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Original poster

To think the parish newsletter is not appropriate

755 replies

NikoBellic · 28/03/2015 21:51

I'm not talking about the notices regarding the horticultural society, nor am I referring to the village "300 Club", or Gwen's amazing contribution to the village hall this month...

...I realise that unless you live in a rural area, much like fibre broadband, you won't get this...

Each month the parish council post a newsletter through my front door. A quaint little wedge of folded paper with some useful information on local gas safe engineers and who is raising what for which charity, interspersed with reminders to pick up dog poo. The outer cover is usually a lot quality 1995 clip art file along religious lines, printed onto coloured paper of some sort. This month, for the start of spring and the Easter period, its a sort of yellow. Its the cover that I'm not completely comfortable with...

We always hear, particularly from the type of person who lives in a village and reads the parish newsletter, that children should not be subjected to images of violence, sex, and general "bad stuff"...

SO WHY IS OK TO POST A PICTURE OF A BLEEDING MAN BEING CRUCIFIED THROUGH MY LETTERBOX!? (Even if it is in 1995 clip art form).

If I were to post an image of a man being hung through someone's front door I'd have to face, at the very least, a police caution. Seems like double standards from where I'm sat.

In an area where Nigel Farage gets a pat on the back (a man who is offended by seeing a breastfeeding mother in a pub...) why does religion get special dispensation?

Is it OK because its, you know, Jesus?

Am I being unreasonable?

OP posts:
RubbishRobotFromTheDawnOfTime · 28/03/2015 23:42

The OP (I think it was) said she didn't want religious stories taught as fact at school, unless the tale of Spider-Man v Dr Octopus was too. Which is fair enough given that there's been a (comic) book written about the latter so it must be true.

PunkrockerGirl · 28/03/2015 23:44

Don't shout Niko, it makes you come across as even more as a bellend if that's possible.
I'm roaring with laughter about it being ok to have a Christian parish mag with a nativity scene on the front but once it comes to Easter we must not offend you poor sensitive souls with an image of the crucifixion.
. There will be a contact number in the mag for you to be deleted from the mailing list . Job done. Or just bin it? Or start a thread on an internet forum and come across as a complete madster? Up to you, nobody actually gives a shit.
I reported because of the offensive homophobic comments about same sex hand holding, not the expected image on the Easter edition of a Christian parish magazine Hmm

trufflesnout · 28/03/2015 23:47

The point is not that OP finds it offensive, but that it's an example of double standards. No other publication delivered free through peoples doors would have a cover page featuring an execution and get away with it

Original poster
NikoBellic · 28/03/2015 23:48

PunkRocker... I'm not sure I get what you were offended by? You don't want me to mention same sex hand holding!? Or I did it in an offensive way? Let me know how the complaint goes

OP posts:
Hoplikeabunny · 28/03/2015 23:50

Eh- offensive homophobic content?! I've followed the whole thread and I have no idea where you've got that from?!!

Also, can I just say that name calling (bellend, madster) really does weaken your argument, it's really not very adult is it.

I can't help but feel that you've entirely missed the point punkrockergirl

LumpySpacedPrincess · 28/03/2015 23:51

Eostre was an Anglo Saxon Goddess, her symbols were the hare and the egg.

TondelayoSchwarzkopf · 28/03/2015 23:51

So no Christians on this board would mind if they got a newsletter through the letterbox from their local art appreciation society with an image of Andrés Serrano's Piss Christ on the front?

fattymcfatfat · 28/03/2015 23:52

not sure how the OP was being homophobic.
there was another poster a bit earlier in the thread who said they didn't want it taught as fact, I misread it as didn't want it taught. my second post explains a bit better. im tired and pregnant and blaming baby brain. Grin

as I said a lot of it is bollocks no doubt about that but hey ho Wink

RubbishRobotFromTheDawnOfTime · 28/03/2015 23:55

Punkrocker what homophobic comments are you referring to?

I think you're struggling to grasp Niko's point. She is asking why it's considered ok to put an unsolicited violent image through her door because it's religious. The same people who do this object to seeing women breastfeeding or men kissing.

Why is it ok for a small child to see a picture of a dying man with spikes stuck into him but not a similarly clip-arty picture of a man being shot? Or beheaded?

Does an image being religious mean that it is never offensive, indecent or inappropriate for children to see? When the exact same image with no religious context would be unacceptable? If you're not a follower of that religion, surely the picture of the bleeding man suffering a violent death from crucifixion is just as bad as a picture of a man dying by firing squad. I would be extremely displeased if either dropped onto my doormat for my DC to see.

DramaQueenofHighCs · 28/03/2015 23:55

Tondelayo I'm a christian on this thread and thought 'piss christ' was brilliant!! Grin
But then I'm all for freedom of expression and have a pretty much atheist husband so....

fattymcfatfat · 28/03/2015 23:56

and I don't care what you post through my door, as I said everyone is entitled to their own opinions and beliefs Smile

I don't do the whole lets knock on every feckers door and rave about god crap, can't be assed with that, don't even go to church, and my DCs are not baptised.
it is their decision about religion, and I do not go to church as i would end up getting into.some sort of argument with someone because shock horror I dont believe gid made the world in seven days!

PenelopePitstops · 28/03/2015 23:56

Gosh OP don't you sound a delight.

If it bothers you the much, ask to be removed from the list.

Parish magazines can be a lifeline for some people into accessing support and knowing when and where things are happening (religious or otherwise). If you live in a small rural community they often organise the social activities to join the community.

They aren't setting out to upset you. Jesus on a cross doesn't have blood dripping from him or look particularly gruesome.

Have some perspective about it.

TondelayoSchwarzkopf · 28/03/2015 23:57

That is fair enough Fatty.

fattymcfatfat · 28/03/2015 23:59

jesus on the cross does have blood...
and is gruesome. ..probably one of the worst forms of execution, being left for days on end slowly and painfully dying...
(yes I realise thats the whole point of the crucifixion story blah blah blah)
what the OP is saying and I agree is that ot shouldn't be ok just because jesus...

Hoplikeabunny · 29/03/2015 00:00

As the OP keeps saying though, penelope- that's not her point! Read what rubbishrobot has written a few posts up, she has hit the nail on the head perfectly.

AlecTrevelyan006 · 29/03/2015 00:00

I suspect that many people on this thread (probably including the OP) are confusing Parish Councils with Church of England Parishes - the two things are completely separate. Certainly Parish Councils should not producing overtly religious publications.

Personally, I'm not a fan of Parish Councils - most people who live in an area served one by don't even know about it. They are waste of time and money.

Hakluyt · 29/03/2015 00:04

I am prepared to bet that if PETA put a leaflet with pictures of animals being tortured on it, people would be up in arms........

RubbishRobotFromTheDawnOfTime · 29/03/2015 00:04

That's really not the point Alec. And the magazine can be as religious as it wants, that's not what the OP is talking about.

BarbarianMum · 29/03/2015 00:04

"Jesus on a cross doesn't have blood dripping from him or look particularly gruesome"

^^I take it you've never been to a Catholic Church? Of course it's gruesome - its a guy nailed to a cross by his hands and feet, with a crown of thorns and a gash in his side slowly suffocating to death. What sort of world for you live in where that's not deeply disturbing?

PunkrockerGirl · 29/03/2015 00:08

It wasn't me comparing two men holding hands or having a snog to a picture of the crucifixion.It was you OP. I don't find either offensive btw. It's you that clearly has a problem and spouted your ignorance and then feigned surprise when you were picked up on it

giraffesNeedBigPoloNecks · 29/03/2015 00:09

I agree - don't want to see it, please don;t post it through my athiest letterbox!

PilchardPrincess · 29/03/2015 00:09

Yes barbarian. Blood on face, hands and body. Due to crown of thorns, cut in side and nails. I don't understand the idea it's not gruesome, there was certainly blood on the images when I was growing up. Which there would be obviously. He was tortured, crucified and left to die. It's extraordinarily violent, and that's kind of the point isn't it. He suffered for us.

Hakluyt · 29/03/2015 00:10

Punkrockergirl- did you hear thwt whooshing sound going past your ear? That was the point. If you run you might just catch up with it........

RubbishRobotFromTheDawnOfTime · 29/03/2015 00:13

Punkrocker you're really not going to get it, I don't think.