Friday Frustrations – Intent vs. Impact
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Welcome to Friday Frustrations, a weekly blog carnival dedicated to getting things off our chests. If you would like to participate, grab the button and enter your Friday Frustrations link on Mr. Linky. You can write about several frustrations or just one. It’s up to you.
You don’t need to pick the same topic as I do.
My reaction to the following story wasn’t one of frustration, more of surprise but I think it fits best with my FF meme. This week I had posted some pictures that I received from an email, “When things go bad“. It really called to me with a positive message. I wanted to share it with you as I thought it might give the same positive reaction to others. At worst, it would have no reaction.
I had no idea how much it would anger other people. I received numerous comments, that I could not publish and emails that were extremely angry in nature. My intent was never to insult anyone as I saw no reason for someone to get insulted. It was religious in nature, yes, but I was in no way pushing my religion upon you. I was merely sharing a positive message that I hoped would put a smile on some people’s faces.
Here are just some of the comments that I received through email or by commenting on my post (to give you a better idea of what I mean) (I copy pasted so it’s their words, their grammar):
“This is bullshit. If god is omnipotent then why should even the smallest stone be able to slip past his never ending view. the slightest error denotes fallibility. Just because its presented in a cutesy “hang in there” manner doesn’t mean its not still completely illogical.”
“Religious people should be ground to pulp and used as toilet paper. This is so stupid it hurts my wonderful logical brain.”
“There is no god, and believing in one is laughably stupid. It makes me upset that people like you use technology that your caveman minds could never have created to propagate and strengthen your small and childlike ideas. Think about this: In the European Dark Ages, religion was the ruling force. The aqueducts crumbled, the roads fell into disrepair and progress gave way to feudal warring. Technology was no more complex than pulleys and horse carts because the dominant mindset was that if you close your eyes really tight and wish at the Sky Father, he would magic treats at you. Do you really feel justified in using the Internet — a tool achieved only by the logical, rational minds of people who threw of the mind-shackles of religion — is an appropriate place to hawk your fairy tale piffle? Don’t bother responding, I have no more words for you.”
“I’d like you to feel very very discouraged from ever spreading mindless content like that around ever again.”
I wanted to reply to these comments through my post because I have to tell you, I was disappointed. I was hoping that in this day and age, with all the diversity in the world that people would be more open to a difference in opinions. I am extremely disappointed in people’s intolerance to other people’s point of view.
I have two boys and I would hope that they grow up in a world that accepts them for their opinions even if it might vary from person to person. That they grow up in a world where people are open to a variety of beliefs.
My belief in God has strengthened me and guided me through a lot of rough patches. How my belief can infuriate others, I do not know.
I’d like to think that I’m a very open person. I welcome a difference in views and opinions. It does not make me feel frustrated that someone does not think exactly like me, as long as they do not set out to intentionally harm other people through words or actions.
What does frustrate me are people who need to communicate through insults or hate in order to speak their mind. I am at Peace with who I am and my beliefs. Clearly, the people who wrote these messages have a lot of anger that they need to deal with.
I’ll probably get more angry comments for this too.
those are very strong comments! your post on “when things go bad” actually made me smile and lightened my day… considering what my son is now going through (not that bad, we just need to do a series of medical tests and i can’t blog about it yet). anyway, thanks for that post.
okay, i felt….heartbroken when i read those comments. i’m not at all religious, i don’t go to church, i’m not even sure if i believe in God anymore. but i’m not pushing my beliefs to other people. i have a cousin who lives with us who is VERY religious and me and my brother who doesn’t believe. we get along well, and when we talk about religion, we just share our own opinions and point of views without insulting the other person’s religion/belief.
it’s like what i have read, “if you like something, in this case believe, that others don’t then don’t push what you like to that person.”
you could comment on whatever topic without being too harsh and without insulting another person.
now i hope i don’t get angry visitors on my blog too. or angry comments for this post.
have a great day mommy maria!
Mara´s last blog ..Try and try and try and try again.
I call myself an “agnostic mystic” because I believe there are powers greater than ourselves but I don’t claim to understand the exact nature of them and I can’t buy into the dogma that I was taught in youth. I am saddened that in these modern times people continue to be so ugly and disagreeable with each other when it comes to religious and spiritual views. It is this sort of intolerance that is one of the major causes of war.
Lily Strange´s last blog ..Looks Like Soft Core Kiddie Porn to Me
Holy Cow — that’s upsetting. I liked the “When Things Go Bad” post — whether or not I believe is irrelevant. You believe. It’s your blog. If people don’t like it; they don’t have to visit.
Press on, girl!!
Mrs Zeee´s last blog ..FF: Long, Luscious…Fingers?
That IS frustrating to say the least, but moreover, really disappointing. Having a difference of opinion is one thing…commenting in such a disrespectful and insulting manner is another. I have always lived by, “if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say it at all.” This is YOUR blog and you write what you want to write, regardless of the “opinions” of others.
Theta Mom´s last blog ..Theta Mom Thursday
I am sorry to say I see this more and more so it does not surprise me at all. You do what you want on your blog! There are lots of people who like this sort of thing.
Have a great weekend!
I can’t believe people would get so upset over what you posted on your blog… it’s *your* blog and you can put whatever you want on it. If someone doesn’t like it they can click on over to the next blog and not visit yours anymore if they feel that strongly. Maybe they felt the need to be so mean because of their own insecurities… maybe it makes them feel superior if they can throw insults at others.
It would be wonderful if people would be more tolerant of each others’ differences…. sadly I think that ideal is farther away than we think and would like. I try to stick by the rule ‘If you can’t say something nice… don’t say anything at all’.
Anyone secure in their own religious beliefs should not be so offended by the beliefs of another to the point of wanting to send such cruel and nasty comments.
A Lil Enchanted,
~LaShan~
LaShan´s last blog ..I Won A Galileoscope!!! Thank You Bob!!!
I can think of no less effective way to make a point than to be rude and angry. Plus, it’s the height of irony to claim that religion is intolerant in an intolerant manner. Really, if it doesn’t float your boat just move on.
I am not religious. Other people are. They may also have different political views, cultural traditions, and so on. That’s no reason to attack or be uncivil.
I’m sorry you received those comments. I hope they are not representative of most of the responses you receive.
Amber´s last blog ..Kids Are People Too
WOW! I am speechless.
Okay, now that I’ve re-grouped. . .When I saw your post on Monday it never crossed my mind that anyone would have a problem with it. Don’t you dare refrain from posting anything that you want!!!! The pictures you posted were SOOOOO tame – you did not stand up on a box and preach, nor did you even make those drawings yourself, you were passing them along which you have every right to do because this is YOUR BLOG! What in the world????
I didn’t post a comment that day – I think my son interrupted me, haha – but I remember smiling and nodding because that is how I feel in my life. So THANK YOU for posting something uplifting. Those comments saddened me. I have no doubt (and proof, but I won’t get into that) that God has shielded me from so much in my life. I bet you anything those comments were written by people who have been hurt so much in this world that they take any opportunity to lash out at God to blame him, rather than take ownership for anything themselves. Their comments were full of such anger and hate. Therefore, seeing a harmless cartoon on your page drives them to act downright mean.
I’m sorry you received those comments. I guarantee you it’s not the majority’s view. Sorry, “logical” commenters – 87% of the world believes.
Andrea´s last blog ..My Personality Type. What Are You?
WOW! I am so sorry that you got comments like that. If someone didn’t like it, why not close the page? It’s not like you were preaching or trying to make anyone believe the same as you do. It’s ignorant people like that that make this world so messed up.
Melissa´s last blog ..Ravens R & G
I must have missed where you posted the pictures. Is it still up or did you take it down? Wow those were really harsh comments. When someone says pushing religon I think of someone in my face telling me all the reasons I need to go to church or what I am doing wrong. I am sorry you have to deal with all the hate mail!
Oh wow. Intolerance comes from all sectors, doesn’t it? I’m glad you weren’t discouraged by that comment. Anyway, I suppose we have been warned about persecution, lol. Blessings!
Ivy@Spinning Lovely Days´s last blog ..Dealing with Somebody Else’s Kid
After I posted my earlier comment today I thought to ask if those people commented annonymously? Because in some ways they sound like the same person, but maybe that’s just because only one type of person would write those things. Seriously, they didn’t even make sense. Reading the first comment, my reaction was “this ISN’T heaven” (somewhere they’re obviously not going). This life means we are to struggle, there is to be pain, etc. Whether we come out strong (still having FAITH) or being weak (bashing God) is the whole point to see whether we deserve a place where God does sheild us from everything. It’s not always bad to have obstacles. Second comment: Oh yes I can really see just how logical you are by that statement. . . Third comment: You are implying that nobody who believes in God works with technology or the internet. As the wife of someone who does and is considered a genius intellectually, I can tell you that you are very wrong. Fourth comment: do you know what a blog is? Thank God for freedom of speech. We get to post whatever we want!!!!
Andrea´s last blog ..My Personality Type. What Are You?
Wow. I am so sorry this happened. It is never easy to receive angry comments like these.
No matter what their beliefs are, was it necessary to be so hateful over something like this? On YOUR blog? I’m very sorry.
Momisodes´s last blog ..To pee or not to pee
I can’t believe there are still people who are so narrow minded that they can’t respect a person’s belief..
I have gone through a lot of stuff in my life and there’s one thing I am sure of, my FAITH got me through everything. I feel sorry for these people..
What, were these people offended with that movie “Evan Almighty” too? I swear sometimes “logical” people need a bang in the head to see the big picture! You post whatever you want and let’s pray for these people who obviously need God’s blessings!
Ane´s last blog ..Wonderful Worldy Quirky Friends
I can’t believe you got all those angry comments for a wonderful post.How could it possibly irk other people unless they’re insecure of their own beliefs?One doesn’t need to offend another just to stress a point unless he or she is insecure and there’s no other way to “win” but lash out insulting words.Clearly,these self-proclaimed “logical” people need manners!
Femmepower´s last blog ..Teaching kids to love Math
The bottom line is that this is your blog.