When did this happen?

Seems like I'm saying that alot, eh? :P

K, for today's rant I guess I'm in the same basic vein as before ... that I am wondering when something became acceptable. Actually I know the answer to when .... with the growth and increased use of the internet; but I guess I wish someone would think about this and realize that email is just another form of conversation. My rant this time is about the constant barrage of ones concerning religion, politics and sex.  

I think we were all raised with the admonition that polite conversation should never include religion or politics. Sex, of course, was so far from the realm of politeness, that it didn't even need to be included in this admonition.  

Then came the internet and email. Dirty jokes quickly were bantered about, no matter whether the recipient was straight laced or devoutly religious, extremely naive or whatever. My mother actually received jokes from (Christian!) friends that she didn't understand but forwarded anyhow because she figured they HAD to be funny considering who'd sent them.  

Quickly following the jokes came pictures .... a short lead in of innocuous content, followed by the smack in the face of nudes ... sometimes even animated!!! Now I will grant you that there's nothing more beautiful than a young and healthy human, but I don't find it necessary to look at pictures of them. And if I did want to look at pictures of them, I'd surely know where to find them rather than having them tossed into my face when I least expect it. Neither am I a prude. I just feel that there's a time and a place for everything; and email being conversation, one should give a moment's thought whether something might offend or not.... or maybe the receiver just isn't in the mood!!!

Then came the religious stuff. Greetings and God Bless You are one thing, but religious chain letters are REALLY annoying. And when the chain letter is entwined into religious content like a prayer or something, I find this particularly odd. Sometimes they will talk about "prayer" ... and prayer becomes "make a wish"!!!! It's like God's being made out to be some fairy godfather we're asking for toys. PULEEZE. And then comes the audacity to accuse you of being ashamed of God, or told that your "wish" won't be granted, or, worse yet!, that something bad will happen to you if you don't send this onward. I'm sorry, but this is just NOT my version of belief or of "spreading the word" either; and I feel one's spiritual beliefs are extremely personal ... and not for someone else to judge. I don't consider it polite to pass this stuff around unless it's a simple greeting, and especially not if it admonishes the receiver in any way!  

Lastly came the political crap. Yep, that's what it is .... crap. I think I've seen MAYBE 1% that isn't total fabrication, sensationalism and/or downright HATRED. When answering these and providing proof that they're untrue, you're often then accused of being argumentative, or ... LIBERAL, or SOCIALIST, or the latest ....COMMUNIST! The president's been in office for what, nine months? In that time he's made little change, only proposed changes because the whole system is such a wreck. It's obvious we're a sinking ship, and no matter who took the helm, it was inevitable that the people would make them out to be a bum.  And there it is ... Obama's being held responsible for things that have been going on for a long time ... definitely through the entire run of the last administration -- yeah, the one that either caused the mess or did nothing whatsoever to change it, i.e., the economy, the war(s), abortion, health care (and paying for abortions), illegal immigrants, taxes, etc., etc., etc. All these issues the emails are ranting about are not new -- but they're still blaming Obama (or someone in his cabinet/administration) OR saying he will allow them (when they already ARE allowed)!!! I just don't understand how intelligent people cannot remember less than a year ago or realize that these things have been going on for years. When Obama was (agreeably ridiculously) given the Nobel Peace Prize, they DID remember that he's changed nothing to date.

Okay, I won't turn this into yet another rant like the ones I'm ranting about (ironic, eh?); but I just wish people would realize that email is the new method of conversation ... and the rules of politeness should still apply.  

And oh! Have you noticed that most who send these emails will send at least one of each kind in rapid succession?  A dirty joke, a nude pic, then a deeply religious email or presentation, followed up by a right-wing/moral majority one.  What's up with THAT?

K, that's it. I'll shut up for now. :P

The Knitwit

PS - Pass this on to at least TEN friends within FIVE minutes of reading, or an airplane lavatory ice block (ewwww!) will smash through your roof! :P

Note: My current extra prayer/support list is:
- Lovlee  
- Gloria