Darn it!

[bladespark]

It is impossible to discuss religion in a large chatroom. I just can't do it. There are twenty different people, none of whom seem to be religious, all of whom are presenting negative points, and I HAVE counters to all their points, but they're coming to fast, and the counters require in-depth explanations to truly be understood. So I try and say it quickly, but there's always somebody who disagrees, and then I'm in an argument with that one, and still trying to talk to everybody else, and augh!

Edit: I am SHOCKED at the lack of reading comprehension on my friends list. Did I say anything about the problem being "this is the internet"? Did I say ANYTHING at all about the people I was talking to being immature, or perpetuating stereotypes, or being judgemental or any of that? No, I did not. I said the problem was that I can't managed to have a conversation with twenty people at once when said people don't agree with me! Disagreeing with me is NOT a mark of stupidity. I'm not that egotistical. With the exception of the inevitable idiot (there's always one, and just now there's actually two in there) I could have a lovely discussion with ANY single person in that room. I just can't talk to them all at once.

Comments

[catwoman69y2k.livejournal.com]

Im also an annoying factor in discussions like this. I am a fence straddler....someone who can respect everyone's opinion but in the process does not possess a strong conviction to any one school of thought in regard to the subject at hand. I've notice that people do not care for that type of thing in a chatroom setting.

Hmm....maybe you could consider a religious discussion as something that can likely becmome pointless with how out of hand the talk gets. *shrugs*

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

I don't understand you at all.

[catwoman69y2k.livejournal.com]

Fair enough.

[jtbeckett.livejournal.com]

that's why i tend to avoid religious discussions outside of a private setting. I'll discuss religion through IMs and on the phone, and in my own journal with the friends setting on... maybe answer a direct question in a group setting if it is asked politely, and there isn't a group of closed-minded bible bashers foaming at the mouth waiting for an answer... (not that I wouldn't have an answer... i just don't feel it's worth arguing with someone who is showing themselves to be on the attack... unless it's someone I really care about on a personal level)

but aside from that... I try not to be the one to bring anything up unless it seems like an appropriate time and setting to make a comment.

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

I love religious discussion. I just never get to have it, because the only place religion ever gets brought up, it seems, is in the one large channel I hang out in, and I just can't cope with everybody shouting all at once.

[ekmahal.livejournal.com]

=grin= I'm usually up for a reasoned discussion, except for my whole curse of trying to see both sides!

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Yes, I've greatly enjoyed the discussions we've had so far.

The seeing of both sides is fine! Except when I am being a neurotic emotional mess.

[jtbeckett.livejournal.com]

I love them too... as long as they're in a calm setting where people are geuinely interested in exchanging ideas, not just is telling their side and shutting down all others.

it's a shame that the setting you frequently see an interest in that topic isn't an ideal setting for a descent conversation, though.

[jtbeckett.livejournal.com]

oye! genuinely and "in" not is

[firebyrd.livejournal.com]

Religious discussions, when everyone is being respectful, are awesome.

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Indeed! What kind of religious (or non) background are you from?

[firebyrd.livejournal.com]

Oh! You must not have gone back to the thread on whichever board it was that I made the comment that it was nice to have you as a fellow LDS customizer. :)

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Oh! You know, I'm slow, I hadn't even made the connection between you and the person on the boards. *laughs* I'm so good!

[svashtar.livejournal.com]

I think what she's saying is perhaps an internet chat room, which is likely full of pre-pubescent boys (or those with that mentality), is probably not the best venue to have an actual thoughtful debate. About anything.

You want thoughtful debate about religion? Perhaps do it in a blog, where people have time to think about the things they will say, and comments aren't being fired at you like machine gun shots.

And even then, you will still get snark, smart asses, and people who don't want to be serious replying to you.

Unless you do it in a religious forum somewhere.

In my experience playing around in various online forums, those are never the places to have deep discussions about religion or politics because the threads always deteriorate into something very nasty.

Internet = SERIOUS BUSINESS

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

But that's not the case at all. I don't GO to those sort of chat rooms. I could have a fine discussion with anybody in that room save one or two, it's just I can't talk to all of them at once.

[jtbeckett.livejournal.com]

well, that wasn't exactly what i was saying... though i kinda touched on that too... what i was saying is it's really hard to get an ideal setting for that kind of discussion, so I'm picky, and only engage if i feel the setting is ideal for me.

[nancylebov.livejournal.com]

Have you tried having religious discussions in your livejournal. There's more time to think than in a chatroom.

However, if God were merciful, there'd be web discussions that functioned like newsgroups with threading and a have-read feature by now.

[malakim2099.livejournal.com]

Well, I wouldn't exactly categorize that as a function of God's mercy so much as Man's work or lack thereof, but that's me. *wink*

I dunno... religion is just something that is hard to discuss on the Internet. Particularly as there is a common stereotype that people will try to fit you in the moment you reveal what (if any) religion you are. I don't think I changed too much when I was "dunked", but apparently everyone thought I went from being a liberal kinda guy to a conservative dork... which was weird, because I think I became MORE liberal about things afterwards. *grins*

[svashtar.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you've heard the old saying, "Winning an argument on the internet is like winning the Special Olympics. In the end, you're still retarded."

I make it a point not to discuss indepth things with people in chatrooms because most of them aren't going to take anything you say seriously anyway.

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

You know, I think you just insulted a room full of my friends. Sheesh. Did NOBODY actually read what I wrote?

[aoanla.livejournal.com]

I did, which is why I didn't comment.

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[jtbeckett.livejournal.com]

i read it correctly... i wasn't commenting as much on how to resolve your situation, but more on that i didn't know how to solve it 'cause i don't tend to get in that same sort of situation myself.

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

*Nods* Yeah. I see what you mean.

I just kind of have to eye a few of these comments, And honestly a good number of the comments I get on any given entry, because people just don't seem to get my point, a lot of the time.

[jtbeckett.livejournal.com]

haha... yet another reason i don't tend to engage in deep conversation unless i feel the setting is ideal... the odds of being misunderstood increase exponentially as the setting's lack of perfection increase.

mmm.. machine gun conversations...

[aazhie.livejournal.com]

or perhaps shotgun? lots of bits going all over, or rapid fire? Not sure which is more appropriate

I can't handle large group discussions on or offline, too distracting.... :P