Patrick Craig’s Accusations
Patrick Craig of The Passionate Atheist was not banned for disagreeing with me. Patrick Craig was banned because his comments were from the get go insulting and abusive with no real disagreement in them, unless one counts “you’re an idiot and that makes you wrong because I said so” as “disagreement”. His comments culminated in all out attack upon my character which also contained the threat that he would continue such behaviour until I agreed with him and the legions of True Atheists ™ that were on his side. He has made good on that threat by sending me about a dozen abusive emails and attempting to post other comments that were unabashedly insulting towards me and third parties.
Patrick’s final published comment that got him banned and the reason there is now a comment policy on this blog:
“I have no delusions that I will ever change your irrational thinking. I can only keep pointing out to everyone else how unbelievably ridiculous it is that you lend your support to anything as horrible as [subject of post]. I don’t expect you to respond in any positive way, you are apparently damaged or disabled in some way that does not allow me to get through to you. And that’s a very kind assessment. The alternative is that your home is filled with life-size posters of, say, Adolf Hitler, and that you commit horrible hate crimes yourself daily. Which is it? Are you capable of distinguishing the difference between the two assessments? Can you say, “I am just damaged†and understand what you are saying and then seek help? Assuming the alternative, can you honestly admit that you are a racist, a bigot, a monster, and see that the acts of hate you commit are destroying your life and the lives of others? Would you then have what it takes to change yourself? All of these things take an inner courage, something you don’t appear to possess at all. My options are to assign blame to you for your cowardice, or take into consideration that you perhaps have a medical condition that prevents you from making those very necessary changes for the better.â€Â
In short, Patrick Craig was banned because he is a bully who thinks wrapping himself up in a flag gives him the right to impose his viciousness upon anyone who dares to not see things his way. I will not tolerate a bully on this blog. As I said in the comment policy:
This is my house, not yours. You do not have an inalienable right to say whatever you wish in my house, especially if your words are hostile, rude, aggressive and/or abusive. I am not your mother. I do not have to ignore or forgive your bad behaviour.
If that offends, can’t say that I care. I lived with an abusive man for 18 years of my life, the only welcome rug I’ll put out for such people is one that covers the pit I intend to make sure they fall in.
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Comments
I don’ t understand Craig’s motive for being so intolerant. If he wishes to have a positive impact he might give some consideration to being constructive. I agree with your policy. It’s your house … if someone comes in and is destructive, you are right to show them the door.
Saint Gasoline
Yes, it was my post on David Mills that set him off. I noticed his comments on your blog also and I’m not surprised by it. I’ve been online a lot longer than I’ve been blogging and it’s rather common for men to attack women (it goes both ways, but the typical behaviour is that of men attacking women) for our opinions while remaining respectful of men who express the same opinions. There’s a perception, it seems, that men will not tolerate such behaviour whereas a woman will and is even expected to do so as long as it’s “within reason”.
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Wow. Was this from your post about David Mills? I wrote a similar post defending him and Patrick posted there, but he seemed rather calm and didn’t launch into a tirade at my site. I wonder why he reacted that way with you? Weird.