I really don't care because at the end of the day its just a GD discussion board! lol
FMF