Religious Bashing--What it is and isn't.

[Sky Dancer]

I've gotten the impression from a couple of posters, that they consider any criticism of the institutions of Christianity to be religious bashing. That doesn't make sense to me.

For example, is it bashing to say the Roman Catholic Church is wrong for harboring pedophile priests? Is it bashing to say the Magdalene Homes in Ireland, Catholic institutional imprisonment and slavery of young women and girls is wrong? Is it bashing of the Pope to say that he is wrong for saying that ordaining women as priests is as harmful to the Church and as deep a sin as priests who are pedophiles?

Your thoughts?

Is it EVER ok to criticise the institutions of religion without it being considered "bashing"?

IMO, there is a difference between criticism and bashing. I consider what Scott Lively did, in writing a book, The Pink Swastika, that claims gays caused the Holocaust to be gay bashing. The difference is Lively is not telling the truth.

 

[hortysir]

I've gotten the impression from a couple of posters, that they consider any criticism of the institutions of Christianity to be religious bashing. That doesn't make sense to me.

For example, is it bashing to say the Roman Catholic Church is wrong for harboring pedophile priests? Is it bashing to say the Magdalene Homes in Ireland, Catholic institutional imprisonment and slavery of young women and girls is wrong? Is it bashing of the Pope to say that he is wrong for saying that ordaining women as priests is as harmful to the Church and as deep a sin as priests who are pedophiles?

Your thoughts?

Is it EVER ok to criticise the institutions of religion without it being considered "bashing"?

Jesus, Himself, wasn't a supporter of organized religion.
Shoot, He made it His life's mission to rile the Jewish elders!
He healed on the Sabot because He and the Father are about Love more than the restrictions of a written Torah.
He flipped the traders' tables at the tabernacle because He saw His Father's house being turned into a mockery full of thieves.
He hung out with people that were considered "unclean" because the salvation that He was preparing Himself to give was for ALL of humanity.


I don't see anything wrong with rebelling against a man-made religion. We should challenge everything we're told against scripture.


There is a way to go about doing it without ridiculing.
Too often, here and other boards, there are certain ones that like to use the insulting "invisible man in the sky" routine as a way to try to belittle God (or G_d, as they like to use).
I guess that's their little way to elevate their self above others.....to come across as too educated to believe in an imaginary cloud-rider.

I will say that there a couple atheists on USMB that can joke and have fun with Christians without being overly insulting and "bash"-ish (Huggy and USC).
They know, just as well as I do, that there won't be any converting going on in these threads....that none of us make it out of this world alive......that we may as well relax and have fun (even if it is at each others' expense)

It's the ones that tend to take it to such an extreme level of attacking that keeps so many away from religious threads.


Anyways.....that's my take on it.

 

[Sky Dancer]

I've gotten the impression from a couple of posters, that they consider any criticism of the institutions of Christianity to be religious bashing. That doesn't make sense to me.

For example, is it bashing to say the Roman Catholic Church is wrong for harboring pedophile priests? Is it bashing to say the Magdalene Homes in Ireland, Catholic institutional imprisonment and slavery of young women and girls is wrong? Is it bashing of the Pope to say that he is wrong for saying that ordaining women as priests is as harmful to the Church and as deep a sin as priests who are pedophiles?

Your thoughts?

Is it EVER ok to criticise the institutions of religion without it being considered "bashing"?

Jesus, Himself, wasn't a supporter of organized religion.
Shoot, He made it His life's mission to rile the Jewish elders!
He healed on the Sabot because He and the Father are about Love more than the restrictions of a written Torah.
He flipped the traders' tables at the tabernacle because He saw His Father's house being turned into a mockery full of thieves.
He hung out with people that were considered "unclean" because the salvation that He was preparing Himself to give was for ALL of humanity.


I don't see anything wrong with rebelling against a man-made religion. We should challenge everything we're told against scripture.


There is a way to go about doing it without ridiculing.
Too often, here and other boards, there are certain ones that like to use the insulting "invisible man in the sky" routine as a way to try to belittle God (or G_d, as they like to use).
I guess that's their little way to elevate their self above others.....to come across as too educated to believe in an imaginary cloud-rider.

I will say that there a couple atheists on USMB that can joke and have fun with Christians without being overly insulting and "bash"-ish (Huggy and USC).
They know, just as well as I do, that there won't be any converting going on in these threads....that none of us make it out of this world alive......that we may as well relax and have fun (even if it is at each others' expense)

It's the ones that tend to take it to such an extreme level of attacking that keeps so many away from religious threads.


Anyways.....that's my take on it.

Hortysir-

What do you think is valid criticism, and what constitutes an extreme level of religious attacking?

Sky

 

[hortysir]

Just leave out the belittling and ridiculing adjectives, name-calling, etc....

*shrug*

 

[Sky Dancer]

Just leave out the belittling and ridiculing adjectives, name-calling, etc....

*shrug*

OK, let me know if you see me using any.

 

[hortysir]

I can't say I recall you doing that.
I realize a few people look at your threads as baiting threads.
If it *is* bait, all I can do is answer honestly.
If that gives you (or anyone else) that "gotchya" moment, then the problem is their's, not mine.


I question the Catholic church's authority to call their leaders 'priests' or 'father' when the Bible specifically states that Jesus was the last priest and to call no man Father.

I don't see it as bashing or ridiculing.....

 

[Grace]

I've gotten the impression from a couple of posters, that they consider any criticism of the institutions of Christianity to be religious bashing. That doesn't make sense to me.

For example, is it bashing to say the Roman Catholic Church is wrong for harboring pedophile priests? Is it bashing to say the Magdalene Homes in Ireland, Catholic institutional imprisonment and slavery of young women and girls is wrong? Is it bashing of the Pope to say that he is wrong for saying that ordaining women as priests is as harmful to the Church and as deep a sin as priests who are pedophiles?

Your thoughts?

Is it EVER ok to criticise the institutions of religion without it being considered "bashing"?

Jesus, Himself, wasn't a supporter of organized religion.
Shoot, He made it His life's mission to rile the Jewish elders!
He healed on the Sabot because He and the Father are about Love more than the restrictions of a written Torah.
He flipped the traders' tables at the tabernacle because He saw His Father's house being turned into a mockery full of thieves.
He hung out with people that were considered "unclean" because the salvation that He was preparing Himself to give was for ALL of humanity.


I don't see anything wrong with rebelling against a man-made religion. We should challenge everything we're told against scripture.


There is a way to go about doing it without ridiculing.
Too often, here and other boards, there are certain ones that like to use the insulting "invisible man in the sky" routine as a way to try to belittle God (or G_d, as they like to use).
I guess that's their little way to elevate their self above others.....to come across as too educated to believe in an imaginary cloud-rider.

I will say that there a couple atheists on USMB that can joke and have fun with Christians without being overly insulting and "bash"-ish (Huggy and USC).
They know, just as well as I do, that there won't be any converting going on in these threads....that none of us make it out of this world alive......that we may as well relax and have fun (even if it is at each others' expense)

It's the ones that tend to take it to such an extreme level of attacking that keeps so many away from religious threads.


Anyways.....that's my take on it.

Good post. BUT...(and you knew that was coming, didnja? )......I use caps on God and He when referring to Him, as a sign of respect for HIM...not to pretend I am better than anyone else or my belief is the true way. I think everyone follows their own path and I wish them well whatever one they are on.

Just sayin'/speakin' for myself, mind you.

 

[Sky Dancer]

I can't say I recall you doing that.
I realize a few people look at your threads as baiting threads.
If it *is* bait, all I can do is answer honestly.
If that gives you (or anyone else) that "gotchya" moment, then the problem is their's, not mine.


I question the Catholic church's authority to call their leaders 'priests' or 'father' when the Bible specifically states that Jesus was the last priest and to call no man Father.

I don't see it as bashing or ridiculing.....

Thanks. I never thought about that issue of calling a priest, "father". In Tibetan Buddhism, we call our teachers, "Lama". Lama means "high mother".

 

[Sky Dancer]

I've gotten the impression from a couple of posters, that they consider any criticism of the institutions of Christianity to be religious bashing. That doesn't make sense to me.

For example, is it bashing to say the Roman Catholic Church is wrong for harboring pedophile priests? Is it bashing to say the Magdalene Homes in Ireland, Catholic institutional imprisonment and slavery of young women and girls is wrong? Is it bashing of the Pope to say that he is wrong for saying that ordaining women as priests is as harmful to the Church and as deep a sin as priests who are pedophiles?

Your thoughts?

Is it EVER ok to criticise the institutions of religion without it being considered "bashing"?

Jesus, Himself, wasn't a supporter of organized religion.
Shoot, He made it His life's mission to rile the Jewish elders!
He healed on the Sabot because He and the Father are about Love more than the restrictions of a written Torah.
He flipped the traders' tables at the tabernacle because He saw His Father's house being turned into a mockery full of thieves.
He hung out with people that were considered "unclean" because the salvation that He was preparing Himself to give was for ALL of humanity.


I don't see anything wrong with rebelling against a man-made religion. We should challenge everything we're told against scripture.


There is a way to go about doing it without ridiculing.
Too often, here and other boards, there are certain ones that like to use the insulting "invisible man in the sky" routine as a way to try to belittle God (or G_d, as they like to use).
I guess that's their little way to elevate their self above others.....to come across as too educated to believe in an imaginary cloud-rider.

I will say that there a couple atheists on USMB that can joke and have fun with Christians without being overly insulting and "bash"-ish (Huggy and USC).
They know, just as well as I do, that there won't be any converting going on in these threads....that none of us make it out of this world alive......that we may as well relax and have fun (even if it is at each others' expense)

It's the ones that tend to take it to such an extreme level of attacking that keeps so many away from religious threads.


Anyways.....that's my take on it.

Good post. BUT...(and you knew that was coming, didnja? )......I use caps on God and He when referring to Him, as a sign of respect for HIM...not to pretend I am better than anyone else or my belief is the true way. I think everyone follows their own path and I wish them well whatever one they are on.

Just sayin'/speakin' for myself, mind you.

The use of caps as a sign of respect is interesting. Do you capitalize Allah and Buddha too?

 

[spectrumc01]

Christians need no help belittling each other, they do fine on their own. Just ask a christian Baptist, "I was thinking of joining the catholic church what do you think?" Their response will be quite eye opening. Christian hypocracy is well documented. Their ability to rewrite history is legendary.

This would be Christian bashing if it were not true.

IMO they need to remove the plank from their own eye before they try to remove mine.

Christians draw much of this unwanted criticism because they are constantly trying to convert everyone to their side. If they are not converting they are pointing out who is and who isn't going to hell. They have become bold enough to move into the political realm and now try to legislate their particular morality on the rest of the nation, this tends to draw criticism. If you want to have public debate and you attack someones "legal" way of life you had best be prepared for what comes your way.

They have come up with irritating catch phrases that give them an aire of superiority like...

"Love the sinner but hate the sin", this does not give you the right to attack and belittle people under the guise of attacking the "sin". It has a tendency to piss people off. Either they are ignorant and don't know they are doing it or they do it on purpose.

Ending a debate or discussion with the words, "I'll pray for you you" is just like telling someone to F#$& off.

"You are a babe in Christ" is just like telling someone they don't know s*%(t about their own religion.

They want to attack but not be attacked, I suggest they get thicker skin if they want to discuss or debate. Knowinig their history and the history of the world would help them tremendously.

Lastly, this does not pertain to all christians. To those christians who are not like this, I am sorry that an undeterminate amount of Christians are like this, but really you need to take those that are, aside and rebuke them.

 

[Wonky Pundit]

Religions are nothing more than collections of ideas. Outside of a theocracy, people should be free to criticize those ideas all they want. Religion forums are not for the thin-skinned, nor should they be.

It's when people start to bash believers in those ideas (as a group) that behavior crosses the line.

 

[Grace]

Jesus, Himself, wasn't a supporter of organized religion.
Shoot, He made it His life's mission to rile the Jewish elders!
He healed on the Sabot because He and the Father are about Love more than the restrictions of a written Torah.
He flipped the traders' tables at the tabernacle because He saw His Father's house being turned into a mockery full of thieves.
He hung out with people that were considered "unclean" because the salvation that He was preparing Himself to give was for ALL of humanity.


I don't see anything wrong with rebelling against a man-made religion. We should challenge everything we're told against scripture.


There is a way to go about doing it without ridiculing.
Too often, here and other boards, there are certain ones that like to use the insulting "invisible man in the sky" routine as a way to try to belittle God (or G_d, as they like to use).
I guess that's their little way to elevate their self above others.....to come across as too educated to believe in an imaginary cloud-rider.

I will say that there a couple atheists on USMB that can joke and have fun with Christians without being overly insulting and "bash"-ish (Huggy and USC).
They know, just as well as I do, that there won't be any converting going on in these threads....that none of us make it out of this world alive......that we may as well relax and have fun (even if it is at each others' expense)

It's the ones that tend to take it to such an extreme level of attacking that keeps so many away from religious threads.


Anyways.....that's my take on it.

Good post. BUT...(and you knew that was coming, didnja? )......I use caps on God and He when referring to Him, as a sign of respect for HIM...not to pretend I am better than anyone else or my belief is the true way. I think everyone follows their own path and I wish them well whatever one they are on.

Just sayin'/speakin' for myself, mind you.

The use of caps as a sign of respect is interesting. Do you capitalize Allah and Buddha too?

I don't use the terms Allah or Buddha. I use the term God. But as you can see from my post..yes. When I remember because it is rare I use those names.

 

[Sky Dancer]

Good post. BUT...(and you knew that was coming, didnja? )......I use caps on God and He when referring to Him, as a sign of respect for HIM...not to pretend I am better than anyone else or my belief is the true way. I think everyone follows their own path and I wish them well whatever one they are on.

Just sayin'/speakin' for myself, mind you.

The use of caps as a sign of respect is interesting. Do you capitalize Allah and Buddha too?

I don't use the terms Allah or Buddha. I use the term God. But as you can see from my post..yes. When I remember because it is rare I use those names.

Thank you. I don't use the term "God" but I do capitalize it out of respect for others.

When I use the term in a Buddhist way, I don't capitalize "gods" or "god's realm".

In one way, gods and demons refer to conceptual thought in Buddhist teachings.

 

[yidnar]

[/QUOT]ISLAM IS AN EVIL, PERVERTED,CULT THAT IS THE BIGGEST VIOLATOR OF HUMAN RIGHTS TODAY...ie...women's rights,tolerance for other religions,slavery,genocide and so on....ANY LIBBS OUT THERE AGREE???

 

[Sky Dancer]

I've gotten the impression from a couple of posters, that they consider any criticism of the institutions of Christianity to be religious bashing. That doesn't make sense to me.

For example, is it bashing to say the Roman Catholic Church is wrong for harboring pedophile priests? Is it bashing to say the Magdalene Homes in Ireland, Catholic institutional imprisonment and slavery of young women and girls is wrong? Is it bashing of the Pope to say that he is wrong for saying that ordaining women as priests is as harmful to the Church and as deep a sin as priests who are pedophiles?

Your thoughts?

Is it EVER ok to criticise the institutions of religion without it being considered "bashing"?

IMO, there is a difference between criticism and bashing. I consider what Scott Lively did, in writing a book, The Pink Swastika, that claims gays caused the Holocaust to be gay bashing. The difference is Lively is not telling the truth.[/QUOT]ISLAM IS AN EVIL, PERVERTED,CULT THAT IS THE BIGGEST VIOLATOR OF HUMAN RIGHTS TODAY...ie...women's rights,tolerance for other religions,slavery,genocide and so on....ANY LIBBS OUT THEIR AGREE???

Islam is being used in an evil, perverted way. The suppression of women and gays, and in terrorist violence.

 

[hortysir]

I've gotten the impression from a couple of posters, that they consider any criticism of the institutions of Christianity to be religious bashing. That doesn't make sense to me.

For example, is it bashing to say the Roman Catholic Church is wrong for harboring pedophile priests? Is it bashing to say the Magdalene Homes in Ireland, Catholic institutional imprisonment and slavery of young women and girls is wrong? Is it bashing of the Pope to say that he is wrong for saying that ordaining women as priests is as harmful to the Church and as deep a sin as priests who are pedophiles?

Your thoughts?

Is it EVER ok to criticise the institutions of religion without it being considered "bashing"?

Jesus, Himself, wasn't a supporter of organized religion.
Shoot, He made it His life's mission to rile the Jewish elders!
He healed on the Sabot because He and the Father are about Love more than the restrictions of a written Torah.
He flipped the traders' tables at the tabernacle because He saw His Father's house being turned into a mockery full of thieves.
He hung out with people that were considered "unclean" because the salvation that He was preparing Himself to give was for ALL of humanity.


I don't see anything wrong with rebelling against a man-made religion. We should challenge everything we're told against scripture.


There is a way to go about doing it without ridiculing.
Too often, here and other boards, there are certain ones that like to use the insulting "invisible man in the sky" routine as a way to try to belittle God (or G_d, as they like to use).
I guess that's their little way to elevate their self above others.....to come across as too educated to believe in an imaginary cloud-rider.

I will say that there a couple atheists on USMB that can joke and have fun with Christians without being overly insulting and "bash"-ish (Huggy and USC).
They know, just as well as I do, that there won't be any converting going on in these threads....that none of us make it out of this world alive......that we may as well relax and have fun (even if it is at each others' expense)

It's the ones that tend to take it to such an extreme level of attacking that keeps so many away from religious threads.


Anyways.....that's my take on it.

Good post. BUT...(and you knew that was coming, didnja? )......I use caps on God and He when referring to Him, as a sign of respect for HIM...not to pretend I am better than anyone else or my belief is the true way. I think everyone follows their own path and I wish them well whatever one they are on.

Just sayin'/speakin' for myself, mind you.

I, also, *try* to capitalize His name....just not all the letters

(hugs)

 

[hortysir]

Christians need no help belittling each other, they do fine on their own. Just ask a christian Baptist, "I was thinking of joining the catholic church what do you think?" Their response will be quite eye opening. Christian hypocracy is well documented. Their ability to rewrite history is legendary.

Only because of what Protestants perceive as the Catholic's self-appointed editor-in-chief of the Bible

This would be Christian bashing if it were not true.

IMO they need to remove the plank from their own eye before they try to remove mine.

Christians draw much of this unwanted criticism because they are constantly trying to convert everyone to their side. If they are not converting they are pointing out who is and who isn't going to hell. They have become bold enough to move into the political realm and now try to legislate their particular morality on the rest of the nation, this tends to draw criticism. If you want to have public debate and you attack someones "legal" way of life you had best be prepared for what comes your way.

They have come up with irritating catch phrases that give them an aire of superiority like...

"Love the sinner but hate the sin", this does not give you the right to attack and belittle people under the guise of attacking the "sin". It has a tendency to piss people off. Either they are ignorant and don't know they are doing it or they do it on purpose.

Ending a debate or discussion with the words, "I'll pray for you you" is just like telling someone to F#$& off.

"You are a babe in Christ" is just like telling someone they don't know s*%(t about their own religion.

They want to attack but not be attacked, I suggest they get thicker skin if they want to discuss or debate. Knowinig their history and the history of the world would help them tremendously.

Lastly, this does not pertain to all christians. To those christians who are not like this, I am sorry that an undeterminate amount of Christians are like this, but really you need to take those that are, aside and rebuke them.

Any chance of inserting the word "some" before the word Christians in any of that post??


Besides the sweeping generalizations, Spectrum, I don't see you reply as "bashing".
Critical? Yes.
Cynical? Given some of the behaviors you've apparently witnessed, I can't fault you for that.
And we all have the right to be critical and cynical.

 

[Sky Dancer]

Christians need no help belittling each other, they do fine on their own. Just ask a christian Baptist, "I was thinking of joining the catholic church what do you think?" Their response will be quite eye opening. Christian hypocracy is well documented. Their ability to rewrite history is legendary.

Only because of what Protestants perceive as the Catholic's self-appointed editor-in-chief of the Bible

This would be Christian bashing if it were not true.

IMO they need to remove the plank from their own eye before they try to remove mine.

Christians draw much of this unwanted criticism because they are constantly trying to convert everyone to their side. If they are not converting they are pointing out who is and who isn't going to hell. They have become bold enough to move into the political realm and now try to legislate their particular morality on the rest of the nation, this tends to draw criticism. If you want to have public debate and you attack someones "legal" way of life you had best be prepared for what comes your way.

They have come up with irritating catch phrases that give them an aire of superiority like...

"Love the sinner but hate the sin", this does not give you the right to attack and belittle people under the guise of attacking the "sin". It has a tendency to piss people off. Either they are ignorant and don't know they are doing it or they do it on purpose.

Ending a debate or discussion with the words, "I'll pray for you you" is just like telling someone to F#$& off.

"You are a babe in Christ" is just like telling someone they don't know s*%(t about their own religion.

They want to attack but not be attacked, I suggest they get thicker skin if they want to discuss or debate. Knowinig their history and the history of the world would help them tremendously.

Lastly, this does not pertain to all christians. To those christians who are not like this, I am sorry that an undeterminate amount of Christians are like this, but really you need to take those that are, aside and rebuke them.

Any chance of inserting the word "some" before the word Christians in any of that post??


Besides the sweeping generalizations, Spectrum, I don't see you reply as "bashing".
Critical? Yes.
Cynical? Given some of the behaviors you've apparently witnessed, I can't fault you for that.
And we all have the right to be critical and cynical.

That's wonderful and fair.

 

[spectrumc01]

Christians need no help belittling each other, they do fine on their own. Just ask a christian Baptist, "I was thinking of joining the catholic church what do you think?" Their response will be quite eye opening. Christian hypocracy is well documented. Their ability to rewrite history is legendary.

Only because of what Protestants perceive as the Catholic's self-appointed editor-in-chief of the Bible

This would be Christian bashing if it were not true.

IMO they need to remove the plank from their own eye before they try to remove mine.

Christians draw much of this unwanted criticism because they are constantly trying to convert everyone to their side. If they are not converting they are pointing out who is and who isn't going to hell. They have become bold enough to move into the political realm and now try to legislate their particular morality on the rest of the nation, this tends to draw criticism. If you want to have public debate and you attack someones "legal" way of life you had best be prepared for what comes your way.

They have come up with irritating catch phrases that give them an aire of superiority like...

"Love the sinner but hate the sin", this does not give you the right to attack and belittle people under the guise of attacking the "sin". It has a tendency to piss people off. Either they are ignorant and don't know they are doing it or they do it on purpose.

Ending a debate or discussion with the words, "I'll pray for you you" is just like telling someone to F#$& off.

"You are a babe in Christ" is just like telling someone they don't know s*%(t about their own religion.

They want to attack but not be attacked, I suggest they get thicker skin if they want to discuss or debate. Knowinig their history and the history of the world would help them tremendously.

Lastly, this does not pertain to all christians. To those christians who are not like this, I am sorry that an undeterminate amount of Christians are like this, but really you need to take those that are, aside and rebuke them.

Any chance of inserting the word "some" before the word Christians in any of that post??


Besides the sweeping generalizations, Spectrum, I don't see you reply as "bashing".
Critical? Yes.
Cynical? Given some of the behaviors you've apparently witnessed, I can't fault you for that.
And we all have the right to be critical and cynical.

Sorry I didn't put it at the top but I did at the bottom. So if you look there is no sweeping generalization.

 

[hortysir]

Christians need no help belittling each other, they do fine on their own. Just ask a christian Baptist, "I was thinking of joining the catholic church what do you think?" Their response will be quite eye opening. Christian hypocracy is well documented. Their ability to rewrite history is legendary.

Only because of what Protestants perceive as the Catholic's self-appointed editor-in-chief of the Bible

This would be Christian bashing if it were not true.

IMO they need to remove the plank from their own eye before they try to remove mine.

Christians draw much of this unwanted criticism because they are constantly trying to convert everyone to their side. If they are not converting they are pointing out who is and who isn't going to hell. They have become bold enough to move into the political realm and now try to legislate their particular morality on the rest of the nation, this tends to draw criticism. If you want to have public debate and you attack someones "legal" way of life you had best be prepared for what comes your way.

They have come up with irritating catch phrases that give them an aire of superiority like...

"Love the sinner but hate the sin", this does not give you the right to attack and belittle people under the guise of attacking the "sin". It has a tendency to piss people off. Either they are ignorant and don't know they are doing it or they do it on purpose.

Ending a debate or discussion with the words, "I'll pray for you you" is just like telling someone to F#$& off.

"You are a babe in Christ" is just like telling someone they don't know s*%(t about their own religion.

They want to attack but not be attacked, I suggest they get thicker skin if they want to discuss or debate. Knowinig their history and the history of the world would help them tremendously.

Lastly, this does not pertain to all christians. To those christians who are not like this, I am sorry that an undeterminate amount of Christians are like this, but really you need to take those that are, aside and rebuke them.

Any chance of inserting the word "some" before the word Christians in any of that post??


Besides the sweeping generalizations, Spectrum, I don't see you reply as "bashing".
Critical? Yes.
Cynical? Given some of the behaviors you've apparently witnessed, I can't fault you for that.
And we all have the right to be critical and cynical.

Sorry I didn't put it at the top but I did at the bottom. So if you look there is no sweeping generalization.

Rep sent.....I see the last sentence now


Hell, I realize that even "alot" or "most" would even fit for alot of what you pointed out.