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I actually didn't mean you personally, I meant that as a rhetorical question meant for us all, but good to know.    

I think the site is more civil because of better moderation. I think being civil is a practice that should be preserved because without it, we've seen time and time again that people become more like animals, we lose our humanity. Actually animals don't even behave in the destructive ways we do. It may be entertaining but at some point we have to ask ourselves what are really doing here.

I haven't seen the comments that have been removed so I can't really make a determination to why. I do feel like this site is going for a more laid back environment, with some spirited  debate, but without the belittling, vulgar, potentially harmful insults and slanderous behavior that we sometimes saw at T1. I think this site is in it's infancy and just attempting to find that balance.

Like I said, the less moderated environment of T1 was entertaining. I got caught up in it too, but after awhile I began to feel like it was impossible to sort out any substance in the information in between all the bickering and insulting. You know it's much harder to have a true discussion on an issue without having ad hominem attacks to fall back on. I don't think it was easy for T1 and I don't think it will be easy for this site, but I wish them well.

I'm not really a believer but I've read the bible. One thing I know is, for any point you're trying to make you can find a scripture to support it and in turn another scripture to completely contradict that scripture. I guess what I'm saying is my bible learning is limited. But, I'll say this to your point about God being questioned.

As a man or even as an angel to question God in an adversarial manner seems to be a exercise in futility in the reasoning that God created all of us, including the angels. He created everything we know and do not know. Take this scripture...

Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV / 122 helpful votes
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Or this one...

Isaiah 45:9-12 ESV / 44 helpful votes
“Woe to him who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’ or ‘Your work has no handles’? Woe to him who says to a father, ‘What are you begetting?’ or to a woman, ‘With what are you in labor?’” Thus says the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and the one who formed him: “Ask me of things to come; will you command me concerning my children and the work of my hands? I made the earth and created man on it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host.

There are other scriptures where God takes favor with those who question him in sincerity and in submission and gives them answers, which relates to my point that there is value to how we question and examine things in our search for truth. The motivation and manner matters, imo.

There can be so many facets to the bare bones of what we think and feel and see and believe to be "truth".  I won't say that you can't find truth in Chaos, but like I mentioned previously, it seems to be more the exception than the rule.

I haven't seen any isolating animosity towards Trump supporters just for the sake of them being Trump supporters. I think that both sides feel they are treated this way. It's human nature to want to confirm your own beliefs by hearing others agree but I don't know that doesn't get anyone closer to any truth or useful meaningful consensus.  Not that there has to be consensus.

I'm all for questioning everything and anything. I just think there is value in considering the purpose and motivation of that questioning and whether it will actually further your cause of actually finding what you were seeking in the first place. It seems to be a diminishing art to have a discussion based on facts without it going off the rails into who can insult who the best.  We all confront each other and shut each other down when we disagree. The issue is in how we choose to do that.

To your point about Satan having his say, there is a Satanic bible.

Thanks again for the reply.

I appreciate your eloquent use of language. In my most recent years of posting on topix, it was only rivaled by Icno and Janeebee.

I wasn't ignoring you btw. Responding to your posts requires more time and intellectual effort than the usual banter on this thread. To me, fun banter is all it was for the most part...but I can understand why things escalate. There's a line in the sand, but nobody knows where it is. We all have different boundaries, and sometimes what we post is misconstrued . No two people perceive the same environment in the same way.

Personally, I see no victims among the registered posters here who I know from topix, and I don't see myself as a victim either. If you roll with the pigs, you're going to get dirty.

I can't imagine moderating the registered section of this site requires much effort. Unlike T1, the core group here comprise people who were already friendly towards each other, and many of them roamed around as a pack on topix. That's why you'll see me refer to them as the herd.

Which threads have you seen spirited debate on? I did have a look at the registered section early on, but didn't see much that interested me so haven't felt the need to go back.

I disagree with your point that civility protects us from acting like animals. We are animals. Our only point of difference is our intelligence, and it's that trait that has made us gods on Earth. There are other species of animals that are monogamous, those with strong familial bonds, and even those that perform sacrificial acts. The civility in which we act on a daily basis is necessary for the social order to be maintained, to develop mutually beneficial relationships, and even to climb the ladder. I think a lot of that is only skin-deep. Look at the 2008 financial crisis; wealthy and educated people who wear a suit and tie, have a nice home, and are friendly to their neighbours had few qualms about destroying the life of others for personal gain.

Motivation and manners is something you could debate for eternity. The one thing we all have is a good motivation...just ask anyone. Lol. I've dealt with people who have good manners online, but their game is nothing more than passive-aggressiveness. I'd rather deal with someone who is openly hostile, and knows it.

I'm not arguing purely for the sake of it. I do agree that having manners is a good trait, and I've learned plenty from people who were kind as can be. I've also learned a lot from those who were bigger assholes than me. I wouldn't discount the value of anybodies knowledge or ability to bring good into my life purely because they acted like a pos. Lol

Harmonising the bible is difficult because it's a mix of ancient religious superstition and ancient knowledge combined with the new testament which is nothing more than an attempt at retrofitting non-oem parts into an old vehicle. It simply doesn't work as well. You can make the bible say anything through a selective use of passages, but that doesn't mean your belief or hypothesis will stand up to questioning. My personal opinion is that the old testament proves the new testament is false, and I'm far from being alone with that view.

Truth is a mirage. As the quote says, "Believe those who are seeking the truth; doubt those who find it". Truth-salespeople are the worst kind of people imo. I'd sooner buy a plot of land on the moon off ebay than 'truth' from anyone. Lol. I'll shamelessly plug my philosophy by saying that Catholic priests wouldn't have had access to children if everyone thought like me. Personally, I believe that scientific methodology is the best means currently available to determine 'truth' objectively...I use the term 'truth' very loosely.

I think I've addressed your main points, but feel free to ask me anything and everything. I'm pretty much an open book when conversing with people like your good self.

If you don't mind me asking, what was your username on topix and where did you post?