Why do most people feel like they have to "walk on eggshells " when?

Question

asking questions to muslims?
Are you afraid of them?
I noticed this tendency in here on R&S all the time....

Not giving myself or muslims any credit deke,just stating facts.
A lot of people don't want to answer the questions because they are afraid.
I'm not.I could care less if they threaten me.I

Answer 1

It's complicated, but....

The gist of it is....not so much fear as common sense. For the past 50 odd years, most folks with more than half a brain have seen the violence get worse and worse in the Arab and Muslim worlds (and they are slightly different). And we've seen ordinary "bystanders" of that faith and culture do *less and less* to stand out and say "That isn't *me*! We aren't *all* like that!", never mind come out and openly condemn acts of terror and murder.

And this is the worst thing one can say, in our culture, because we value "freedom of faith" so much that we don't *allow* ourselves to distinguish between organized religions that *are* just about faith and worship and doing *good* in the world, on one hand, and organized *political cartels* masquerading as faith on the other. Anyone who actually speaks the truth (some Muslims have a habit of *Killing* those who dare to openly disagree with them.) is called a bigot even though the evidence is right there in front of them. Even when there are riots and people *die* over a cartoon *Not* in their language, *Not published* in their countries, even then, people say speaking the truth is an act of bigotry or racism.

We can call evangelical "Christian" fanatics who bomb abortion clinics murderers, but we can't do the same to Palestinian suicide bombers.

Which leads us to Yahoo Answers. As a Mass Media outlet and multi-billion dollar corporation, Yahoo Inc. has much the same interests as any other Mass Media outlet you see on TV or read about in the papers. Namely, they "can't afford" to anger the Sponsors. And one of those corporate Sponsors is Big Oil.

Which means, basically, I'm likely going to get this Answer Removed, and get a Violation Notice for it, just for stating the clear and obvious truth (that some Muslims have a habit of killing people). It will likely happen in 12 hours or less too, as Yahoo Answers seems to have a *double standard* when it comes to complaints from the "religiously inclined" as well.

But I digress. The point is, we walk on eggshells not so much out of fear, but out of the dread that we may possibly be talking to the *next* psycho killer that takes people out. There's just no way to know because the "bystanders" aren't actively doing *anything* to condemn the violent ones among them, or to even *separate* themselves from the violent ones.

Sad part of it is, lately I'd feel much the same dread talking to a professional wrestler, albeit for different reasons (Is he in his right mind, or halfway brain-dead from steroids and Xanex?). The Question is: Can I say or do *anything*, can I even live my life on the same *planet* as these people, without doing something "wrong" to make them snap?

Or, more to the point: Is it *so* wrong to feel dread, unease, and possibly some antipathy, towards someone who may well become a threat to your life and limb for NO real reason at all?

Our society, more specifically our Mass Media that Big Oil owns, says it is, but I'm not so sure.

My apologies, but someone has to speak the truth around here.

Thanks for your time. -_-

Answer 2

I can't be sure, but I see far more Christians vs. Atheists on this board. I've seen a couple Muslim questions, but not often, and those specified "for other Muslims" so I just didn't answer. One time I did and got a nasty email, but I've gotten plenty of nasty emails from people from other religions on here too.

I do think that people in the world are afraid of offending Muslims. That's because (for example) when Andres Serrano's "Piss Christ" was exhibited, tons of Christians protested and complained, but when the Danish newspapers printed cartoons of the prophet, people were actually killed over it...which most people find a bit excessive as an expression of protest.

Answer 3

Not that I've made an exhaustive inventory of muslim's answers here, but I've been struck by how polite, respectful, and authentic their writing is. This stands in sharp contrast with the "is so" "is not" "is so, you $%#" conversations going between the fundamentalist christians and the former fundamentalist christian atheists. It would seem inappropriate to me to write a question to muslims using immature, emotional language, since they very rarely do.

Another reason I use tactful wording is that I am asking them a favor to reach out across a cultural divide to try to provide me with the answer I seek. Thoughtful people are often reluctant to do this because it is a lot of work and even doing that work the answers can be misunderstood. It is the thoughtful muslims I hope to have answers from, and I can't hope to attract their interest to my question if I word it in such a way as to be offensive.

And for that matter, what's wrong with being polite for it's own sake? Do we have to be fearful before we can be considerate of others? I prefer to treat people kindly and with respect, and I see no reason to discontinue doing so here.

Answer 4

I am concerned that any extremely religious person/group has the power to change the way we live, be it through legislation of insane conservative laws or terrorism or bad foreign policy.

I don't walk on eggshells any more or less with them than with Mormon members of my husband's family or Catholic members of my own family.

I have difficulty talking to any of these people once the conversation becomes about anything more than the weather or the sports scores.

Seems the very, very religious all over the world have lost their common sense. You need to balance your religion with your spirituality for it to do any good.

Sure, they all have THEIR own faith, but that doesn't help the world be a better place for everyone.

Answer 5

They get very defensive, they think if you ask a question it is a statement of your opinion...why do they do that?
Don't like to generalise but that seems to be what happens any time I ask a question here about Islam or Muslim's.

Answer 6

have you watched the news lately. I'm not saying all Muslims are bad people or anything but as a whole they come off as rather violent these days.

Answer 7

9/11.

Answer 8

I don't have a problem calling any religion or believer out when merited.

I think you give yourself --- and Islam --- too much credit.

Answer 9

No. Im not afraid. If they want a fight on here, i will give them one.

Answer 10

Because they block you as a community then harrass your account into the ground.