Why do Theists dominate the banishment list?

[Zzyzx]

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Why do Theists dominate the banishment list?

Theists predominate in the list of people who are banned for repeated rule infractions. For example, of the last ten people banned, seven or eight are Theists. http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 860481d25f

Why is this?

[benchwarmer]

[Replying to post 1 by Zzyzx]

Perhaps they tend to get backed into a corner more often and things get emotional faster? No idea really.

It's too bad. We really need a lot more solid theistic debaters. The site does feel a little 'skeptic heavy'.

[Neatras]

Let's not make a mountain out of a mole hill. This is just a trend that's popped up for a number of possibly minute, but conditionally collective, reasons. Higher number of posts reported, a change in the political/social climate coaxing out heated responses, etc.

In the past, we've had a number of non-theists go, sometimes in a chain. It may just be that theists are the majority, but we should also factor in the age of the profile banned. Trolls exist, and make it difficult to properly classify a group the way we would normally like.

Current trends do support theists receiving the banhammer, and I do wonder how far this trend will develop, but it's not, to me, an indicator of some quality of the theists themselves.

Though the preachers are certainly the ones easiest to distinguish.

[Zzyzx]

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[Replying to post 3 by Neatras]

Neatras, this is not a recent trend, but has been the case all along -- as scrolling down on the Probation list (includes Suspension and Banishment) to past years will confirm.

The question remains: Why?

A few ideas come to mind. Could it be(?) that some Theists:

1. Are discriminated against (on a Christian owned and administered site)

2.Outnumber Non-Theists (in spite of site statistics of self-identified theistic position)

3.Are less law-abiding (rule abiding) and/or more violence / aggressive prone

4.Consider themselves righteously entitled to break rules (above the rules) to 'spread the word'

5.Tend to be emotionally involved in their theistic position (emotionally / aggressively defend 'the faith')

6. Become frustrated when not faring well in debate – accustomed to preaching rather than debating

7. Fail to distinguish between the a public debate environment and church environment

8. Feel superior in knowledge and morality by virtue of their religion

9. Are, on average, less educated and/or less intelligent than Non-Theists

10. Think they have a mandate from their 'God' to defeat the infidel (verbal 'Crusades')

11. Attempt to defend indefensible positions

12. Have personal dislike / disdain for 'Atheists, Agnostics, Apostates' and competing religions

13. Have difficulty adjusting to not being given preferential treatment

Comments? Others?

[OnceConvinced]

What I have seen recently is the nastiness of some of the theist members who have been banned. The offensive language, the bitterness, the anger, the judgemental attitudes, the Martyr complexes... Where are the holy spirit fruits??

Just look at one of the most recent banishments and the very unchristlike exit of that one! After over 500 posts here too! It seems some of these members are in more need of Jesus in their lives than many of the non-theist members.

Are there any real Holy Spirit filled Christians on this site or is a true Christian an illusion?

[bluethread]

Are there any real Holy Spirit filled Christians on this site or is a true Christian an illusion?

I nominate Ped Nurse for the most civil. Oh, wrong awards thread. This one is for the who is the most UNcivil. I didn't know there was such an award.

[OnceConvinced]

[Replying to post 6 by bluethread]

There definitely are some theist members here who set a good example and who would appear to have the fruits of the holy spirit. They seem to be far and few between though.

[bluethread]

[Replying to post 6 by bluethread]

There definitely are some theist members here who set a good example and who would appear to have the fruits of the holy spirit. They seem to be far and few between though.

Well, I do find that non-theists seem to be much better at walking just inside the line. However, that is probably self selecting. I would think that the title of the site would attract theists with various levels of expertise in argumentation and debate, but would tend more likely attract non-theists with expertise in argumentation and debate.

[Neatras]

Well, I do find that non-theists seem to be much better at walking just inside the line.

I've had the exact opposite experience. Theists who use tactics that are so thinly veiled in their arrogance and condescension that it has to have been a very finely tuned process to make sure they can get away with maximally poor etiquette.

Things such as setting up a fictional counterpart to insult someone's intelligence, making grandiose claims about how non-theists in general have no answers to anything (despite being provided answers) which implicates the opponent in the debate, etc.

What we fail to recognize is that there are entire groups of theists who are trained to toe the line, because the seminaries who coach them seem to have the idea in their heads that teaching rational debate techniques is insufficient. So they rest on instilling gish gallops, thinly veiled insults, etc. in order to bolster their arguments, unaware of how it is entirely self-defeating when their techniques are revealed for what they are: manipulative tactics that would be unnecessary if they could demonstrate truth.

[Zzyzx]

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Well, I do find that non-theists seem to be much better at walking just inside the line.

Those of us who are involved in Administrating and Moderating the Forum are quite well aware of 'line walking' – and discuss occurrences in Moderator Forum. Members who make that a practice are watched closely and have put themselves on a fast-track to Probation, Suspension, or Banishment with repeated offenses.

There is no discernible difference between Theists and Non-Theists in ability to 'walk the line'.

Site statistics indicate there were 655 guests during the past 24 hours. Shall we speculate about their theistic position, their expertise in debate, their ability to 'walk the line'?

However, that is probably self selecting. I would think that the title of the site would attract theists with various levels of expertise in argumentation and debate,

Those who limit their attraction to the site title and do not have the wherewithal to investigate further seem unlikely to have much 'expertise in argumentation and debate'.

but would tend more likely attract non-theists with expertise in argumentation and debate.

Why so?

Is this an attempt at excuse-making?