café crema wrote:I found three things about "ex-Mormon culture" hard to understand. The first was the need to explain yourself, so many sites have "stickies" with letters written to family, friends, fellow ward members and even acquaintances. While I can see addressing family, I can't see why it's so important to explain your thoughts, feelings and actions to the rest of them. Letters are put up as examples, cautionary tales, others are put up for review or criticism. I just don't get it.
The second was about temple rituals and what was found disturbing about them. I know we can't talk about them on this forum but I'll try alluding to them..... I find "I promise, cross my heart hope to die, stick a needle in my eye" less disturbing than playing group "doctor".
And last is the alcohol thing, ex-Mormons seem to obsess over it just as they do with the letters and explanations they give to family members. Again it's something I just don't get.
I think that you are referring to exmormon internet culture but not to exmormon culture in general. They are two separate things. Not all exmormons are on the internet, in fact, most aren't. However, to be accepted by the internet exmormon community, certain traits need to be observed: consume alcohol, watch porn, post a letter to the family, have bitterness, have resentment, etc are all apart of group acceptance for the posters on the board. And one feels one with the community by following the board's lead.
But the majority of exmos are not on the internet.