[sammyg2]

I remember what mul did, and he got what he deserved. He came back and got slapped again, what did he expect?

I don't know much about this alfred guy but he doesn't sound very popular. If POT and T-samner are the same guy then they are justifyably smacked down because they came back after getting banned.
But some people here were calling for them to get banned for what might be the wrong reasons. Lots O'folks have pulled the race card against him, that should not be done lightly. So far I've seen one quote from this guy that someone used as an example. Surely there is stronger evidence than that of his racism (and don't call be Shirley).
Political correctness should never hide the truth or stifle intellecual debate. We discuss all sorts of things here, but if someone questions evolutionary development, he's a racist? Come on. You guys must have better evidence than that.

Todd, I was not suggesting that you or Z man ban people only on the basis of their tendency to share their religious beliefs. You both have shown quite a bit of patience, most of the time you let the kiddies play in the sand box and only occasionally have to take away a toy. You usually have enough self control to not join in or take sides when there is a food fight, (which is a sign of a good moderator). Once in a while you slip into that trap, but most of the time you don't. You give up some of your privelages when you become moderator, most of the time you are expected to remain neutral in a pissingmatch no matter how hard thay may be (hint hint).

What I have seen is that the general conciousness of the members here do not like other members who are strong right-wing and use biblical quotes to express a point. No, it goes way beyond not liking them, they are treated as if they are worthy of being members.

To varying extents, the non-religious majority forms a proverbial lynch mob. Others join in as the mob mentality takes over.
After a bunch of hate posts it almost always escalates until the only option left is to ban someone, and that someone is the guy at the center of the controversy who shows little restraint or courtesy, which is what usually makes him the target in the first place. Faced with a situation like that i would probably ban him too.

There is probably not a darned thing that can done to change that, I would just like to see a few things:

1) the right wing religious types should tone it down a notch or three, same with the left wing athiestic devil worshippers (kidding, just kidding. It's a joke). There are two reasons the left wing fanatics survive here and the right wing fanatics do not. The right wing fanatics are outnumbered, and the left wing fanatics show more self-control. They know where the line is and they only cross it a little bit. IMO Fastpat is a good example of going too far, but not quite far enough to get banned.
It is probably easier to show self control when it's 20 to 1 (and you're not the 1), but thats no excuse.

2) the rest of the board members who do not fit into the two categories above should try to be a little more tolerant and less defensive when it comes to religious beliefs.
You folks have the right to not believe, just as they have the right to believe. If they are careful with how they present their beliefs and don't try to shove it down your throats, can you please be more careful about ridiculing what they consider sacred? Jokes about Jesus and God may be funny to you but are definately not to others who do believe.
No, we Christians don't kill people with bombs or burn down cities when someone insults our Christian beliefs (like another religion) but the concept is the same.

IMO if someone on this board makes an intentional insult towards Jesus or God (or mohammed or Allah or Buddah if you want to go there), they are doing so only to incite an angry response which is directly in violation of the OT rules and they should be banned immediately. Yes, I have studied the rules laid down several times. Fortunately for some of you that is not my decision to make.

Balance is what we should shoot for.