If a Christian is offended...

[Sir Patrick Crocodile]

Originally Posted by JesusisLord

Christians are not easily offended

...unless you speak to them.

[Rhys]

I've never worn an atheist t-shirt for anyone to be offended by however I was once "told off" for swearing by a woman on a train who said that my swearing was offensive to her because she was a Christian.

I would like to have said something like "Well, I'm offended by your religions incessant homophobia and brainwashing of children" or to take a patronising approach "Oh, you poor thing, how dull it must be to go through life thinking your life has no meaning but for a Palestinian zombie dying 2,000 years ago".

Sadly, I wasn't quick enough for either of those responses and merely shrugged and turned away.

[I_FH]

Originally Posted by owheelj

Thanks for the advice. I think you'll find that current forestry issues are a much bigger "sore spot," than the dam issue, which is what my shirt was about. But yes, there have been many discussions over the years since this happened about what the bogan response to the other shirt would have been. Unfortunately I was thinking about general public appropriateness, rather than political attitudes. I did learn a valuable lesson though.

Both issues are "Greenies" vs "Blue Collar"
Both times, environment vs jobs. Public appropriateness is not always the same as what you can get away with at the local watering hole, sitting next to the unemployed forestry bloke...

[prudie]

Anecdotally (and I have no evidence for this) but I suspect christians have difficulty understanding irony.

I have two tshirts that I now refuse to wear because christians have ruined them for me.....

One has a large picture of an eye and the text "Every time you touch yourself Jesus is watching". I had fundies come up to me on a train once while wearing it. They were so excited and wanted to know where I got it from because they loved it so much.

The other one has a culturally acceptable image of the mythical character jesus with the text "Jesus is coming. Quick everyone look busy". I had fundies come up to me in the mall, all excited and telling me how much they loved my shirt and clearly I had let jesus into my heart and was waiting for him to return.

It takes all the fun out of it when they aren't offended as far as I'm concerned!

[Sir Patrick Crocodile]

prudie: How did the christians ruin your shirt? Was it on a washing line when they did it? Did one of them put coffee in the washing machine and it turned brown?

[prudie]

Originally Posted by Crocodile

prudie: How did the christians ruin your shirt? Was it on a washing line when they did it? Did one of them put coffee in the washing machine and it turned brown?

Lol no I refuse to wear them because clearly they are not as offensive as I thought they were. Takes all the fun out of it.

Don't forget I am from Sydney where in 2008 NSW Parliament gave Police powers to arrest and fine people for "causing annoyance" to World Youth Day pilgrims. That's when I bought most of my "offensive" tshirts

[DanDare]

Originally Posted by JesusisLord

I would not be offended at all

Thanks Jesus, that's most refreshing.

[JesusisLord]

Yes it is a generalisation and hence there are many exceptions. Evidence for the truth of it - me I have had many opportunities to be offended and have rested the urge.
Thanks for your welcome to the forum, I expect I will learn many things and hopefully become wiser for the experience.

[Sir Patrick Crocodile]

Originally Posted by prudie

Lol no I refuse to wear them because clearly they are not as offensive as I thought they were. Takes all the fun out of it.

Don't forget I am from Sydney where in 2008 NSW Parliament gave Police powers to arrest and fine people for "causing annoyance" to World Youth Day pilgrims. That's when I bought most of my "offensive" tshirts

Ah that stupidity; I remember it well.
And that same year, the idiotic government classified laser pointers above 1mW as prohibited weapons.

[Inedifix]

Originally Posted by DebinMelbourne

I forget the best thing to say if by chance a Christian says they are offended by your shirt/badge/book, etc . . . Any ideas?

How about: "Excellent! I was worried it was malfunctioning."