Why Do Theists Want to Argue?

[borrofburi]

Because it's fun?

That seems like the final answer. Ultimately, you must get some sort of enjoyment out of it, or you're wasting your time.

I dunno, lots of people do things they don't find fun, even obsessively. It could be a simple dopamine reaction; it's part of the explanation why my WoW playing goes like this (err I played in 4 different "sets" before burning crusade came out, then ever after it costs tons of money to "get back in" and it's so obviously not worth it):

• "hey this is kind of fun and interesting",
• followed by "hmm maybe I could have more fun if i were doing X, but doing X requires Y which isn't much fun, oh well",
• followed by "Ok, well, I'll do C,V,Z,F,T, and Y so that next time I play I might have fun",
• hmm... well since i'm not doing much that engages my brain right now it could be more enjoyable if I were listening to music, or a TED talk
• followed by "holy shit, why do I keep playing this game? It's like a second job, and it's not even enjoyable"

the answer to the final "why do I play this?" is that through some fluke of human psychology I have a dopamine response to WoW that makes feel like I *need* to play it despite that both being wrong and that I don't get any enjoyment out of it.

So in short: maybe they think it's fun, but there could be other reasons why they do it.

 

[blood_pardon]

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That was a really good post dude

 

[godisabullet]

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That was a really good post dude

Was that "loving god" or "loving each other"?

 

[ImprobableJoe]

Was that "loving god" or "loving each other"?

It takes three of them to wrap their arms around their god's penis, in order to "love" him. :twisted:

 

[ImprobableJoe]

I dunno, lots of people do things they don't find fun, even obsessively. It could be a simple dopamine reaction; it's part of the explanation why my WoW playing goes like this (err I played in 4 different "sets" before burning crusade came out, then ever after it costs tons of money to "get back in" and it's so obviously not worth it):

• "hey this is kind of fun and interesting",
• followed by "hmm maybe I could have more fun if i were doing X, but doing X requires Y which isn't much fun, oh well",
• followed by "Ok, well, I'll do C,V,Z,F,T, and Y so that next time I play I might have fun",
• hmm... well since i'm not doing much that engages my brain right now it could be more enjoyable if I were listening to music, or a TED talk
• followed by "holy shit, why do I keep playing this game? It's like a second job, and it's not even enjoyable"

the answer to the final "why do I play this?" is that through some fluke of human psychology I have a dopamine response to WoW that makes feel like I *need* to play it despite that both being wrong and that I don't get any enjoyment out of it.

So in short: maybe they think it's fun, but there could be other reasons why they do it.

Maybe "satisfies a need" would have been a better way to put it, although I stand by the idea that if something isn't enjoyable you should probably find something else to do with your free time.

 

[DepricatedZero]

I dunno, lots of people do things they don't find fun, even obsessively. It could be a simple dopamine reaction; it's part of the explanation why my WoW playing goes like this (err I played in 4 different "sets" before burning crusade came out, then ever after it costs tons of money to "get back in" and it's so obviously not worth it):

• "hey this is kind of fun and interesting",
• followed by "hmm maybe I could have more fun if i were doing X, but doing X requires Y which isn't much fun, oh well",
• followed by "Ok, well, I'll do C,V,Z,F,T, and Y so that next time I play I might have fun",
• hmm... well since i'm not doing much that engages my brain right now it could be more enjoyable if I were listening to music, or a TED talk
• followed by "holy shit, why do I keep playing this game? It's like a second job, and it's not even enjoyable"

the answer to the final "why do I play this?" is that through some fluke of human psychology I have a dopamine response to WoW that makes feel like I *need* to play it despite that both being wrong and that I don't get any enjoyment out of it.

So in short: maybe they think it's fun, but there could be other reasons why they do it.

I laughed. Sadly I know how true it is.

 

[Gunboat Diplomat]

There is also this:

Please keep your fantasies out of this thread.

You are a troll.

Actually, I agree with blood_pardon. I think a lot of theists are motivated by the threat of hell...

 

[godisabullet]

I think I have it!

I was reading a book about Napoleon's reasons for invading Russia and it would seem that he didn't really understand why he was doing it. Before the actual invasion he made comments to his advisers trying to convince them that what he was doing was right because some of them objected.

The author makes the comment that perhaps he was trying to convince the people around him in order to convince himself. In other words, if he could convince other people that what he thought was correct was actually correct, then to him it would be correct.

I'm sure there is some way of describing this way of thinking in a psychological way but I'm no psychologist.

 

[Yfelsung]

Why does the schizophrenic rant about his delusions?

Why does the psychotic have psychosis?

They believe in that without evidence. They believe in magic. They believe in a perfect being who their own holy books show acting imperfectly.

You can not apply reason and logic to what they do.

 

[godisabullet]

Why does the schizophrenic rant about his delusions?

Why does the psychotic have psychosis?

They believe in that without evidence. They believe in magic. They believe in a perfect being who their own holy books show acting imperfectly.

You can not apply reason and logic to what they do.

To be blunt yes, (some form of - probably mild) psychosis is it. But to be more specific, what form of psychosis drives people to convince others in order to convince themselves?

 

[Yfelsung]

Why does the schizophrenic rant about his delusions?

Why does the psychotic have psychosis?

They believe in that without evidence. They believe in magic. They believe in a perfect being who their own holy books show acting imperfectly.

You can not apply reason and logic to what they do.

To be blunt yes, (some form of - probably mild) psychosis is it. But to be more specific, what form of psychosis drives people to convince others in order to convince themselves?

You're trying to apply reason and logic to what they do again.

To put it plainly, "They be crazy".

You just try to avoid them and marginalize their influence on society as much as humanly possible.

 

[barboft]

So why do they?

I seriously doubt that they want to convert people... well, in general anyway. They are usually too aggressive or patronising.

Are they trying to educate people? They can't seriously think they have a chance when they're dealing with people who have heard all the arguments before?

I think they're really trying to prove something to themselves. When it comes down to it they are really a little sceptical but they just won't admit it. So they get themselves involved in a debate/argument to prove to themselves that their version of ideas is "true".

Any other thoughts?

Generally it's not theists who want to spend their time arguing.

 

[Laurens]

So why do they?

I seriously doubt that they want to convert people... well, in general anyway. They are usually too aggressive or patronising.

Are they trying to educate people? They can't seriously think they have a chance when they're dealing with people who have heard all the arguments before?

I think they're really trying to prove something to themselves. When it comes down to it they are really a little sceptical but they just won't admit it. So they get themselves involved in a debate/argument to prove to themselves that their version of ideas is "true".

Any other thoughts?

Generally it's not theists who want to spend their time arguing.

I disagree. I have never once heard a theist utter the words 'I don't want to debate about it'. They often feel its their duty to spread the gospel and the word of God etc.

I couldn't give two shits about debating with theists, in fact I find the task horrendously laborious and frustrating, so I tend to avoid it, unless they bring the debate to me.

I never go looking for debates though.

 

[borrofburi]

I disagree. I have never once heard a theist utter the words 'I don't want to debate about it'.

I have... oh wait nvm, "this is not a debate or a conversation, this is instruction in the truth" and more generally "sit down, shut up, and believe what I tell you" aren't quite what you mean...

 

[barboft]

I never go looking for debates though.

[/quote]

Do you want a debate?

 

[Laurens]

I never go looking for debates though.

Do you want a debate?[/quote]

Depends what you want to debate about :mrgreen:

 

[barboft]

You pick a topic, and we'll debate it on another thread.

 

[Gnug215]

You pick a topic, and we'll debate it on another thread.

The topic will be: brown swimwear, pro/con.

Go!

Anyway, in my experience, there are argumentative, confrontational, antagonistic people on both sides that seem to be looking for debate.

 

[Laurens]

You pick a topic, and we'll debate it on another thread.

Are coconuts actually bear's eggs?

 

[barboft]

You pick a topic, and we'll debate it on another thread.

Are coconuts actually bear's eggs?

Whatever your view is, I oppose it.