It had to happen....
Nov. 11th, 2004 10:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sparkindarknessOver 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.
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.