@ming: it's opensource and using creative commons. that's all. early development status lacking some of the features twitter has. - Ansgar Wollnik

goodness. another microblogging clone. i'm all for competition but unless this has data portability then i'm already suffering from social overload. - Glenn Batuyong via twhirl

This one really is a clone of Twitter. The first one that I've seen (if you've seen another, do tell of it). - Dave Winer

Site seems really slow. Doesn't look like they'll be able to handle the load either. - Brandon Titus

well, Brandon, fork it and then stick it on your own server - Nathan Eckenrode

I agree that where you are born impacts which religion you choose, but zealotry = prejudice? (I'm assuming you mean racial prejudice) You can say that for any geographic metric you want to, not just by religion. Unfortunately, many racial lines follow religious lines, but we all know that's not always the case. Aren't you being a little prejudiced yourself by making such a statement? - Shey

agree! - andy brudtkuhl

Before the rest of you jump on the religion = prejudice bandwagon, at least state your reasoning. I'm not seeing the relation here. - Shey

Where you're born influences the religion you follow - I would agree with that but being a fanatic or whatever degree of the word zealotry you want to go by is downright narrow minded - Julian Baldwin

There's an ancient Greek concept (oikumene) that geography impacts most things about a person. Having a Divinity school degree, due in part to where I grew up and how impt religion was in that part of the world, I agree with you. - Sam Harrelson

agree. if you take a new born and put them in the woods and return 20 yrs later, they won't know anything about God or religion IMO. they might have even made up their own religion based on their dreams and lack of not understanding the environment around them. - Chris Harris

What's so controversial about the statement? Kind of obvious, isn't it? - Paul Denlinger

Disagree. My parents were atheists and I am LDS. - Judy Jones

I think that's bull. *My* religion is *self evidently* the right one. It's so obviously the correct choice that there's no doubt that I'd have come to it no matter where I was born or how I was raised. Flying Spaghetti Monster FTW. To suggest that I'm prejudiced because I think you're an idiot for not seeing the connection between piracy and global warming and look down on those who haven't felt his noodly appendage is simply absurd. - Eric

every social and conceptual way of living come from somewhere, tons of details are a part of the impacts, you can say this for religion or for your political afiliation, or even the way you eat..ps : i still think that a big part of growing up, evolving in life is by choosing instead of following what is already being done, same apply for religion, we always have the choice, even if we mostly repeat history all the time - Ben Borges

I don't define zealotry as prejudice, tho the two are often linked. But where you are born? Absolutely. Historically, local politics (burning Huguenots/Baptisits/etc? think I'll switch) and other events (priests sex scandal? rethinking Catholicism) have as much an effect imo. - Doug Haslam via twhirl

@Ben Borges maybe, but choices today and choices 1,000 years ago are two different things. now i can research any religion, jump on a plane and go pursue it. 1,000 years ago? not so much, it would've been hard for me to even research a different religion. - Chris Harris

I do agree - George The Writer

I would agree. The fact that a person is born or rasied in a certian place will have some effect on the religion they choose in the beginning. However I think religion is something that is defined and changed over and over again even if it's attached to where you were raised. - David Newberger via Alert Thingy

Ben: true, but in the case of religion the connection to your family background is exceptionally strong. We commonly refer to "Christian children" or "Muslim children" when in fact there is no such thing, just as there are no neoliberal or socialist children. You should not have any religion until you're mature enough to choose one. - Ole Begemann

Have you read "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins? - Dedric

Dedric: ih you're talking to me, yes, I have. And yes, those are pretty much Dawkins's words. - Ole Begemann

Like others, I don't agree with the zealotry/prejudice comparison. Remember, not all religions proselytize. - Akiva Moskovitz

IMO, religious beliefs (as opposed to religious teachings) come from the totality of a person's life experiences. One's enviroment (location/parents/culture/etc) certainly impacts (and helps form?) perspective, but I don't agree that those factors necessarily negate other influences in one's life. So... I'm not sure I can accept the premise of your statement. - Kevin Donahue

Jeremiah - could be argued either way. If a child growing up in a fundamentalist Christian community rebels and becomes a zealous Muslim as a result isn't that just as much a result of their environment? - Craig Thomler

Most people believe what their parents believe. It's religion on auto-pilot. Religious fanatics are just snake-oil salesmen selling the invisible to those who need it most. They buy up all they can and carry it home, limping all the way from their Achilles heel of faith. - Brooklyn Art Project

While I agree the specific FORM of religious ZEALOTRY may be a function of of location, I do not agree that location and parentage requires you to choose one RELIGION over another. In my case, my parents are Christian and I chose to become a member of the Baha'i Faith. It was an interesting process and I spent a lot of time explaining my reasoning to my parents. I would submit though, that reasoning and zealotry are opposite ends of the gene pool. - Dan McGinn-Combs

when religious zealotry goes so far as to infringe on the practice of other religions, it could be seen as some sort of location based prejudice. but some religious zealots keep it to themselves, live alone in monasteries, etc. that isn't really prejudice. but here's another thought that starts from an opposite point of view: while you don't choose your sexuality, gender, race or family background, you do choose your religion. and since religion is a choice, people should be able to judge you by it. - mike

It seems like a large logical leap to go from the first half on JO's sentence and get to "therefore..." in the second. Am I missing something? - Dan Kaplan

@Dan That's exactly what I'm wondering. A lot of the comments here aren't addressing it - Shey

@Dan @Shey - good point. Perhaps the "not addressing" is an avoidance tactic? - Dan McGinn-Combs

"A product of our environment" is part of the foundation of all our belief systems and our tollerance and openness. *edit* but just the foundation; we, life, change from there - Michael W. May via twhirl

I grew up in a multiracial multicultural environment and was exposed to a number of religions. I chose none of them. - Morton Fox

isn't any type of zealotry a form of prejudice, irrespective of whether its connected with religion or where you are born? - Kapil Gupta

Dan, Shey, and others: As I understand it, we form prejudices against stuff that is alien to ourselves. Alienness is the only reason for the prejudice, there are no rational grounds for it. Which prejudices we develop depends largely on our cultural and geographic background. Same goes for our religion: most of us adopt the religion of our parents without ever consciously choosing the belief system that we ourselves found is best. - Ole Begemann

(cont'd from last comment) ... Since at least the monotheistic religions must by definition look down on other religions we develop a religious prejudice against other cultures without ever seeking rational reasons for it. - Ole Begemann

@Ole I agree that most prejudices are pre-conceived general perceptions applied to an entire group based on specific interactions/experiences with individuals from that group. - Shey

Couldn't disagree more. Just because one has a "zeal" for one's own religion does not mean that one is prejudiced against someone who doesn't share their beliefs. - Craig Eddy

@Ole However, just because one may have adopted his/her religion from their parents, does not mean they automatically have pre-conceived notions of other religions. The same goes for those who inherit the religion of their geographic location. Do we not see how this statement is prejudiced in itself? - Shey

Ole, I disagree with your blanket assessment of monotheistic religions 'look[ing] down on other religions'. Last I checked, Jews don't care one whit about what people of other religions are up to as long as they're leaving us alone. Only proselytizing religions tend to do that. Also, I think the issue here really is one of curiosity and inquiry. Regardless of how you're raised, if you're brave enough to question the provided absolutes, you'll come to your own conclusions eventually. - Akiva Moskovitz

I disagree for myself and hopefully for everyone. No matter what someone's parents "chose" for them growing up, I hope that we would each make our own decisions regarding faith as we grow more mature and able to comprehend these greater decisions. I do think, though, that parents pass on their prejudices and that it is our responsibility to change that about ourselves as we grow up whether related to religion, race, etc. - Lisa L. Seifert

Wow, what insight, given me a lot to think about. For clarification, not all religions are zealot like, nor all individuals. - Jeremiah Owyang

I admit I shouldn't have made a blanket statement like that. Sorry everyone. I still believe, though, that someone who passionately (or should I say "religiously?) believes in their Bible, Torah or Koran will feel a certain prejudice towards "unbelievers". - Ole Begemann

Possibly. The further away I physically moved from my parents and family, the further I moved from their religious and political beliefs. - Steve

Religious Zealotry's excuse is "conversion is possible" Race, national origin, and sexual orientation are lock-ins. Religion or ideology is a platform switch. Mac OS rules! - Michael Markman

Everyone is born into a religion (a taught belief system) and every religion has its sects. Every sect in turn has its zealots. For some sects, you are not being a good <insert type here> if you are not a zealot. For some, all else is wrong/evil/damned. For others, complete devotion to their own does not exclude tolerance of others. Each individual at some point thinks, questions, and decides for themselves. They then reexamine that throughout life. So yes* to the question but not everyone/all the time. - Michael W. May

@shey - um, from your earlier statements you are confusing "prejudice" with "racism" - while racism is a form of prejudice, it's not the only form. Prejudice covers more than just race http://tinyurl.com/3ep3ps sexism is a form of prejudice. So, too, zealotry can translate into prejudice. Because there's a preconceived idea that anyone who does not believe as you do is wrong or inferior. - Lucretia Pruitt

Jeremiah - it's a good conversation... but I'd add an aspect to it. Those who follow the religion of their parents unquestioningly - without critical examination for themselves - can not help but be prejudiced against anyone who would question their beliefs as not being absolutely correct. But prejudice can take two forms: 1) the act of prejudging w/o evidence or 2) hostility toward other groups. The first is relatively benign - and something we all do in certain circumstances - the second not so. - Lucretia Pruitt

Depends what you mean by 'religious zealotry'.. In a global connected world with open/ free information, including religious, geography will matter less and less. Last pew survey on religious affiliation showed many Americans switched faiths - djchuang via fftogo

@Lucretia I wasn't confusing the two earlier, I was trying to figure out if that's what Jeremiah was asking. About your statement: "So, too, zealotry can translate into prejudice. Because there's a preconceived idea that anyone who does not believe as you do is wrong or inferior" -- that can be attributed to any atheists in addition to any other belief, no? I really don't think prejudice is the term to use here. - Shey

A lot of the comments are suggesting that if I believe my opinion is right, and someone else's opinion is not right, then that makes me prejudiced. That's WRONG folks, that's not the definition of prejudice http://tinyurl.com/3ep3ps . Find another term for it. - Shey

Google can afford it. lol - Igor The Troll

those kids and their damn "free videos." - Thomas Hawk

it's getting ridiculous. i'm all about the benefit of the doubt, but there's no end in sight. - Sam Harrelson via twhirl

yeah, they are quickly becoming a punchline - Erin Kotecki Vest

go watch this video - http://www.centernetworks.com/... - Allen Stern

I think it's time for a mass ball-kicking over there. Would you like to lead, Erin? - Zach Flauaus

Yeah, you're right. Jimblogfail. In a a few months her blog will be bigger than mine will anyway and I get to retire. - Jim Kukral

Robert Scoble has giant Breasts http://www.igorthetroll.com/ro... - Igor The Troll

@igor how dare you defile Starbuck like that! - Sam Harrelson via twhirl

Mmmmmm breasts. - Scott Jangro

LOL. @Thomas: Ditto. - Parth Awasthi

Kinda like an organic rickroll :) - Dave Pelland

I'm just glad I didn't get rick-rolled agin.... - Andre van Rooyen

Ha, organic rickroll is funny. - Jim Kukral

I was hoping for pictures, but the site wouldn't load. - William Beem

My rackspace server is acting like twitter at the moment, of course. - Jim Kukral