#21 ·
Susan Price30 said:Maybe you missed the point—because the point isn't really about who someone believes in or represents (whether in real life or just in this digital space), as long as they actually practice and show tolerance for diversity. (In other words, a person's views only become an issue the moment they suggest intolerance; otherwise, it's just their own private business.)
So, one could be a religious person and still believe that everyone else (the others) has every right to be exactly who they are or whoever they want to be—take a Muslim, for example, who doesn't impose his beliefs on anyone or start personal wars with people; he keeps to himself and respects others. I’d say that’s a pretty ideal attitude for any moderator, especially in a forum dedicated to Religion.
On the flip side, if a moderator lacks even the most basic tolerance for diversity—or worse, if they're acting out of some personal grudge and being outright ANTAGONISTIC—well, you have to wonder what on earth someone like that is doing in a moderator position in the first place.
* Regarding the problem you're bringing up here: of course—if one side is aggressively attacking using every means at their disposal, then the other side is going to defend themselves just as fiercely. That's exactly why we need a moderator who stays level-headed and cool, 😉rather than someone who just ends up adding fuel to the fire.
Just let me explain briefly why I'm jumping into this thread. I was referring to a specific post or link that you saw yourself, and that's what I was reacting to.
I'm quoting this so it makes sense to everyone else:
I'm not fueled by hate; I'm angry. I'm angry because since I was a kid, I've felt this constant pressure to "fit in with the herd." I'm angry because I've been discriminated against my whole life due to my beliefs. I'm angry because thanks to a government that has basically handed over control to Vatican dictators, no one has ever even tried to offer me any protection. I'm angry because, from the pulpit, I'm constantly branded as immoral or a potential criminal, and my lifestyle is judged even though I've never harmed a soul—all while they try to shut me up by labeling me a purveyor of hate. I'm angry because they seize every opportunity to turn their worldview into federal law, forcing me to dance to their tune whether I like it or not. I'm angry for my friends who struggle well into adulthood with feelings of fear and shame instilled in them during childhood, and for those who were stoned, cast out, and harassed because of their sexual orientation—all while receiving applause from the pulpit and comments saying they deserved it. I'm angry because they are parasitizing the taxpayers' money. I'm furious when they try to explain to me how my wife's role is "predestined" to be a housewife and that she shouldn't selfishly pursue a career instead of staying home to raise kids.
And no, there is no "cure" for me. There's nothing that will calm me down or silence me as long as the Church keeps reaching its tentacles into both society and my private life. Who knows? Maybe all of us are feeling more angry these days, and maybe I'll live long enough to finally feel a little peace...
I don't see anything—absolutely nothing—repressive in this statement. I completely agree with his stance and I find myself in his words.
I truly think that with this statement, ego isn't threatening anyone; if anything, he's creating space for everyone, both in person and online.
Why not just let him express his feelings instead of judging him for them? Isn't it better for him to write down what he feels rather than picking up a weapon and attacking innocent people? He isn't suggesting any intolerance; on the contrary, he's just venting everything that frustrates so many of us, and I tip my hat to him for having the courage to say what he feels. Honestly, I think he has more tolerance for diversity than you and Morgan Rodriguez57 combined.
Kudos to the forum staff for posting this in such a sensitive space—it’s clearly a spot for people who feel things deeply. If you had tagged Morgan Rodriguez57 and you, we all know exactly how much drama this would have stirred up.
Susan Price30, I’ve known you for years, and I’ve known Morgan Rodriguez57 just as long. Honestly, I can't even quote you two anymore because you both just get under my skin. Let me be blunt here—no sugarcoating—you two are really testing my patience. It's not that ego isn't being friendly; he's just expressing an opinion that actually resonates with me—which is a far cry from you and Morgan Rodriguez57, who seem hell-bent on sterilizing this forum until it feels like some bland, sanitized ivory tower. I don't particularly care how you perceive one particular moderator or what kind of feelings you hold toward him. What I care about is what a moderator thinks and how they choose to express those thoughts.
In this specific instance, if you ask me, ego is simply voicing what a lot of people are feeling—not everyone, obviously, but many. And I honestly don't see why you and Morgan Rodriguez57 are so determined to strip away his right to speak his mind at any cost.