FYI: I've become a Born Again believer.

[Ronin]

..in the concept of pursuing and proactively participating in real "free thought" with an interesting group of diverse people with varied worldviews.

I commend everyone responsible for their time and effort spent in relentlessly pursuing the formation of this site.

Thank you.

...

PS stop looking at me like that.

[Petra]

Holy shit! For a moment I thought that little shit's gone holy! Phew!



And I second that emotion. :bow:

[HelenM]

stop looking at me like that.

Like what? I always look like this :bigeyes:

Hi Ronin! Welcome and I hope you stick around :)

Helen

[Petra]

I hope you stick around :)



ooh, oooh! I second that emotion, too!
:bow:

[Lauri D]

Hi Ronin! :welcome2:

(sorry, I was just itchin' to use that smilie!)

[HelenM]

ooh, oooh! I second that emotion, too!
:bow:

Somehow I thought you would :D

Helen

[Ronin]

Thanks for all the welcomes.

*goes off to google search smilies*

[Petra]

Hey, handsome...over here....click on the "more" button just below the standard smilies. ;)

[Petra]

Somehow I thought you would :D

Helen
:blush:

aw, shuddup.

[Ronin]

Hey, handsome...over here....click on the "more" button just below the standard smilies. ;)

Thanks, I deleted my own storehouse of smilie sites a while back.

Well, at least I still have all my disco stuff.

*sits...waits*

[Petra]

:banana: :headspin: :cucumber: :caramba: :pepper: :saloon: :hotmoves: :carrot:

[livius drusus]

..in the concept of pursuing and proactively participating in real "free thought" with an interesting group of diverse people with varied worldviews.

I can't tell you how much that means to me.

I commend everyone responsible for their time and effort spent in relentlessly pursuing the formation of this site.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ronin.

PS stop looking at me like that.

Never! :pant:

[HelenM]

Thanks, I deleted my own storehouse of smilie sites a while back.

So...you're a reconverted believer in smilies?

Helen

[HelenM]

:blush:

aw, shuddup.

:D

[LadyShea]

Hi Ronin, nice to see you!

[viscousmemories]

Hi Ronin! :)

I second what everyone else has said, except the weird stuff.

I'm glad to hear another person appreciates what we're trying to do here, and of course we'd never succeed without people like you.

[Godot]

..in the concept of pursuing and proactively participating in real "free thought" with an interesting group of diverse people with varied worldviews.
But what does that mean, exactly? What does "free thought" entail? Buzzwords tend to give me a rash, so why not explain it more fully and free of jargon (oh, and hiya Ronin.).

I'm glad to hear another person appreciates what we're trying to do here, and of course we'd never succeed without people like you.
And just what is it that you're hoping to accomplish? I've tried to find some sort of charter or mission statement, but I can't. I know there the one we played with in the focus group, but I haven't seen it make an appearance here.

Also, I can't help but notice your comment about appreciating the effort you've gone to. Is there someone that has voiced displeasure, or disparaged your efforts? Have you received a flood of hate mail from anonymous people decrying the very existence of this site? Have you been forced to make a deal with the devil himself to get where you are? I don't get it. What I have seen is some constructive criticism and feedback on your infrastructure and methods. If that's unappreciative, then I'm a ballerina.

[livius drusus]

I'll respond here quickly to the administrative kinda questions, but if you'd like to pursue the discussion (with me, at any rate) it'll have to be in another thread.

I've tried to find some sort of charter or mission statement, but I can't. I know there the one we played with in the focus group, but I haven't seen it make an appearance here.

The OP of this thread (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51) briefly states what we hope to achieve.

Also, I can't help but notice your comment about appreciating the effort you've gone to. Is there someone that has voiced displeasure, or disparaged your efforts? <snip>

I can't speak for Tom, of course, but I read his comment about being glad another person appreciates our efforts to be a reference to the number of people who have already had kind things to say, but maybe that's just me. You know how I am about that whole principle of charity thing.

Okay then. Back to the welcoming it is. :)

[Godot]

Thanks liv, sorry I missed seeing that one.

[viscousmemories]

Also, I can't help but notice your comment about appreciating the effort you've gone to. Is there someone that has voiced displeasure, or disparaged your efforts? Have you received a flood of hate mail from anonymous people decrying the very existence of this site? Have you been forced to make a deal with the devil himself to get where you are? I don't get it. What I have seen is some constructive criticism and feedback on your infrastructure and methods. If that's unappreciative, then I'm a ballerina.
Livius was right, I was simply expressing my appreciation that we have yet another member who seems to agree with our stated goals and approach. Frankly I find it bizarre that you would take that comment to be an implication that we have received a "flood of hate mail from anonymous people". In fact I can't even fathom where you would get that idea. If I have said something that makes you feel unappreciated I apologize. As I said in my response to your bowing out of the Post Voting discussion, I really hope you choose to stick around and contribute to our efforts here as we can use all the help we can get.

[Ronin]

Originally Posted by Ronin

FYI: I’ve become a Born Again believer...in the concept of pursuing and proactively participating in real "free thought" with an interesting group of diverse people with varied worldviews.

Posted by Godot

But what does that mean, exactly? What does "free thought" entail? Buzzwords tend to give me a rash, so why not explain it more fully and free of jargon (oh, and hiya Ronin.).

Well, I spent some time during the three days since registering here reading over the assorted expressions of purpose for this site (even with my own personal familiarity with the background of the creative artists responsible for this continued effort) and found the definitions specific and meaningful as written.

(Note, however, that I even included the caveat in my OP that I recognize that this is a “concept of pursuing” free thought and not a conclusive end in itself.)

For my own part, it means that I’m open to examining your questions about my own claims in this thread (and any thread for that matter) without reacting in an oppressive manner toward your views. It also means that I hope to see rational discourse by those participating on a topic regarding even a “critical view” in a reasoned and well-formed and polite manner.

I’m no fan of buzzwords either, Godot, especially from blind dogma that leaves no room for falsification/change through the critical examination of even the most firmly entrenched personally held core values.

In my case (and for the purposes of explaining the motive behind the OP), I have participated in other “Free Thought” experiments that have merely degenerated into buzzwords, sloganeering, jingoism and expressions of uncompromising dominance/elitist/groupthink that (in retrospect) ultimately served no other purpose except to polarize and poison the community.

In short...if it harms none, think what you like and say what you like.

Oh yeah, and most importantly, expect to be called on it.

PS I hope you stick around as well, Godot...that "Post Voting" thread made my head hurt and I was greatly impressed with what you offered (though, I really have to admit, even re-reading it now I still feel a bit like Xixo looking over that coke bottle).

[Godot]

Well put, Ronin. :)

As food for thought, I'd like to include a comment I wrote elsewhere. No replies were made to it at the time, but I do hope that those involved at the time read it and thought about it. Here it is: One thing that was drilled into me through grad school is that a "commitment to lifelong learning" is paramount. I like to think that this attitude is one that is necessary in anyone claiming to be a freethinker. Plainly, because at what point can you rest on your laurels and satisfy yourself with the knowledge you currently possess?

[Ronin]

So...you're a reconverted believer in smilies?

Helen

Maybe.

http://fool.exler.ru/sm/daz.gif