History of HAF

[Ecurb Noselrub]

What is the history of HAF?  I'd like to know as a newbie.  Who started it and when?  What brought it about?  Is Whitney the "oldest" member? 

[DeterminedJuliet]

Whitney created it, I'm pretty sure. But that's about all I know.

[The Magic Pudding]

I can tell you a part of it, the story of how Asmo became a part of it anyway.

Asmo originated in a happy dimension where he had been attempting an evil take over for millennia.
He failed in the end, he took too much pride in his evil deeds, required to much artistry of himself.  Although his evil was innovative and won many awards, there just wasn't enough of it.  His physical form was destroyed but his essence took refuge in the HAF forum.  No one believes the Norway story do they?

[DeterminedJuliet]

I can tell you a part of it, the story of how Asmo became a part of it anyway.

Asmo originated in a happy dimension where he had been attempting an evil take over for millennia.
He failed in the end, he took too much pride in his evil deeds, required to much artistry of himself.  Although his evil was innovative and won many awards, there just wasn't enough of it.  His physical form was destroyed but his essence took refuge in the HAF forum.  No one believes the Norway story do they?

So...
He's kind of like Lord Voldemort?

[Buddy]

I can tell you a part of it, the story of how Asmo became a part of it anyway.

Asmo originated in a happy dimension where he had been attempting an evil take over for millennia.
He failed in the end, he took too much pride in his evil deeds, required to much artistry of himself.  Although his evil was innovative and won many awards, there just wasn't enough of it.  His physical form was destroyed but his essence took refuge in the HAF forum.  No one believes the Norway story do they?

So... he's not just a lump of clay 

Also, what is this Norway story. I am interested.

[not your typical...]

Yes Magic Pudding, please do enlighten us of the Norway story. And as for Asmo's evil winning awards, I believe it. He's quite ingenious in his wicked ways.

[Ecurb Noselrub]

If Whitney created it (perhaps with extra-dimensional assistance from Asmo), I would like hear her story.  Maybe it's already posted someplace - if so, please direct me to it.   

[Buddy]

You know, for a lump of clay, asmo seems to be quite the force of nature XD

[not your typical...]

You know, for a lump of clay, asmo seems to be quite the force of nature XD

I'd like to give you a medal for this statement. I've never hear more honest words before. He does seem to really know how get things going.

[Whitney]

I started it in 2006 (i think).  The why was two fold.  From being on other forums I noticed there were a lot of theists who come to atheist forums seeking angry atheists and of course finding them (telling people they are angry tends to make them that way); so why not have a place that focuses on killing a stereotype.  The second reason is that I also noticed that most atheist forums are a bit too libertarian; they don't do much in the way of controlling civil dialogue.  So this was also an experiment in what would happen if free speech on the board were limited just enough to kinda make people be nice to each other and also get rid the pet peeve of all thinking people; claims without any basis (the preaching rule)....that's an ongoing experiment as we keep finessing the rules to find a good balance that actually works.

McQ was among the first members to join and since then it has changed in looks and been crashed a few times; sometimes my fault, one time by hackers, and then more recently by the forum system just not being able to handle us anymore due to glitches (perhaps I can blame Asmo  )....sometime along the way we came up with a mission statement that is located here: www.happyatheistforum.com

[not your typical...]

Awesome. Good stuff to know.

[Buddy]

Neat

[The Magic Pudding]

He's kind of like Lord Voldemort?

Most likely derived from Asmo, same with Sauron and others.

The wisdom of not sharing your evil plan through monologue with your nemesis, a hard won lesson for Asmo.  All young evilgelicals now benefit from gratuitously cruel behavioural therapy to prevent them blurting out their plan.

The Norway story was his cover story, that he is merely a somewhat disturbed human living in the frigid Northern wastelands.  

It is rumoured he hast taken physical form and is gathering an army of polar bears and blaming their disappearance on global warming which is actually caused by his vast volcanic forge.

I have warned him that some are suggesting his deeds are derivative of other evil geniuses.  
He seemed to take notice but I'm not sure if he's called off his immaculate conception plan, he really wants a mini me he can order to suffer a torturous death and then zombifie.

[not your typical...]

It is rumoured he hast taken physical form and is gathering an army of polar bears and blaming their disappearance on global warming which is actually caused by his vast volcanic forge.
I have warned him that some are calling his deeds derivative of other evil geniuses.  
He seemed to take notice but I'm not sure if he's called off his immaculate conception plan, he really wants a mini me he can order to suffer a torturous death.

I feel the need to question him on this. And if it's proved to be true, force him to give me a pet polar bear and immunity to the effects of his plan... but he's not allowed to steal my world domination plot.

[Ecurb Noselrub]

I started it in 2006 (i think).  The why was two fold.  From being on other forums I noticed there were a lot of theists who come to atheist forums seeking angry atheists and of course finding them (telling people they are angry tends to make them that way); so why not have a place that focuses on killing a stereotype.  The second reason is that I also noticed that most atheist forums are a bit too libertarian; they don't do much in the way of controlling civil dialogue.  So this was also an experiment in what would happen if free speech on the board were limited just enough to kinda make people be nice to each other and also get rid the pet peeve of all thinking people; claims without any basis (the preaching rule)....that's an ongoing experiment as we keep finessing the rules to find a good balance that actually works.

McQ was among the first members to join and since then it has changed in looks and been crashed a few times; sometimes my fault, one time by hackers, and then more recently by the forum system just not being able to handle us anymore due to glitches (perhaps I can blame Asmo  )....sometime along the way we came up with a mission statement that is located here: www.happyatheistforum.com

Thank you. I've visited your website and see that you are quite involved in the Dallas freethinkers' group.  You've done a good job in creating and managing this forum, it seems to me.  Congrats.