Mormons

[vbnautilus 48]

I once worked with this guy who was a Mormon. He was a really hard-working, attentive guy in really unique and unusual way. I remember he got my respect really quickly and it continued to grow the longer I knew him. He just seemed like a truly good guy, and really did kind of inspire people around him to apply themselves in a really good way. Now, I had been watching Real World: Brooklyn and there is this guy Chet on there who is a Mormon. He's a virgin and won't have sex until he gets married, so he didn't really make for good drama. But this guy gave me the same vibe -- just seems like a really good dude. There's something down to earth and nonjudgemental about the way he dealt with people too that reminded me of the guy I used to work with. So I got to thinking, what are these Mormons doing right? They seem to be raising some damned good kids. Now I know it isn't simply religion or belief in god or whatever, because I know plenty of christians, muslims, hindus, and zoroastrians who have strong religious convictions, and while they all have their strengths, the Mormons seem to have something unique in that nice wholesome righteous vibe they achieve. Anyone have any insight into how they do it? ( this is not a sarcastic post, I'm being serious. )

[brvheart 1,751]

I once worked with this guy who was a Mormon. He was a really hard-working, attentive guy in really unique and unusual way. I remember he got my respect really quickly and it continued to grow the longer I knew him. He just seemed like a truly good guy, and really did kind of inspire people around him to apply themselves in a really good way. Now, I had been watching Real World: Brooklyn and there is this guy Chet on there who is a Mormon. He's a virgin and won't have sex until he gets married, so he didn't really make for good drama. But this guy gave me the same vibe -- just seems like a really good dude. There's something down to earth and nonjudgemental about the way he dealt with people too that reminded me of the guy I used to work with. So I got to thinking, what are these Mormons doing right? They seem to be raising some damned good kids. Now I know it isn't simply religion or belief in god or whatever, because I know plenty of christians, muslims, hindus, and zoroastrians who have strong religious convictions, and while they all have their strengths, the Mormons seem to have something unique in that nice wholesome righteous vibe they achieve. Anyone have any insight into how they do it? ( this is not a sarcastic post, I'm being serious. )

I totally agree. In general, they are simply incredibly nice people. Did you see Survivor #4 or #5 where there was a mormon girl who made the final 2? Everyone was screaming at her about how she acted like such a good two-shoes, but she was actually a huge lying bitch. Well at the finale it became apparent that she had actually never lied to anyone the whole time and hadn't even been deceitful. It was really quite amazing watching the feet in the mouths.

[Moneyball16 0]

Meh I have a Mormon roommate and hes a big douche, probably the biggest I know. Incredibly loud, very stupid and probably the most selfish person I know. Sure he acts fairly polite besides being very noisy, but while doing this hes constantly begging for shit or telling me stuff like that poker ruins lives. He may have some reason to think that though because he has only played poker 6 times in his life and in those 6 sessions of 1/2 NL he has lost 5k, I used to think it would be great to play with him until after wards he started telling me seriously that I should reimburse him his losses with my winnings even though I had only played with him once and took nothing from him in that session. I'm not sure Ive had a conversation with him where he wasn't trying to get something or when he wasn't trying to hand down life lessons. He probably thinks I'm a terrible person because I drink, curse, gamble constantly and am an atheist. And don't worry about him being broke he still has money and I think his parents are rich.Besides him though I have had good experiences. One of my best friend's family are Mormons, but he doesn't believe in that stuff. Hes probably not someone you would characterize as nice though. Ive met people from his family and church though and have had only pleasant experiences. From talking with him a lot about Mormons he says that pretty much every hard core Mormon grew up in a place where the population is 98% Mormon and if you don't fit into what they are all about it may as well be social suicide and you would have no friends. My friend doesn't have first hand knowledge of this though because he grew up in the same town as me where there was only like 3 kids besides his sister that went to our high school that were also Mormon, but he still has experience with them because of family gatherings and his mom would make him go to all the church activities when we lived there. So I think most of their politeness and niceness comes from just everyone around them being like that where they grow up and if they didn't they would be isolated.

[Loismustdie 0]

Umm, I don't know, I am a bit uncomfortable with these labels and pidgeonholing and stuff. I'm gonna have to pass. Who am I kidding? Only Mormons I have ever known were ones I worked with back in the Arbys days and they were conniving as hell, manipulative, made everybody else work Sundays, stayed in a group and voted for each other to get all the rewards. Aside from that general douchery I suppose they were fine people. One had stubby fingers and to this day I equate stubby fingers to Mormonism, but I'm working on it.

[Mercury69 3]

What are Mormons doing now?Shagging the sexiest wife...

[El Guapo 8]

They teach high moral values, think family first and have a very supportive church.The thing I have noticed with many dealings with many Mormons over a very long period of time is they become segregated from non-Mormons as they get older. Not only in personal relationships but business dealings also. This makes it very hard for a non-Mormon to have a close relationship with a Mormon for an extended period of time.

[Jadaki 0]

They build nice basketball courts in their churches.

[El Guapo 8]

They build nice basketball courts in their churches.

Except the ones with carpet that make you blow out you ACL.

[hblask 1]

The only Mormons that I've known (that I know of) were my neighbors, a couple my age with 3 kids. They were the sweetest people, and their kids were polite and hard-working. They kind of kept to themselves, but that could be because we were all heathens.Anyway, to answer the question, it's possible that what we are seeing is selection bias, where anyone willing to stick with the Mormon church and all their strict rules and stuff is someone who wants to do all that good stuff in the first place. The jerks just leave the church and never let on that they were Mormons.

[gobears 0]

Isn't Tyson who's on Survivor a Mormon? He doesn't quite fit the stereotype.

[hblask 1]

Isn't Tyson who's on Survivor a Mormon? He doesn't quite fit the stereotype.

I doubt he identifies himself as one now, he'd probably call himself ex-Mormon or raised Mormon, or just generally not bring it up. He'd be evidence of the selection bias I mentioned.

[colonel Feathers 5]

I understand they are well hung, at least when compared to your average white dude.

[Spademan 94]

First of all: anecdotal.Second, it's a fucking cult, of course they are going to act a certain way to "outsiders", it's how good cults survive.I've got third, fourth and fifths, but I just bored myself going over the first two obvious points, so let's move to the most important: No matter how nice most cult member seem, including those fucking psycho mormans... no matter how nice them SEEM, if you don't believe in their cult, you are some sort of faggot demon who is ending up in some sort of hell, according to them. So if they aren't actively trying to convince you of your folly at every chance they get... they are either ok with you going to some sort of hell or are a huge hypocrite.Either way, fuck them and they can eat my asshole.Stop being stupid.

[vbnautilus 48]

First of all: anecdotal.Second, it's a fucking cult, of course they are going to act a certain way to "outsiders", it's how good cults survive.I've got third, fourth and fifths, but I just bored myself going over the first two obvious points, so let's move to the most important: No matter how nice most cult member seem, including those fucking psycho mormans... no matter how nice them SEEM, if you don't believe in their cult, you are some sort of faggot demon who is ending up in some sort of hell, according to them. So if they aren't actively trying to convince you of your folly at every chance they get... they are either ok with you going to some sort of hell or are a huge hypocrite.Either way, fuck them and they can eat my asshole.Stop being stupid.

I agree with some of this. But, each cult has its own culture and they are not all the same. For example, one of my favorite cults was the one run by Osho/Rajneesh. They spent quite a lot of time ummm... exercising their sexual appetites to throw off the physical oppression they learned out in the world. I spent a little time at his compound which still survives past his death as a kind of "meditation resort" -- you still have to wear the colored robes of the cult and all. Was a great experience, dancing all crazy with several hundred other people in white robes. Anyways, what I am getting at is that each one of these groups produces a certain kind of behavior in their people. Seems to me (yeah, anectodal for sure) the Mormons are really getting some diligence and sincerity out of theirs. I'm not particularly concerned with whether or not they think I am going to hell. Obviously since I haven't read their golden plates that were dropped by a ghost in upstate New York or whatever that is what is happening from their perspective. But that's not what my observation was about.

[Spademan 94]

I agree with some of this. But, each cult has its own culture and they are not all the same. For example, one of my favorite cults was the one run by Osho/Rajneesh. They spent quite a lot of time ummm... exercising their sexual appetites to throw off the physical oppression they learned out in the world. I spent a little time at his compound which still survives past his death as a kind of "meditation resort" -- you still have to wear the colored robes of the cult and all. Was a great experience, dancing all crazy with several hundred other people in white robes. Anyways, what I am getting at is that each one of these groups produces a certain kind of behavior in their people. Seems to me (yeah, anectodal for sure) the Mormons are really getting some diligence and sincerity out of theirs. I'm not particularly concerned with whether or not they think I am going to hell. Obviously since I haven't read their golden plates that were dropped by a ghost in upstate New York or whatever that is what is happening from their perspective. But that's not what my observation was about.

Clearly I was being hyperbolic, but still...Obviously they all have their "cult"ural difference. Obviously they produce certain behaviors, generally speaking, amongst their followers. To answer your question literally: the mormans are one of the most serious and fanatical cults in the West in terms of their rituals, so they produce some of the most uniformly consistent followers.My point with the hell thing was that it is retarded to call someone "nice" or "kind" or "gentle" or "polite" when they think you and your children are going to some sort of hell, and don't spend every waking moment of their mortal lives trying to save you. A hypocrite does not deserve any of those titles. Period.

[vbnautilus 48]

Clearly I was being hyperbolic, but still...Obviously they all have their "cult"ural difference. Obviously they produce certain behaviors, generally speaking, amongst their followers. To answer your question literally: the mormans are one of the most serious and fanatical cults in the West in terms of their rituals, so they produce some of the most uniformly consistent followers.My point with the hell thing was that it is retarded to call someone "nice" or "kind" or "gentle" or "polite" when they think you and your children are going to some sort of hell, and don't spend every waking moment of their mortal lives trying to save you. A hypocrite does not deserve any of those titles. Period.

Yeah, I get your point, and I certainly don't intend to be some kind of apologist for the Mormon religion, which is one of the more overtly ridiculous belief systems. But I don't think fanaticism alone explains it since for example, fanatical Islamists come off quite differently. I think there is some particular kind of value they focus on.

[Spademan 94]

But I don't think fanaticism alone explains it since for example, fanatical Islamists come off quite differently. I think there is some particular kind of value they focus on.

Well, you've confused me here by missing the apparent. Fanaticism explains it perfectly... and the difference between the two or twelve is the particular kind of value they focus on.

[vbnautilus 48]

Well, you've confused me here by missing the apparent. Fanaticism explains it perfectly... and the difference between the two or twelve is the particular kind of value they focus on.

No, sir, it is YOU who have confused ME! Thinking back on my Mormon experiences, I can say that never once did either of the guys I knew try and bring up their religion with me. Perhaps they knew it was a lost cause... or maybe their technique is just more sophisticated and they have learned that openly evangelizing turns people off. Instead, they try to act as nice as possible so that we like them...

[solderz 0]

All religions are ****ing nonsense. Trying to debate the merits of one over another is ludicrous. Having a fundamentally flawed view of the world does not help you raise your children.

[El Guapo 8]

Thinking back on my Mormon experiences, I can say that never once did either of the guys I knew try and bring up their religion with me.

They wouldn't. It's not how they recruit. They may invite you to the Church for a dance or to play basketball or some other seemingly innocent activity. Then the Elders get involved and accost you. They usually pull you into a room adjacent to whatever function is going on and that is where the recruitment begins.The other way, is through missionary work. The majority of Mormons go on a mission after their 2nd year in College around 19-20 years old. It is typically a two year mission and they go all over the world. The only goal for this mission is to spread the word of Joseph Smith. They wear black slacks, white short sleeve T-Shirts with ties and ride mountain bikes where ever they go. (BTW they really like it if when you drive by and wave yelling out Joseph Smith really loud. This is not Hyperbole, try it; they will smile and wave back) They then door knock, very similar to Jehovah Witness.

[KramitDaToad 0]

The other way, is through missionary work. The majority of Mormons go on a mission after their 2nd year in College around 19-20 years old. It is typically a two year mission and they go all over the world. The only goal for this mission is to spread the word of Joseph Smith. They wear black slacks, white short sleeve T-Shirts with ties and ride mountain bikes where ever they go. (BTW they really like it if when you drive by and wave yelling out Joseph Smith really loud. This is not Hyperbole, try it; they will smile and wave back)

Kinda like this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9q5gS2uAOSU(I'm sure this has been shown here before)