Ignorance

I don't know if it's that I'm noticing it more because I've been away, or if it's that enough other people have been away at the same time that some individuals feel they can come to our beloved home and spread hatred or ignorance.

Before some people glance up and see my religion as 'Pagan', please don't think I'm referring to Christians. I've been seeing individuals of all religions posting generalizations about other groups and (here comes the big suprise for everyone that knows me!) I don't like it.

I've been brimming with anticipation for months now to get back to RF- I don't think I've ever been around such a great group of people- and I know that this behavior that's going on is not the norm on our Forum.

Maybe it's best to just ignore those people who make cruel statements? (I should say, statements that imply a negative aspect on an entire group, religious or otherwise.) Or is it better to argue with them? If a person is actually willing to listen to others, perhaps they were simply misguided... *ponders this*

The best thing would be if I were simply percieving negative qualities where there are none. This may be the case, and I would love it if anyone felt like saying 'No, Feathers! It's all in your head!'

As I get older, though, I become more and more frustrated at my usually non-confrontational attitude and frustrated because I feel horrified at myself when I do confront someone. I don't think that I'll ever lose that part of me, but... This isn't a hate site. Perhaps we can ask these individuals, if they persist, to feel free to stay with us but (if they must speak ignorance) to spread hatred on some other forum?

There's a saying that speaks to me- "Kindness is the greatest strength."

Shall we see if kindness can win over ignorance?

I find your post absolutely horrifying. This will be my last post on these forums. This experience has largely been an overwhelming disappointment.

Feathers, is there something in particular you are referring to? MAybe I just haven't been paying enough attention.


Jocose, what's the problem? What is so horrifying about someone stating their disappointment.

Is there someone your referring to in particular?

I've just recently joined the forum and have not experienced what you explain... but this is the last place i would expect any harsh messages. Ignorance is excusable, but attacking someone's religion isn't. If you don't understand something, you ask politely.

FeathersinHair said:

I don't know if it's that I'm noticing it more because I've been away, or if it's that enough other people have been away at the same time that some individuals feel they can come to our beloved home and spread hatred or ignorance.

Before some people glance up and see my religion as 'Pagan', please don't think I'm referring to Christians. I've been seeing individuals of all religions posting generalizations about other groups and (here comes the big suprise for everyone that knows me!) I don't like it.

I've been brimming with anticipation for months now to get back to RF- I don't think I've ever been around such a great group of people- and I know that this behavior that's going on is not the norm on our Forum.

Maybe it's best to just ignore those people who make cruel statements? (I should say, statements that imply a negative aspect on an entire group, religious or otherwise.) Or is it better to argue with them? If a person is actually willing to listen to others, perhaps they were simply misguided... *ponders this*

The best thing would be if I were simply percieving negative qualities where there are none. This may be the case, and I would love it if anyone felt like saying 'No, Feathers! It's all in your head!'

As I get older, though, I become more and more frustrated at my usually non-confrontational attitude and frustrated because I feel horrified at myself when I do confront someone. I don't think that I'll ever lose that part of me, but... This isn't a hate site. Perhaps we can ask these individuals, if they persist, to feel free to stay with us but (if they must speak ignorance) to spread hatred on some other forum?

There's a saying that speaks to me- "Kindness is the greatest strength."

Shall we see if kindness can win over ignorance?

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All I can say is "Amen!!"

I have to say that RF has a much more hostile atmosphere than it did......I don't feel like people are sharing ideas as much as attacking and debating each other.

huajiro said:

I have to say that RF has a much more hostile atmosphere than it did......I don't feel like people are sharing ideas as much as attacking and debating each other.

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Yes, but who are the troublemakers?
And what should we do about it?

orichalcum said:

Yes, but who are the troublemakers?
And what should we do about it?

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I am no one to make that decision....but I don't point fingers.

FeathersinHair said:

I don't know if it's that I'm noticing it more because I've been away, or if it's that enough other people have been away at the same time that some individuals feel they can come to our beloved home and spread hatred or ignorance.

Before some people glance up and see my religion as 'Pagan', please don't think I'm referring to Christians. I've been seeing individuals of all religions posting generalizations about other groups and (here comes the big suprise for everyone that knows me!) I don't like it.

I've been brimming with anticipation for months now to get back to RF- I don't think I've ever been around such a great group of people- and I know that this behavior that's going on is not the norm on our Forum.

Maybe it's best to just ignore those people who make cruel statements? (I should say, statements that imply a negative aspect on an entire group, religious or otherwise.) Or is it better to argue with them? If a person is actually willing to listen to others, perhaps they were simply misguided... *ponders this*

The best thing would be if I were simply percieving negative qualities where there are none. This may be the case, and I would love it if anyone felt like saying 'No, Feathers! It's all in your head!'

As I get older, though, I become more and more frustrated at my usually non-confrontational attitude and frustrated because I feel horrified at myself when I do confront someone. I don't think that I'll ever lose that part of me, but... This isn't a hate site. Perhaps we can ask these individuals, if they persist, to feel free to stay with us but (if they must speak ignorance) to spread hatred on some other forum?

There's a saying that speaks to me- "Kindness is the greatest strength."

Shall we see if kindness can win over ignorance?

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Oh, my friend, I am so glad that you are back - your soothing waves are already making their way to me....:bounce

I feel a bit as you do, feathers - but I have been here all along, and the changes have not been quite as sudden and magnified as they have for you.

It's a bit like watching kids grow up - if you only seem them every month, the change is big; when you are with them every day - well, you get used to the gradual change........

Quote "I don't like it" - neither do I at times, if I focus too much on the aspect which you have seen. I think it is just a 'blip' though. I really wish I could say " 'No, Feathers! It's all in your head!'" - but it is in mine, as well. You know the culprit ? - your absence. We need your wonderful calming influence; and your happy little dances.......

Thank you for reminding me of
"There's a saying that speaks to me- "Kindness is the greatest strength.""

The same is saying to me " Love conquers all" - that has been going through my head lately.

But I think that there are other reasons - the sunshine for one, frayed moods because of the clammy heat - oh, I am sure that there is nothing much that a few weeks won't heal!
our lovely Jamaesi is in Brazil, I am sure you know that Jensa has had her opperation (She had a rough time of it) - but hey, there's a breath of fresh air - and it's my friend Feathers!

I've had these experiences a lot! Especially on a Rastafari Forum I go to...Haha, can't help but laugh at what the person I'm thinking of said.

I tried arguing with him, and I knew he knew I was right, but he just wanted to make everyone mad. He was saying horrible, blasphemous things, about Rastas, and about other things, he was also making horrible racist comments. I tried telling him to not say those things and make points to show him he was wrong.

But after about the 8th post I made responding to him, I realized, he knows I'm right, but he just wants everyone to gasp and get very angry. I posts responding to him were actually encouraging to him. So I began ignoring him....

It worked. He shut up and stopped posting for a while, when he came back trying to do the same thing, the Forum administrator noticed his posts and he was banned. It all worked out.

So I say, ignore them. If they are saying blasphemous things to get you mad, and they're just saying those things for the sake of insulting you...ignore them! Just alert the admins. or mods and they be banned.

Jah Love!

Lion

Feathers, I didn't get to know you very well when I first started on this forum. I was new to forums and the internet in general, and was quite the novice in that area. Since I have been here it seems like there is always one or two people that can be a little hateful at times. Since you have come back I have really gotten to see just how kind you are and it has been refreshing. It would not suprise me at all if the atmosphere at RF lightened up because of your return. Glad to have you back. Its not many but frubals to you and Michel for good posts. :bounce

You guys are so wonderful! (This is just what I was talking about missing.) *hugs* I was worried about what kind of a reception this post would get. It seems to be just what I was hoping!

Suffice it to say, if you haven't seen the posts that are being discussed... well, hopefully they didn't offend you in the first place. It'd be very negative to try to point to anyone (and could turn into a witch- hunt), as it's more their behavior that's affecting us than anything else.

The sad thing is, though... I know this is the way it is with me- I tend to worry that I'm the one who has said something rude or been offensive- and many helpful people have reminded me of something; if you actually take the time to think and worry about that, then you are most likely not the person that's being offensive. You are kind enough to take other people's feelings into consideration.

Thanks again, guys! I feel so much better! Aw, what the heck... *more hugs*

I have learned through being on this post and by knowing you, that you can vehamently disgree with someone, and yet have so much love and compassion for them that it is quite overwhelming. It's great to have you back and I look forward to many more people on this forum learning that lesson from you.

Hi Feathers, and Welcom Back! I know I'm still new here at RF, and we haven't had a chance to get to know eachother, but I certainly hope I've never said anything to offend "Anyone" here. Hopefully bringing this out in the open will encourage this person(s) to think first before posting. This really is a great place to be.

Jocose said:

I find your post absolutely horrifying. This will be my last post on these forums. This experience has largely been an overwhelming disappointment.

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Are you serious? :biglaugh: All I can say is that RF, like life, is what you make of it. I'd venture to say you have only yourself to blame for your "overwhelming disappointment".

Feathers ~ it really is great to have you back. :bounce I've been absent for a good part of the last few months, so I do know what you mean. While I do agree with your observations, I think perhaps that being absent from the board for so long may have amplified it for us.

Bastet said:

Feathers ~ it really is great to have you back. :bounce I've been absent for a good part of the last few months, so I do know what you mean. While I do agree with your observations, I think perhaps that being absent from the board for so long may have amplified it for us.

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That's a very, very good point, Bastet. It probably comes as more of a shock when one has been away for awhile.

If I may ask, are you 'back', too?

I am off work for a few days, and have enjoyed this site, although I am new and inexperienced. I suppose when you get so many people with different backgrounds and beliefs, and who base their life on what they believe, you are going to have some conflict. We are discussing very complicated, sometimes elusive stuff here, so it can be hard.

My being a christian is in itself an offense to many, because jesus claimed to be the only way to heaven, and because people have different ideas of what a christian is. But thats my problem, lol, I have a thick skin.

I guess we can be an offense just by being what we are, whatever we are, but we dont have to behave offensively. That wasn't offensive was it? lol jk

You are quite an eloquent person, Joeboonda, and mention some things that I hadn't thought of. Thank you for pointing them out!

joeboonda said:

My being a christian is in itself an offense to many, because jesus claimed to be the only way to heaven, and because people have different ideas of what a christian is. But thats my problem, lol, I have a thick skin.

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I fear I have too thin a skin, at times. I don't like it when people assume that all Christians believe a certain thing, even though I'm not Christian. It may no longer be my religion, but not every Christian believes the same thing, just as I wouldn't want everyone to assume all pagans believe the same thing. So maybe my problem is that I see it as everyone's problem, hehee.

joeboonda said:

I guess we can be an offense just by being what we are, whatever we are, but we dont have to behave offensively.

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Very true and well said. I think it's just that, though... Our fellow RF members are humans, not offenses. It's the attitude of treating each other as if we're merely opinions that can type. (And I don't think you could offend... unless you try to steal my Dr. Pepper from me, and then all bets are off!) (Just kidding about that last part!)

With people being so warm-hearted, I think I should clarify that I'm not under the misguided impression that I haven't been guilty of being offensive or ignorant at times. (I only wish I could claim that!) I am just really, really happy that the kind people are the vast majority here!