Papal Proclamation: Claiming Debate Victory

I'm hereby laying claim to a piece of Internet lore and labeling is thusly:

When you engage in debate with someone and they get so frustrated that they abandon the topic entirely to start making degrading remarks about you and your character, you are to proclaim "Hobbesidan Victory! I have won this debate!"

Now that you've won the debate, you can walk away from it satisfied. After all, it's your opponent who admitted defeat when he changed the subject to indulge in petty personal attacks in an attempt to distract you and possible others from the fact that he was losing the argument anyway.

You crossed the finish line first. Bravo! To celebrate your Hobbesidian Victory, walk away from your computer, have some tea, and relax. You don't need to prove another thing. You are a winner.

So to be clear, here are the rules:

1. You are engaged in a debate on an issue.
2. Keep your contributions to this debate on the issues. As tempting as it is, don't indulge in personal attacks.
3. Once the other party makes a personal attack against you, you are hereby authorized to claim "Hobbesidian Victory!"

Then go outside and enjoy the fresh air. Also, as Professor Elemental laments, we all need to stop feeding the trolls:

Pagan Pope has been Declared

On January 13 2012 (a Friday), Hobbes declared himself to be the Pagan Pope. Being the Pagan Pope does not grant him any powers or any authority of any kind over anyone or anything. Reports are pouring in from the Pagan community at large, but accepting his legitimate claim to the title seems to be overwhelming.

The Pagan Pope is unsure what he'll do with this blog, but it's better to get a hold of the URL early before other illegitimate pope-posers get any bright ideas.

The Pagan Pope wishes to assure all Pagans worldwide that he is here to serve your needs. He does not wish to be worshiped or adorned in any way, but well-wishes are always welcome. And pie.

The Pagan Pope first declared his ascension to power using Facebook. Go Like the page now! The Pagan Pope decrees it!

Mytheism has been coined and minted!

I hearby coin the term "Mytheism" and "Mytheist" (I've been using the term for a couple of years now, but there's no harm in being official about it).

Mytheism states that proof of the existence of the Gods is irrelevant: it is the relationship we have with the Gods that is truly real and therefore relevant. This relationship is defined, developed, and described using mythic terms and mythology, which describes the God, it's history, its responsibilities, and its personality.

Although Myth is literally false on its surface, it carries truth in its layers. These are Truths than cannot be fully described and encapsulated using Logic: it is only using culturally understand and relatable mythic terms that you can come to understand and build a relationship with the Gods.

Coined (and copyrighted) in May 2010 (approximately) by John David Hickey