Earlier another user posted the usual question about religion, death, and heaven. I saw this user allowed IM, and was also online, so I decided to IM her and answer in person.
Anyway, after explaining the origin of religion, etc etc - it turns out that this user is a 10 year old girl (who posts on the internet unsupervised!!!) and I basically told her that her nana died, when she previously thought she just moved far away (heaven).
She burst into tears, calling me a liar and saying god would punish me.
I really couldn't do much except apologize a few times, say she shouldn't listen to me and shouldn't even think about this until she's older, and certainly not use sites that let her talk to grownups who don't even know she's a kid. She was still very upset - her last question was how to block me. I think my answer worked.
So - given that I don't have a god to forgive me, is there anything I can do? Should I have done things differently? Should I, next time?
Am I a horrible person?
2007-02-02 14:40:23 · 31 answers · asked by eldad9 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Nameless person: I'm not, but if I were one, she'd be hurting me - for example, tell me I'm going to hell and preventing me from getting married.
Mariah- thanks, I've read it, it's a horrible horrible book. The hero is a sick twisted sadistic bastard.
Brooke - I really hope so.
Alucard - I am *not* going to discuss sex with a 10 year old girl, even though I'd probably do a better job than her parents.
I think I'm just not going to bother with anybody that can't spell very well from now on.
2007-02-02 14:59:20 · update #1
You apologized and that's all you can do. IF she really is 10 years old how were you to know? Her parents should not let her on the internet unsupervised. It's amazing to me what parents let their kids do.
You are NOT a horrible person.
But being an atheist you should know that there is no hell.
2007-02-02 14:53:58 · answer #1 · answered by Stormilutionist Chasealogist 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
While I don't agree with what you told her, you made the statement in good faith (no pun intended) that she was old enough and mature enough to be on this site asking adults questions. I don't think you are a horrible person, you just made an error due not knowing you you were talking to. Apologizing was good. That is all you can do. Don't try to apologize to her any more, or she might think you are harassing her (which I am sure you are not, but she's 10 and doesn't understand.) In the future, you might be a bit more careful, as you don't want to make the same mistake twice. Consider this a lesson learned, and move on. I hope that helps.
P.S. Just what were her parents thinking, letting a child on this site unsupervised? Hopefully, they've learned their lesson, too. Sorry, but the welfare of children is of great concern to me.
2007-02-02 22:49:30 · answer #2 · answered by Cylon Betty 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, you're not. You told her the truth, and she definitely shouldn't have been posting on a public forum if she can't handle hearing that she's wrong. And her parents shouldn't be letting her.
I made the mistake of turning on my email option a few days ago to have a discussion with someone, who turned out to be 14 and didn't understand the arguments I was making. She was very polite, but obviously just didn't get it.
I think there are a lot of kids on here, and yahoo should do something to keep them from getting an account if they obvoiusly aren't mature enough to handle it. Or they could just all hang out in the Family/Adolescent area - I wandered in there by accident yesterday, it's like junior high school all over again.
2007-02-02 22:49:52 · answer #3 · answered by eri 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No you are not going to hell.
I would have stayed away from a kid, but you didn't know so it isn't you fault. You were just being honest. Don't sweat it.
Her parents should watch a little closer. IM is not ever safe for anyone that young. Her parents also should not have told her anything other than Nana died. It is a lesson that we all have to learn.
2007-02-02 22:47:06 · answer #4 · answered by Alex 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
HAHA.. I may be a minister and evangelist.. but wow, that is pretty funny. Kids shouldn't be allowed online. Oh well.. Thats what she gets for thinking she was old enough to be on here.
Hosea 4:6 says "We suffer for lack of knowledge"... She didn't know the consequences, therefore she suffered.. lol, ok thats a horrible interpretation of Scripture, but oh well.. I'm in a joking mood tonight..
2007-02-02 22:52:42 · answer #5 · answered by Jon C 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No. I'm sure, no matter what your religious preference ( or lack of) you would have never intentionally hurt the innocence of a child. Don't fret. Her parents should have been watching her better than that. ( I'm not saying I agree WITH your religious preferences, mind you! LOL ) But you didn't do anything with malice intended.
2007-02-02 22:51:36 · answer #6 · answered by themom 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You can take some blame if you'd like, but the real deal is that this is a child who is being less than well-supervised. What you told her is the truth, (unlike the BS her parents lead her to believe), and she'll learn that on her own one day anyhow... I'd say, no 'real' harm done to the girl and if 'mom' is honest, she'll blame herself first and you last, (or not at all).
Chill...
[][][] r u randy? [][][]
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2007-02-02 22:49:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It was a sad thing that you felt the need to hurt a small child. But God does forgive.No you are not horrible just misguided. Sense you don't believe in God I asked for forgiveness for you if this story is true.
2007-02-02 23:06:05 · answer #8 · answered by Pamela V 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Hmm Horrible? no, perhaps a bit blunt.
The LARGER concern is the parents of a 10 year old that would allow the child unfettered and unsupervised internet access.
Thats a disaster in the making.
2007-02-02 22:44:58 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 10⤊ 1⤋
You seem to come closer to having "a soul" than some of the Christians out there. Your regret and attempts to apologize are worthy enough of forgiveness, if not from her, then from yourself.
2007-02-03 00:56:06 · answer #10 · answered by OMG! PANCAKES LOLz! 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋