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Goanet mourns the passing of Jorge de Abreu Noronha in Portugal - Nov 27/07 http://tinyurl.com/2dk2bl http://tinyurl.com/29kpdx --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:02:20 -0500 From: "Kevin Saldanha" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > I am quite comfortable with opposing viewpoints if they can be debated logically and rationally. However, when I am forced to accept blatant evangelizing on a so-called secular forum, I will exercise my right to speak up. > Mario responds: > Kevin, > I am bemused by your assertion that you are forced to accept blatant evangelizing, or anything else, on Goanet. What does that mean, "forced to accept"? > Does membership here demand that you read every post and get emotionally involved in its contents? > As you have noted yourself, you are free to exercise your right to speak up. There are plenty of atheist and agnostic members here quite capable of making their opinions known. > The last time I checked, this is an open forum, not a strictly secular forum with restrictions on religious topics. > If you don't like a topic, can't you just ignore it, as you would do in a REAL forum or gathering? Who is forcing you to read a post, or like it, or respond to it if you don't want to? If you think a post is illogical or irrational, you are free to say so. If they don't answer your queries perhaps it is because they cannot, or choose not to, which is their right. > I have answered queries only to find that the thread had been closed nano-seconds earlier leaving the questions or comments seemingly unanswered as far as readers who were following the discussion were concerned. The only recourse is to refer questions to the list administrator and hope that they are fair and balanced. I may feel they are not in certain cases. I have the free choice to leave the forum, or stay. > In my opinion, the only requirement should be civility, and the only restrictions should be on personal abuse, remembering that there are many Goans who don't live in Goa and may have concerns and interests unrelated to Goa. > I can show you gross personal abuse in an uncouth post just this month which neither you nor anyone else objected to. Yet, you seem apoplectic over an "inspirational newsletter to the followers of his faith" by Mr Botelho. >