A Question of Faith

First, let me say thank you for your respectful introduction of this interesting topic.

I definitely see an increase in the basic idea you mention, but I think the increasing adoption of memes is part of society's general direction currently.

The (usually) humorous deification of RNG and Chris is mostly harmless (like the Earth as listed in HHGTG2). I don't think that most people who joke about it intend any offense, and for the most part I don't see any offense taken.

The reason RNG fits so neatly into this pattern, is that true randomness isn't random over a large enough number of instances, so eventually anything you do will seem to "pay off".

Simply put, if you played long enough, you would find every single unique in the game.

This is quite unlike the real world, in which Sharknados will not appear, even though remotely possible given enough time and enough universes.

As for Chris adding a "T" - the origin of the name Chris is in Christopher, which means "bearer of Christ". The T would be superfluous as far as meanings go.

You might not associate the names - Hristo, Chip, CRISTÓBAL (sorry, not sure how to add the diacritical to show up here other than a copy paste), Topher, or Kester as meaning "bearer of Christ" but they do.

Τύχη (often rendered as Tyche - but pronounced similar to toucan in English???) would be a better substitute than RNGesus - but once the Meme has been cast, it tends to grow roots.

As for this so called deity of chance, I am an RNG apostate, and a firm believer that quiet reflective activities like fishing are optimal for those that seek to understand things beyond their ken.

I don't know. If you have to write a long disclaimer that you don't mean to offend, then you know that what you'll write is likely to offend people, and should probably refrain -- and yes, comparing a game developer to Jesus and even God is naturally offensive and will trigger negative feelings.

It's one of those topics you don't aim fun at unless you do want to offend people. The same applies to racist or antisemitic stuff. I mean, there was a large controversy about Jeweler's Orbs being called "Jews", and I remember people getting probated or warned for using "Titty Bitches" in reference to the monster, since that was allegedly degrading women.

To illustrate this, what would happen if people got poor, miserly drops, and exclaimed, "Chris must be a Jew!". Would you feel that is all right? I wouldn't. But it's no different in its power to offend than comparing him to Jesus Christ.

There will be only One Chris(t) G(esus) for me:

Just because you put a disclaimer doesn't give you this right.

"Hey guy - I'm going to bitch slap you in the face, then ROFL stomp you when you are on the ground - but you know what? Sorry in advance..."

This thread is hugely insulting to people who believe in God. It is antagonistic to them, and goes against forum rules - despite it being a joke.

I mean: I could make a call out thread naming every POS I hate on these forums and why - but preface it as "this is just a joke don't take it so seriously" - it's the exact same premise.

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Isbox1 wrote:

Just because you put a disclaimer doesn't give you this right.

"Hey guy - I'm going to bitch slap you in the face, then ROFL stomp you when you are on the ground - but you know what? Sorry in advance..."

This thread is hugely insulting to people who believe in God. It is antagonistic to them, and goes against forum rules - despite it being a joke.

I mean: I could make a call out thread naming every POS I hate on these forums and why - but preface it as "this is just a joke don't take it so seriously" - it's the exact same premise.

People who believe in magic are srs bsns.

magic is srs bsns

need to hide london shops in hidden alleyway
send you to college frat house when everyone else is in grade school

"

Isbox1 wrote:

Just because you put a disclaimer doesn't give you this right.

"Hey guy - I'm going to bitch slap you in the face, then ROFL stomp you when you are on the ground - but you know what? Sorry in advance..."

This thread is hugely insulting to people who believe in God. It is antagonistic to them, and goes against forum rules - despite it being a joke.

I mean: I could make a call out thread naming every POS I hate on these forums and why - but preface it as "this is just a joke don't take it so seriously" - it's the exact same premise.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af-Id_fuXFA

This disproves your statements. It is in the Geneva Convention.

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Worldbreaker wrote:

This disproves your statements. It is in the Geneva Convention.

This forum isn't governed by the Geneva Convention, but by GGG's policies. Those policies state that antagonizing other players is against the rules. So, Isbox rightly asks why this isn't enforced in this case? Because GGG's staff and moderators are atheists, so it's fine?

The OP *knew* he would be upsetting religious people, and posted his nonsense anyway. So how is that not antagonizing?

And apologizing for something and then doing it anyway, that doesn't really cut it. It's like saying, "Please don't take this personally, but you are an asshole." or "No offense intended, but you are a fucking moron.". Would that change anything? Nope. It just makes the offended people feel even more irritated because it emphasizes that it is done in the knowledge that it would upset.

The same is true here.

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Mivo wrote:

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Worldbreaker wrote:

This disproves your statements. It is in the Geneva Convention.

This forum isn't governed by the Geneva Convention, but by GGG's policies. Those policies state that antagonizing other players is against the rules. So, Isbox rightly asks why this isn't enforced in this case? Because GGG's staff and moderators are atheists, so it's fine?

The OP *knew* he would be upsetting religious people, and posted his nonsense anyway. So how is that not antagonizing?

And apologizing for something and then doing it anyway, that doesn't really cut it. It's like saying, "Please don't take this personally, but you are an asshole." or "No offense intended, but you are a fucking moron.". Would that change anything? Nope. It just makes the offended people feel even more irritated because it emphasizes that it is done in the knowledge that it would upset.

The same is true here.

I didn't take what you said personally and wasn't offended.

Why are you so serious in a thread that was intended to be "fun"?

I mean, the OP was putting light on something he found humorous with PoE and it has been turned into a suit and tie event?

I mean as someone who doesn't have a religion, I don't take offense to him putting one on me. I get faith put on me all the time with words like "atheism", I just don't let it bother me.

"

Worldbreaker wrote:

I didn't take what you said personally and wasn't offended.

Why are you so serious in a thread that was intended to be "fun"?

I mean, the OP was putting light on something he found humorous with PoE and it has been turned into a suit and tie event?

I mean as someone who doesn't have a religion, I don't take offense to him putting one on me. I get faith put on me all the time with words like "atheism", I just don't let it bother me.

I think it's just a dangerous precedent.

Like I said: I can slap any disclaimer on any thread I make and just balls out dog people left and right... "oh, lighten up, it's just a joke."

Really? Do we really want to go there? Because I'd be more than happy to follow these new rules. I have a list of people who really need a strip torn off them.