I want it understood by all that the mars room is a place that is about acceptance or at least tolerance.

We are probably some of the smartest people in the community, and have to disrespect shown while in the mars room, a room full of geeks who were probably picked on in primary and/or high school, is not acceptable.

I would like to think that if ever a gay, black, overweight, midget, scientoligic couple were to come into the mars room, we would accept them with no trouble and that we would only mock them slightly for their belief in Scientology. but even that i would hope would quickly pass.
I would also like to think that the respect or at least tolerance would extend to symbols of things that people hold dear.

If you have a question about something that someone is or believes, i see no problem in asking them about it.
I also see no problem for gentle jokes or mocking of someone for previous words and actions, this is a social club for geeks. Be geeks, not idiots.

Well it depends. This gay, black, overweight, midget, scientoligic couple... are they furries? :P

On a serious note, as I've said elsewhere, everyone needs to learn a little tolerance and acceptance. Bible-bashing is a form of religious intolerance, and prejudice like that is grounds for exclusion from the university. I've said this before to people who have used they word "gay" as an adjective. We're enlightened minds paying through the nose for higher learning, we should know better.

We do not suffer bigots in the Mars room, especially so. It is a safe space for people who may very well not be accepted in other social circles. Regardless of race, colour or creed, you are welcome in the Mars room. Your intolerance isn't.

If I hear of anyone else in the Mars room feeling marginalised because of intolerant speech, I will gladly hunt down the offender and castrate them with a wooden spoon. Male or female.

*noted and agreed*

I agree and this being the case can we please have that bible placed else where? It makes me ill at ease okay?

Oh and just for the record I promise to stop posting in every single thread on MARS everytime i log on.

Why? It's a little green new testament, all it does is tell people to be nice to people.

I mean... it's there because some of the stuff in it is interesting, and some of the members were reading it for fun. It's not being pushed on you, although apparently it gets childishly thrown around...

...?

hm, I agree with Stawberi.

*goes and hides again*

sorry but the manner in which the person giving those minibibles out has attached bad meanings to those books. he was not offering them to people... he was harasing them. he offered once, then continually offered them to any who refuses like every 5 or 10 mins if you didnt move away quick enough (in some cases he then followed people).

he was pushing christianity and frankly thats not very christian...

if it were any other bible i would have full respect for it (i have a youth bible from the last youthalive concert at home and i read it on the occasion)

So because one bad person has handing out the green O'day bibles, they're automatically terrible?

What if one bad person was handing out Discworld books?

Not the time or place to talk about it. I'm quite sure that everyone can agree that pushing religion or unsubstantiated thoughts on anything academic, is not a good thing.
I actually have offered people the good omens book by terry pratchet and neil gaimon. I have an ebook copy as well =) (i have owned atleast 4 copies so i think that its ok for me to have an ebook of it, especially as i will be buying another copy when i get more money).
I will also be offering/leaving books about things that i find interesting or important in the club room for people to read if they want, unless i hear any objections? (the books are about long term thinking - environment and stuff like that)

I do not see anything wrong with having books of peoples interest within the mars room, provided the people putting them in understand they will not likely be treated as gently as you might treat them, and that the books are given at least a little respect.

But i do think that this should probably be brought up at one of the meetings so we can have a proper discussion on it, one that everyone can join in for and that will be made into minutes.

what? That book is =hillarity=!

On O-day we were opening it up to random pages and reading 'Fire & Brimstone' style to random people, it was awesome.

Was this really needed?
I mean, is there any place that anti-social behaviour IS acceptable?

"I would like to propose a new constitutional amendment that it shall be unlawful and in breech of a members' terms of agreement of membership with MARS, for any member to defecate in the mars club room."

Yeah, recent events in the Mars room have proven it necessary. Disappointing, but true.

Look I know its just a little green book but it makes me uneasy okay? I just dont like having it in full display in the MARS room when I come in.

How about having a little respect for my beliefs? I dont like bibles okay?

Those of us who are not of the Christian or Catholic faith tend to not like the bible been pushed at us and admittedly we sometimes say and do silly things which may be taken as delibrately hurtful but we dont mean it. Just as no one means any harm when they leave a bible hanging around the MARS room but I dont like it being there, its offensive to me but you dont mean any harm.

I think this topic should be closed for now.
Things spoken badly will be hurtful and should be spoken about in person so as to reduce the chances of people not understanding what is meant.

For the records though, I went to a christian high school and lived two and a half years with my very christian grandparents. I'm an athiest and so is the rest of my immediate family.

Thats a good point , there are many ways to look at written words but fewer for spoken.

Okay, if you don't like bibles, that's okay.

I find it difficult to comprehend, but then as an atheist, the book holds little meaning to me, positive or negative.

As a bookgeek, I have to believe that all books are inherently good. :P

little books, no matter the contents, can hurt people... at high velocity

just thought i'd mention that to anyone who intended using books as weapons, even though they are... weapons of knowledge!!!!!

(PS: bigger books hurt too ;) )

Hard cover for the bludgeoning win! :D

*Picks up and weighs large encyclopedia in hand*

Useful

*Smacks someone on back of head with book*

Now thats a handy book.

i recomend a Clue X 4 .. very handy .. was standerd equipment when i was a tutor ..

it made lessons more fun .. well for me .. and they also learnt not to ask stupid questions ...

- joseph

The Biology textbook, can't remember it's name or authors, but it's dubbed the Biology brick, and it's the heaviest textbook i've ever come accross. I believe it's only available in hardcover too :)

now to build a balista to fire it at high velocities, cos you certainly aren't looking at ranged combat with it otherwise!

all you need is a balista, a spare set of encyclopedias and possibly fire (for added effect)... and your set of war!

... this thread suddenly got a bit out of hand

*Lines up catapult*

What ever do you mean Adian?

*Loads Catapult with large jars of oil then lights on fire*

I mean its just a little war

*Fires catapult with and watches the jar of oil smash and set the target area ablaze*

are there no bibliofiles in here, this disrespect for books... tisk tisk tisk.

*quietly smacks annoying cat with economics text*

We are all bibliophiles, that is the point.