RE: At What Point Does Activism Become Assholism?
April 13, 2017 at 6:36 pm
(This post was last modified: April 13, 2017 at 6:43 pm by Shell B.)
I write a blog about OCD, anxiety and depression. It's one of many blogs, but easily my most popular. I get a lot of people looking for help because of that blog. One thing I do not offer is trigger warnings, even though I know they're popular in the mental health community. Life is a trigger. You have to get used to it or you will suffer more for your avoidance. No, I don't want people to have flashbacks of rape (for example, I don't actually write about rape . . . yet) or panic attacks over an anecdote I use or my descriptions of my panic attacks. I want them to experience the things that life is going to throw at them and be stronger for it. I am not a censored person, and I'm just as sensitive as the next person. I have to accept that people will say things I don't like. They will "trigger" me. Otherwise, I have no claim to the freedom of speech I enjoy.
Being able to talk about anything without being labeled for merely discussing something is very important. Sadly, as an atheist, you are an enemy to a lot of religious people. They're not the fringe. They're not the majority. They're just a big group of religious folks who think atheists are evil. You will be labeled, and you're right. The way you react to that makes all the difference. You don't have to own that label. You don't have to take their bait.
Accurate.
My sister is pretty swell about being a vegetarian. She'll occasionally show her disgust at some food being passed around, but she doesn't expect anyone to stop eating it. She's just genuinely disgusted. If a bunch of people were handing out wriggling worms, I'd pull a face and say no thank you too.
The thing that gets me about mink coats is the sheer fucking number of the things you have to kill to make a coat. Fuck's sake. Kill one cow and eat it too, would ya? The fur industry is fucked up. I'm definitely never going to throw fake or real blood on anyone over it. How could I? I eat a lot of different kinds of meat. I'd rather not be a hypocrite.
Tibs and I were recently shopping for new wedding rings. I'm keeping my old one too, but he lost his a while back at the beach, and it's important to him to have one. So, I get one too. Hooray. Anyway, I'm not a fan of overpriced stones or diamonds. I'm a rock collector and appreciate gems, but will never purchase a diamond fucking ever. The bitch behind the counter showed me a gorgeous sapphire, like a wanted, but I asked her to check if the stones in the setting were diamonds. I loved the ring, but I'm going stand by that shit. She came back and confirmed they were diamonds, and had the gall to say, "You could just wear it anyway." Um, fucking no. I have an uncle who waves meat in my sister's face sometimes or graphically talks about animals being butchered, telling her to just eat meat. I find that equally obnoxious. Respect that a person who has a cause has a right to live by it.
Being able to talk about anything without being labeled for merely discussing something is very important. Sadly, as an atheist, you are an enemy to a lot of religious people. They're not the fringe. They're not the majority. They're just a big group of religious folks who think atheists are evil. You will be labeled, and you're right. The way you react to that makes all the difference. You don't have to own that label. You don't have to take their bait.
(April 13, 2017 at 6:32 pm)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote: I'm with mh on this one. Activism is all well and good (and I've done my share of it for various causes), but assholism begins when an activist imagines that their own pet cause gives them the liberty to impinge on the rights of the people who don't whole-heartedly share their views. You want to campaign for Christ? Go right ahead, but don't for one minute suppose that this gives you some sort of right to harangue and harass me about him. You don't think people should eat meat? Dandy, don't eat it. But don't come all veganner-than-thou when you see me enjoying an oh so tasty burger.
Oh, and you PETA bungholes? If you don't agree with people wearing animal pelts, then don't wear them yourself and don't suppose the fur industry. But your activism becomes assholism when you throw fake blood one some woman wearing a fur collar (for the record, have you ever met a mink? Nasty little beasts).
Boru
Accurate.
My sister is pretty swell about being a vegetarian. She'll occasionally show her disgust at some food being passed around, but she doesn't expect anyone to stop eating it. She's just genuinely disgusted. If a bunch of people were handing out wriggling worms, I'd pull a face and say no thank you too.
The thing that gets me about mink coats is the sheer fucking number of the things you have to kill to make a coat. Fuck's sake. Kill one cow and eat it too, would ya? The fur industry is fucked up. I'm definitely never going to throw fake or real blood on anyone over it. How could I? I eat a lot of different kinds of meat. I'd rather not be a hypocrite.
Tibs and I were recently shopping for new wedding rings. I'm keeping my old one too, but he lost his a while back at the beach, and it's important to him to have one. So, I get one too. Hooray. Anyway, I'm not a fan of overpriced stones or diamonds. I'm a rock collector and appreciate gems, but will never purchase a diamond fucking ever. The bitch behind the counter showed me a gorgeous sapphire, like a wanted, but I asked her to check if the stones in the setting were diamonds. I loved the ring, but I'm going stand by that shit. She came back and confirmed they were diamonds, and had the gall to say, "You could just wear it anyway." Um, fucking no. I have an uncle who waves meat in my sister's face sometimes or graphically talks about animals being butchered, telling her to just eat meat. I find that equally obnoxious. Respect that a person who has a cause has a right to live by it.
