Tales from the south

[Stoker53]

Mr, Rich, I'm sorry if I upset you but you must not be reading carefully at all. The anti-gay billboard was an example. My response to LoneW was angry, not with a hidden agenda, but fueled nonetheless by his provoking. As for the Religion thread. The posters were all sharing and then LoneW ( who already had made his bad behavior apparent ) went on that thead and made a joke that is discourteous. It is the same discourtesy as the so-called "truth" billboards put up in the name of religion but is actually a control device via hate-mob-mentality which brings us back to, yes, the subject, the South.

I don't think I am anymore highstrung than you.

And again, the question about why I know about gay brooklyn when Ilive in NH, is still a stupid question. Don't you think ( given LoneW's record o posting and provoking) that his irrelevent question was meant to provoke?

Just to make sure that I understand your point here..........

I'm assuming that your are a Christian Reverand. If not please clarify for me.

The 7th Commandment is : You shall not commit adultery

Adultery is defined, in this context, as sexual relations outside the bond of marriage. Marriage is defined, again in the biblical context, as the blessed union between a man and a woman.

So there are groups of religious people who believe that homosexuality is a breach of the 10 Commandments. Hence a sin in the eyes of God. These groups pay money for a billboard reaffirming their beliefs and encouraging those who break this commandment to stop. The intent, based on their religious teaching, is that by encouraging a turn from sin and toward God, the person will escape the fires of hell.

Your view is that this practice is "discourteous.....and a control device via hate-mob-mentality".

Do you object to highway signs encouraging seat belt use or warning of dangerous road conditions as well? The intent is the same. To save a person from danger.

Would you also object to a sign against murder or robbery? They are also part of the 10 Commandments. Equally sinful in the eyes of God.

Or do you pick and choose which of God's Commandments you follow?

Just curious.....

[the goat]

Why is it ridiculous, goat, you responded and agreed in part. Are your friends native New Yorkers?

i agreed that "NYC rudeness" is a stupid generalization and ill-founded.

however, saying that the rude people in NYC, are those who moved up from the south is pretty dumb. it's hard to decry generalizations in one breath, and then make one in the next. it kinda takes the wind out of your entire point.

[TrailReverend]

Just to make sure that I understand your point here..........

I'm assuming that your are a Christian Reverand. If not please clarify for me.

The 7th Commandment is : You shall not commit adultery

Adultery is defined, in this context, as sexual relations outside the bond of marriage. Marriage is defined, again in the biblical context, as the blessed union between a man and a woman.

So there are groups of religious people who believe that homosexuality is a breach of the 10 Commandments. Hence a sin in the eyes of God. These groups pay money for a billboard reaffirming their beliefs and encouraging those who break this commandment to stop. The intent, based on their religious teaching, is that by encouraging a turn from sin and toward God, the person will escape the fires of hell.

Your view is that this practice is "discourteous.....and a control device via hate-mob-mentality".

Do you object to highway signs encouraging seat belt use or warning of dangerous road conditions as well? The intent is the same. To save a person from danger.

Would you also object to a sign against murder or robbery? They are also part of the 10 Commandments. Equally sinful in the eyes of God.

Or do you pick and choose which of God's Commandments you follow?

Just curious.....

This isn't a commandment issue, it is an issue about basic human kindness and respect which when I last checked was practiced by Jesus. Making people feel bad, maginalized, because of their choices is anti-christian, anti-Jesus and anti-american. It is hurtfull to someone. One group's interpretation of the bible doesn't make it correct to put up signs like that. That sounds closer to Nazism than Christianity. Maybe Jesus should have put up anti Leper signs or anti-mary-magdalegne signs, but he didn't. This type of hate billbaord os typical for the South where confederate flags still wave, and for what, nostaglia about how to dominate and marginalize people in a legal way. The sooner Southerner wake up, the sooner the rest of us can look forward to a peaceful co-existance and brighter future.

[TrailReverend]

Also, are you seriously comparing highway signs and education about safety to marginalizing people and spewing hatred?

[MOWGLI]

I think your on to something. On this site I've been attcked and told I was rude a few times and I didn't understand why. I think in the south the WAY you say things is as important as WHAT you say. In New York, the WAY you say somethiung or how you sound saying it is irrelevent compared to WHAT you are saying. It's not important for us to be very polite but rather how we act when it counts.

Here's one thing I don't understand. On one hand you say it's not important to be "very polite" in New York (which is a crock - IMO) and on the other hand you are very sensitive - citing a poem as the catalyst for your anger. Most New Yorkers that I know are tough - not thin skinned. While that's a generalization, wouldn't you tend to agree with me?

[TrailReverend]

I think part of being tough is fighting for what you believe and from a place of conviction.

[TrailReverend]

Just to make sure that I understand your point here..........

I'm assuming that your are a Christian Reverand. If not please clarify for me.

The 7th Commandment is : You shall not commit adultery

Adultery is defined, in this context, as sexual relations outside the bond of marriage. Marriage is defined, again in the biblical context, as the blessed union between a man and a woman.

So there are groups of religious people who believe that homosexuality is a breach of the 10 Commandments. Hence a sin in the eyes of God. These groups pay money for a billboard reaffirming their beliefs and encouraging those who break this commandment to stop. The intent, based on their religious teaching, is that by encouraging a turn from sin and toward God, the person will escape the fires of hell.

Your view is that this practice is "discourteous.....and a control device via hate-mob-mentality".

Do you object to highway signs encouraging seat belt use or warning of dangerous road conditions as well? The intent is the same. To save a person from danger.

Would you also object to a sign against murder or robbery? They are also part of the 10 Commandments. Equally sinful in the eyes of God.

Or do you pick and choose which of God's Commandments you follow?

Just curious.....

It is also presumptuous of you to think you understand God's intentions. I do not see anti-adultery signs. I do not see groups fighting portrayals of heterosexual adultery as they do with gay sibjects. How could you seriously tell me that there isn't a lot of warped hatred in the South. What about the groups that call pregant girls on teh phone with children's voices as a tactic to stop her from aborting the baby. It is a scare tactic, it is warped and wrong to verbally abuse someone especially an already frightened girl.

Throughout the centuries religion has been used by bad people to abuse others---the spanish inquisition, the crusades ( for which we are paying 4 now by the Muslims) the genocide and subjugation of the Native Americans---can't you see that you havent learned anything from history and that you are playing right into the hands of people who just want to control and take your money.

[Almost There]

Alright time for the Internegator to chime in!!! Whether homosexuality is a sin or not is for NONE of us to decide. These are people who deserve our compassion and understanding. What they do is between them and God. Are we that arrogant to tell others how they should live their lives? Come on Stoker, treat others as you would wish to be treated. Have you ever heard of , "Love thy neighbor as thy self."? It's not judge your neighbor. Closemindedness is the reason for the problems we see in our world. We don't have to understand, but we also need not judge nor fear that which we do not understand.

[KirkMcquest]

Here's one thing I don't understand. On one hand you say it's not important to be "very polite" in New York (which is a crock - IMO) and on the other hand you are very sensitive - citing a poem as the catalyst for your anger. Most New Yorkers that I know are tough - not thin skinned. While that's a generalization, wouldn't you tend to agree with me?

A. politeness is taken way more seriously in the south

B. A direct attack on where someone is from is not a matter of politeness, it is a direct attack. I can assure you while not holding the door for someone in N>Y will probably go unnoticed, making fun of where someone is from, where there mother and father is from will likely get you punched in the face.
C. If you read my post again you'll see that I said it's not how you say it, but what you say that counts. If you insult me with a smile and with nice words I'll still react.


Come on dude, this is obvious. I think you grasping at straws now to try and punch holes in my logic

[Cuffs]

Darwin rocks!

[TrailReverend]

Alright time for the Internegator to chime in!!! Whether homosexuality is a sin or not is for NONE of us to decide. These are people who deserve our compassion and understanding. What they do is between them and God. Are we that arrogant to tell others how they should live their lives? Come on Stoker, treat others as you would wish to be treated. Have you ever heard of , "Love thy neighbor as thy self."? It's not judge your neighbor. Closemindedness is the reason for the problems we see in our world. We don't have to understand, but we also need not judge nor fear that which we do not understand.

Thank you Almost There, I was thinking I was alone in my beliefs here.

[KirkMcquest]

A. politeness is taken way more seriously in the south

B. A direct attack on where someone is from is not a matter of politeness, it is a direct attack. I can assure you while not holding the door for someone in N>Y will probably go unnoticed, making fun of where someone is from, where there mother and father is from will likely get you punched in the face.
C. If you read my post again you'll see that I said it's not how you say it, but what you say that counts. If you insult me with a smile and with nice words I'll still react.


Come on dude, this is obvious. I think you grasping at straws now to try and punch holes in my logic

I think we're getting somewhere though. maybe you don't understand the difference between a direct, harsh delivery and a real offense. Someone could be coarse, ignoring all etiquette and still have a good and right message. Sometimes the prettily wrapped package doesn't have the best contents. Do you understand?

[ed bell]

Whenever you hear some scary story about a hiker run in with some weird locals, it always seems to be in the southern portion of the trail. Anyone have any stories/advice for getting out of there unscathed?

Just scanned the LONG list of posts here. Saw ZERO posts that concurred with the thread subject. No substantiaton from Kirk about these "scary stories that always seem to be from the southern portion of the trail"; No scary stories about "southern culture on the skids"; no advice on "getting out of there unscathed"; no run in with "weird locals down south"; no stories from a thru-hiker who did not come out unscathed. Truth is the Appalachian Trail has settled in quite nicely with the small trail towns down here. A common sentiment expressed by many is that care must be taken ANY time you hit an isolated road crossing because there will be a bad element anywhere you go. That being said, I have heard some stories of problems with locals down here. Most have EVERYTHING to do with land ownership issues, not "southerners hate Yankees so lets hassle the hikers", and have gradually simmered down in the past few years. These incidents have been discussed here for years. Negative thread subect + little to no support of thread topic's premise by the members of this group + LOADS of off topic comments = fun reading but no addition to this thread's usefulness. We have plenty of threads here at Whiteblaze that are similar to this one in regards to total views. It's not suprising. What is suprising is that virtually ALL the content is off the topic.

[KirkMcquest]

ED how about the two female hikers killed in virginia, for being lesbians. Hateful/ weird enough?

[Heater]

I guess if Ol' Neil can sing about us than anyone can.

Including Lynard Skynard, who responded to Young's song "Southern Man" with "Sweet home Alabama".

"I hope Neil Young will remember... Southern Man don't need him arooouuund anyhow"



BTW... there were no animosities between the artists. I was all tongue in cheek on Skynard's part.

[shades of blue]

I thought VA was in the North for sure (it is for North Carolinians )
Wasn't there a guy in PA who attacked people in a Gay bar just recently ( I know it was somewhere North of here). Also, the most Confederate battle flags I have ever seen were in Duncannon, PA...thought I was home.

Is there racism and hatred in the South...yes, of course there is. Are people from New York rude....of course they are...some of them, some of the time. To say all, or even most of a group of people is one way or another is pretty closed minded.

Some of the nicest people I have ever met are North of the Mason-Dixon line....some of them even have moved down South. Most people joke about Yankees or New Yorkers...but most of us don't believe it. In some ways we have different cultures...but mostly we are cut from the same cloth. I feel very safe in the Southern AT....I just use common sense....I feel the same way in the Northern AT....except for those huge rock slabs of NH and ME.....now that is scary.

[KirkMcquest]

Just to make sure that I understand your point here..........

I'm assuming that your are a Christian Reverand. If not please clarify for me.

The 7th Commandment is : You shall not commit adultery

Adultery is defined, in this context, as sexual relations outside the bond of marriage. Marriage is defined, again in the biblical context, as the blessed union between a man and a woman.

So there are groups of religious people who believe that homosexuality is a breach of the 10 Commandments. Hence a sin in the eyes of God. .....

Would you also object to a sign against murder or robbery? They are also part of the 10 Commandments. Equally sinful in the eyes of God.

Or do you pick and choose which of God's Commandments you follow?

Just curious.....

Thank you for helping to validate the premise of this site. This thread was designed/worded to expose who you really are. Keep'em com'in

[The Cheat]

I'd just like to state for the record that nobody from the South, North, East, or West has been mean to me.

[The Cheat]

Thank you for helping to validate the premise of this site. This thread was designed/worded to expose who you really are. Keep'em com'in

The premise of this site is to discuss the AT, not expose people for whom they really are. Anybody know if it's going to snow near Pawling this weekend?

[dizzyT]

Perhaps the people who pay for the billboards see this as an act of compassion. Trying to save these people from their eternal fates. No one is forced to read the billboard to use an argument of the left.

Of course if this scares them to the north I am ok with that too. J/K