Neopets Religious I think NOT!

[Fiddelysquat]

If she had mentioned Jesus, Alah, Buddha, or Aphrodite, she'd have gotten the same treatment.

[Nani]

it is a sad day on which all Jews fast.

So, it would be offensive if someone said "Happy Yom Kippur"? Ding ding ding, that could be why she got the warning.

Edit: After doing some quick reading on it, it doesn't sound like it would be "offensive", just... kind of dumb to say it.

TNT takes dumb to a whole new level of offensiveness... or is that takes offensive to a whole new level of stupidity. Example, they take saying "Do you want Neopoints?" as a freezable offense. (as they should, I will say!) Of course I want NeoPoints. Everyone wants NeoPoints, if only to give away.

But maybe there's a point in the "happy Yom Kippur" thing being offensive?

[Ammer]

If she had mentioned Jesus, Alah, Buddha, or Aphrodite, she'd have gotten the same treatment.

It's spelt A-L-L-A-H Fidds

[Moogum]

If she had mentioned Jesus, Alah, Buddha, or Aphrodite, she'd have gotten the same treatment.

Aphrodite? I fail to see how talking about mythological characters is a bad thing. Once again (like with the Anubis and Horus), you have to seperate MYTH from actual RELIGION. Maybe it's just me, but I definately see a difference between saying "Whos you're favourite Egyptian God" and "Hail Allah!"

[Shifty]

Heh... As a Jew, I'd just like to point out that Yom Kippur is not a day on which you wish people a happy holiday; rather, it is a sad day on which all Jews fast.

That aside, I agree with everyone else that I'd need both sides of the story to come up with an unbiased opinion.

I actually consider Yom Kippur one of the funnest holidays in the year.
But if you don't live in Israel you probably wouldn't understand.

And even so, it isn't a sad day, it about asking god to forgive you for your sins.

[everconfused]

If she had mentioned Jesus, Alah, Buddha, or Aphrodite, she'd have gotten the same treatment.

Aphrodite? I fail to see how talking about mythological characters is a bad thing. Once again (like with the Anubis and Horus), you have to seperate MYTH from actual RELIGION. Maybe it's just me, but I definately see a difference between saying "Whos you're favourite Egyptian God" and "Hail Allah!"

OK, if I didn't understand before why religion isn't allowed on the site (which I do), I really understand now. Yes, everyone here is being polite and bringing up different thoughts and showing us different viewpoints. But that's what they are -- different viewpoints as well as different beliefs. Asking "Who's your favorite Egyptian God" could be the same as "Who's your favorite Saint" depending on the person asked, if you get my drift.

What is Myth to one person can be Religion to another, and vice versa. So to me there is no difference between saying Blessed Be or Aset Shemsu and God Bless or Ah'allahmakalekum (please, please excuse my horribly mangled English phonetic spelling of Peace Be Upon You - living in a neighborhood with many followers of Islam, I hear this wonderful greeting every day, but am totally lost on how to truly spell it. I mean absolutely no disrespect, I truly DO respect peoples' beliefs).

Anyway, getting to this petition and what led up to it...I for one, would like to be able to see the original post on the board, responses, etc., the warning and what was written to Support that ended with this particular freezing.

[Moogum]

I bet her warning, or at least the moderators thought behind the warning, was probably something like "Please try not to discuss religion on the boards. While a simple greeting may seem fine, it may lead to a religious arguement that would be unwanted". And then the poster probably took that offensively and said something bad to get her frozen.

[Johnnydontgo]

*Walks back in*

Pertaining to the Chistmas Paintbrush and Easter Neggs, if we want to argue about anything, it is how society has commercialized these two religious holidays to the extent that they can be celebrated by everyone, but then complains that they are discriminatory.

Exactly. Thank you.
*Walks back out*

But they aren't celebrated by everyone. None of my Jewish friends celebrate them--they don't have Christmas trees and Easter baskets. In fact, they feel that Christmas and Easter are crammed down their throats enough during those holidays--so why should they have to tolerate it on a site that is worldwide. Just because these relgious holidays have been commercialized, doesn't mean that they should be allowed to remain on the site while other religions are banned. In my opinion, to be fair, you either have to let everybody's religion in or no one's religion in.

Instead of things being Christmas and Easter, why not change it so that it is seasonal?

Sorry, I cute your quote to save a little space...
No, they're not celebrated by everyone, but the point Moogum (and myself) was trying to make was that even people who aren't particularly "religious" still celebrate the gift giving, and the tree decorating (both traditions an echo of the Pagan holidays) that have come to be the symbols of Christmas. And like your Jewish friends said, it IS crammed down people's throat. Like I said before, I was raised Jewish, and my father is still a practicing Jew, and we feel the commercial push to buy more red and green pretties during December.

I guess the Neopets factor come in right here; Of all the religious holidays, Christmas is the one that has lost the most soul. By that I mean that for the majority of America (majority, mind you), Christmas has absolutely nothing to do with Christ, it has to do with Hallmark, and Adidas, and Barbie. And all those things can't possibly be offensive. So Neopets puts it in, without much of a thought to other, less commercialised, holidays.

And yeah, don't wish someone a Happy Yom Kippur, lol.

[gatomon180]

*Walks back in*

Pertaining to the Chistmas Paintbrush and Easter Neggs, if we want to argue about anything, it is how society has commercialized these two religious holidays to the extent that they can be celebrated by everyone, but then complains that they are discriminatory.

Exactly. Thank you.
*Walks back out*

But they aren't celebrated by everyone. None of my Jewish friends celebrate them--they don't have Christmas trees and Easter baskets. In fact, they feel that Christmas and Easter are crammed down their throats enough during those holidays--so why should they have to tolerate it on a site that is worldwide. Just because these relgious holidays have been commercialized, doesn't mean that they should be allowed to remain on the site while other religions are banned. In my opinion, to be fair, you either have to let everybody's religion in or no one's religion in.

Instead of things being Christmas and Easter, why not change it so that it is seasonal?

Sorry, I cute your quote to save a little space...
No, they're not celebrated by everyone, but the point Moogum (and myself) was trying to make was that even people who aren't particularly "religious" still celebrate the gift giving, and the tree decorating (both traditions an echo of the Pagan holidays) that have come to be the symbols of Christmas. And like your Jewish friends said, it IS crammed down people's throat. Like I said before, I was raised Jewish, and my father is still a practicing Jew, and we feel the commercial push to buy more red and green pretties during December.

I guess the Neopets factor come in right here; Of all the religious holidays, Christmas is the one that has lost the most soul. By that I mean that for the majority of America (majority, mind you), Christmas has absolutely nothing to do with Christ, it has to do with Hallmark, and Adidas, and Barbie. And all those things can't possibly be offensive. So Neopets puts it in, without much of a thought to other, less commercialised, holidays.

And yeah, don't wish someone a Happy Yom Kippur, lol.

and you claim neopets is racist. you seem to be singling out christmas'
I dont see posts about how haloween repesents the animal sarfices made by the pagens and repeast for the dead.and these are posts supingly bare of of pumpkin kikos and wicth lennys

[Johnnydontgo]

I never said Neopets was racist. On the contrary, I said they weren't. I don't have a problem with Christmas paintbrushes, items, etc. Nor do I see anything wrong with the witch bruce,etc.. My personal opinion on the matter is this; if you don't want to see it, don't paint your pet. Don't go to the Advent Calendar. Don't wish everyone a Merry Christmas, a Happy Halloween. If parents will teach their children properly, a Jewish child will understand that many people celebrate Christmas, and it's no offense to them.

Just a note, though. The reason people are focusing on Christmas, is because the first post on this thread was debating a kid who said Neopets was racist because he stated he was a Jew on the Neoboards, and got frozen. So the topic of Halloween wasn't on the topic, per se. So there's your answer, lol.

[bigheapnoname]

YOu know, I live in the middle east (in fact im guilty of saying Happy Eid) lol.. but anyways.. Its a common to name boys here Jesus and Mohammed.. So would neopets not allow someone to create their own account if their name was Jesus.. Also if Im not mistaken Jesus (pron) heysus) you know with an H sound for the J is very common in South America societies. But the spelling is still Jesus. So what if they felt they wanted to name their pet a common boys name? I assume you couldnt then.

[skizzy the wonder lizard]

No, they're not celebrated by everyone, but the point Moogum (and myself) was trying to make was that even people who aren't particularly "religious" still celebrate the gift giving, and the tree decorating (both traditions an echo of the Pagan holidays) that have come to be the symbols of Christmas. And like your Jewish friends said, it IS crammed down people's throat. Like I said before, I was raised Jewish, and my father is still a practicing Jew, and we feel the commercial push to buy more red and green pretties during December.

I guess the Neopets factor come in right here; Of all the religious holidays, Christmas is the one that has lost the most soul. By that I mean that for the majority of America (majority, mind you), Christmas has absolutely nothing to do with Christ, it has to do with Hallmark, and Adidas, and Barbie. And all those things can't possibly be offensive. So Neopets puts it in, without much of a thought to other, less commercialised, holidays.

i am not a religious person, and i refuse to celebrate christmas for both its pagan and christian ties. and i DO get offended when the holiday is crammed down my throat.
i can deal with it in malls and stores, because malls and stores don't have blatant DO NOT DISCUSS RELIGION signs. neopets does. i don't care if some people think that christmas and easter have "lost the most soul," they're still religious holidays. and neopets should absolutely not have anything religious on the site if they want to stick to their own rules. it's hypocritical, and above all, it's choosing one religion over another simply because it is more mainstream, and that is wholly unfair and downright morally wrong.

neopets treatment of christmas is discrimination, pure and simple.

[mushiz]

I don't bother to read what is before.
But i just want to post my comments here.


Not long ago, my school celebrates. Religious Harmony!
This teaches us to respect each of every religion.
I am clear of my faith, and know what is right and what is wrong.
But if i were to say which religion is wrong, or discriminate others,
then it will cause riot. so i can advise or correct a person
privately, but not openly. So i guess that neopets is not allowing
religious things to be inside becoz they scared that there is a "breakout"
in the board.


But this is what and how i react to playing neopets from past to now.
It shows how evil people can be over games..
I have been playing Neopets for not many Years.Since P5 till now sec2.
About 3 years.

During these 3 years. I've found myself to be in a very shaky
situation.

For the first Year, i played Neopets as a form of Enjoyment.
Maybe at that time i was still very childish, so i love those cartoon
characters, But as time flies. When i was in Primary 6,
My motivation of playing Neopets changed.
I became very Evil in playing.
I play it badly. Hacking people's Account, and freezing them.
Dun ask me how i did it. I was still a 11year old child and did so many
bad things for the bad motivtion. I tried all sorts of ways to get things
right. BUt i was still cheated in the process and my
account was also hacked.
When i was in secondary 1.
i played it worst. i played like crazy. and my motivation for using
computer was just to play. But at the same time, i was learning
all sorts of programming skills and also web design. graphic design.
I was again cheated in the late may. then i have to recreate an
account. Getting Pant Devil in first week, and getting full lab map, in first
week, earning money like free, and to prevent neopets from knowing
i have multiple accounts, i changed all the IP for the internet by
connecting and disconnecting and using multiple computers to login.
All the accounts have their own personality. and to prevent suspicion,
i send "fake" neomails to get things like 2 person trading, transfering
things of the same value.

Later i was one of the 59th user who won the Volcano mystery.
i won a fruit bomb and only a stingy amount of np. but later.
the account was frozen, and all the multiple accounts which also
has hundred thousands of neopoints each, and a few got few millions
all got froozen. and i stopped playing neopets.

This year, about 1 week ago, i played neopets again.
this time i played it for a good purpose. I played it becoz i found that
it is a very good tool for evanglism.
I can try to share the gospel to my friends who were still playing.
Or make good use of it to communicate with my friends in school.



So, it is the motivation behind whether you are using it to do good or
bad things. Neopets is just a game. It is just how you use or play it.
I don't know why each of you play neopets now.
It could be for self glory. Like showing off your "property".

Different games teaches different things.Or influences people
differently.

But i thinks that you can play but you must be clear of what you are
doing and must be accountable to God.

If you don't get what i am talking about then ignore it.
My English isn't very good.

[crazxxred]

if this person made a board to wish other people a happy holliday, it is SPAM and TNT has everyright to freeze that person. Talking about religion is against the rules, and it is spam, so thats 2 rules broken right there,.
If this person then turned around and made a board complaining about it, that is spam again.

There was a board the other day that I saw that had some girl with a petition asking us to be able to discuss religion. Her arguement is that "oh some people need to talk about it" I argued back and forth with her that there are no message boards appropriate to discuss religion, and if you noticed, all of the boards are to discuss neopets related topics. More and more people are assuming that they can just talk about whatever they want on the chat boards, and I think thats a problem.

[everconfused]

YOu know, I live in the middle east (in fact im guilty of saying Happy Eid) lol.. but anyways.. Its a common to name boys here Jesus and Mohammed.. So would neopets not allow someone to create their own account if their name was Jesus.. Also if Im not mistaken Jesus (pron) heysus) you know with an H sound for the J is very common in South America societies. But the spelling is still Jesus. So what if they felt they wanted to name their pet a common boys name? I assume you couldnt then.

I have seen a number of names, both user, pet and petpet that have Jesus in them. Don't recall seeing Mohammed to be honest. Yes, that is a name (with the "h" pron) and that could be a sticky thing. With the no religious/political rule, people could (and I would guess) have been frozen for "inappropriate name" which would be beyond mad. I do have to say, though, most of the times when I see someone post on the boards with Jesus in their username, they're usually the people posting things like "Christian Chat", "If you love God come here", "Neopets is the devil's work", etc. getting people riled up and ending up in huge fights and people being warned and/or frozen. Just my observation...

Mushiz, it sounds like you've been through every possible type of player on Neo, the good and the bad. And you've changed your ways and now play honestly. Good for you! Really. But Neopets is not the place for spreading the Gospel, nor is it a tool for evangelism. If you want or need to witness to people there are many other places to do that, not a game site. Sorry, that's the rule and that's how I feel. I wouldn't go on the site and make a board trying to talk about my beliefs. I feel that they are private and personal -- that goes for all faiths and beliefs.

Craz, people try to get away with so much on the boards, then get mad and upset when they're reported or a monitor sees their topic and they get warned or frozen. Some off-topic is ok. I mean we're not little robots -- yet. But making a topic and trying to argue that people "need" to talk about religion on the site, well that's asking for trouble.

When I see a post with something like that, I simply and politely ask them if they've read the T&C and the Chat Rules, that what they're posting is against the rules and they should stop. Usually I end up getting some fairly harsh (very *cough* Christian language/behavior) posts back...I keep my neomails to nf only so I don't get flamed there.

I honestly think they need to take the "report this message" off the board topics. Too many report happy people reporting for just about anything and everything. I've seen people reported for actually asking a valid Neopets help related question. Yes, reporting is necessary sometimes, but not as often as people are doing it lately. And I don't think just posting "Happy whatever and that's all they're doing should be grounds for a warning. It may be spam, but it's such harmless spam compared to chain letters, scammers, people begging, trying to sell their pets/accounts, party boards (arg), am I fat, etc. ... things like that.

That's why I think there's more to this whole warning/freezing than a simple Happy involved. If they were going to warn everyone who said that and then freeze them, they would do so during a holiday. I haven't seen that happen - yet.