Re^2: Jokes, ad-hominem attacks, and sensitivity

[Argel]

FYI, harrassment laws tend to focus on the how the victom interpreted it or felt about it. The intentions of the person commiting the harrasment are more relevant when determing how that person should be dealt with. [ Whether this is a good thing is subject to another debate, but that's the way it works right now. ]

I think it would be better to point out that some people may find it offensive than to let it slide. That is, better to find out now in a forum like this than getting disciplined at work for a similar incident later on.

[shotgunefx]

OTOH, everyone here is here by choice, no one is making anyone stay or preventing them from leaving so I don't know how pertinant harassment laws are.

The way I see it is that it's fairly hard for everyone to get along in the general case, the only thing that really facilitates it is letting the unimportant stuff slide. Half of what people believe is mutual exclusive to what the other half beliefs.

Yes, you might bristle at someone committing what you see as blasphemy, but on the same token you would be wise to remember, to many people, the concept has as much weight as Bender or Kermit the Frog, or worse, that they think your own belief is evil.

I don't really think we are going to solve much here, I'd wager that the majority of the world's problems are this theme on a grand level.

Certainly if it were an attack, I'd be on the side of censure, but given no one has argued that, I think the consensus was that was not the case. Though harping on him afterwards was immature.

As an aside, this is a great community. Probably as close as you are going to get to the ideal for a interest oriented forum. As it is though, it is also in some ways very formal.

People probably hold their tongues on subjects both good and bad all the time as it is. I can think of many times were I wanted to post something that I thought would be funny as a response to something, things that I thought most others would too, but for the sake of decorum, thought better of it. There were probably a few times when I was irked too and held back.

I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but I also don't think it needs to be any more formal then it is. Most are already on their best behaviour as it is. Being able to loosen the belt here and there is one of the things that fosters a sense of community.