It had to happen....

[sparkindarkness]

Over a year on the religion forum and everything going fine. So many different religions, including a decent pagan contingent. Many things were discussed. Some heatedly (abortion, homosexuality and of course the atheists and the Christians are like several wet cats in a small sack) but everyone was FAIRLY tolerant of each other's beliefs. It was at least semi-civil. And at least us pagans had managed to stay out the firing line.

Then it happened. It couldn't last. It was said - satanist. Devil worshipper.

I'm astonished (and so is the board, methinks) by the furious vehemence of all the pagans. We let a lot slide and laughed, but this just rose everyone's hackles.

I think it's the taboo word. Like so many insults are fine and can be ignored/joked about, but there's a couple of words that are just no go. Instant rage. There can be no joke. There can be no understanding.

I mean, I've seen it before - gays who are happy with queer, queen, homo, poof, even sodomite, but auto see red at 'faggot'. Or numerous racial labels that can occasionally pass (right or wrong) but a few that can never be acceptable, ever.

This interests me. Methinks I shall prod it a little more in my head.

Comments

[thejaer.livejournal.com]

hmmmm it is ponder worthy just why some things are taboo.. and how they get that way.

According to my language studies, Faggot originally means a bundle of sticks...in a Plural sense even. and then it became slang for cigarettes or a package of cigs.

I wonder at what point along the line it became a term for homosexual people.

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

Aye, that's the original meaning of the word. I have no idea how it developed into a term for homosexuals, let alone a term which has so much venom attatched.