NationStates Jolt Archive

I would like to bring this issue to the attention of the moderators. It needs to be dealt with in a better, more polite manner (or atleast taken off):

It's the issue about the Harry Potter book. The last view says this:

Teachers union President Beth Steele says, "Come on, the book is fantasy! And it's a damn good read. I'd like the government to issue a statement of support for our teachers and librarians, so kids can enjoy good books without interference from religious wackos, like Christians."


So tell me, is this really that nessesary? First, it is an extremely arrogant statement, and second, it is insaulting. Please, do something about it. Take it off, edit the last sentance out, something. Atleast remove the comment about "wacko" Christians. Again, this is insaulting. And also, it is another removal of right to free speech. It's ok for an Muslim to say their views about Harry Potter, or something else along those lines, but then when it comes down to Christians, everyone turns to insaults and wisecracks. Free speech? Doubtful.

It is, as all the issues are, supposed to represent an EXTREME view. Given that it is also topical, as in the US people who identify themselves as Christian have indeed banned and burned the Harry Potter books, it will not be changed.

I don't mean to be rude. But I feel sorry for anyone who is offended by a comment in a MMORPG. Some minority pagan can start pointing fingers at Runescape if they act like you

I don't mean to be rude.
Yes you do.

You can't be accidentally rude when you have to click a "Submit Reply" button. Moderation is not the place for your totally unnecessary comments about an issue that's already been addressed.

Knock it off.

I'm sorry, since I'm not one that gets offended easily, it makes me forget about everyone else

But, that was a minority group of Christians who acted that way about the Harry Potter books. But people automatically label EVERY Christian as "wacko".

The reason people think Christians are wacko is because thats all the media will ever cover--the Christians who are a tad on the extreme side. But they will never cover the ones who are doing things that help the community and nation. This is the problem with the media, they switch things around sometimes so it comes from their point of view...and so one group looks bad.

I just feel that comments about a certain religion or race need to be left to the real world, not a "video game". <in quotes because this isn't technically a "video" game :) >


EDIT: But I do realize these views are on the extreme side of each. But I still think they could have left the comment out and made it a very extreme view.

Look. It's pretty simple. The statement is being made by a non-player CHARACTER in the game. Not the game, or the game creator, or the mod staff or anything official like that. It's a game tool, and as previously stated, those comments tend to be of extremes. People say stupid things all the time. A good many of the character comments in the issues are excellent illustrations of this.

No one is saying all Christians are wackos here - unless you go frequent General, and then you're going to get just about every group slammed or supported for one thing or other depending on the posters, or which way the political winds are blowing on any given day. Overreactions over minutae like this, quite frankly, just help propogate the 'wacko/how dare you mock us while we condemn you' image that's out there for some religious groups. I watch and read the news too - I think while you have a point about the media focusing on the crazies and extremists, you've missed a lot of the good that gets covered too. Yay for overgeneralizations and broad-based condemnations, hmmm? It works both ways, remember.

This game is meant to mirror a lot of real life issues and concerns, and as we're dealing with people and politics and everything that goes with it, I hardly see where you can make any sort of stand saying we ought to leave 'real life' out of it.

Thats just silly.

There are many different groups of people who could feel 'insulted' by the issues if they were so inclined. Hippies are referred to as 'long haired idiots', animal rights proponents are referred to as 'nuts' at least once, both death penalty proponents and cloning proponents are referred to as 'lunatics', Nazi sympathisers are called 'animals', polygamists and BDSM enthusiasts are called 'perverts' (both times by spiritual people, no less)... one issue character even suggests that suicidally depressed people jumping off bridges would be a good thing! And this is just a few of the issues I had the time to look at!

Many groups including the religious get mocked and insulted by the issues, and the religious give some back several times over. Max Barry himself states that the issues are supposed to be extreme. And surprisingly enough, if you go to the General forum you can see that a lot of these views, despite them being specifically designed to be too extreme to be believable, are actually shared by real people, and expressed in similar ways. I can understand why Christians were specifically pointed out in this issue -- there are Christians making a big deal over Harry Potter because it supposedly encourages and glorifies 'witchcraft'. I don't know whether any other religious groups feel the same way, but Christians have been the most vocal about it.

I do not see any reason for you to take offence at something a fictional character said in a deliberately extreme issue. I have found many issues which mock groups that I could be considered a part of and I haven't found it insulting, as I am aware of the context. If this was the official view of NationStates or if a moderator had specifically said 'Christians are wackos', then yes, I could see reason to be insulted. But not this... this is no more insulting than a character in a novel calling Christians names. You don't get offended by that do you? They're not real people saying these things.

The Christian right needs to stop whinging. Some Christians are wackos, especially the ones who believe the Bible is the exact word of God, fact, and that dinosaurs are here to test our faith.

Crazy people get called crazy people, get over it.

Shut up!!! You guys are getting pissed about ONE stupid thing in the last line of an issue on Nation States! Im a frikin jew and there are so many damn anti-semetic people in the world that it is not funny! Besides, Christians are wacko, they believe that some fat 250 pound guy in a red suit carries toys to every person in the world! What about the other people?!?! Athiests, muslims, jews, buddist. WHat about them?!?!

Could I suggest people stop insulting Christians. Whether or not the Christian Right are 'wackos' isn't really the issue: it's whether derogatory terms should be allowed in issues in general. My own feeling is "of course yes" - after all, atheists get a knocking in a couple of issues - but if a cop-out is needed, I'd suggest it be edited to 'Violetist'.

Could I suggest people stop insulting Christians. Whether or not the Christian Right are 'wackos' isn't really the issue: it's whether derogatory terms should be allowed in issues in general. My own feeling is "of course yes" - after all, atheists get a knocking in a couple of issues - but if a cop-out is needed, I'd suggest it be edited to 'Violetist'.
Hello?!?! can u understand real life?!?! who cares if someone gets insulted?!?! it doesnt matter! as long as your not getting burned in a giant pit, or hung, your fine. There is always conflict between any type of religion, so you people should just get over it!!!!

Shut up!!! You guys are getting pissed about ONE stupid thing in the last line of an issue on Nation States! Im a frikin jew and there are so many damn anti-semetic people in the world that it is not funny! Besides, Christians are wacko, they believe that some fat 250 pound guy in a red suit carries toys to every person in the world! What about the other people?!?! Athiests, muslims, jews, buddist. WHat about them?!?!


Hello?!?! can u understand real life?!?! who cares if someone gets insulted?!?! it doesnt matter! as long as your not getting burned in a giant pit, or hung, your fine. There is always conflict between any type of religion, so you people should just get over it!!!!


You can quit it with the insults. Attacking him isn't helping anything, and only making matters more complicated. Next time you respond to someone with an insulting tone, you will receive an official warning, got it?

Could I suggest people stop insulting Christians. Whether or not the Christian Right are 'wackos' isn't really the issue: it's whether derogatory terms should be allowed in issues in general. My own feeling is "of course yes" - after all, atheists get a knocking in a couple of issues - but if a cop-out is needed, I'd suggest it be edited to 'Violetist'.

I'm pretty sure that the issues won't be edited. They've been this way for 3 years now, and I don't see any reason that they should be changed.

I'm pretty sure that the issues won't be edited. They've been this way for 3 years now, and I don't see any reason that they should be changed.
Ok. I'm fairly sure the Nazi rally issue was changed from 'Jewish banker' to 'Jewish celebrity' after a complaint, but I accept that was an exception. I wasn't actually advocating a change anyway: I was saying if one were made (which I wouldn't personally support).

Shut up!!! ...

Christians are wacko, they believe that some fat 250 pound guy in a red suit carries toys to every person in the world! You are Insulting children and You are insulting me.

Again, honostly, if someone gets red headed this easy then don't play the game, don't change it for the other 30,000 of us [Assuming all the major, major players have an alias nation or two, their may be more players but I don't like judging that by nations cause most people, including me, have more then one]. I really don't understand, if your NOT an extream christan like you say you are, why does one small comment offend you.

As much as I hate to argue with a ND mod, I must object to this in the most strongest terms. Why? Because it's a Real World reference. If someone wrote a UN resolution with such a blatent Real World reference they would be repremanded and given a warning!

Besides I thought the only religious group you can mention were Violetists. :p

Take it up with the admin then.

Take it up with the admin then.

The issue is remaining unchanged.