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Post by spiritmage234 on Jul 12, 2008 14:13:06 GMT -5
I've always wanted to hear the voice and opinions about groups that the general public despise and/or harbor a paranoia for: gang activities, the occult, hate groups, and new religious movements, not to leave out radical religious leaders, terrorist organizations, etc. So, what do you think about them? Do you think they should be treated like equals? Do you think they should be put under constant surveilence? Do you think that some hate groups will evolve into terrorist organizations if we do not halter their crusade? Do you think that certain groups that have a hatred toward all who are not them will ironically bring all people together? Wait; Are YOU part of one of the groups mentioned above? What do you think is the pyschology behind people following cult-like leaders? Anything goes except promotion.
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Horyo
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Post by Horyo on Jul 12, 2008 14:19:32 GMT -5
I feel sorry for them. They're so raptured with their narrow ideas that they can't see the beauty of everything else. They live in constant dislike and hatred, and that makes life for them bad.
I am part of the House of Horyo's Hatred.
Any group centered around hatred is dangerous; you don't know what they're capable of. I don't believe hatred to these people bring much out. I hate their actions and beliefs, but I honestly feel the people aren't able to enjoy aspects of other groups because they're narrow minded.
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Post by spiritmage234 on Jul 12, 2008 14:24:33 GMT -5
Let me just say, it's f*cked up that homosexuals aren't protected under the same rights as race and religions are, but the hate groups and organizations that terrorize them are.
I think some lady at my mom's old job tried to get her to join some wierd@$$ cult like that. They come off like they're all friendly and junk, but then when you actually listen to their sermons (and need I remind you that you have to be a rational thinking person to distinguish the difference)...
Mom, being a rational thinking person, concluded that severing all ties from your family if they do not share the same views as the cult was precariously stupid. So she stayed as faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar away from that lady until she switched jobs.
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Horyo
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Post by Horyo on Jul 12, 2008 14:27:24 GMT -5
I feel sorry for homosexuals too, as they are the new persecuted group (well not new but gained some notice lately).
I stay away from people who try to unite all under a common hate goal and obsession goal. Forums are a great compromise.
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Post by Chibi Chan-o on Jul 12, 2008 20:34:14 GMT -5
I'm sorry but homosexuals are getting MUCH better treatment now. There's nothing to feel sorry for. People only condemned them in the first place because homosexuals felt the need to tell everyone they were gay or lesbian. People won't torment you if you keep your opinions and beliefs to yourself. It's like with fandoms and fans. People will greatly dislike your fandom if you go around blabbing about it too much.
But out of the options listed, groups like the KKK and cults have virtually no power. The greatest threat is terorrism, since they go a step beyond and actually kill people by the hundreds and thousands. Gangs are second on the list since they're violent too, but they're usually confined to city slums and the countryside.
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Post by CountessRachel on Jul 12, 2008 22:07:49 GMT -5
But out of the options listed, groups like the KKK and cults have virtually no power. The greatest threat is terorrism, since they go a step beyond and actually kill people by the hundreds and thousands. Gangs are second on the list since they're violent too, but they're usually confined to city slums and the countryside. You'd be surprised at how much political power some of these groups have. Just because they don't post their logos on tv or blast their messages on radio stations doesn't mean they don't have "friends in high places." Gangs aren't "confined." They're everywhere. Just because there aren't drivebys two blocks from your house doesn't mean there isn't a Crip/Blood/VL/VBZ Boss or MS-13, Italian/Ukranian/Russian Mafia, Triad member living near you selling something. Gang-life is something about 95% of "unaffected" society are painfully misinformed about because of TV and movies. However, I personally know gang members who do what they do because they seriously have no choice--but at the same time, they donate a great amount back to their community. The media tries to scare people with all the hoopla of gangs and terrorism in order to get ratings. It'd be something if people went out and actually did their own research on some of these groups for a change.
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Post by spiritmage234 on Jul 12, 2008 22:10:39 GMT -5
Well, I agree that the more flamboyant homosexuals shouldn't be going around flaunting their sexual preference (you don't see heterosexuals go around saying, "I'm proud that I like boobies and that chicks can (possibly) like me back in the same manner!"). I mean, it's good to be proud (I guess), but, not enough to actually have a flag...
But people in general don't just condemn the ones that go around announcing their pride: they condemn all of them, even the ones who do keep to themselves but then their lifestyle get's out somehow. Face it, people look at homosexuals differently than a race or religion because it deals solely with sexual relations that is condemnable in most mainstream religions and lifestyles. It's not about the color of your skin or how many god(s) you worship, it's about two people of the same sex, you know - getting it on. And so long as the majority finds it immoral, people are going to continue doing what they do to them to a more extreme note than ethnicities and faiths.
And when I say that crimes against gays are not treated the same as regular crimes, I mean the convicted is almost never severely punished. (Then again, a LOAD of crimes - no matter how brutal - get severly punished.)
(For the record, I do find homosexuality wrong both religiously and biologically, but in no way do I persecute against them. So long as the flamboyant type doesn't try to force their lifestyle on me, I'm cool.)
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xtal
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Post by xtal on Jul 12, 2008 22:51:39 GMT -5
People only condemned them in the first place because homosexuals felt the need to tell everyone they were gay or lesbian. People won't torment you if you keep your opinions and beliefs to yourself. That is quite the generalization, most homosexuals don't flaunt it, and if kissing you're loved one in public is flaunting then heterosexuals shouldn't be able to flaunt theirs around in public either. Ya know, most ancient cultures had no problem with homosexuality? It wasn't really a problem until the rise of christianity and before that it was widely practiced. Me and my boyfriend had a little theory going on about that (which was later confirmed by a religious studies professor, but who knows): We speculated that christianity deemed it wrong because of their opressors, the Romans and the earlier Etruscans, who were rather promiscuous cultures. So, christianity not wanting to be apart of that and not wanting to be like them demonized it. Then when the christians got power they outlawed it. Alas, the opressed always turn out to be more opressive than their opressors. Anyhoo... To the topic at hand I beleive gangs are the most dangerous, because as Countess said they are EVERYWHERE, and it is easy to get caught in the middle if you aren't careful. There has also been an increse with gang activity in the armed forces, which is pretty effin scary because they are bringing in military training and tactics into their crimes once they get released. Gangs with tactical prescision and military organization...makes me shudder just thinking about it. It certainly makes it a helluva lot harder for cops to compete.
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Post by username on Jul 13, 2008 1:44:35 GMT -5
I'm sorry but homosexuals are getting MUCH better treatment now. There's nothing to feel sorry for. OH GOOD THEY AREN'T GETTING HANGED AND STONED ANYMORE, SO THAT MEANS EVERY THING'S OK. Better treatment is far from "nothing to feel sorry about." Homophobia and prejudice is still a major problem in the US. To claim otherwise would be simply ignorant and uninformed. People only condemned them in the first place because homosexuals felt the need to tell everyone they were gay or lesbian. People won't torment you if you keep your opinions and beliefs to yourself. Oh, so it's ok to be gay, just don't let anyone know? Like, just hide it because it's something you should be ashamed of, as it goes against the mainstream? The reason many homosexuals feel the need to "flaunt it", and make it heard that they are gay and proud to be so, is because of the prejudice against them. The prejudice isn't because they flaunt it, they flaunt it because they want to make a statement against the prejudice. The most powerful form of homophobia right now isn't "lolol let's through bricks at dem queers" it's the more passive kind. The "oh I don't hate them, I just feel like they should stop being themselves, or at least shouldn't have quite the same rights as us" pseudo-progressive catholic mentality.
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Post by Grimmjow of the Funk on Jul 13, 2008 10:00:25 GMT -5
I'm sorry but homosexuals are getting MUCH better treatment now. There's nothing to feel sorry for. OH GOOD THEY AREN'T GETTING HANGED AND STONED ANYMORE, SO THAT MEANS EVERY THING'S OK. Better treatment is far from "nothing to feel sorry about." Homophobia and prejudice is still a major problem in the US. To claim otherwise would be simply ignorant and uninformed. People only condemned them in the first place because homosexuals felt the need to tell everyone they were gay or lesbian. People won't torment you if you keep your opinions and beliefs to yourself. Oh, so it's ok to be gay, just don't let anyone know? Like, just hide it because it's something you should be ashamed of, as it goes against the mainstream? The reason many homosexuals feel the need to "flaunt it", and make it heard that they are gay and proud to be so, is because of the prejudice against them. The prejudice isn't because they flaunt it, they flaunt it because they want to make a statement against the prejudice. The most powerful form of homophobia right now isn't "lolol let's through bricks at dem queers" it's the more passive kind. The "oh I don't hate them, I just feel like they should stop being themselves, or at least shouldn't have quite the same rights as us" pseudo-progressive catholic mentality. good analyzation kaneda. that is where it starts ad when that doesn't work it gets more and more violent there have been many hate crimes against gays but they are not considered hate crimes because the government fails to recognize LGBT as its own sub-group. McCain wants to keep it that way where as Obama wants to change it. that is so annoying to think you live in a world that has gone past the civil rights movement only to when another group shows up people continue to have the same frightened views about someone different. that is why i am against ahte groups and cults like the KKK and don't you think that the KKK is not around anymore because i have seen them in person during one of their rituals. probably one of the most scary experiences in my life. i am Jewish and while they had no way to prove it i was in a car with a Black family and we were all praying the car did not break down. so yeah those groups are still around and the hat everyone. gangs you can get caught up in but a lot of hem follow rules believe it or not to not harm civilians which may be the reason i hear less and less about gang shootings in chicago of people not involved in the gang.
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Post by CountessRachel on Jul 14, 2008 3:40:40 GMT -5
As far as which group is the number one threat to American Society, that's an odd question...
One could say gangs...but then that goes into the complicated debate over drugs since drugs are the ultimate purpose of most gangs. If the government put more effort into drug prevention and rehab programs instead of the counterproductive methods of punishing poor people through exorbitant fines and jail time, it'd put a dent in the vicious cycle of poverty.
Religious cults and hate groups have been around since man could express himself and they'll continue to be around until the last homosapien kicks the bucket. Those things are a part of human society and ultimately, don't affect a country's economy the same way gang activity and poverty does. Gangs are something the government and community can fix if they put forth enough time and effort.
Then again, without gangs, many police, lawyers, doctors, coroners, jail wardens, prison guards and destitute South American farmers would lose business big time...
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attonbitus
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Post by attonbitus on Jul 14, 2008 10:43:05 GMT -5
When broken down to their most basic concepts the 3 are quite similar in that they are created to instill a sense of belonging while excluding others making the members feel "special".
The real danger in all of them is the exclusive way of thinking creates a sense of superiority that colors their way of thinking. IE, I and those who thinking like me are right and everyone else is wrong.
It could also be said such groups are created to "counter" the established system. Again it comes back to people not being able or wanting to fit in the "norm".
In a sense most groups try to establish their own "order" on others while forgetting that harmony is needed else discourse conflict is ensured.
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ilovetaang03
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Post by ilovetaang03 on Jul 14, 2008 15:07:20 GMT -5
i think that gangs are the worst out of the 3. I mean there all bad but mostly cults and hate groupes have to do with religon and peoples race. Everyone is entitled to there own oppinion about those things. Athough they dont express that opinion in a positive way. Gangs are the worst because they hurt innosnet poeple and have nothing to do with race/ religon. They abuse people with no reason.
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Post by spiritmage234 on Jul 15, 2008 8:09:32 GMT -5
^What about gangs that are based on race, such as the Latin Kings and the Yakuza? Don't forget the war of the Bloods and Crips, where both mainly consist of Blacks.
And need I remind you that all three of them hurt innocent people, with or without reason. I mean, all three of them have targets.
Gangs target rival gang members. Cults pick out random (and specific) people to victimize in their ritual rite. Hate groups terrorize the object of hate.
They all hurt people one way or another. It doesn't matter if they have a "valid" motif behind it or not. If the person is totally oblvious about what's happening to them, then they're innocent.
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Post by Gran Gran on Jul 15, 2008 11:25:30 GMT -5
While I did vote 'all three' I have to modify my opinion or clarify rather a little.
Cults are actually a rather small thread. The attract a small group of people who are a fertil ground for odd teachings, based on their individual psyche. Though some amount of brain washing may take place, unless the initial contact fills a need, they are nothing but a couriosity.
Gangs/mafia are very dangerous. They have too many tentacles in official life. Heaven knows how high up the membership reaches. (truth be known though even the crypts and whatever are probably less dangerous then the white collar members hiding in public view)
hate groups that cover themselves with the cloak of respectability however are the worst IMHO. Not the KKK, their days as outlet of the good people (sarcasm, ok) are a thing of the past, but so called church groups who spew hate are despicable. Under the law's protection they spread their garbage and find open ears in the weak minded, all under the premises of worship and freedom of speech.
Hmm, considering all of this....
I am changing my mind. We ourselves are the most dangerous part:
Involved in our own little affairs, uninformed and desinterested...we allow these things to happen, politicians to walk all over us and line their pockets at our exspense...pass laws that provide the ground for dangerous groups to get a foothold....
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