Comment by Dale Headley on March 14, 2013 at 7:04pm

I never initiate conversations with theists.  And if they do, I gauge my response to just how hard they are trying to influence me.   A Mormon or Jehovah's witness at my door is, by definition, doing everything possible to inculcate me with his/her nonsense.  In these cases, the only line I draw is one of decency of rhetoric.  But I show NO respect for their theology.

Comment by Belle Rose on March 14, 2013 at 8:15pm

It depends on the receiving party. Some theists will listen. Genuinely. Others may not. But if you reach even one person then it's worth it. Keep being you.

Comment by Gregg R Thomas on March 14, 2013 at 11:01pm

Life's short, enjoy yourself.

Comment by Professor Robert on March 15, 2013 at 12:03am

Do you ever consider that trolling theists is a form of bullying?

After all, it involves going out and finding people who you feel are weaker than you in an important area, and picking on them or humiliating them in public because of their weakness.

These days theistic education tends to be quite poor; most of us whom you will run across don't have a systematic education in their faith.  They just have what they've absorbed from Sunday sermons.  Call it 20 minutes a week.  That's not a lot.  So it's a bit like demonstrating that you're smarter than a 5th grader. 

Comment by Nate Lundgren on March 15, 2013 at 12:40am

I agree that trolling is not a healthy pursuit and I don't really engage in that. I never seek out someone with the intent to bully them or even to show them that I'm smarter than them. I suppose I should have phrased it as teasing theists (or anyone) in a playful way. I only tease the ones that have engaged with me in the first place. I'm not really all that outgoing of a person so it's not like I try to go out of my way to engage with anyone, let alone theists. (They are usually boring and repetitive)

I mainly like to say some snarky things if they have done it first. Otherwise, I make as good of comments and statements as I can on places like YouTube in hopes that someone that is questioning their religion will see that reasonable people do exist and I'm one of them that will not buy into the bullshit claims made in videos or elsewhere.

It is rare that I will even make comments on any videos, I choose very carefully the ones that I comment on because I don't want to be known as an asshole atheist. I stated originally that I like to tease in a light-hearted way and that is true. I systematically avoid making it too personal and don't like ad hominem attacks directed at me so I do my best to not do that to other people.

I'm not perfect and will get angry sometimes but really only after a back and forth exchange with someone that is being a jerk to me and doing so without even any justification for their vitriol. I have always hated bullies and I certainly never want to become one. I will admit when I have crossed a line sometimes and apologize. I do retract statements and delete things that I have said in the heat of the moment and regretted in retrospect.

I'm a peaceful person but I will not allow anyone to tread on me any longer. I had enough of that as a religious person and cannot let others just get away with bullying without a response showing them that they are not being a kind human. I appreciate everything that everyone has said so far and it has been helpful.

Trolling=bad. Teasing=fun. Educating=best approach. Does that sum it up in an ok way?

Comment by Yahweh on March 15, 2013 at 6:22am

They take me as a moron thinking i'd be foolish enough to believe in something as ridiculous as fairies. I would in turn do the exact same to them. Respond in something really childish or immature.

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