[Cloudbringer]

Originally posted by Fljotsdale: Mm. Good points Cloudy. *sigh* I can see where you are coming from and I largely agree, but.... I guess I am just used to having good no-holds-barred debates with people - even heated debates - and us all staying friends despite holding strongly opposed views. I find walking on eggshells is something I really hate - had to do it all my life with a close relative, lol! I DO appreciate that this is easier if you have established friendly relations first but it is also possible with total strangers - I have done it! And I understand about using the terms a specific group of people want, and I also do so whenever I can in good conscience - but sometimes it goes so very strongly against the grain! What of the way I (or anyone else) may feel about using a particular term? Does that count for nothing? This is why we need tolerance, of course! (I am guessing you are thinking god, christian? You (and others) find it offensive for people not to capitalise those words, while I have a deep antipathy to using capitals for those words myself, and will only do so if they are the first word in a sentence. So what do we do? I know I am in a minority, but I do not think I should be obliged to follow the majority by doing something I personally find offensive. I don't mind other people using capitals if they want to - and I would like other people to be just as tolerant of me NOT using capitals. The best I can do is to avoid using the words where at all possible. No offence intended, Cloudy.

LOL. Fljotsdale, we are in different ballparks here! I had in mind such terms asMoni mentioned (Negro, Black, African American, People of Color...etc) and you and capitalization didn't occur to me!

I accept that you don't capitalize and trust that you accept that it does some of us. And yes, tolerance is the key, I certainly don't plan a flame war over it! LOL And it's not a matter of who is majority and who is minority, it's a matter of respect for individuals. I am a Christian with a capital C, that's how I view myself and how I'd like to be addressed when my faith is discussed. If you wanted me to capitalize Atheist because it was important to you, I'd certainly try to remember that, although it means nothing to me. Same as I do spelling out your name or using the one letter. Because you asked me to and I find no harm in obliging that way!

But I did mean the other terms to describe ethnic groups as Moni discussed in her very good post. It does indeed become complicated knowing what term to use!

Cloudy

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Raindancer of the Laughing Hyenas Clan
CloudDragon of the OHF
Storm-Queen
Raven's Cloud
StormCloud of the Black Knight: Heart Mind Soul Forever
"To sleep, perchance to dream..."

[This message has been edited by Cloudbringer (edited 10-29-2001).]