This is an invite to all the people who give me (and others) the Thumbs Down for answering bible-related questions in a (mostly) rational manner. I am not critical of your faith. It makes no real difference to me what you choose to believe, I just happen to have a different opinion. I base my opinions on many years study of comparative religious & mythological texts. I may not know the bible "Chapter & Verse", but I do know a lot about its mechanisms of construction & revision. As far as I am concerned, the R&S section is about debate, so lets have a debate. I will admit that I have given people the Thumbs Down, but I only do so when they give views that are abusive & attacking, or when they simply do not answer the question, but instead quote doctrine at people. I am also willing to admit that I have once reported an answer for being incredibly racist toward the Jewish people, with no foundation other than personal dogma. I am interested in your thoughts & feelings, not your dogma.
2008-05-21T04:59:34Z
Pogmo... No I'm not, & no I don't.
Yag 158... Interesting that someone has already given you a thumb's down... I'll even the score for you.
Jem M... Did you read the question? I have my own relationship to that which you call god, I HAVE asked for debate, & sorry, I don't believe in absolutes - all is subjective.
2008-05-21T05:01:23Z
Starry... Not sure that you read the question either. I'm not a bible follower!
2008-05-21T05:02:50Z
Paulo... I'm not criticising, I'm simply asking for reasons.
2008-05-21T05:05:25Z
Tim... opening this debate, for me, is a matter of personal understanding & growth, I offer a reflection & welcome such in return - this is never a waste of time.
2008-05-21T05:08:42Z
It seems that I have created some confusion... to clarify: I'm not a Christian.
2008-05-21T05:26:47Z
Julie... I have found there to be good in the bible, but a lot of it to be very bad for MY soul & mind. And, the suggestion of the Jewish people being the 1st created is dogmatic &, in the face of archaeological evidence concerning the development of Cro Magnon humanity out of Africa, it is also clearly untrue!
2008-05-21T08:22:54Z
Somebody... good answer, this is pretty much what I'm getting at. I find the thumbs down to often be a judgement lacking in critical thought process, I would rather someone address me, they can always send me a private message. And I sometimes reference other answerers I agree or disagree with, folk are free to do the same.
2008-05-21T08:26:41Z
Tehilla... YEAH! & answers that promote an agenda too for me! I can't bare it when people try to "convert" me, especially when they clearly have no idea of my spiritual self.
TheNewCreationist2008-05-21T07:57:33Z
Favorite Answer
Thumbs Up & Down are ways for people to express agreement or disagreement with a person's answer and is often used as a debate tactic. Some also use Thumbs to vent frustration at unusually long and verbose answers when a long answer is not needed, esp. when it gets way off track, doesn't answer the question, is viewed as irrelevant and/or is a "cut and paste". Thumbs in this way then is more of a mini opinion poll within the question. A case in point from when YAnswers was stuck for about 12 hours on April 18th:
From the Thumbs on the answers to this question you can calculate the percentages of how many folks here in Yahoo Answers believe what it is that they believe. In that case it can be shown that roughly about 75% of people in this forum believe in evolution and of course about 25% do not. By looking at profiles and Q/A histories you can further break it down into more defined categories if you wish.
I don't worry too much about Thumbs really but I hate it when I don't see any, up or down. I mean, even 'thumbs down' means something to me, that someone read my answer and was compelled to respond, even if they didn't like my answer. Since I usually put a good deal of thought into my answers, I feel the least someone could do is respond, even if they disagree with me. I think that this is what you were getting at; that instead of "Thumbing" someone, give an actual response. Well, although that would be preferable, this forum is not very well suited for that. Technically it is "chatting" and a violation of the ToS, although many people do it anyway, including myself.
I give thumbs-down, but only in very specific instances.
I thumbs down Christians who answer questions that were specifically addressed to Jews, and who use those questions to give a Christian interpretation of Judaism.
This means that for every question addressed to Jews, I , eithprobably thumbs-down 3 of the answers. Because that's how often Christians try to use questions about Judaism to 'spread the gospel'. If someone asks something like, "Jews, why do you keep kosher?", I can guarantee you that there will be from 3-5 answers, some of them very long and involved, about Christianity--often ending with an invitation to pray the sinner's prayer.
Honestly. Thumbs-down.
I've reported a few questions, too. Again, the question has to be incredibly anti-semitic or racist. And I reported a couple of questions from the same guy about sex with young children. I mean, really.
I don't mind a difference of opinion. I DO mind rudeness, and I hate it when honest questions are used to promote an agenda.
A specific passage may be necessary to answer a Bible question. Sometimes logic can be necessary. Many times I have a good idea if most people will hate my answer or not based on the question. My ideas are Christian but not all of my thoughts are mainstreem. Sometimes what I thought was honest and good answer many got offend by. I too have been reported. I don't know the Bible chapter and verse either, but I do know how to reference something that I need.
I will thumbs down any idea insulting my God or simply being rude. I will not necessarily thumbs down the opposition all the time. I think there is a difference.
Kudos to you for reporting racist remarks about the Jewish people! I am not Jewish, but support the Jewish people because they are God's first creation and we Gentiles would not have a relationship with God if it wasn't for the Jewish people.
God said,"I will bless those that bless you and I will curse those that curse you" speaking of Israel. The Jewish people have suffered more than any race of people on earth and are still suffering today from racist people.
Not to take anything away from the African-Americans or the Native-Americans, but they have suffered nothing compared to the Jewish people, yet you don't hear them complaining, like other races. And if anyone is not aware of this bit of history concerning America...if it hadn't been for the Jewish people and for one Jewish man in particular "Hyam Salomon", George Washington would not have won the war. Look on the back of a dollar bill, to honor the Jewish people where the circle of stars are, that is to represent the Star of David and turn it upside down and it is the Jewish Candelabra. But can I say this...if I were you, I wouldn't get into so much of comparative and Mythological texts, until you studied the Bible more thoroughly, it's good for the soul and mind. Just a suggestion
I'm a believer in God, and I praise Him, daily... I recieve numerous thumbs down for quoting bible scriptures that go w/ the answer that I have written. I recieve numerous thumbs down for answering questions in my own words, w/out scripture just because I believe something that the majority of the people on this forum don't believe in.... I give thumbs down only when a person is insulting towards another person, when someone is disrespectful or racist. I reported someone once, too because they told someone that they should go kill themselves after a that person was trying to reach out to people on this forum. People are nasty, mean creatures. I'll never truely understand why or what makes a person act the way that they do or say some of the things that they say, and quite frankly - I don't really want to know. I am very happy believing what I believe which is that I have God on my side, and w/ God all things are possible....