Ha, ski, you have the very same tendency and at times offend me too! I find that you often make jokes about people's situations that are too near the knuckle at times and veer into being a bit cruel, but I ignore it as I realise you're not trying to offend. Perhaps you should just deal with my outspokenness the same? I was brought up to believe that I have the right to speak my mind and that others have the exact same right to speak their mind and if they choose not to but instead just take offence then it's their own fault for not being open. I realise this might be annoying for some but it's a hard pattern of conditioning to break (much like religion then!).
Also, I was not screeching and trampling over anyone's views as yesterday night's discussion about religious people on another thread (I re-iterate) was amongst other non-believers and in fact the harshest comments were reserved for Richard Dawkins - the Atheist's Prince (like Princess Di is the people's princess!). We were just discussing the topic like we do many other non-TTC topics when people are bored. Saying I am an Atheist is not trampling on other people's feelings/views. If this feels like it to you, then that's something you need to deal with, not me. And if you read the AIBU thread we were referring to, you would see that I was not ranting or the other things that accuse me of (funny how someone stating their views becomes ranting and screeching, etc., if it's something one doesn't agree with), as Camel remarked on. I have re-read everything that was written about religion here, which was not very much at all and can't see what was offensive, but if you find me and others merely stating our religious stance offensive then I apologise.
I presume that you are going to re-iterate your sentiments about STFU and so on to the other people who also stated their Atheism and discussed the matter. Or is it just something about me not believing in God that you find particularly offensive?
And is me replying to your comments ranting and trampling over you? I'm worried now as to what I'm allowed to say and when. Perhaps you ought to send me a list of what I'm allowed to talk about and have an opinion on. Particularly when other people say the same thing as me on a topic or even stronger, but their views don't seem to trouble you. I must have my priorities wrong, because I thought stating one's stance on a matter wasn't offensive but telling someone to STFU was, so I clearly know nothing.
Aaaaand flounce...