An Uncomfortable Subject

Some of you may find this uncomfortable but I feel it must be said. During this time of Christmas celebration please be aware that not all of us in Second Life are Christians. My best friend in SL, who happens to be Jewish, was recently subjected to some anti-semetic abuse that left her in tears. I am certainly not blaming all Christians for this kind of cruel abuse, as it was the words of one deranged lunatic, but I am asking all of you to please be sensitive to others during this time of happiness. There are Jewish and Moslem people, among others, here too. Thank you.

Okay. And?

I'm an athiest. What's your point?

Not to repeat what has already been told, but... and?

I feel sorry for her, but theres absolutely no reason why christmas celebrations should disturb or offend people of other religions.
Everyone is free to celebrate his own festivities, and as i already told on another thread, if someone feels offended by someone else's celebration HE is the one that needs learn something about tolerance, not the other way around.

Lance I am not here to give reading lessons. Please read my post again.

*bops Lance on the head*

The point is Lance, that she had a friend that was harrased for being Jewish. And it is a sad thing to deal with in RL, much less in an online community that is as diverse as SL. It *can* come as a shock that we still have ignorant people out there that haven't learned that the world does not revolve around their skin, beliefs, or wants alone.

Susie, I am sorry for what your friend went through. *MOST* in SL are wonderful. Christians, Athiests, Wiccans, Jewish, and so on. Most here are very accepting of others. We will *always* have our jerks though. So please don't judge the whole community by just a few. But thank you for bringing this out. It is important for people to realize that sometimes we get so caught up in our own thoughts and feelings, we forget there are others out there going through things as well.

*HUGS* to you and your friend!

I did. Twelve times.

Literally.


I just really don't see any point in you posting this.

Okay, your friend was offended by anti-semitism. Whilst I agree that intolerance is intolerable (paradox!), that doesnt mean that anyone that celebrates Christmas, or whatever, should do anything differently.

Thank you Pendari. That is what I was trying to say.

Just curious...how was the abuse related to Christmas? Like "If you don't celebrate Christmas, you stink?".

I've often wondered how those who don't celebrate Christmas are affected by all of the Christmas-y things in SL. I would think anyone who lives in this day and age has a certain sensitivity to those who do not celebrate religious holidays. But it doesn't surprise me that there are members of SL who would stoop so low.

Hope your friend feels better. I don't think the community is representative to whatever asshat it was that upset her.

Kate: I for one am not affected at all by them. Unless I get something for free because someone else is celebrating. Then it affects me.

Susie, harassment is against the Terms of Service in Second Life. If your friend feels that she has been harassed by another player, she should file an abuse report. I'm sorry she had to be subjected to such rubbish in SL; it's unfortunate and, I'd like to believe, not the norm. I know how much grief even one really mean-spirited person can cause, even in a virtual world.

I've learned to laugh at people that try to harass me.

It usually happens when they're upside down, hanging from their toes in my closet.

Uhm, what's so hard in understanding her point? Her friend was harrassed, and on a special period of the year that she celebrates too in her own ways - thus, well, perhaps making it even harder for her?

I guess it basically comes down to: Christmas is supposed to be a nice period, so please try to respect people from other religions in this time of "being good".

And? This has precisely what to do with Second Life?

Because she was harrased while in world about her beliefs. That is how it relates.

Actually, Pendari, she didn't say that. It might have been.... but who knows?

I'm sure if it had not happened in world, Susie would not have come here and posted it. She did say it was her "best friend in SL". That implies an in-world happening.

Ah, but perhaps this best friend has a RL experience, and told her about it?

Lance, I know you are not dumb. If you are being silly, then fine. Your nit-picking is noted. But honestly, I don't think there is any tom-foolery here. Just a friend, upset for another friend, and needing to vent and share a bad experience.

Taken as that, I'm sure you can understand the need for some of us to want to show compassion.

I actually read it as "My best friend in SL had this horrible experience IRL and told me about it so I had to run in here and let you people know!"

God I don't understand what the big deal is. Yes my friend was bashed in SL. What does this have to do with Christmas? Please take note friends that this is a worldwide community and some of us are particularily sensative this time of year especially in the USA. I may add that Judiasm is not just a religion. It is a race and a heritage and not to be confused with such things as atheism.

My point is posting was to be kind to others. There is no hidden agenda.

I support this suggestion!

Susie,

There is too much bigotry and racism in second life. It is one of the most despicable and disgusting behaviours people are capable of, and that goes not just for the morons who practice it, but those who tacitly support them. It doesn't belong here, and I would like to see the Lindens instantly responding to episodes like this by permanently banning the offender - rather than worrying about locking forum threads.

I'm sorry your friend had to suffer this, in second life especially.

Hugs and best wishes to you and your friend,

Selador

Susie ~

Don't worry. Everyone here knows that the socially retarded roam these forums just to get their digs in first.

I hope your friend feels better.

Thanks for sharing this. I personally being of no religious affiliation find Christmas in general to be so overbearing and wholly oversaturated. It drives me nuts because like you said not everyone here celebrates Xmas. Granted Christmas doesn't seem to be much of a christian holdiay anymore -- its a holiday of conspicuous consumption. Maybe I'm just bitter. But like everyone else I grin and bear it and have no ill will towards those who celebrate the holiday.

As for someone making antisemitic comments to your friend. I certainly hope you abuse reported them. Nothing makes me angier than intolerance of a religious, cultural or racial nature etc. Ok maybe I am somewhat intolerant of intolerance, but I would prefer to educate people on such matters in order to make them more tolerant.

sorry if this doesnt make much sense i just woke up.