The Last Post

I am actually pretty sick of the personal tactics being used on the Dawkins thread, and have come away from the whole thing with a bad feeling. This is the last comment I left there (in response to someone telling me that he hoped the door wouldn't hit my 'ass' (or would hit it, I can't remember) on the way out, and I think I'll leave it at that and we can get on with more pleasant matters. This has been an interesting learning experience. Here's the last comment I left:

To be honest I didn't come here interested in 'winning' an 'argument'. I feel like that's all most of the people on this board are interested in. You obviously haven't read or understood anything I've said. I don't think I'm "right".

It's incredible that someone here – not you – has tried to imply that I am preaching. For what, expressing an opinion contrary to the opinions of those gathered here? I'll tell you something. I actually came on this board thinking that we'd be able to have a more open-minded discussion here than on a religious website. I actually believed that.

Considering the fact that Justin and I are apparently idiots, you must all feel very good about yourselves for having tried for so long to tear two idiots apart, in your droves, without succeeding. You do realise that anyone who isn't especially sycophantic in their views about Dawkins – "Oh, Dawkins, you are so big. We're all pretty impressed down here with you" – to whom I am merely a flea, will see exactly what's going on on this thread. Dawkins's authority is not to be questioned. He can say whatever he likes, even about things outside his field – what is The God Delusion if not preaching? – and no one must challenge him. And even the challenge of a flea like me is taken very seriously. Most of the people on these boards are obsessed with 'god', which is why their pseudonyms tend to have religious connotations, they have priests for avatars, they have signatures that talk about god.

You know what, I think I will go now, because all that I've just written here seems to be so true that I know you won't be able to even consider it for a moment, and there will be no dialogue. And I don't care. I sent the link of this thread to a friend. He replied with a quote from Yoda:

"If to the asylum you go, lunatics find you will."

And he was right. It's my own fault for coming here and expecting to be able to talk. Well, I actually hope you have nice lives. It would be sad if you didn't.

Take care now,

Quentin.