You're moving your horsey wrong

[pelagius]

I don't normally do this, but I was looking for another pelagius post (still looking) and came across this gem of a thread, which I remember reading, but as is usually the case I got a lot more out of it from a second reading. I really appreciated pelagius' and wuap's exchanges, very well thought out and written. This is definitely the type of thread I appreciate most in the foyer. I think the Falconer article that IJ linked is excellent, should be standard reading during an OT year.

So, my question (imo if you're going to bump something at least try to stimulate fresh discussion) is directed to pelagius. Do you feel the discourse in the foyer has changed even since you posted this? if so, how?

I find my early contribution to the thread (although later in the thread I am not so bad) rather embarrassing so I was hoping the thread would be forgotten. I would have deleted the whole thing but others made some fine contributions.

Honestly, I haven't read the foyer enough lately to have any impression of the discourse at all.

[UtahDan]

I think that part of it is that the tone is a little better. I think that part of it is that those who were bothered by the tone have voted with their feet. The TBMs are still underrepresented here. There are enough people here who see any TBM as a proxy for everything that bothers them about the church that it is not easy to be one in this setting, not least of all because the searchers/questioners have more of an interest in the controversial topics and frequently know more. Many folks just don't have the time or inclination to "study up" just to defend their view point.

Still, I think we are doing a better job.

[Surfah]

I think that part of it is that the tone is a little better. I think that part of it is that those who were bothered by the tone have voted with their feet. The TBMs are still underrepresented here. There are enough people here who see any TBM as a proxy for everything that bothers them about the church that it is not easy to be one in this setting, not least of all because the searchers/questioners have more of an interest in the controversial topics and frequently know more. Many folks just don't have the time or inclination to "study up" just to defend their view point.

Still, I think we are doing a better job.

I've dug in my heels and am not going anywhere.

[UtahDan]

I've dug in my heels and am not going anywhere.

I was talking about the TBMs.

[Indy Coug]

I was talking about the TBMs.

I missed the memo; what does "TBM" stand for?

[Surfah]

I was talking about the TBMs.

We've been hanging out too much.

[Surfah]

I missed the memo; what does "TBM" stand for?

True Blue Mormon. This is why there is no such thing as an ALUF.

[Indy Coug]

True Blue Mormon. This is why there is no such thing as an ALUF.

Oh goodie. Do I get to be a TBM, or do I have to remain a Mullah?

[Surfah]

Oh goodie. Do I get to be a TBM, or do I have to remain a Mullah?

Mullah is so Cougarguard. You became a TBM by default when you registered here.

[Indy Coug]

Mullah is so Cougarguard. You became a TBM by default when you registered here.

Just as long as I know what cubbyhole I need to crawl back into when I'm not "on duty".

[LA Ute]

I think that part of it is that the tone is a little better. I think that part of it is that those who were bothered by the tone have voted with their feet. The TBMs are still underrepresented here. There are enough people here who see any TBM as a proxy for everything that bothers them about the church that it is not easy to be one in this setting, not least of all because the searchers/questioners have more of an interest in the controversial topics and frequently know more. Many folks just don't have the time or inclination to "study up" just to defend their view point.

Still, I think we are doing a better job.

[UtahDan]

Oh goodie. Do I get to be a TBM, or do I have to remain a Mullah?

They are different points on the continuum. I have never thought TBM is a pejorative term though. It is just short hand for someone who holds traditional beliefs in the church more or less as they are taught. On the other end of the spectrum within the church are cultural or "new order" Mormons who practice the faith while rejected some or all of the core tenets. Obviously those are points along a line. Even TBM's are almost all cafeteria Mormons on some issue.

[UtahDan]

We've been hanging out too much.

Similarly, I have developed more of an appreciation for the Lakers as a result of our association.

[tooblue]

I think that part of it is that the tone is a little better. I think that part of it is that those who were bothered by the tone have voted with their feet. The TBMs are still underrepresented here. There are enough people here who see any TBM as a proxy for everything that bothers them about the church that it is not easy to be one in this setting, not least of all because the searchers/questioners have more of an interest in the controversial topics and frequently know more. Many folks just don't have the time or inclination to "study up" just to defend their view point.

Still, I think we are doing a better job.

Ooops, so much for the supposed tone change?

[UtahDan]

Ooops, so much for the supposed tone change?

Someone who is questioning might know all about the Kinderhook plates for example. A TBM might understandably not want to spend a lot of time learning that story, the critiques, the apologetics, just to answer someone on a message board on an issue that to them is ultimately trivial. Searchers/questions often have motivation to learn a lot about a topic that a TBM doesn't and consequently they know more about it. That is not universal. I only offer it as one explanation of why TBMs don't hop into the fray more frequently on some of these issues.

I'm surprised you saw it as a put down of some kind.