I know people have posted about this already, but I want to ask everyone something.
So... there has been a lot of (for want of a better word) fighting on here recently about religion, LGBT+ rights and politics.
I’m really, really sorry because I know I was a part of it. If I hurt or offended anybody, please accept my biggest, most ginormous apologies. I wish I could hug you through the screen and make it better, but sadly I can’t, so you’ll have to make do with words instead.
I love it here and you guys are truly incredible humans. There is an awesome LGBT+ community here and I really feel welcome there, but I feel slightly pushed off here by some other people. I know that you are only expressing your opinions and I am 100% for that, but really, you are hurting people. Some of what you said, even though you didn’t mean to hurt anyone, was like a big slap with a cold trout.
Please, remember that they are opinions and not fact. They are not a truth that is universally accepted by all, they are opinion. As long as they remain opinion and not fact, they are just as right or wrong as anybody else’s opinion. You may think it is amazing news and a thousand percent true, but there could be someone else on the other side of the world, on the other side of the screen, that could be really damaged by your words. Your words have power, just remember that.
So I am asking you now to stop being so definitive with your words. Before you express any of your opinions, add ‘I think’ or ‘I believe’ in front of them, and use less hard language. Also, try and back up your opinions with facts.
For example...
- if you’re writing a post about the 2020 US elections, don’t write “Donald Trump is an orange weirdo but Biden is worse.”
- Instead, write “I think Donald Trump is the better option because (reason).”
- if you’re answering a post about gay people and religion, don’t put “being gay is a sin, it says so in the Bible which is God’s word etc., etc.”
- Instead, write, “I think being gay is a sin because in the Bible it says (quote from Bible) and I believe that the Bible is God’s word etc., etc.”
I know that the posts on religion are very important to you guys because you believe you have to spread the word about your religion etc., but please don’t force it on anybody. Everyone can make our own decisions and if you bombard people with what you believe is the truth you will just push them away. This keeps the debate friendlier and less heated.
I just want to say that from here, please, go ahead, express your opinions, but think before you type and don’t hurt anybody.
Thank you. Peace :)