Maybe we should not discuss politics,sex,religion, astrology,science, or anything remotely relating to astronomy
Respect each other and each others beliefs even though they may differ from yours
In closing
"I pray to you know who and I read my stars but I still haven't won lotto, so fu,,,, them both I'm getting drunk at least I know with certainty I'll have a hangover tommorow"
Many of you may wonder why I'm defending a belief that I obviously don't believe in myself, well, I deplore double standards. I hate that established religion is held in such regard so as to make it immune from debate or critisism.
Religion and Astrology are nothing alike.
As Doug and Mike have pointed out, religion can get you killed! Discussions (!) on religion get very heated and people get very offended.
A (mostly) harmless thread on astrology would likely have been over by now if you hadn't been injecting it with discussions about/comparisons to threads on religion.
If you don't like what people are saying about astrology, the mocking of those people that believe in it etc, then say so in the thread. Why try to bring religion into it to try and make some point?
It's been proven time and time again why religion should not be discussed on IceInSpace.
As Doug and Mike have pointed out, religion can get you killed! Discussions (!) on religion get very heated and people get very offended.
So my offence at the post doesn't matter?
Quote:
Originally Posted by iceman
A (mostly) harmless thread on astrology would likely have been over by now if you hadn't been injecting it with discussions about/comparisons to threads on religion.
So I'm not allowed to have an opinion that differs to the moderators? I should ignore what is plainly disrespectful behaviour? Just because you find something humorous doesn't mean that it's not disrespectful, otherwise racist jokes would be OK (which I presume that they're not).
Quote:
Originally Posted by iceman
If you don't like what people are saying about astrology, the mocking of those people that believe in it etc, then say so in the thread. Why try to bring religion into it to try and make some point?
It's been proven time and time again why religion should not be discussed on IceInSpace.
I HAVE brought this up in the thread, I merely used religion as an analogy that most people would understand. Clearly they did, and got upset by my posting about the analogy, something which has escaped you as well I see. Perhaps I should have used racism as an analogy that people would understand, though many of the forum would not have been subjected to racism, so may not fully get the point.
To quote your own TOS...
Quote:
2. Respect
Please show respect for others in the community, as you would expect to have respect shown to you.
Many of the posters have said that they know someone who reads their Horoscope, I think undeniably a large portion of the population have some belief in Astrology, so how can you allow something on the forum that openly disrespects them, whilst disallowing anything to do with...
Quote:
3. Posting Topics
Avoid topics about race, politics or religion.
This is the point I was trying to make in the other thread (the reason I started that thread was that the topic had drifted far away from the original, I have been admonished for that before too, so I started a new thread). It's also the thing that upset Mohammed (who I contacted by PM to clear things up), for which I'm sorry, but he, like everyone else, should respect my opinion, however misguided it seems to them.
If I am to respect one person's beliefs then I will respect all people's beliefs.
This is probably my last posting on this or any other topic on IIS, you have lost me (I know many of you will say "don't let the door hit you in the a$$ on the way out") if you allow this to continue. There are many other astronomy based forums, some even Aussie based.
I am still smarting from a thread late last year where I challenged casual racials slurs about overseas tech help operators was thinly diguised as a discussusion on technical ability or knowlege and was jumped on by the the "cool clique" for being hysterical and politically correct. Nothing was done despite the fact numerous posters were clearly violating the TOS.
I still visit, but my views on the community and the "tight moderation" is somewhat jaundiced now. IIf there are going to be rules, they need to apply to everyone regardless of personal relationships formed between members.
Besides, really, who is to say astrology does not work for those that believe? There are those that believe whole-heartedly in eastern medicine that are regularly cured and there are devoutly religious people who make great sacrifices for the good of their community in the name of their deity that they would not otherwise do.
Political correctness is a term that has been twisted to mean the very opposite of what it is: a philosophy to stop those with non-mainstream beliefs from feeling unnecessarily marginalised. It is not a tool of the "thought police", but a tool that frees us all if used properly.
Many years ago ago at a party, I was trying to impress an attractive lady, she asked about hobbies and I told her I was an amateur astronomer. "Ooooo, what's your sign?" she asked. I left while I could!
QNews is looking for a new astrologer to take over from Madam Zelda.
Here's your chance to make a buck from it. ( believe me, they don't pay much LOL )
Conditions apply.
QNews is looking for a new astrologer to take over from Madam Zelda.
Here's your chance to make a buck from it. ( believe me, they don't pay much LOL )
Conditions apply.
No good to me. My concience won't let me tell lies even if the pay was good.
There are so many mis-statements made in this thread and each is made by people who ought to know better. Just to name a few.
Not all Christians are described as believing the Earth was created in seven days. There are many schools of thought within the Christian community and within theology. Generalisations should be left to the unthinking.
Religion is the organisational aspect of a belief structure. For instance Catholicism is a religion of Christianity. The label of Religion has nothing to do with belief. So using the broad brush of religion is bound to attract some criticism.
There was a time in which criticism of Astrology would get you killed. It was seen as a form of religion (I mean system of belief) long before any person here was born and is if examined is still a religion (I mean system of belief) of sorts. Everything revolves around belief. It should be excluded from the TOS really. However, since the TOS are monitored by humans there is always an element of hypocracy in the application of such.
Astrology has many element of science (either suedo or minor parts) incorporated into it; albeit never been my cup of tea personally. It did give rise to astronomy in ancient times and without astrology astronomy would have taken longer to come into being. Be critical all you like of astrology but again blanket statements are not useful.
There are many theories that have been proven. Two examples are 1) the theory of relativity (gravity bends light) which was initially proven in 1910 during a total solar eclipse. Subsequent tests have during recent satellite missions have also shown relativity to be correct too.
2) Planetary motion - probes to the planets have proven this. Without that theory we could not have landed on planets or indeed landed on a moon of a planet during the Cassini mission.
No one is in control of anything. Some of the non believer types here have made statements that they are in control of their own destiny etc. Only an infantile meglomanic actually thinks they are in control of anything at all. There are so many factors involved in your own existence it is impossible to be in control of anything. Having control of something is just a veneer of reality. You have elements of control but you are all at the mercy of others actions.
I think an old testiment phrase is useful here. Those without sin should cast the first stone. My meaning is that use your facts correctly in the argument and think before you write. Someone has left the site as a result of this thread, it ought not to have taken place. Astronomy was once for the thinking person. I often now wonder if that is still the case! Respond as you like.
Can of worms! As the OP this was never my intention. However, I'd like to make a couple of points.
1. People have too much time on their hands. Consider for a moment how brief your life is in an astronomical time frame and the ask yourself is is worthwhile arguing on the internet about anything.
2. My personal stance will always be for free speech over political correctness. Your welcome to believe whatever you want, but be prepared to hold your beliefs up to scrutiny and even ridicule.