Okay here's a bigun (in my opinion anyway) from Elfin Mouse
interesting, but how are you oppressed? i kind of opened this expecting you to be talking about how people are always bashing your views, but really what you're saying is what you do and why you do it. not that there's anything wrong with that, it just doesn't fit the title.
i'm glad you're open minded and you don't try to force people to change. i like people like that, they don't make me feel bad for being the way i am.
but couldn't you have picked a better word than "freaks"? those of us who are "freaks" don't really appreciate the term...
oh, and just because i think you might find this interesting: i am an atheist, but i have no real reason for being an atheist. the only reason i ahve is that i simply don't believe in a god, but nothing caused me to be of that opinion - i just always was. i was never able to believe in a god so after a while i decided it was pointless and stopped trying.
if that interested you, good. if not, if you thought "who the hack cares?", well, that's okay too, then i'm sorry i wasted a few seconds of your time.
- e.mous
Maybe now would be a good time to say that I am, indeed easily offended. But realizing this through the years I have learned to disregard things that upset me, because they probably didn't mean it the way I took it. That doesn't mean that you should be super nice to me, because it takes a lot to get me to actually blow up. Anyway that being said I'll move to my response. The only thing that … well… upset me, was the way Mouse made me look like, for lack of a better word, a bitch. I say the term "freak" because that is what society labels them, not me. to me, they are simply friends, and good ones at that. If I meant "freak" in a bad way, it would be different, but I don't. it's a term of endearment. I refer to myself as a freak 99% of the time. I guess I really haven't said much on how I was oppressed. For the most part, my parents aren't that bad about forcing me to believe something I don't. but the first time (a couple of days ago) I said something to suggest that I believed soemthing other than what they taught me, I got a strange look and an almost lecture. If I told my mother everything I thought, or basically anything I've posted here, I would get ten thousand lectures. Another thing, is that it has calmed down considerably after my junior year. There were a billion things my mother would always gripe about. like when I was a freshman I started playing Magic: The Gathering. She forbade me to play, or even keep the cards. Things like that. And even though she never said that I couldn't talk to my friends, she did gripe about them for a time. Until she knew that I wasn't going to find new ones just because she wanted me to. And she still climbs up my butt because my sister recently started being very church-happy, and I, well I'm not. I go on Sunday mornings but that's it. So she implies that my sister is better than me. she has always favored my other sisters over me because I never lived up to her true standards of what a daughter should be.. someone who sticks out in society. Someone who everyone likes and wants to be like. Fortunately, I took the more discreet, yet more gratifying path. I detest my mother, but at the same time I love her because that is the only thing I can do. So I'm not really oppressed, I'm just aggravated. And Mouse, you do have a reason for being atheist. You were tired of trying. That sounds like a reason to me.
next question is from Angel…
One thing I'd like to say, which isn't really a question but more of just my own comment(you could take it as sort of a warning from a sister in Christ, I guess). I very much agree with you're hanging out and being friends with the "freaks", and from what I've read so far its turned out pretty good. But from my own personal experience of watching a very close friend of mine begin to do what you're doing, and then unknowingly let himself be influenced more than actually being the influence on those who need the Lord in their lives. I've actually had this happen to two of my best friends. Both seem to be very distant from all the believers who used to be their friends, including me, and the Lord(currently, anyway).
I guess what I'm trying to say is just to be careful. I firmly believe in being friends with the friendless, not out of pity or anything but just because they are good friends and because you could be a god influence on them. But coming from a sister in Christ I'd just like to say to be careful and be sure not to let your own faith be shaken. Because if there is a friendship you have that is not glorifying to the Lord, it may seem good anyway but it will only lead to destruction and hurt. I know this from personal experience.
I know, I know… I've heard this before. I can only respond with the same response I gave my mother with all her lectures on how D&D would make me evil. I am who I am. My mother can't change me, my friends can't change me, nobody can. I am responsible for my own decisions. I am firm and unmoving in my beliefs. I am only open minded not mindless. I know how to tell the difference between a game and reality. There is no "thin line" for me. the reason I don't get into the drugs and alcohol and smoking that everyone around me does, is closely related to my life and childhood
as far as drugs go, I was curious for a while, but I never wanted to. I've seen too many of my friends get taken in and completely screwed because of it. A guy I knew since I was in 4th grade ruined his life because of drugs. He was VERY talented and smart, and could have gone a long way. I have things I want to do and I wont let drugs get in my way.
As far as alcohol goes, there are two major influences on me. one is my grandfather. He used to beat my dad so bad that my grandmother would have to rub vaseline on him to keep him from sticking to the sheets. The main reason, however, is that my father was an alcoholic. I had a horrible relationship with him. My parents had been divorced, but when I'd go stay with him, he'd always be out drinking. I remember calling my mom from his house at 1 am to come get me because he left me there alone. I swore I would never be like that.
And as for cigarettes, that's easy… I'm watching both of my grandparents die because of that.
Uhhh its late now.. im pretty tired so If I missed anything then sorry.
interesting, but how are you oppressed? i kind of opened this expecting you to be talking about how people are always bashing your views, but really what you're saying is what you do and why you do it. not that there's anything wrong with that, it just doesn't fit the title.
i'm glad you're open minded and you don't try to force people to change. i like people like that, they don't make me feel bad for being the way i am.
but couldn't you have picked a better word than "freaks"? those of us who are "freaks" don't really appreciate the term...
oh, and just because i think you might find this interesting: i am an atheist, but i have no real reason for being an atheist. the only reason i ahve is that i simply don't believe in a god, but nothing caused me to be of that opinion - i just always was. i was never able to believe in a god so after a while i decided it was pointless and stopped trying.
if that interested you, good. if not, if you thought "who the hack cares?", well, that's okay too, then i'm sorry i wasted a few seconds of your time.
- e.mous
Maybe now would be a good time to say that I am, indeed easily offended. But realizing this through the years I have learned to disregard things that upset me, because they probably didn't mean it the way I took it. That doesn't mean that you should be super nice to me, because it takes a lot to get me to actually blow up. Anyway that being said I'll move to my response. The only thing that … well… upset me, was the way Mouse made me look like, for lack of a better word, a bitch. I say the term "freak" because that is what society labels them, not me. to me, they are simply friends, and good ones at that. If I meant "freak" in a bad way, it would be different, but I don't. it's a term of endearment. I refer to myself as a freak 99% of the time. I guess I really haven't said much on how I was oppressed. For the most part, my parents aren't that bad about forcing me to believe something I don't. but the first time (a couple of days ago) I said something to suggest that I believed soemthing other than what they taught me, I got a strange look and an almost lecture. If I told my mother everything I thought, or basically anything I've posted here, I would get ten thousand lectures. Another thing, is that it has calmed down considerably after my junior year. There were a billion things my mother would always gripe about. like when I was a freshman I started playing Magic: The Gathering. She forbade me to play, or even keep the cards. Things like that. And even though she never said that I couldn't talk to my friends, she did gripe about them for a time. Until she knew that I wasn't going to find new ones just because she wanted me to. And she still climbs up my butt because my sister recently started being very church-happy, and I, well I'm not. I go on Sunday mornings but that's it. So she implies that my sister is better than me. she has always favored my other sisters over me because I never lived up to her true standards of what a daughter should be.. someone who sticks out in society. Someone who everyone likes and wants to be like. Fortunately, I took the more discreet, yet more gratifying path. I detest my mother, but at the same time I love her because that is the only thing I can do. So I'm not really oppressed, I'm just aggravated. And Mouse, you do have a reason for being atheist. You were tired of trying. That sounds like a reason to me.
next question is from Angel…
One thing I'd like to say, which isn't really a question but more of just my own comment(you could take it as sort of a warning from a sister in Christ, I guess). I very much agree with you're hanging out and being friends with the "freaks", and from what I've read so far its turned out pretty good. But from my own personal experience of watching a very close friend of mine begin to do what you're doing, and then unknowingly let himself be influenced more than actually being the influence on those who need the Lord in their lives. I've actually had this happen to two of my best friends. Both seem to be very distant from all the believers who used to be their friends, including me, and the Lord(currently, anyway).
I guess what I'm trying to say is just to be careful. I firmly believe in being friends with the friendless, not out of pity or anything but just because they are good friends and because you could be a god influence on them. But coming from a sister in Christ I'd just like to say to be careful and be sure not to let your own faith be shaken. Because if there is a friendship you have that is not glorifying to the Lord, it may seem good anyway but it will only lead to destruction and hurt. I know this from personal experience.
I know, I know… I've heard this before. I can only respond with the same response I gave my mother with all her lectures on how D&D would make me evil. I am who I am. My mother can't change me, my friends can't change me, nobody can. I am responsible for my own decisions. I am firm and unmoving in my beliefs. I am only open minded not mindless. I know how to tell the difference between a game and reality. There is no "thin line" for me. the reason I don't get into the drugs and alcohol and smoking that everyone around me does, is closely related to my life and childhood
as far as drugs go, I was curious for a while, but I never wanted to. I've seen too many of my friends get taken in and completely screwed because of it. A guy I knew since I was in 4th grade ruined his life because of drugs. He was VERY talented and smart, and could have gone a long way. I have things I want to do and I wont let drugs get in my way.
As far as alcohol goes, there are two major influences on me. one is my grandfather. He used to beat my dad so bad that my grandmother would have to rub vaseline on him to keep him from sticking to the sheets. The main reason, however, is that my father was an alcoholic. I had a horrible relationship with him. My parents had been divorced, but when I'd go stay with him, he'd always be out drinking. I remember calling my mom from his house at 1 am to come get me because he left me there alone. I swore I would never be like that.
And as for cigarettes, that's easy… I'm watching both of my grandparents die because of that.
Uhhh its late now.. im pretty tired so If I missed anything then sorry.