The original link was to a Fail article, which would suggest that the origin/fabric of the story would be somewhat embellished either through poor reporting and researching of the facts or even a deliberate attempt to make a mountain out of a molehill. Today's news suggests that it was a very different occurrence than what was originally reported. Thus the OP's view was based on a falsity. He was also rather entrenched and seemed somewhat touchy to any other point of view being expressed. The fact he used the word bully when it is quite clear that no one was treating him that way suggests something else rather than the alternate opinions expressed on the thread (unless there were PMs going on that we won't know about)
Many, myself included, are tired of the threads which simmer with hate and intolerance toward others which are often fuelled by inaccurate facts or articles by those with vested interests. It is not the subject(s) which cause the problems but the ways in which they are expressed, by a minority. I have seen and experienced first-hand where that hate can go and what it can do to others.
Some people talk of Christian values but I wonder how many of those who use them as a yardstick to measure our current way of life go to Church at all, let alone just the big days such as later on this week. Also understand that in the early days Christians were a horrid beast by today's standards and were guilty of the most awful atrocities toward mankind. And if you want to talk about Christmas, let's not forget that it's date was chosen by scholars to be near the Winter Solstice so that it was more palatable to Pagans who were being forced to convert. I understand that Jesus' real birthdate is somewhat later in the year. I used to consider myself a Christian and I was a regular Church-goer but faced with the intolerance and inequalities it exalts, I could no longer associate myself with behaviour which contradicted what I was taught about being a good Christian. I am in the process of educating myself properly about other religions so that I can understand what is fact and fiction in the headlines and tripe we get fed.
This is a car forum, with a large side of banter, provided free by a group of volunteers who go out of their way to make this place what it is (even when errant gas bottles get in the way). Personally, when I see such threads and knowing that they are going to go on and on....all I can think about is the poor OOF disc space capacity.
Exactly one of my points that I expressed in different words Guffer

Religion has only caused conflict that has cost the lives of millions, and often it has been started by a few spouting off discriminatory remarks (yes, like my - sorry- over used comparisons with Hitler and the Jews) that have led to mass hysteria and hatred. The Crusades into the middle East nearly one thousand years ago by the Christians - and I am a proud Christian - were another example I am ashamed to say of such an affair that led to pain, suffering and great death over what?!
This thread was the final straw for me - and I suspect others - that kept on about the Muslims v. the rest of us in an inflammatory, but often very intelligently subtle way. I could not keep quiet any longer after months of basically ignoring such threads after I thought the Forum had changed dramatically two years ago. To stay silent is dangerous in any democracy, but I just wish |I could have argued against the original theme of the thread in another more suitable arena, away from a simple, and usually now humorous and enlightened OOF.
