I posted a while back about being kicked off a knitting-community website with no warning and no explanation. I still have yet to receive any response to the three polite emails I sent to the site owner and the “legal” department. The only thing I ever received was a form letter that mentioned ‘vile’, ‘disruptive’ activities in which I supposedly engaged – I suppose to some people the fact that I am pro-life, anti-homosexual-marriage, and pro-traditional-morals might be vile, but I didn’t force anyone to read my posts, and I certainly never adopted an “avatar” which deliberately set out to offend other users of the site.
Not so for some people. An online friend recently posted the following images, which I find greatly offensive, as an example of the avatars that some active Ravelry users find amusing:
This person identifies herself in her profile as:
“Raptor Mary, mother of Jesusaurus Rex”
These things ought to offend anyone who professes to be a Christian. They are especially offensive to me, a Catholic, because they mock Christ our Savior, His Sacred Heart, His Blessed Mother the Theotokos, and show incredible disrespect towards the Vicar of Christ Pope Benedict XVI.
I am glad to be gone from Ravelry. If this is the kind of behavior and images that are welcome and encouraged there, then the only reason for me to be there would be for me to vocally and continually protest this blasphemy.
Please join me in praying for the conversion of the Ravelry site owners, and for the conversion of this Ravelry user and those like her.
11 responses so far ↓
atheling // April 17, 2009 at 9:11 pm |
I have half a mind to contact the Catholic League.
Jane Doe // April 18, 2009 at 7:11 am |
As vile and hate-filled as the images are, God has already forgiven her. If she could be made aware of this, it would either give her eternal salvation or drive her further into the darkness of insanity. We can only pray that her path to tolerance and understanding is brightened by the light of Christ Our Savior.
SimplyMe // April 18, 2009 at 7:37 am |
Jon Donahue would probably be all over that. It’s ridiculous that those images are considered okay. Per their terms: You agree to not use their service if: You agree not to use the Service to:
1.
upload, post, email, transmit or otherwise make available any Content that is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, tortious, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, libelous, invasive of another’s privacy, hateful, or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable;
Now I would say that’s pretty objectionable to a great many people.
Bonnie // April 18, 2009 at 9:00 am |
This particular user claims to be an atheist, however in my humble opinion she is Christianphobic and is simply mirroring the mind set of the people who own and operate Ravelry. Jess and Casey have made it quite clear that it is acceptable to bash Christians. These are very sad people and we should all be thankful that we are no longer associated with an organization that actively encourages and promotes this type of behavior.
kathy // April 18, 2009 at 9:33 am |
I’m not Roman Catholic but I also find them offensive, and it makes me even happier that I am no longer on that particular site. My life is much happier now
Knitter // April 18, 2009 at 11:41 am |
I’m not Catholic, but even as a protestant Christ-follower, I am offended by that person’s blasphemy regarding Christ, and her disrespect towards Mary and the Pope. I pray that she will have an experience similar to that of Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus. Or else one similar to that of Lot’s wife, who loved the life she lived in the cesspool of Sodom.
Tammy // April 18, 2009 at 11:48 am |
Thanks for the reminder of what I don’t miss about Ravelry. Based on my experience, the site owners will do nothing about it either. It’s very sad.
Patricia // April 18, 2009 at 1:49 pm |
Those avatars are not only derogatory, they display a juvenile sense of “humor.” My question for Jane Doe is, isn’t sorrow a precursor to forgiveness? One must be aware of their offense/sin, ask for forgiveness, & have a firm purpose of amendment not to do wrong again in order to be forgiven. Christ’s mercy & forgiveness are there, but we cannot presume it is ours if we do not seek Him.
Julie // April 18, 2009 at 3:13 pm |
So sad that this kind of disrespectful stuff is allowed. What is wrong with the owners to allow such disgusting displays to stay? It says a lot about their values and concern for their patrons. Very sad indeed!
Dawnfire // April 19, 2009 at 5:32 am |
As a Lutheran and I find this very offensive. The double standard is very frustrating. Thank you for posting this.
Chrisknits // April 19, 2009 at 8:15 pm |
Wow, they just continue to go down the toilet over there. What’s next? I am just glad I am not there to see it anymore.