Anti-Religious Trolling On Mumsnet

[DioneTheDiabolist]

I get that not everyone is religious and that some people are very anti-religious (some with good reasons).

But some MNetters are religious, others are simply curious. So how come so many threads are allowed to be derailed by anti-religious trolls? Today a thread about Good Friday was deleted because a troll came on. FFS, it's Easter! Threads about Islam are regularly derailed by Islamophobes. On a thread seeking information on Judaism in the Philosophy & Religion topic, a troll has posted LMFAO. Ok, serious question, why does the Jewish God make all men wear a funny beards? She continues venting for a few posts before eventually exiting the thread saying that she is on drugs because It's Easter, party time.

She is a MN regular, like most of the anti-religious trolls here. I have reported her posts but they still stand.

Trolls are not interested in knowing what other people think or believe. They have no desire to discuss the point of actual threads and rarely start threads of their own regarding their issues with religion or belief. They just derail threads in the hope of driving all talk of religion and different beliefs off MN. And they are succeeding.

Why are MNHQ allowing this to happen? Deleting threads instead of dealing with posters? Allowing blatant anti-religious trolling to derail threads that people may find supportive or informative? Is MN a religion free zone? Because if it is, that's ok. I just think that religious posters should be told. Then they can go elsewhere if they wish to discuss their beliefs.

But that doesn't mean it's okay to have people in the House of Lords just because of what religion they are. Many Christians on MN want a secular education for all

Aaagh! This is a prime example of the sort of derailing religious threads get.

Why does every single thread on religion have to feature someone complaining about either collective worship in schools/bishops in the House of Lords regardless of what the thread is about?

It's tedious derailing into a persistent pet topics of certain posters. Whatever is happening in wider society, you don't have the right to make every religious thread all about you.

Any btw Headinhands, no I don't always want to "debate" my religious views, why should I have to debate anyone on a chat thread? Why should just talking about my everyday life be scope for interrogation by internet point scorers?

It is exactly that sort of attitude that drives people away from religious threads on MN.

Why does every single thread on religion have to feature

It was entirely in context. A poster likened Christianity to a hobby but I pointed out that there are no laws about children being told about camping or dogs so it's not a valid comparison. You may feel my point was unnecessary. I don't and can explain why I felt the need to mention it. So we have a difference of opinion. Your move is to now demonstrate how my point is wrong and that Christianity is like a hobby. Yawning and making a thing of being so bored and tired of it doesn't move it along. Actually counter my point!

Well said pontipines unfortunately headinheads appears to be spoiling for a fight

interrogation

It's impossible to interrogate someone through an optional message board. I haven't barged into your house and started screaming at you while you're quietly eating dinner.

internet point scorers?

What's my score? Whose keeping track?

How does one have a fight on a message board? I can only use my reason. And invite people to dismantle it.

Must be getting dizzy on that roundabout.

I'm not the one in a playground

As relevant as saying why do we have those annoying royals

But that wouldn't be relevant. There's no law that say my kids need to spend a certain amount of time at school being told how the royal family can grant them eternal life if they pray to them.

My use of the Hol was entirely valid because it shows that you can't compare an optional hobby to Christianity. My taxes don't fund schools run by knitters who give preference to the children of knitters over non-knitters. They even give priority to children of crocheters ahead of my non-knitting non-crocheting children. I could pretend to be a knitter by going along to knitting club but I shouldn't have to just to have an equal chance at my children attending my nearest school which I help fund.

by being arrogant/condescending and rude themselves? 

It's unfortunate that some come across as arrogant on either/all aspects of any debate. What's important is to assess their reasoning. It could be that the person with the best, 'nearest to right' opinion sounds like an arse, whereas the nicest poster hasn't thought through their stance. I wouldn't want people to judge a message purely by the tone. Ideally we would deliver our thoughts calmly so you have more chance of not pissing people off and having your position appreciated.

Totally agree with you OP
I have just read a thread whereby a poster mocks the death of Jesus.
I am no shrinking violet and I accept that people have different views on religion but I just felt that some of the posts are inappropriate, particularly as for Christians this is an important time.

Headinhands, no I don't. .

Some people's faith gives them joy, confidence, security. I don't have that, all I have is doubt and determination to do my best on a sort of Pascal line, whatever that is. But It's part of me as I have come to recognise, rather to my irritation. Tried to get rid of it and failed.

There's quite a strong tradition of doubters, right from the beginning, and people like Therese of Lisieux, tough battleaxe that she was, puts it across well. ( she may have been physically frail, but the little flower was in my view little bindweed or little aconite.)

And, rather as Evelyn Waugh said, I'd be an even nastier person without it.

But ever since I was little my best friends have come from a variety of religions or none. And ever since we were old enough to argue we have thrashed these questions out. But in a spirit of support and friendliness and a willingness to let the other person continue in his/ her path.

I was referring to your complaints about bishops in the house of Lords,*

I brought up the oft cited HoL scenario to demonstrate how Christianity can not be seen as simply a hobby and that Christianity is enshrined in our law and culture in a way that knitting isn't.

Imagine this: I could spend my life avoiding people knitting. It wouldn't be so hard. But avoiding state ordained knitting isn't possible. Even if I home school my dc the laws of our land are yay or nayed in a chamber where a certain amount of seats have to be occupied by knitters. It doesn't matter if they have great ideas about poverty or discrimination. If they don't knit they have less chance of being in the HoL. Also, If I do send my kids to school they will sit through assemblies about the supernatural benefits of knitting. Would that seem fair to you?

(Disclaimer. I'm not derailing anymore than anyone else)

I think people sing the national anthem at certain occasions so no, not the same clearly but similar.

Adults don't tell children that singing the national anthem is a supernatural event and a way of communicating with an all powerful deity. Adults don't tell children that singing the national anthem is the best way to solve problems.

as Evelyn Waugh said, I'd be an even nastier person without it

Now that is an interesting thought and gets to the route of my personal issue with organised religion and beliefs.

With that thought, there is an underlying assumption that those of us who live our lives without a faith are somehow not as kind, caring or altruistic as those with.

I can understand why some people need and wish to have a faith, but do not for one moment think you are any better than me. Which is exactly what the 3pm threads felt like to this heathen who just happened to be using a precious day off visiting an elderly relative rather than reflect on the untimely death of someone circa 2,000 years ago.

on a sort of pascal line

Could you clarify what you mean by that?

Orlando can you think of a specific example of a scenario where you'd be nastier if you didn't nominally nod to the cultural religion of our society? (Assuming it is Christianity you refer to).

Silver birch, not, that was not my implication nor did I intend that you should infer that.

That's the sort of contemptuous sweeping attitude / statement I deal with day and daily. I don't know you, you are not my business. Equally, you don't know me. Nor am I yours. So Why should you assume I think that? ( Sorry, but you have really riled me. )You will find a common thread of humility through many of the world religions, from Buddhism to the Sufi Mystics, the orthodox and desert fathers. Jesus himself condemned the holier than thou attitudes of his time. And said judge not that ye be not judged.

And if it were a choice between visiting an elderly or sick person or going to church. I'd do the former too. I'd try to do both but if I couldn't, love to the person is far more important imv. And would be to many people of many religions as well as to those of none but who might have some other competing commitment.

don't quite get your knitting analogy.

Earlier on in the day, long before I'd cracked open the first beer, someone likened a non-Christian getting uppity about religion with someone not interested in dogs wading into a dog lovers thread. I have used the knitting example to highlight how such a comparison falls down when Christianity is inherent and unavoidable in daily life to one degree or another and I don't know anyone who claims that dog ownership is necessary to make the best choices and that the creator of the world thinks we should all own dogs.

(I am totally going to dream about dogs knitting in the House of Lords tonight.)

Jesus himself condemned the holier than thou attitudes of his time. And said judge not that ye be not judged.

And yet her also got sniffy about healing the child of someone who was the wrong colour.

And said judge not that ye be not judged.

Does God judge?

How did you decide Jesus was something special without judging it in some way?