A Decade on RF

[Debater Slayer]

10 years ago today, I joined RF intending to convert people to Islam. At the time, I believed, among other things, that homosexual sex should be punished by death, women should be subservient to men in society and relationships, and apostates should be killed. To my surprise, the LGBT people, atheists, and liberal women who befriended me here despite my beliefs about them weren't the demons or the terrible people I had thought they were.

After months of soul-searching, further discussions here, and personal research, I ended up gradually becoming a supporter of LGBT rights, egalitarianism, and secular humanism. I'm still thankful to this forum and every single person who has helped widen and add to my perspective since I joined. I believe I have become a much more mature and better person since then.

I'm also grateful for having had the opportunity to work on the staff for so long (since September 2012), and I don't regret a moment I have spent working to maintain this forum or interacting with the multiple staff members I have had the pleasure of working with and befriending over the years. At one point, RF was also my sole outlet to find friendship and support. I don't know how I would have managed through the 2012-2014 period without it, especially given that I was extremely isolated and closeted after losing faith while in Saudi Arabia.

Thanks, RF! This has been a great ride, with all of its ups and downs. I'm looking forward to many more years here.

 

[ChristineM]

It's a service we offer



I will add happy anniversary DS

 

[Revoltingest]

It's a service we offer

Without your & my tutelage, where would our fellow posters be, eh.

 

[ChristineM]

Without your & my tutelage, where would our fellow posters be, eh.

I could say much better off, but i won't... Oh!

Gotta admit RF has been something of an education to me too.

 

[Revoltingest]

I could say much better off, but i won't... Oh!

Gotta admit RF has been something of an education to me too.

Well, you are quite young.
I'm set in me ways.

 

[ChristineM]

Well, you are quite young.
I'm set in me ways.

That's one of the things ive learned here, Scotsmen (even those estranged from Scotland) can actually be quite human

 

[sun rise]

@Debater Slayer - wow. A decade. "How time flies when you're having fun" And congratulations on having an openness to change and grow.

Maybe a new handle: "Debate Promoter" for your next decade?

 

[Quagmire]

Here's what Naykidape thinks of that:

 

[Shadow Wolf]

GET OFF MY LAWN!!!!!

It's been nice having you. Friendly conversations, some very good points made, many perspectives that are more personal being able interact (to an extent) with the person behind keyboard and offering insights into such a different culture that most of us would only otherwise read about in an article or book or see on interview, and you're definitely in the "listens to awesome music" club with your very avatar honoring god.

 

[Vinayaka]

RF started in 2004 or so, I think. I wonder if anyone will make it to 50 years.

 

[Secret Chief]

10 years ago today, I joined RF intending to convert people to Islam. At the time, I believed, among other things, that homosexual sex should be punished by death, women should be subservient to men in society and relationships, and apostates should be killed. To my surprise, the LGBT people, atheists, and liberal women who befriended me here despite my beliefs about them weren't the demons or the terrible people I had thought they were.

After months of soul-searching, further discussions here, and personal research, I ended up gradually becoming a supporter of LGBT rights, egalitarianism, and secular humanism. I'm still thankful to this forum and every single person who has helped widen and add to my perspective since I joined. I believe I have become a much more mature and better person since then.

I'm also grateful for having had the opportunity to work on the staff for so long (since September 2012), and I don't regret a moment I have spent working to maintain this forum or interacting with the multiple staff members I have had the pleasure of working with and befriending over the years. At one point, RF was also my sole outlet to find friendship and support. I don't know how I would have managed through the 2012-2014 period without it, especially given that I was extremely isolated and closeted after losing faith while in Saudi Arabia.

Thanks, RF! This has been a great ride, with all of its ups and downs. I'm looking forward to many more years here.

Congrats!
Only a fool would hang around here for a decade.

{hmmm checks calendar}

 

[JustGeorge]

Congrats!
Only a fool would hang around here for a decade.

{hmmm checks calendar}

So that either means you'll be leaving soon... or you're just a fool like the rest of us?

 

[Revoltingest]

So that either means you'll be leaving soon... or you're just a fool like the rest of us?

You're not a fool....yet.

 

[JustGeorge]

You're not a fool....yet.

I thought you had to be one to sign up here.

 

[Revoltingest]

I thought you had to be one to sign up here.

You could've signed up by mistake.

 

[JustGeorge]

You could've signed up by mistake.

That's possible.

I am a fool, after all.

 

[Revoltingest]

That's possible.

I am a fool, after all.

Welcome to the club!

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

10 years ago today, I joined RF intending to convert people to Islam. At the time, I believed, among other things, that homosexual sex should be punished by death, women should be subservient to men in society and relationships, and apostates should be killed. To my surprise, the LGBT people, atheists, and liberal women who befriended me here despite my beliefs about them weren't the demons or the terrible people I had thought they were.

After months of soul-searching, further discussions here, and personal research, I ended up gradually becoming a supporter of LGBT rights, egalitarianism, and secular humanism. I'm still thankful to this forum and every single person who has helped widen and add to my perspective since I joined. I believe I have become a much more mature and better person since then.

I'm also grateful for having had the opportunity to work on the staff for so long (since September 2012), and I don't regret a moment I have spent working to maintain this forum or interacting with the multiple staff members I have had the pleasure of working with and befriending over the years. At one point, RF was also my sole outlet to find friendship and support. I don't know how I would have managed through the 2012-2014 period without it, especially given that I was extremely isolated and closeted after losing faith while in Saudi Arabia.

Thanks, RF! This has been a great ride, with all of its ups and downs. I'm looking forward to many more years here.

A wonderful post! I gave it a "winner" frube, and will say no more.

 

[MonkeyFire]

 

[Trailblazer]

10 years ago today, I joined RF intending to convert people to Islam. At the time, I believed, among other things, that homosexual sex should be punished by death, women should be subservient to men in society and relationships, and apostates should be killed. To my surprise, the LGBT people, atheists, and liberal women who befriended me here despite my beliefs about them weren't the demons or the terrible people I had thought they were.

After months of soul-searching, further discussions here, and personal research, I ended up gradually becoming a supporter of LGBT rights, egalitarianism, and secular humanism. I'm still thankful to this forum and every single person who has helped widen and add to my perspective since I joined. I believe I have become a much more mature and better person since then.

I'm also grateful for having had the opportunity to work on the staff for so long (since September 2012), and I don't regret a moment I have spent working to maintain this forum or interacting with the multiple staff members I have had the pleasure of working with and befriending over the years. At one point, RF was also my sole outlet to find friendship and support. I don't know how I would have managed through the 2012-2014 period without it, especially given that I was extremely isolated and closeted after losing faith while in Saudi Arabia.

Thanks, RF! This has been a great ride, with all of its ups and downs. I'm looking forward to many more years here.

Congratulations.

I have not been here that long, only about 3.5 years, and I admit I came here on the rebound from another forum where the forum owner and moderator were not as nice and not as fair as the mods on RF.

I have also learned a lot from being here on RF. I already knew a lot about atheists since the forum I left was primarily atheists, but have learned a lot about various religions since I have been here. But even more than that, I have learned about people and how to interact with people who believe very differently from me, and I have grown spiritually as a result. I have also learned that most people are kind and caring regardless of what they believe or disbelieve.