Free Nichiren Buddhism
We don't have avatars here. Too bad. Over on another board some people have mounted (pun intended) a campaign to get me to change mine (I'm John over there). It's pretty funny. Hope you can see it without joining.
http://www.grammarboard.com/ip...
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15 comments
I was going to get up in your grill with a question like, "Uh, what does this have to do with Nichiren Buddhism or Buddhism in general?"But I got to thinking.It's about identity. Personal identity and the way we represent ourselves to the world. Buddhism teaches that identity is illusory -- we are not necessarily who we think we are. Further, how we present ourselves to the world may communicate something very different than we intend. It may say more about us than others really want to know.For example, suppose we choose to represent our online personality with a photo of a woman's breasts. Because such a photo is so hugely Buddhist and decent and human. How can anyone complain about it? A picture, like personal identity, is empty of concrete, intrinsic identity. It is illusion. It doesn't matter that the avatar/photo/identity is wildly inappropriate for an online message board about grammar.Is that what you're trying to say? If not, I don't get it.Sooo glad BuddhaJones doesn't allow avatars.
Another person who takes himself WAY too seriously. And has some mommy issues to work out as well. :)
Nor does he see the irony in chastising SGI for trying to control people, yet does the same thing himself.
Well, for your information, cultmember, I also fail to see what this has to do with Buddhism, and the chastising of the SGI part must be subtle, real subtle. But what I would like to know is why you felt that another snotty remark/personal attack was in order. I mean, what's the point in being a jerk? Or can't you help yourself?I hate to stoop to your level by responding in the way I have, but as I said before, I am tired of seeing this stuff. These combative discussions and the childish insults accomplish absolutely nothing, outside of making those of you who engage in this crap look bad. As it is, except for the sidebars on the right, this site is a real waste of time. It needn't be if you guys could grow up.
I thought it would be amusing. This objection from someone who calls his blog "the daily slander." I didn't realize you both had huge sticks up yer butts. What's it got to do with Nichiren Buddhism? Conform to what we want, or you will be shown the door. Isn't that what you guys are complaining about all the time?
What are you talking about? Are we in the same thread? Daily Slander? Isn't that Joe Isuzu? I don't see any comments from him, how did he get mixed up in this? I have no idea what you mean by "Conform to what we want, or you will be shown the door. Isn't that what you guys are complaining about all the time?"Who are you talking to? You obviously don't have a clue to what I am complaining about.
Cultmember, I come at this issue from a different perspective perhaps because I am a woman. I see nothing amusing about objectifying women's bodies. It's just not funny. Maybe to you it's hilarious and good natured and symbolic of your virility and free-thinking rakishness.To me, it shows you feel enormously entitled to use the female body for whatever purpose you choose. It shows that you haven't even begun to question the unearned privileges you enjoy in this culture as a male at the expense of women's dignity and, frankly, at the cost of women's physical safety and emotional well-being. It shows you're a jerk.This site is for discussion of Nichiren Buddhism. There are almost no rules here. You can bring up whatever topic you want as long as it somehow ties into Buddhism. With this post, it looks like you're just trolling, and trolling off topic to boot.Only two people have ever been banned from this site ever, and at least they stayed on topic.David is right about the deteriorating tone here. Some days, it's an awful chore to check in and read the latest postings. What's the deal?Maybe we should all review the basic idea for bringing this site back online in the first place. Link here.
Sorry, I thought you were David Leisure (Joe Isuzu). Davids, identify yourselves! mroaks is the one who complains about control and conformity in SGI. Then he tries to tell me what to do. That's the irony. Sorry I got mixed up, but...if you hate to stoop to my level, why do you?
I guess only the BJ approved irreverence. No sex allowed here! We're all repressed! What if I showed a picture of a woman's arm, or knee? Would that be objectification? Why is one part of the body allowed and another not? It's completely arbitrary, and due to your puritanical background. What if my avatar was of Michelangelo's David (another one!) or Venus de Milo? Would that be objectifying?
Markp, I can't let this statement pass without pointing out the dangerous ignorance:
I have lots of cool women friends who are straight. They are sick of men assuming that women want men to "desire" them. They don't. You're wrong in your assumption. Women "may complain" about your attitude? Hello! Maybe you should try to understand the concept of rape culture. http://wikimedia.org/wikipedia...Educate yourself.Also, your understanding of gender is obviously based on a strange imaginary world where gay, lesbian, bi and trans people don't exist.Oh, yeah. It's arbitrary. I mean, why can't you post a picture of your genitalia instead of a picture of your face? When you go get a driver's license or a passport, you should have a choice of whether to have a buttshot or a headshot taken. Otherwise it's proof that we're all sexually repressed.I appreciate irreverence. You're not being irreverent. You're being vulgar and exploitative and trying to defend your poor taste by insulting others.The kicker is that BuddhaJones doesn't use avatars. You came onto this board to bitch about something that happened on a different, unrelated message board!! This has nothing to do with Buddhism or BuddhaJones.This is a total non-issue that you brought up so you can talk about a photo of a woman's breasts and how cool and liberated you are because you don't recognize the inappropriateness of the situation.
I'm closing this thread to further comments. It's off topic.
There are always exceptions, but you would deny instinctual sexual behavior because you see distinctions which are irrelevant. Gay or straight sex has its roots in instinct, and all people that aren't denying this instinctual behavior for one reason or another are subject to it. It is clear to see everywhere.
I can only offer generalizations in regards to human nature because it is impossible to express all the complexities in words, so don't take everything as so straight forward as to cover all aspects of a given situation.