Now I'm not sure whether you guys are fighting or discussing, so forgive me for trying to be the happy girl scout and trying to solve things:P If things aren't as bad as I think they are then just ignore this post. I'm just worried to see you arguing so fiercely...
I think I can understand both of you here. While I didn't particularly appreciate your joke, Din, I also think you could have been less aggressive, Hobby.
How about you both just accept that neither of you had the intention of hurting the other's feelings? Neither of you is Wrong with a capital W. I'm wondering what you're trying to achieve.
If I may guess, I think that Hobby would appreciate Din acknowledging that this thread might not have been the best place for a joke about Christian persecutions. Din, if someone started a thread about Jewish traditions, I wouldn't come in with a joke about how the Holocaust might not have been such a bad idea, because Orthodox Jews are so darn difficult to get along with. Or comment in a Pagan thread that it's a shame that the Church didn't manage to destroy Paganism completely. It's just...you know. It's a sensitive thing. Say that at a moot and I'll laugh and stick my tongue out at you and probably answer with something equally nasty, and we can both laugh but in this thread it's just hurtful. Even though I know you didn't mean it to be.
On the other hand, Din would probably appreciate it if Hobby understood that he didn't mean harm, and didn't try and make him admit that he did. Hobby, he said he meant it as a joke. Okay, it wasn't in tune with the atmosphere of growth and lenten reflection this thread was supposed to be , but is that a reason to go on and on about it. In fact, in the very spirit of Lent, shouldn't we be gentle, understanding, tolerant?
A year or two ago I started telling my friends about things that made me feel uncomfortable. "Can you please try and not say "Jesus f****** Christ" around me...cause it hurts my feelings." Guess what...people listened and tried. It's a two-way thing. My request must be polite and trusting for their reaction to be honest and willing.
So I don't know. I feel like an ass trying to play peacemaking teacher but I gotta take a stand here. I've been afraid to look into this thread for a week! Either you just both apologise to each other or something...or...I don't know. Right now I think you're arguing to prove that you both had a right to be angry. Well...yes, you did. But stay angry any longer and you both just look silly. This really isn't worth you guys losing respect for each other.