Welcome new Members! Introduce yourselves here!

[Latetotheparty]

I am an atheist, commie-pinko and whatever other disparaging names can be summoned to, well, disparage me. None of that matters. I am a speck among multitudes, the tiniest of blips on an infinite radar - as are we all. What I just wrote is not profound, not interesting, it's just the way I see things currently. End of blathering.

[arthwollipot]

Yeah, you'll fit in nicely.

[Wballz4900]

My name is Valiant Thor
I am Chief of Station
Huganot

[attempt5001]

Alrighty then. Welcome.

[quadraginta]

Huga not what?

[CarryOn]

Hello all. I'm not exactly a new member, but it has been more than a few years since I last visited somewhere in the early 2000s. I used a different name at the time, Trish.

I recognize a couple of the names from back then when I went poking through the posts last night. I do look forward to spending some more time here again.

[jollyroger85]

Hi, thanks for having me.

[The Man]

Originally Posted by jollyroger85

Hi, thanks for having me.

Welcome, jollyroger85, thanks for being, well, had.





Welcome everyone.

[Darat]

Can’t believe I’m having to put a mod box warning in this thread! Stop the rule 0 breaches and be welcoming else don’t post in this thread.

Responding to this mod box in thread will be off topic Posted By:Darat

[Kid Eager]

I'm not exactly new but have been away for a long time.

Nobody tells you that when you turn into a newt but get better, how long the newtishness lasts for, nor how long "get better" actually takes. This is irrelevant, however, as I have been newt-free throughout my absence.

Anyhow, please do carry on. The real reason I'm back is to increase the amount of Australian content. Because reasons.

[arthwollipot]

Kid Eager! Long time no see!

[The Man]

Indeed, welcome back Kid Eager. Unfortunately, as often seems to be the case with me, I didn't realize you were gone until you got back.

[BrianFromNL]

Hello. A long-time lurker on various skeptic sites, I don't register an account lightly. But this is a community I would really like to be a part of.
I've long been interested in the way dubious or downright nonsensical ideas can be used by frauds and con artists exploiting people's general gullibility and need to believe something, especially victims who are vulnerable and who need answers to distressing circumstances in their lives. Prime example of such exploitative con artists: "psychics" who profess to be able to make contact with people's dead relatives or to know what has happened to people who are missing.
I'm hoping to become a tiny part of this interesting community here.
Brian.

[Wudang]

Welcome Brian from NL. We have a few Dutch and a couple of Flemish members but not sure how many are active.

There are many many old threads on psychics and many of their tricks.

[BrianFromNL]

Originally Posted by Wudang

Welcome Brian from NL. We have a few Dutch and a couple of Flemish members but not sure how many are active.

There are many many old threads on psychics and many of their tricks.

Thanks very much.
I'll browse around.

[Dude111]

[Mike!]

Kid Eager, glad you have decided to once again grace us with your presence!

[Kid Eager]

Originally Posted by Mike!

Kid Eager, glad you have decided to once again grace us with your presence!

I had to go somewhere - the commune kicked me out and confiscated all my tofu trees. It was either come back here or socialise in Canberra and this seemed the lesser of two evils...

[arthwollipot]

Originally Posted by Kid Eager

I had to go somewhere - the commune kicked me out and confiscated all my tofu trees. It was either come back here or socialise in Canberra and this seemed the lesser of two evils...

Especially since here at the moment we have to do it masked.

[The Traveler]

A little about myself, I'm an old fart that has been of forums for a while. Mostly post about politics and religion. Feel free to disagree with me but do it on an intelligent level.

My ideas are my own so expect me to be a little out there and non conformist. But also expect to see new perspectives.

Jesus rocks, Satan sucks and fermented hippies of the world unite.

[Gord_in_Toronto]

Originally Posted by The Traveler

A little about myself, I'm an old fart that has been of forums for a while. Mostly post about politics and religion. Feel free to disagree with me but do it on an intelligent level.

My ideas are my own so expect me to be a little out there and non conformist. But also expect to see new perspectives.

Jesus rocks, Satan sucks and fermented hippies of the world unite.

Welcome. And stick a round.

[OhMan]

Hello again, everyone. I am an old member who joined in June 2010, made my last post on 3rd August 2012, and last visited the site 21st September 2012.

I would not be surprised if none of you remember me, but you may be interested in my tale. It was never my intention to be one of "those people" who just disappear off a forum without saying goodbye.

There were two main factors that caused my passion for atheism to wane. The first was, I believe, the death of Christopher Hitchens in December 2011. He was the best of us, and not only was he a man of great knowledge and intelligence but of great wit as well. I loved watching his debates and lectures as not only did I learn, but I was entertained as well. The other 3 Horsemen just did not quite hold a candle to him in that regard. I honestly feel that his death took a lot of wind out of the atheist movement's sails.

The other factor was the main reason I was heavily into atheism was because of a female companion of mine who was religious who I desperately wanted to deconvert. Unfortunately, as one might expect, we are no longer friends now and haven't spoken in years. Last I heard, she was still a strident Catholic and frequent church-goer. I failed.

Without her as my impetus, my interest in atheism as a "passion" or "hobby" waned, because, simply put, the vast majority of my social circle, my friends and family, are atheists. And, despite what forums like these would lead one to believe, atheists don't waste time talking to each other about atheism. They just carry on with their lives, of which a non-existent god plays no part. :P

_____________________
MY RETURN (ATTEMPT #1)
Those of you who remember, this site used to be called Atheistic Forum (debate.atheist.net). One day I had realised I hadn't visited the site in quite a while, and didn't want to be one of "those people" (see above). So I clicked on the link (still saved to favourites of course) and it was BROKEN. I googled, the site was gone! I was saddened by this, but oh well...

YEARS LATER... (ATTEMPT #2)
Nostalgia hit me today (perhaps triggered by witnessing so much idiocy re: vaccine hesitancy re: COVID), and it suddenly occurred to me that I could use the Wayback Machine to perhaps look at some of my old posts and try and figure out why the site died. As I was browsing the site, none of the profile pictures would load on the Wayback Machine, but I recognised a familiar username...

STEENKH - MY GUIDING LIGHT
Steenkh. It looked familiar, so I googled his name to confirm my suspicions. Sure enough, on Google Images, that unmistakeable, memorable silhouette. For some reason, he is literally the only member I think I can even remember today.

I always remember Steenkh puzzling me, or annoying me. I was in my early 20s when I was posting on this site, and I was filled with fire and rage at the injustice of religion, the atrocities it has caused. I would always be ferocious in my debates with any theist, even being warned by mods on occasion for going too far (incidentally, on viewing my old posts, I see many users are BANNED - perhaps I would have suffered a similar fate?).

But Steenkh, he would always treat the theists with compassion and respect. He spoke calmly and even empathised with the enemy. As I grew older (I'm in my 30s now) I thought back on Steenkh from time to time and realised I had basically become that person. I realised that you do not win people to your side by berating them and attacking them as I was wont to do back in the day. My fires had cooled, and nowadays you could say I have more of a practiced apathy with religion. I have suffered the loss of a loved one, and better understand why the promise of life beyond death is so alluring to so many.

(THE PRESENT DAY)
Anyway, from googling Steenkh, I found this forum. And when I went to create a new account - I was surprised to discover it said account already exists! This *IS* debate.atheist.net! So thank you Steenkh, for being my guiding star!

I don't know if I'll be posting in any hardcore capacity, but I'll definitely be lurking around now I know the site still exists. I also have one question that I really wanted to ask you guys, and I know I'm now hella late to the party, so maybe people can just kindly direct me to the threads, but:

What does everyone think about Richard Dawkins these days? I heard he got involved in some feminist scandal which pretty much killed his reputation? Was that all BS, or is he a blight on atheist history now? And who are the "four horsemen" these days? I gotta say, I've been really loving watching Bart Ehrman.

[Pixel42]

This was previously the JREF forum, it was renamed when James Randi retired and a forum member took it over. I'm pretty sure it's never been called the Atheist Forum.

So welcome back to a different forum you used to be a member of, OhMan.

[Prometheus]

I've only ever been a member of JREF and ISF. Never this "Atheistic Forum". Anyway, welcome!

[OhMan]

Yeah I saw in my backend there had been a "server migration" so came to the wrong conclusion. I was definitely a member of both forums back in the day. I do wonder what happened to Atheistic Forum but I guess a lot of members simply jumped ship over to here.

[The Man]

Originally Posted by OhMan

Yeah I saw in my backend there had been a "server migration" so came to the wrong conclusion. I was definitely a member of both forums back in the day. I do wonder what happened to Atheistic Forum but I guess a lot of members simply jumped ship over to here.

Welcome back OhMan, sorry to say that I don't recall you though I do recall Steenkh, mostly from the SMM&T sub-forum. This is the only forum I've even been on and I generally don't participate in the R&P sub-forum, though I may lurk there a bit. Still, always nice to meet another "Man" clan member, I haven't been to the family reunions for years.

[Warbler]

Hello, I don't know much about this place, but someone in the past linked from here to another forum I was a longtime member of. Unfortunately, bad things have occurred on that forum and I am forced to leave and find another place to talk politics and other things. I hope that is here.

[kevbo]

Originally Posted by Warbler

Hello, I don't know much about this place, but someone in the past linked from here to another forum I was a longtime member of. Unfortunately, bad things have occurred on that forum and I am forced to leave and find another place to talk politics and other things. I hope that is here.

Welcome to the forum, Warbler. Hang out, lurk, jump in when you are ready. There are a lot of things always going on here.

[Warbler]

Originally Posted by kevbo

Welcome to the forum, Warbler. Hang out, lurk, jump in when you are ready. There are a lot of things always going on here.

Thanks

[Fidelio]

Originally Posted by Warbler

Thanks

Just a note, we are sorely afflicted with reason and rationality. Seems you might fit right in.

[RRBacon]

Hi I am old sceptic, with a love of science, transport, geo politics and everything nature, who lives in the dry tropics, and loves spirited discussion.

[The Man]

Welcome RRBacon, seems you'll fit right in. The Science, Mathematics, Medicine and Technology sub section is that a way. Non-USA & General Politics over here and Humor (good way to get up the post count to 50) is over yonder.

Did say you were also into Geo transport?

Oops, sorry, my mistake.

[MinnesotaBrant]

Look at me!!! Still have that new car smell I do.

[The Man]

Originally Posted by MinnesotaBrant

Look at me!!! Still have that new car smell I do.

Is that what that is?!?! Where the heck did they make that new car?


Welcome, MinnesotaBrant.


Welcome, everyone.

[Fonebone]

Originally Posted by MinnesotaBrant

Look at me!!! Still have that new car smell I do.

WOW ! New car smell, Eh? Love your necklace too- A xmas tree-

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Little-Tr...cent/204007699

[Poem]

I'm just saying hello to all. Stay safe everyone

[The Man]

Originally Posted by Poem

I'm just saying hello to all. Stay safe everyone

Welcome Poem. There are some limerick and story threads in the humor section that may suit your namesake.



http://www.internationalskeptics.com...splay.php?f=28

[Poem]

Originally Posted by The Man

Welcome Poem. There are some limerick and story threads in the humor section that may suit your namesake.

Thanks The Man.

Curious there is no like button.

[arthwollipot]

Originally Posted by Poem

Thanks The Man.

Curious there is no like button.

The concept has been discussed many times in the past. And the consensus is that long-term members didn't like the idea of turning conversations into a popularity contest.

That said, there is a literal popularity contest on this forum - the Foolmewunz Memorial Language Awards, the thread for which you will find in Community. The Nominate button at the bottom left of a post allows you to nominate that post for an award, which is decided monthly and the winner of which gets a nifty banner beneath their name. It's not the same as a Like button, though - it should be used to express appreciation of the language of a post, not to simply express agreement with it.

This is one of just many ongoing traditions that await your discovery. Soon, you too will discover the joy of dicksing your own potatoes!

[Wudang]

And there is the odd poetry thread eg http://www.internationalskeptics.com...ad.php?t=75716