How safe is this place?

You know Tek, really the only thing I don't want here are the Bible thumpers. There's nothing interesting about that, nobody's going to change their mind about anything, it's totally annoying and no fun. I think it would be just fine to discuss WLS topics here if the people I LIKE THE BEST on this board happen to be here!

Yes Terri, I was under the assumption that this board would NOT be a place where we would be subjected to religious people coming to criticize, question, and challenge us or as you pointed out, come out of curiosity. I was hoping for a place where I'd find like-minded individuals to discuss anything we chose, from how we view and deal with the existence of religion in our world to managing our weight loss issues from a non-spiritual perspective. Religious sentiment overwhelmingly pervades this website; we need a safe space away from that to discuss how we're dealing with the massive transformation WLS can bring.

Thanks a ton for the support Dona! I belong to a Yahoo group that does not allow the religious zeolots. Everyone is screened before approval into the group. The discussions are interesting and informative. Interesting things get posted and you get to see articles and literature you may have never come across otherwise. I enjoy conversing with others like myself as I tend to find them more educated and thoughtful than our religious counterparts. I appreciate agnostics but view them as people afraid to take that leap. It is always safer to stay in the middle. I was agnostic for many years. I finally got the courage to just make that leap. Not having the bindings of religion allows me freedom of thought and experience I would not have otherwise. I believe in a womans right to choose, stem cell research, cloning, and anything else that further advances our species. We are but a fleeting moment in this planet's history. The dinosaurs lived much longer than us and were wiped out in a single moment. We are foolish to think that would never happen to us. Without the restrictions of religion, our potential is limitless. Anyway, I have to actually work for a living so we will chat later.

Terri, You around this weekend, mainly tonight? I'll give you a call. About that group, can you email the link. Love ya! ~Van

I absolutely agree, Dona. Well said! Jessica

I think the answer to your fear--that the gawkers may try to infiltrate with their rhetoric or opinions; --let's all agree: IGNORE ALL GAWKERS, JESUS FREAKS, AND PEOPLE WHO OBVIOUSLY DON'T BELONG HERE! Igonore anyone who posts and tries to change our opinions, or barrage us with christian, or any other religious doctrine. I will not respond to any person who is obviously trying to give us a hard time for our beliefs. They can talk, but we definitely don't have to listen--or respond!!! Let's talk about whatever we wish!!! I ain't scared!! Jessica

Well I've just had a look at the website redesign. People might actually FIND the various communities now! Maybe that's good and bad. I hope that nobody will be stupid enough to come in and try to disrupt one of our threads with some prayer for our souls or whatever but Jessica is absolutely right. The best thing we can do, the only thing really, is to totally ignore the person. Don't even bother to tell them to go away. We can write the Mods and request that the offending post be deleted and LET'S HOPE if they were so quick to delete my posts, they'd get rid of something like that. Although I wrote the Mods asking them to delete a post in which I was told to "screw whoever," meaning me, and they did nothing. But they kept an eye on me for a whole day. Go figure.