Welcome to weird, you Gods-Damned freaks

[Madam Broshkina]

In the spirit of censorship I have censored a verse from a KJV of the bible posted on this site.

2 Thessalonians

2:11 And for this cause xxx shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 2:12 That they all might be xxxxxxx who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

...So even if it was just intended to be something silly and in fun, it can still be taken as offensive when read as it was. The object here is not to make someone feel offended because of his/her beliefs...

I think most people here are capable of taking context into account.

For example, you occasionally make use of the term 'pissed', which is quite an offensive term in the UK (there'd be complaints if it was heard on TV before 9 p.m.) - but in other parts of the world it's just part of everyday speech. It'd be unreasonable to take offense at seeing it here.

Imho, if people expect discussion forums on the global Internet to conform to their own parochial standards, they're bound to be offended. As long as there's no obvious malicious intent, I think it's better to err on the side of freedom of speech, rather than assume censorship is required.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

For example, you occasionally make use of the term 'pissed', which is quite an offensive term in the UK (there'd be complaints if it was heard on TV before 9 p.m.) - but in other parts of the world it's just part of everyday speech. It'd be unreasonable to take offense at seeing it here.

Is "pissed" really an offensive word? I've never regarded it as such!

It's one of those words which has a completely different meaning in British and American English, certainly. In British English it means "drunk"; in American English it means "angry" (although in British English we do say "pissed off" to mean "angry"). I've never personally regarded it as offensive in either of its meanings, however.

I entirely agree, though, that unnecessary "censorship" is highly undesirable.

[Patricia]

I've restored the original title.

It's been up for a month and no-one complained. I can understand Jon's concern that someone might be offended. But if we worried about potentially giving offence then we'd never say anything. I shall now go away and worry that I've inadvertently offended Jon (which was not my intention). If there is a risk of offending the deity, I am prepared to take it. As Tacitus pointed out, Deorum iniuriae Diis curae. 'Offences to the gods are the concern of the gods' (who can sort them out themselves).

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Patricia

As Tacitus pointed out, Deorum iniuriae Diis curae. 'Offences to the gods are the concern of the gods' (who can sort them out themselves).

Priam might have disagreed .

[Patricia]

Yes, well. Look at our book titles. You've uploaded Harrison's 'Planet of the Damned'. Don's uploaded 'The Damned and other Stories' and Fort's 'The Book of the Damned'. Xenophon's done one called 'Damned if you Don't'.
And I've done any number of books which mention God.
We'd wear out the X's on our keyboard and run out of asterisks if we couldn't mention those words.

[HarryT]

Oh, I entirely agree with you, Patricia. Just commenting that in times past it seems to have been more the fashion for the gods to take direct action against people who offended them than seems to be the case with modern deities. I think in one of Mr. Pratchett's books he comments that in a place where the gods throw rocks through the windows of unbelievers, it takes real conviction to be an atheist .

[montsnmags]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Oh, I entirely agree with you, Patricia. Just commenting that in times past it seems to have been more the fashion for the gods to take direct action against people who offended them than seems to be the case with modern deities. I think in one of Mr. Pratchett's books he comments that in a place where the gods throw rocks through the windows of unbelievers, it takes real conviction to be an atheist .

Perhaps another Pratchett quote is appropriate at this juncture:

"Let's just say that if complete and utter chaos was lightning, he'd be the sort to stand on a hilltop in a thunderstorm wearing wet copper armour and shouting 'All gods are bastards'"

Cheers,
Marc ("Mum, this Mandelbrot Set followed me home; can I keep it?")

[zelda_pinwheel]

admit it, pratchett wrote that about you, didn't he ?

(no you can't keep it, what if it belongs to someone ? i'm sure that other little boy would be really sad if his Mandelbrot set never came home.)

[Patricia]

Perhaps I shall wear rubber-soled shoes for the next few days, just in case lightning strikes.
Where did I put those Crocs...

[zelda_pinwheel]

also, please don't stand under the tree.

[montsnmags]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

also, please don't stand under the tree.

Why? Might some nuts fall out of it?

Cheers,
Marc (I'm not looking at anyone in particular, honest!)

[tirsales]

Just think of the poor little covert squirrels in the tree!

[JSWolf]

I have to say with all honesty that I dislike squirrels.

[montsnmags]

Now, I know there are some freaks here who, for some reason and though I hold them it such enormous esteem otherwise, seem to like the work of that dull-as-dishwater Lovecraft bloke. Plus, well, apparently the following also includes "interviews with Neil Gaiman, S.T. Joshi, Kelly Link, Peter Straub, China Mieville among others", and there are no doubt even more people fond of that lot (I don't mind Peter Straub myself). So, for those folk of a Lovecraftian bent, apparently here's some kind of mini-doc linked to from ectomo:

http://www.ectomo.com/index.php/2008...-hp-lovecraft/

(Note, I haven't watched it, but the fact that ectomo has linked to it is a pretty good recommendation for those with similar interests. The video might be NSFW, though they'd usually mention it if so).

Also, since there is such a focus on the evil or otherwise of different animals, I reckon y'all might like this too:



Personally, I was surprised at the absence of squirrels, but the dangerous ones are all covert, so that probably explains that. From this image I have decided that there is a future for me in starting a farm of hover-manatees.

Cheers,
Marc