My dear Pierre,There's a bad habit of calling those with whom you don't agree, simply dislike, or just hate their guys, trolls. Now I don't know what triggers that name-calling, but I'm certain I don't like it, especially when one of the higher-ups has gone so far as to call me a troll in private (that is, through chat and private messages). You say the sin but not the sinner, though, and he knows who he is.
Despite this, and risking to be called a troll again just because I raised a politically incorrect issue from the dead again, I chose to speak up and stand my ground. If being hard-headed and coherent with the way I think means being a troll, then where's my bridge? I was raised in a Catholic household, and all my life I learned that gays were sinners, sick, and that they shouldn't exist. Yet look at me now: a staunch, fervent defender of the same sex marriage. What triggered this change?
It's simple. I'm not a bigot anymore. Back when I was a little kid, I didn't know better. But men learn from their mistakes, and so did I. It's not that
If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
but that
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
by which I became open to my neighbor, to respect and love them regardless of what they like, as long as it doesn't hurt anyone.
I don't have many best friends: with one of them I almost have a love relationship (what you'd call a bromance), and the other is a confessed homosexual. We've gone to gay discotheques together, and I find no shame in admitting it, despite my parents' hysteria. I've invited him to my house, gone to his, gone out for lunch with the three, and a long et cetera.
This is why I'm writing this today: because, as Roled says, I feel unwelcome in this game anymore. I have contributed, I considered donating (lack of a stable income prevented me from it), I tried my best to roleplay and shape the virtual world in which our imagination thrives. And yet, for voicing my opinion, I get hate, name-calling, and exclusion. But then again, I understand I haven't paid for this game, I don't think I will ever have the chance to, and it will remain in someone else's possession for a long time, and that it's someone else that doesn't share my point of view. And I will keep on playing, until life gives me enough lemons to make me consider myself retired from this scene.
Sincerely yours,
Mishka
