Chat Forum

[chunkyfrog]

I agree with idamtnboy about some so-called Christians. (But not the honest ones)
Some feel they are entitled to be demanding tightwads, and being the worst tippers ever. (Been there, seen it)
About legal ramifications, there might be certain suppliers and providers who take offense about having their misdeeds exposed. Let them whine and cry. It only calls attention to the kind of monsters they can be.

[flightco]

I agree with idamtnboy about some so-called Christians. (But not the honest ones)
Some feel they are entitled to be demanding tightwads, and being the worst tippers ever. (Been there, seen it)
About legal ramifications, there might be certain suppliers and providers who take offense about having their misdeeds exposed. Let them whine and cry. It only calls attention to the kind of monsters they can be.

My comments were not about religion, they were about politics. I suppose I would have the same feelings about discussing religion here. Might be just me but I would prefer it stayed on Cpap. I have been on several message boards where politics were discussed with fervor. I have strong opinions on the subject and tend to go way overboard. I try to avoid that now because after many, what I thought were well thought out arguments I have to say that I never changed a mind that I know of and nobody changed mine. But hey (sorry, I just watched Fargo) not my board, I am just an individual that would rather see us talk about Cpap than politics.

[idamtnboy]

Can you leave your veiled politics out of it? It is a pretty safe bet we are split about 50/50 here since apnea doesn't seep to pick sides. There are millions of sites where you can argue your particular brand of politics. We could get into it but there would be nothing gained (other than boring some and entertaining others).

I'm in a somewhat of a quandary as to how to respond. You're the one who brought up the word politics. I was thinking and writing purely in terms of how Christians seem to somehow think they have the God given right to impose their moral standards on everyone else. I don't agree with abortion or unfettered gay rights, but neither do I feel that God has given me the right to compel a non-believer to not participate in that way of life. It is my obligation to show them kindness, consideration, compassion, love, and be willing to share my viewpoint, and to reach out to them when they need help. I don't do a very good job of it, sadly.

As to staying solely on the topic of CPAP you are not the first one to decry the sidetracks onto non-CPAP discussions. Sticking only to sleep apnea issues would be the ideal, but I'm afraid it would lead to a somewhat boring community. We all have our viewpoints on religion, politics, economics, medical care, and on and on. It is the sharing of those viewpoints, sometimes heatedly, that demonstrates our humanity and reality. It is our willingness to share, to listen, to argue, to get mad, and to forgive and return, that gives this forum its vibrancy.

I lived in Louisiana for 15 years. When we moved there and connected with a church I read through about 10 to 15 past years of the church annual report. The church had had an episode of strong dissension and part of the congregation left. A new pastor came in things calmed down. But you know what I discovered? In the years that there was tension among the people the church was vibrant and growing. After the split and the new pastor instilled calmness, things started to go downhill. Attendance dropped and community participation dwindled. The presence of tension helps to bring out the best in people as they debate and defend their positions. It stimulates new thinking, and searches for new solutions and ideas. Tension increases strength. I hope this forum never becomes 100% calm because if it does, it will die a slow death.

[ChicagoGranny]

The church had had an episode of strong dissension and part of the congregation left.

A ship was sailing past a remote island and discovered a man who had been stranded there for several years. They went ashore to rescue the man and noticed he had built three huts for himself. They asked him, "What is the first hut for?"

He said, "That's my house."

"Ok, so what's the second hut for?"

"That's my church."

"Ok, so what's that other hut over there for?"

"Oh... that. That's the church I used to go to."

[idamtnboy]

The church had had an episode of strong dissension and part of the congregation left.

A ship was sailing past a remote island and discovered a man who had been stranded there for several years. They went ashore to rescue the man and noticed he had built three huts for himself. They asked him, "What is the first hut for?"

He said, "That's my house."

"Ok, so what's the second hut for?"

"That's my church."

"Ok, so what's that other hut over there for?"

"Oh... that. That's the church I used to go to."

[flightco]

Can you leave your veiled politics out of it? It is a pretty safe bet we are split about 50/50 here since apnea doesn't seep to pick sides. There are millions of sites where you can argue your particular brand of politics. We could get into it but there would be nothing gained (other than boring some and entertaining others).

I'm in a somewhat of a quandary as to how to respond. .

Maybe you were not talking politics, just religion. I think all conversation is permitted here so either way I was just voicing an opinion. They say (I know, who are they?) one should avoid discussing politics or religion. There are a great number of people who get into discussing and arguing politics; for the most part, the only ones who want to argue about the Christian religion are those who aren't.

Anyway, I apologize if I misunderstood what you were saying (I have OSA you know, lacking O2 to the brain).

[idamtnboy]

Can you leave your veiled politics out of it? It is a pretty safe bet we are split about 50/50 here since apnea doesn't seep to pick sides. There are millions of sites where you can argue your particular brand of politics. We could get into it but there would be nothing gained (other than boring some and entertaining others).

I'm in a somewhat of a quandary as to how to respond. .

Maybe you were not talking politics, just religion. I think all conversation is permitted here so either way I was just voicing an opinion. They say (I know, who are they?) one should avoid discussing politics or religion. There are a great number of people who get into discussing and arguing politics; for the most part, the only ones who want to argue about the Christian religion are those who aren't.

Anyway, I apologize if I misunderstood what you were saying (I have OSA you know, lacking O2 to the brain).

Thank you, but no apology needed. Reading back over what I wrote I can easily see why you thought of it terms of politics. Hence my quandary, as it wasn't intended to be political but could easily be read that way. Conservative Christians, in pushing their moral agenda, have really blurred the distinction between politics and religion. I don't know that we really can segregate them. In fact much, if not most, of politics is deeply intertwined with religion, particularly the Christian religion. This nation was, to a great extent, founded on religious/Christian principles at its core, but it was not founded as a religious/Christian nation. Of course most conservative Christians don't buy that viewpoint, hence their political push and intolerance of the idea that non-Christian viewpoints and religions have a role to play in this nation.

[flightco]

Can you leave your veiled politics out of it? It is a pretty safe bet we are split about 50/50 here since apnea doesn't seep to pick sides. There are millions of sites where you can argue your particular brand of politics. We could get into it but there would be nothing gained (other than boring some and entertaining others).

I'm in a somewhat of a quandary as to how to respond. .

Maybe you were not talking politics, just religion. I think all conversation is permitted here so either way I was just voicing an opinion. They say (I know, who are they?) one should avoid discussing politics or religion. There are a great number of people who get into discussing and arguing politics; for the most part, the only ones who want to argue about the Christian religion are those who aren't.

Anyway, I apologize if I misunderstood what you were saying (I have OSA you know, lacking O2 to the brain).

Thank you, but no apology needed. Reading back over what I wrote I can easily see why you thought of it terms of politics. Hence my quandary, as it wasn't intended to be political but could easily be read that way. Conservative Christians, in pushing their moral agenda, have really blurred the distinction between politics and religion. I don't know that we really can segregate them. In fact much, if not most, of politics is deeply intertwined with religion, particularly the Christian religion. This nation was, to a great extent, founded on religious/Christian principles at its core, but it was not founded as a religious/Christian nation. Of course most conservative Christians don't buy that viewpoint, hence their political push and intolerance of the idea that non-Christian viewpoints and religions have a role to play in this nation.

A little more tolerant than middle eastern countries are about the same issues (sorry, I just went to politics and religion at the same time, couldn't help myself)