Hello Everyone,
My name is Michael and I am *nervously shuffles feet, clears throat, and steels resolve* an ex RDFer.
Although I rarely contributed (managed a half-century of posts in a little over a year) I spent many many hours reading through the variously entertaining, educational, and sometimes down-right bizarre threads.
I think others have said most of what there is to say on the matter, but I would like to add my voice in reiteration of a couple of points:
The desire of RDF to prune the forum down to a discussion board for "Science and Reason" is understandable, and they are entitled to do so, but it mistakenly neglects two important functions that the forum in its old state performed: As a support group for coming-out atheists, especially those who might face ostracisation in RL; and as a magnet for theists, fundamentalists in particular, to post their arguments for public debunking.
The manner of execution was utterly disgraceful. The treatment of the moderators in particular was appalling and they have my sympathy, my respect, and my thanks for their hard and invariably excellent work in the past.
Thank you rationalia.com for the welcome shown so far. I hope myself and many others will find a brighter and better home here.
Enough seriousness, let's cheese
