What would you think about....

[Marlat]

I would say both of which are the case!

Would you disagree that a substantial body of children, lets say, aged 7 and under genuinely believe in the existence of Santa?

And how many people do you know personally (maybe not quite as high a number as I do, depending on faith or expereince) believe that orthodox religion is a bunch of hooey?

Surely you can see the difference between children under 7 an adults in terms of capacity to form an educated view on the point?

 

[MatticusMania]

"I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it." - Voltaire

In other words, I may not agree with it but I'd rather you have the ability to say it than not.

Ah yes, those words! Wasnt sure which ones you were referring to.

 

[MatticusMania]

Surely you can see the difference between children under 7 an adults in terms of capacity to form an educated view on the point?

Yes, I have clearly stated the difference. Perspective, my friend.
If you want to ignore what Ive posted in regards to perspective and development you are free to do so.

 

[Marlat]

Yes, I have clearly stated the difference. Perspective, my friend.
If you want to ignore what Ive posted in regards to perspective and development you are free to do so.

Are you serious? You're trying to compare the belief of a bunch of 7 years olds (ie persons young enough that we deem them incapable of making their own legal decisions) with the adult populace at large to try and argue te analogy is apt? Rofl. I think we're done here.

If you want to discuss religio on the basis of some dubious analogy the please start a thread in the lobby where religion is permitted to be discussed to do so.

Edit: re the perspective stuff it appeared in your post after my response to that post was posted. Look at the times. I can't be blamed for not responding to stuff I a post that was added after I had posted my response.

 

[EBodious]

wow, that didn't take long.

 

[EBodious]

I think the problem is that we, as adults, tend to see the world from our own developed perspective, and think that its prudent to instill a grown ups perspective on our children.
If you ask me, thats a large part of whats wrong with society today. We no longer allow children to act as children. We're ruining their imaginations and replacing them with real world expectations before they are old enough to understand why. Just look at the gang rape thread for some clear examples. What 11 year old girl should desire to have sex with multiple men? NONE! But theyre out there.

i agree. tho i resist thinking of human imagination as so fragile that it can be ruined. i think it just takes on different forms as society progresses. but, yes, we grown-ups do put our 'understanding' on to kids. to some degree we need to, but to some extent we go too far.

 

[electracoyote]

.....people paying to have billboards put up around your city saying: "Santa Claus isn't real".

Should they be allowed to?

It's kind of an edgy thing to do, would be a bit frustrating and disppointing for a lot of people (especially those who like to maintain the magic and mystique of the holiday known as Christmas Time), but immoral? That depends upon your moral compass.

It's certainly not unethical or dangerous in the sense of shouting "Fire!" in a crowded theater. I doubt it would fail a First Amendment test case.

If nothing else, I think most of us would consider it childish and moronic.

 

[FilterFunk]

People are free to put up billboards of whatever they want, as long as the billboard owner agrees. They should be allowed to. HOWEVER, I think they are huge A-holes if they indeed do it!

^This. It would be a cold-blooded and unnecessary thing to do. It's a sentiment that one could easily keep to oneself. There's no grand statement to be made from it. Some folks have nothing better to do than stir the pot.

 

[MatticusMania]

wow, that didn't take long.

I think Latimour's perspective of me is colored just a bit by an exchange of words we had yesterday.

That, and he is not comprehending the point I was making at all. Thats alright, though.

Its easy enough to simply refrain from engaging in conversation with people who dont try and understand and write things off with textspeak.

 

[Marlat]

I think Latimour's perspective of me is colored just a bit by an exchange of words we had yesterday.

That, and he is not comprehending the point I was making at all. Thats alright, though.

Its easy enough to simply refrain from engaging in conversation with people who dont try and understand and write things off with textspeak.

You seem to be conflating "not understanding" with "understanding you are demonstrably wrong". There's a big difference, but of believing the former makes you feel better that's fine with me.

 

[Relic]

what hell's with TBOT lately anyway? Cant a thread ever stay sane anymore?

 

[MakiSupaStar]

I'm going to put my teabag on a billboard

 

[EBodious]

too bad. i was just starting to get invested in this thread. lots of philosophical stuff i could go off on. the humor to me, honestly, is that because i like the 'subjective reality' perspective, i tend to see the conflicts over semantics and logic as missing the forest for the trees and as avoidable.

ah well. also, i gotta say, i think the intent of this thread seemed to be shifting as it went...

 

[Funky Ghost]

I'm going to put my teabag on a billboard

Will there be a Chin involved?

* I crack myself up .. chin ... Chin ..... *

 

[bassinplace]

If I had kids I wouldn't tell 'em fairy tales. Or if I did, I'd tell 'em it was a fairy tale, so the billboard scenario wouldn't confront me none.

Marginally on topic:

 

[Marlat]

too bad. i was just starting to get invested in this thread. lots of philosophical stuff i could go off on. the humor to me, honestly, is that because i like the 'subjective reality' perspective, i tend to see the conflicts over semantics and logic as missing the forest for the trees and as avoidable.

ah well. also, i gotta say, i think the intent of this thread seemed to be shifting as it went...

Well let's get back to the original intent. As I was saying would you feel the same way if the bill board was exposing a myth / lie in relation to something you didn't agree wit in the fort place like for example flat earth on the basis that it coul interfere with how parents want to raise their children? I mean doesn't that logic lead to the conclusion that anything which might counter a belief which parents might want to install could be seen as inappropriate for a bill board.

 

[colcifer]

Sent you a pm. I'm not sure posting the link here would keep this thread on topic

So what? It's TBOT!

 

[bluesblaster]

Whats wrong with a child having that wonderous experience of being a child and the innocent possibilitys of there imaginations either by cultural folklore and family celebrations to books that make them dream of wonderous places and adventures, The world dumps its harsh realities on them soon enough. I guess its a free country but I think the athiests should keep there gloomy philosphy to themselves and let parents decide how and when to ease there children into the realities of life.

 

[bassinplace]

I guess its a free country but I think the athiests should keep there gloomy philosphy to themselves and let parents decide how and when to ease there children into the realities of life.

But what if the parents are atheists?

 

[NWB]

This is actually a pretty fascinating question to ponder. I don't think Latimour is being a troll at all.

All I can venture is that the hypothetical parents in question participated in the Santa Claus "game" when they were kids, so they see it as an institution rather than a lie.....

That's a pretty good summary of why I participate in the Santa Claus game. I think it adds to the fun of being a kid.

He also gets the tooth fairy and the Easter bunny.

If someone can clearly state the harm in it, then I'll start telling him the truth of these things.