Why are YA Atheists so different to the atheists I know in real life? ((hugs))?

Question

I mean the YA Atheists are hateful, judgemental and mean, I live in the Atheist-dominated country of England at my job most of the people I know are atheists and they have no problem with me being Christian and we always have a good chat and laugh at lunch hour and socially, etc.

Answer 1

Because no one in here is really what they claim to be.

The racist homophobes are really g*y Black People,, The Republicans are Democrats on drinking binges,, and every single one of the Creationists is actually Richard Dawkins using sock puppet accounts.

I know this because I am a hyper-intelligent psychic house cat that is secretly using the computer while my owners are asleep.

Answer 2

I come here for the comedy and fundie does it best ...

Especially IRONY.

Thank YOU ! for your contribution.

~

Answer 3

well i used to think they were open minded in real life, but thats not necessarily true

but theists are not always open minded either

Answer 4

Maybe because you live in England, and the English Christians aren't so pompous and self righteous.  They aren't trying to take over your government, either.  If American Christians took a lesson from the English, I'll bet we would all get along better.

Answer 5

This place is sought out by those with extreme views on both sides. It's obvious there's gonna be a fight....

Answer 6

cause the interenet is where very angry people thrash out at e-people.

Answer 7

I'm agnostic, I don't mind having discussions with people about their beliefs. As long as its friendly. Didn't realize England was that way

Answer 8

I'm still trying to figure out why atheists even come to the R&S section, assuming they are what they say they are.

Answer 9

Personally, I prefer big bad meanie boys.

**

Answer 10

Anonymous Tough Guy Syndrome.

Answer 11

Because this is a place for debate Im a christian by the way

Answer 12

Ooooh yeah, that's me, a big big meanie.

GRRR.

See my scary sharp teeth?

Answer 13

Because most people describing themselves as atheists are really only saying that they are not religious. The ones posting on YA, on the other hand, are the militants, who have atheism as a religious belief, and a fundamentalist religious belief at that.

Answer 14

They need Jesus

Answer 15

Atheists on the internet are as bad a representation of normal atheists as Christians on the internet are of normal Christians.

Anonymity is both a blessing and a curse.

Answer 16

Anonymity.

In person someone can be decent and respectful. When they are alone they can say the things that they think are funny. In church folks at least behave civilly, even if they don't agree with the Christians. In R&S they feel free to say anything that comes to mind. They know that no one will fly to Omaha, Nebraska to confront them. Bill Jackson of Omaha, Nebraska may be a decent person. Mad Dawg of YA, however, has no consideration for others.

When I was a teenager I used to spout obscenities to truck drivers on my dad's CB radio. I would never have the courage to say those things in a truck stop diner.

On the other hand, if you talk long enough with an atheist about religion and such, soon they will talk just like they do here. Try it and see.

Answer 17

Good question.  I believe that there should be two seperate Religious sections Christians and Atheists only........ so Christians can actually have a conversation without some mean jerk calling our God names and telling us how delusional we all are.

Answer 18

All those people "who have no problem with you" are regulars on y/a.

;)

Answer 19

It means that they are not an atheist at all. They lie. They say

that because they like when someone get pissed off. Or they

hate their own life and angry at God then they self-proclaimed

them self as an atheist while they are not.

Answer 20

I'm both.

The key term is in your question... "real life" is not a big part of the Internet.

On the other hand, if I met the type of believers in real life that I meet here, I might just be the same to them there as I am here.

Answer 21

Only on this forum.  In real life we're not so bad.

Answer 22

would you hit a person in real life? (under normal curicumstances)

well here we can do that digitally

Answer 23

Perhaps because you cannot tell the difference between a real atheist and troll who is trying to manipulate both Christians and atheists into fighting for their sick entertainment.

I am an atheist and I dont treat believers in a manner that could be characterized as "hateful, judgemental and mean"... I simply do not share your belief.

Answer 24

I am considerate and polite to people face-to-face.  I have also accumulated quite a load of frustration with a certain type of fundie Christian in our public discourse, who will close-mindedly reject any evidence on evolution, or the age of the earth!  Having been carefully tolerant for years of beliefs I thought were absurd, I give in to the urge here to attack and cut loose with some of the sarcastic or sardonic comments I internally censor out in the real world.

Answer 25

Excellent question!  You get a star.   Any random sampling of R&S questions will show a startling number of those with an anti-Christian motive.  Most aren't really questions at all.

Someone else has already covered this earlier.  The anonymity of the forum allows for a, how shall we say, "more frank" exchange of ideas.

I am sure Christians and atheists pass each other on the street, engage in trade, work on projects together and none is aware of the other's beliefs.   But real life, doesn't have an "R&S" sign hanging over it.

--- added ---

Subsections in R&S would be interesting.   I'd love to see how many atheists post in the Christian section and how many Christians post in the atheist section.

Answer 26

I have no problem with Christianity of most kinds  I work with a Hindu lady, there are Sikhs on the same floor and in the neighborhood and Muslims too. My first supervisor in my present job was Muslim.  But, there are questions and answers on these pages that are appallingly stupid or ignorant.  

There's a regular poster on YouTube calling himself Angry Aussie.  Do not watch if you are easily offended.  Sometimes he wears a T-shirt which reads " I'm mean because you're stupid".

I am mainly here to hammer the fundamentalists.  Ignorance compounded by stupidity and arrogance are their main characteristics. Sometimes there is racism too.

Answer 27

I'm from Australia and so while I am atheist I am constantly surrounded by atheists or agnostics as well. I also know people of many different religions and it's not a huge issue here.

There are two key difference between this site and where you live in real life.

1. In real life you are not discussing religion all the time. This is a section on a website where people are asked questions regarding religion and they answer. I do know people that are religious and if they asked me the questions that I see on this site I would react in the exact same way, but they don't ask so we don't discuss it.

2. Majority of the people on this site are Americans. You have to understand that in America atheists are generally regarded different than atheists in England or Australia and this is because as nations we are not as religious as America is. For example in Australia we teach evolution is schools and this is not an issue, in America there are issues with regard to evolution/creationism being taught in schools. It is more socially acceptable to be an atheist in England or Australia than it is in America and so perhaps American atheists need to be more outspoken or harsh in order to survive.

Answer 28

The anonymity of the internet lets people truly be themselves.

Answer 29

Be fair. I'm from the States(in case the avatar wasn't a dead giveaway)and here, I'm the minority, and in real life, all the Christians I hang out with don't tell me I'm going to h**l. People say what they think online, but that's not really how they'd act to your face. Well, most of the time. Besides, on an individual level, religion just isn't that big a deal. We judge individuals by how they act towards others. What they believe can really be excused or ignored as long as it isn't aggressive. I'm more concerned by what religion does as a whole, rather than if some random person believes in Jesus. Just doesn't bother me, as long as it doesn't make him/her act like an jerk.

Answer 30

Ahh there is none so rightious than an reform - well anything really...

As a Non-Xian/non-Atheist (& the Thumb Downers go wild on that basis alone - pathetic) I've met all kinds - but I've yet to meet a "Hate Filled" Atheist either here or in RL  (another personal opinion that'd risking the wrath of Thumb Downers again).

OK Yes I've met Atheists who've met some harsh treatment & are justified in the negative attitude. However most of them will recognise the actual events that have lead to this attitude - meaning it's justified.

.

Answer 31

Why are YA Christians so different to the Christians I know in real life? ((hugs))?

I mean the YA Christians are hateful, judgmental and mean, I live in the Christian-dominated country of The United Kingdom (England is not atheist dominated just look up the last census) at my job most of the people I know are christians and they have no problem with me being an atheist and we always have a good chat and laugh at lunch hour and socially, etc.

Everyone is mean on YA.