Those who take offense when offense is not intended are fools. Those who take offense when offense is not intended and is not even aimed at you and those offended will never hear or be effected by it are bats**t crazy.
"Surely he knows that DCP, The Nehor, Lamanite, and other key apologists..." -Scratch clarifying my status in apologetics "I admit it; I'm a petty, petty man." -Some Schmo
BUT THEY'RE CHILDREN!!!!!!!!!! Okay....sure....so it's okay if they're adults? You have odd logic or this is a purely emotional and irrational outburst.
Of course Nehor, now they'll get all into a tizzie because they think I am mocking children now.
This seems to be much ado about nothing. When I first saw the photo by BC Space I understood immediately that it was meant as a insult against Harmony to give her a hard time because she gives the church in BC Space's mind a hard time. I didn't laugh, but nor did I look at the picture as an insult to those in the picture. Sure they weren't beautiful as per the norm, but I thought the people in their own way were good looking. I didn't think of either of them as being retarded. I knew BC space would likely get flack over it, because that's what I expected from this board. For one, I think it is common that Mormons are held to a higher standard only because they often claim to have a higher standard themselves and so they are called on it. But the realities are there is no God, and Mormons don't have a higher moral standard just because they are religious, attend church, believe in a God, follow religious authority on rules such as not drinking or smoking. This is the Internet, a message board, and verbal as well as pictorial insults are common, on here. As I said, I actually thought the people in the picture looked healthy, happy and were beautiful in their own way, I didn't think the worse.
Those who take offense when offense is not intended are fools. Those who take offense when offense is not intended and is not even aimed at you and those offended will never hear or be effected by it are bats**t crazy.
Tell that to your buddy Jesus.
I seem to recall him having a word or two to say about even the thoughts of your heart, much less the words you say to offend behind the backs of those who, in your opinion, would have the right to be offended.
by the way, mentally handicapped people often remain the mental equivalent of children. Hence, the use of the term "children".
I don't give a rat's arse if you photoshop pictures of Hillary Clinton, George Bush, the Pope, or Jesus. Your remain utterly clueless as to what the issue is. The issue is the smugness and cruelty of those who have all their faculties, who will never have to struggle with these issues, using those who have been dealt a very difficult hand in life as a comedic prop.
We hate to seem like we don’t trust every nut with a story, but there’s evidence we can point to, and dance while shouting taunting phrases.
1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
1 Samuel 16
7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
We hate to seem like we don’t trust every nut with a story, but there’s evidence we can point to, and dance while shouting taunting phrases.
BCSpace made what he thought was a funny joke--But, making fun of the disabled is not considered "funny" to most people--mostly young males will laugh at that kind of mean-spirited humor, but a group of women--we aren't going to find that funny at all.
BCSpace is corrected for his inappropriate humor and in comes Nehor to defend him. It doesn't even matter if Nehor knows the humor was wrong(by LDS standards as clearly demonstrated with Elder Packer's comments on ridicule), he sees his buddy being attacked and he's not going to let him flounder around alone.
Why wouldn't BCspace just apologize for his insensitivity and let the matter drop? This happens on the MADB board as well. Many posters don't take criticism well--even when they know they are in the wrong. They will defend themselves, never admitting error. That's part the individual personality, but it's also the competitive nature of the boards.
But with this board, there's more to it. I've noticed that LDS posters do not like to be "corrected" by ex-LDS. I think it rankles them to have people who for whatever reason, abandoned LDS principles, lecturing them on how to be LDS. It's like "why should I listen to you--you couldn't live it, so don't tell me how to live it!".
Something else to consider; I also think they have found your "vulnerable" topic that they can needle you with. Beastie and Truthdancer, you too are very outspoken in your criticism of Mormonism and every time an LDS person reads your comments, you have to realize you are creating a visceral reaction within the reader. But how does an LDS person who wants to "get you back" do so? By criticising ex-LDS? I don't think they get the reaction from you that they want when they criticize or ridicule ex-LDS--but they DEFINITELY get the reaction they want when they ridicule the disabled. They can hurt you; they've found your vulnerable spot and they like to keep digging at it. Remember how the controversy over "retard" flaired every so often and they would not stop using it. It's hard to understand why, if they know it's hurtful, why they wouldn't avoid using it. Shades had to make it so the board wouldn't print it, because they would not consider the feelings of board members who have special needs children. Why not? Because it was a "tool" they used to hurt you back.
Do we hold LDS to higher standards. Absolutely. We do know the standard we are trying to live up to--and when we fall short, EVERYONE criticizes us. It may seem unfair, but that's life. I expect crudity and meanspiritedness from certain ex-members on this board--but we don't expect it from posters who, if they are active LDS should be listening for the prickings of the Holy Ghost when they are doing wrong (Beastie, people are not automatons...the Holy Ghost influences us to know what we should do, but we always have a choice on how we act, and if we ignore his prickings often enough, he soon stops sending those prickings because we push them aside.)
First, I find it REALLY, I mean REALLY odd that someone, anyone would think of purposely trying to hurt a poster by mocking those with special needs. This makes NO sense to me whatsoever.
Obviously, there are those who find it hilarious to hurt others, and find great pleasure in cruelty, I don't get it.
However maybe you are right. I don't know.
As I said, I am torn between honoring my personal integrity by being a voice for the disenfranchised and abused members of our society, and ignoring the nastiness knowing others enjoy the reaction.
My conscience however won't allow me to ignore what I find seriously cruel behavior. To do so speaks of support.
And no I do not hold LDS believers to a higher standard. I find the behavior cruel regardless of ones beliefs.
What is different for me is when people who claim to be followers of Christ, who claim to have God's power, who claim to have the gift of the holy ghost enjoy cruelty and find humor in mocking the disabled.
There is just something really odd about that. Do you disagree?
And, if I have truly offended someone LDS or not, I would apologize in a second and absolutely alter my behavior to be more considerate. I am not aware of a situation where I have offended someone, but I feel pretty certain anyone who has been around for a while knows they could PM me.
~dancer~
"The search for reality is the most dangerous of all undertakings for it destroys the world in which you live." Nisargadatta Maharaj
Alter Idem wrote:Do we hold LDS to higher standards. Absolutely. We do know the standard we are trying to live up to--and when we fall short, EVERYONE criticizes us. It may seem unfair, but that's life. I expect crudity and meanspiritedness from certain ex-members on this board--but we don't expect it from posters who, if they are active LDS should be listening for the prickings of the Holy Ghost when they are doing wrong (Beastie, people are not automatons...the Holy Ghost influences us to know what we should do, but we always have a choice on how we act, and if we ignore his prickings often enough, he soon stops sending those prickings because we push them aside.)
I really appreciated this post, AI. Very well said. Maybe they won't listen to reprobates like me, but there's a chance you might get through to them.
For me, the issue has nothing to do with Mormonism. I have family members who have developmentally and physically disabled children, and my own son has Asperger's, so maybe I'm a little sensitive to such behavior. But I think you're spot on in recognizing why they continue to do what they do. They know it hurts people, and they want to hurt people.
