Comments on: Thanksgivings are more like Childish Pleadings

By: dj357

dj357 — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:51:04 +0000

I agree, Larry, that free speech works both ways, but there is no service being offered or requested, which is the whole point of the “Classifieds” section. My main issue is that it should be removed from there and placed somewhere more appropriate. Where that would be is the other part of my argument, but since it is a public newspaper, which I, as part of the public audience of said paper, am paying for, then I am obliged to comment on what I do and do not want to see in it, no? Just as most religious would clamour at the sight of Atheistic rumblings being placed in the “Thanksgivings” section –

Thanksgiving – Place the symbolic twig, representing the heart of Darwin inside the circle of semi-round pebbles and repeat the phrase “Evolution is good” 5 times a day every day for two weeks and your nearest church will burn down. Guaranteed to work.

If such a “thanksgiving” was placed in the classifieds, it would be just as useful as the religious ones, but it would clearly upset religious people. So, my point is, keep them BOTH out of the Classifieds section! (the entire paper, if possible)

Now, if we are actually talking about Articles, that’s a different story. Atheistic articles, just as Religious articles should be deemed fine for print so long as they fulfill the normal required journalistic standards. People can, and most likely would, cry and whine all they like, but THAT is free speech. That is not what I’m trying to get rid of. I hope you can see the difference there.

By: Larry

Larry — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:17:23 +0000

Darragh – welcome back!
But I don’t agree with you on this. The newspaper is offering a service and people are willing to pay for it – and the paper won’t give that up easy. The paper is a freebee- you don’t have to take it or read it. And what if I wanted to put in an atheist article? Could that be objected to by the religious on the basis that it hurst their feelings? Free speech works both ways. Please see my previous post “Free to Offend”

By: dj357

dj357 — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:09:35 +0000

I doubt it, but i’ll do my best, I’m living in West cork at the moment and don’t get fininshed work until 6pm, busses are very laxidaisical down here so I probably won’t be back in time

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:15:34 +0000

Nice to see you back on the blog Darragh.

Any chance we might see you in the Locke on Friday? http://www.meetup.com/Atheist-Ireland-in-Limerick/calendar/11810468/