The Michigan Tech University Pastafarian club has been the victim of harassment even before their first meeting. The MTU Lode reports:
Two individuals are currently undergoing disciplinary procedures through the Dean of Students Office after an investigation by MTU Public Safety determined that they posted a threatening message on the door of the President and Vice President of a recently-formed student organization called the Pastafarian Club.
Some background on the MTU Pastafarian club’s leaders:
According to the president of the Pastafarianism Club, Matt Halberstad–who identifies as agnostic–the group is a parody “religion.” But the group’s purpose isn’t to attack religion, and one would be hard-pressed to find a member of the group who truly believes in their parody deity–the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
The vice president of the Pastafarian Club, Steven Wheeler–who is atheist–believes that Henderson’s argument boils down to the main belief of the Michigan Tech chapter of the Pastafarians: creationism, whether or not one believes in it, is not a science, and should not be taught in a science classroom.
I agree with that, but there are people - maybe not in this particular club - who do truly believe in the FSM. Also, I want to make the point that there are plenty of Christians who are members of the Christian religion without truly believing in the deity God/Jesus.
The harassment was hateful, not unlike some of the messages I receive. In part, the message said:
they [Pastafarians] should be shot and hanged from the tallest redwood and then thrown to the raging sea.
The individuals who left the hate messages were caught and are now facing a hearing:
The Bias-Related Harassment and Violence section of MTU’s Code of Community Conduct covers threats due to one’s “race, ethnicity, national origin, disability, religious or cultural identity, sexual orientation, gender-identity or gender.” The penalties for violating the Bias-Related Harassment and Violence section range from disciplinary probation to expulsion.
The outcome of this will be very interesting. Even if the death threats were not meant to be taken seriously, they were still hateful messages directed at members of a religious group on campus. What if the harassment had been instead directed at an Islam club? I strongly suspect the kids would be expelled.
I wonder if the school admins are willing to make the statement that Pastafarians deserve less protection against religious harassment than other mainstream religions.
That said, I don’t think these kids should be expelled. But it would upset me if a Pastafarian organization received less protection than another religious organization (or any other organization).
I guess we’ll see what happens.
Read more about it here.
Hmm - keep yourselves safe MTUites - there are some scary people out there.
And they should be given the same rights - no question - any group should - religious or otherwise - what if someone said that to the Chess club?
The hate mailers have started leaving notes now.
The students responsible should get suspended or given a substantial fine, if they just get a slap on the wrist, they’ll think it’s considered acceptable.
Those kids should probably be expelled. I went to MTU for a year, expressed that I didn’t care for Counterstrike to one student, and I received so much harassment that more than 7 kids got expelled for leaving me multiple, and very graphic death threats for the remainder of my year there. It’s a very strange school. I guess people lose sight of reality from all the isolation up there.
Threats like this are never acceptable, either against a religious club or as Booty says the chess-club. It should be made very clear to all. Disagreeing is ok, being against a group, their ideas etc is ok, threats are not!
Hanging someone after they have been shot would be a bit pointless wouldn’t it!?!
> there are people - maybe not in this particular club - who do truly believe in the FSM
thank you for acknowledging that. i realize that it might seem kind of silly, but as i’ve gotten older i’ve found that science does *not* hold the answer to everything, and for me the fsm does the best job of filling in those empty spaces.
i don’t pray (or prey) to the fsm. i don’t expect him to change my world. but he does bring me peace of mind.
Bah…they are just ignorants; people who are as violent as their god is. That’s what is wrong with these crazy (please note that I said crazy) religious people: Only them are right! Egocentric, ignorant, full of shit, people.
What do I get for the 7th post?
It’s absolutely frightening where some people have their minds. That is so sick! I think those kids should be sentenced to see some sort of councilor.
How saddening.
I’d say expell them, or let them be lectured about the greatness of pastafarianism by a pirate.
Pacific Pam - for 7th you get an extra ration of rum - here is comes…
*Booty throws the tankard across the Atlantic*
I don’t think you should expell kids for acts of stupidity.
That is a very hateful message, but they probably don’t mean it and haven’t acted on it in anyway.
They should certainly be made to see the stuidity of their action and given a chance to reform.
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If they do it again, then expell their asses.
It is disgusting but I agree that those kids should not be expelled for their stupidity.
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Instead they should be properly lectured, dressed in full pirate regalia and obliged to make a conference on the merits of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (parmesan be upon him).
RAmen
I don’t think they should get expelled either. But maybe a fairly substantial fine, or being forced to redecorate the pastafarian chapel. Maybe make a not to scale model of heaven.
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One model of ours and one model of theirs. Bet theirs would be rubbish.
I think they should be nailed to a piece of wood and left on a hill side.
“I agree with that, but there are people - maybe not in this particular club - who do truly believe in the FSM. ”
Yes, and you think those people are crazy, right? RIGHT? I find it disturbing that you’re beginning to talk about this jape as if it were a real religion, one that deserves as much protection as other religions!
Yikes! I thought you were pointing out the silliness of unfounded beliefs, not adding to their number!
Actually we’re just pretending mate.
Graham, please understamd, bobby just said that for people who would visit the frontpage, so that they would really thinkg there really are people who beleive.
@Graham - This is just about as real as many other religions in a number of ways. Here is one of them: If you look at modern christians for example, many of them don’t believe the bible word for word. They don’t believe that the world is 5000 years old, that Moses parted the red sea in two, that those people lived to be 700 years old, that there was ever a Noah or an arc, that Jesus did what the bible says he did, etc etc.
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Those people just get together at churches for weddings and funerals and listen to priest there. So to them being a christian is talking about various issues at christian wedding and funeral parties. We get together to talk about various issues under the embrace of His noodliness. I’ll hand it to you that we are on average most likely more secular than other religions, but I think that at least I believe in the gospel of the FSM as strongly as many christians I know believe in the bible if they really start to think of it.
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Maybe my faith is even stronger, for I believe very strongly in the dogma that religion does not beling in the science classroom. Have faith Graham!
If anyone did that kind of crap at my college, there would be a disciplinary hearing and they would probably be expelled. OU just doesn’t see a lot of death threats and would probably take it seriously.
Typo galore, but who cares. Most pirates must have been illiterate in their days anyway.
Can someone keep us upto date with what happens to the thugs that wrote the message, hope they get kicked out!
the kids that bullied those loyal lovely pastafarians should be made to be dressed in full pirate regalia and promote pastafarianism for a whole day, you know, like handing out leaflets and standing under a big banner with a picture of our dear FSM on it in a local mall or town centre or something. Don’t expell them just because they did a few stupid things, embarass them! They won’t forget that!
Once again this begs the question, why are the religious so insecure?
Religious people who honestly believe don’t go around trying to shove it down other’s throats, those who aren’t so sure but think they should believe completely, hate to have any extra doubts raised in their minds.
How did these rednecks get into college, and a technical college at that? A little ironic, perhaps? Kick them out; they’re obviously ninjas. Let them thump bibles or shoot squirrels or whatever they enjoy all day instead of taking up space that could be occupied by rational people, pirates or comely wenches.
RAmen
I’m so sick of pandering journalists smirking cheekily as they confess that “well actually you’d be hard pressed to find anyone who REALLY believes… its just a parody religion.” Would they say that about Islam, or Mormonism, or Scientology? Just because YOU don’t understand it doesn’t mean it isn’t true, and doesn’t give you the right to say that I don’t fully believe it.
@Botty.
Since it had to travel all across the Atlantic, I just got it!
mmmm there is nothing better than beer at 11.45am
Do you know what I like about rednecks?
Bourbon!
۞
Oct 23rd, 2007 at 5:11 am
I don’t think you should expell kids for acts of stupidity.
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Shouldn’t you be expelling stupid people at an university anyway? I mean, they are supposed to be smart right?
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PacificPam: wow, a miracle, Booty sends over rum and you get beer ! It’s a miracle ;)
Want to know how out of the loop I am? I go to school at Tech, and this is the first I’m hearing about this. So somebody is directly threatening my life? Where’s 4Christsake (aka Christ4All), the friendly neighborhood murder prevention expert/sadist, when you need him?!
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I thought things were going so good here, too. There was a pirate themed freshmen orientation, pasta at every meal in the dorms, MTU is a huge drinking school (is grogphilic a word), there are lots of pirate shirts around, and I’ve worn FSM shirts/sweatshirts/eye patches an awful lot and nobody said a thing.
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Then again there is an awful large Campus Crusade for christ influence at Tech. In my opinion it was just some drunk fundies frustrated by the lack of wenches making threats.
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@ PacificPam
“mmmm there is nothing better than beer at 11.45am”
Ever try beer at 11:44 AM?
this is flat-out prejudice! they should be chorged wiith a hate crime
Why am I reminded of Jewish businesses in Germany being painted with “VERDAMMT JUDEN” right before the Nazis unleashed Kristallnacht?
Michael T
ok your going a little to far, it’s not has bad as the onset of the holocaust.
however, what they said is not only offensive to pastafarians but i’m sure some gay peoople would be offended to. maybe we should ask the guys who wrote it….
@Bookem
yeah but i guess it’s the equivalent to putting someone’s head on a pike. it’s meant to scare others and so disrespect for the corpse
to disrespect the corpse.
srry
I cannot see the funny side of a death threat against a university student, especially in a country where massacres on campus are a common hobby.
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I know the part “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” - I missed the one about handing out death threats.
@Bombadil - Tom, how do you feel about putting meatballs on a spike?
I’m impressed with how well Pastafarianism has taken root at that campus. From the article:
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“We’re also here to make Tech better,” Halberstadt explained during the meeting. The group plans to participate in Make a Difference Day. Additionally, inclusive events such as monthly pasta dinners are in the works. They are also hoping that they will eventually be able to bring a comedian, a lecturer or a musician to Tech.”
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Wow, I wish there were enough Pastafarians here at Queens University Belfast for that!
I think as true and righteous pastafarians you should’nt have such bad senses of humour,whoever filed the complaint should be righteously smited…
RAmen!
Hi All,
Irrespective of whether the FSM is a Parody religion, a social protest against teaching ID as a science, a real religion or simply a group of oddballs looking for some comedy relief, the actions of the students in question is unacceptable and needs to be treated seriously.
That said, it seems to this oddball that FSMism has become something more than it was first intended to be. It is now more than a simple protest and has become (dare I say it) a bastion of rationality. May word of His Noodly Goodness spread through all the seven seas! Arrr
While i admit, willfully pointing out the flaws of the religions of others is perhaps not the greatest of ideas, the fact that people tend to overreact in these cases seems ridiculous, i mean, if you had actually worked to discover what we are talking about and understood our (usual) parodic nature, the harassment would cease…i really am talkin in circles here, so i am gonna get to the point: DON’T KNOCK IT TILL YOUVE TRIED IT.
-yer donkey friend from the natural satellite.
Here’s a link to the defaced Wikipedia entry:
http://tinyurl.com/27xurf
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Pretty lame attempt at vandalism if you ask me
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St John the Blasphemist
Saint of Decent Plans Of Attack
@ ☠DutchPastaGuy☠, you’ll never know if there are enough patafarians in QUB unless you go looking for them. If you know any of the rowers we might know a few people in common.
@storm petrel
Sounds very good. Care to contact me outside the site here (if so, try t.p.c.klaver@qub.ac.uk)?
@ St John the Blasphemist-
Yes it was pretty shit. If I was going to do shit like that I’d at least scatter the insults through out the broader text so they would be harder to find at a glance and have grater effect to anyone reading it (as it would appear to be part of the original text).
Just goes to show that once again we out class our rivals in every way.
It reminds me of the kids who draw cocks on the posters at bus stops. Very sad.
@ ☠DutchPastaGuy☠, I’m actually in UL (Limerick, not London), I just know a few from rowing. Also having a few problems with e-mails, I’ll drop you line whenever I get around to sorting it.
@Iron Bess
i think it’s awful. these guys are douches and noone should impail the balls of meat
People who make death threats against anyone should be expelled. The school has to make a stand as to what kind of community it is and what kind of community it wants to be. There’s no place at a university for neurotic whining bullies who make ostentatious death threats against others in the community.
People in the FSM club should not have had this threat directed at them. I never see anyone of a religion threatening anyone else of a different religion. I never see a christian threaten a jewish person with hell or anything. Why should it be different with us?
I
People in the FSM club should not have had this threat directed at them. I never see anyone of a religion threatening anyone else of a different religion. I never see a christian threaten a jewish person with hell or anything. Why should it be different with us?
I
I’ve heard of that.
WWII. i’m 90% sure Hitler was a christian.
Oh joy. Hopefully these hicks get treated to the same kind of discipline as they would have if they had attacked a Jewish or Muslim club. The Church of the FSM may not be entirely serious, but Atheism, Agnosticism and Humanism certainly are.
ObPeeve @Iron Bess: “Leads to” the question, please. “Begging the question” is another term for circular reasoning.
Arrr!
Come on me laddies, let’s force these men to jump from our ship into shark infested waters, like we always do.
Dead men don’t bite.
@RDPW
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@I love eruptions in heaven - I’ve seen both sides of that argument. I believe at this point it will be difficult to prove that one, both sides have been arguing about that for years. No one, not even crazy, fundy, nutbars want to be associated with Hitler.
“Typo galore, but who cares. Most pirates must have been illiterate in their days anyway.”
Typo galore? (Don’t you mean “typos galore”?) The only errors were “torn town” should have been “torn down” and there were a few instances of Halberstadt’s name that were spelled “Halberstad”. I know this because I’m the journalist that wrote this article.
Due to a glitch in the system, the editors actually used an incorrect draft of the article–there was a bit more information in the newer version, but unfortunately, it did not get published. Also, Public Safety actually DID comment on this issue–but again, the wrong version got published. Additionally, the typos were corrected in the newer version.
“I’m so sick of pandering journalists smirking cheekily as they confess that “well actually you’d be hard pressed to find anyone who REALLY believes… its just a parody religion.” Would they say that about Islam, or Mormonism, or Scientology? Just because YOU don’t understand it doesn’t mean it isn’t true, and doesn’t give you the right to say that I don’t fully believe it.”
Speaking, again, as the journalist who wrote this, I will tell you that this is what I was told from the president and vice president of the club. And it doesn’t apply to all Pastafarians. Just most of them (or all of them) that are in this chapter of the club. Please be careful when you make assumptions. I am a journalist–and I strive to be a GOOD journalist. I record facts and what people believe and I do not insert my own opinions into the article. If I could have found someone who actually believed in the FSM, I would have mentioned that. I do not pander or take sides.
If I wanted to write an opinion article, it would have been clearly marked as such. And for those that are curious, yes, I took much offense to what was written, and I really like what the Pastafarians stand for. But if I write a follow-up article, I will not let any opinion I have affect my coverage of a news issue as is the standard of good journalism everywhere.
Now, for an update. The individuals who wrote the harassing message have gone through an informal hearing with the Pastafarians. The outcome has not yet been officially released, but I am looking into this. I want to say I’m fairly certain it didn’t turn out favorably for those accused of writing the message, as the IP was pretty easily tracked to a specific room. (I believe Public Safety did this with the cooperation of Resnet, the on-campus ISP, because otherwise it would not be possible to pinpoint the room, only the building it came from.) Additionally, the individuals charged are consenting to an interview about this, but by University policy, their identities must not be revealed. So I’m gonna see if they have anything worthwhile to write a follow-up article about.
If you have any questions about the whole situation, feel free to point them my way, as I could probably get the information for you if it’s available.
Alas, this is another sad instance where members of our peaceful religion are being needlessly attacked. I wish others would realize that their own religions’ codes of conduct also call for peace.
Be safe MTUites!
if this kinda thing happened in the navy, those who were caught sending threats would probably either be kicked out and made to pay back any bonuses, and if not, then definately locked up in “restriction” for 2 or so months. with any luck, the aggressors will feel the touch of his noodly appendiges and chill the hell out
Just another example of how religious certanty poisens society. These kids are basically just like Hitler in their violent thoughts towards other groups/ organisations. The responsible should be heavily punished not only as an example to other students, but to show them that this is absolutly unacceptable. It is ridiculous that it is those who advertise themselves as non-violent and moral(Christian’s) that did this. I am definatly not the only person who finds this disturbing that 18+ year olds are thinking about lynching and murder.
I am appalled but also not suprised. The extreme violence that is infecting the minds of religious organisations all over the world (aside from Pastafarions =) is crazy but has been there for quite a long time. Just take a look at the Crusades, Salem Witch Trials, or any one of the other violent religious escapades that they have supported. Many think that violence on the part of religion is over and it belongs in the history books, but this is proof that it still exists and is still a driving factor in the lives of the religious (again minus the Pastafarions becasue we preach and act upon peace, something Christians and Muslims cant attest to). As a plead to my fellow Pastafarions, continue to be good examples in society and remember that your actions reflect upon the rest of your fellow Pastafarion Brothers and Sisters.
Sincerely,
a concerned teenager…
May His Noodle Be Forever Moist!!! RAmen!!!
* 3 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
* 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
* 1 cup shredded Muenster cheese
* 2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
* 1 clove garlic, minced
* 1 small onion, diced
* 2 Tbsp. chopped parsley
* 2 Tbsp. chopped chives
PREPARATION:
Mix all ingredients and place in a small baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes until melted and bubbly. Serve with apple slices, baby carrots, celery sticks, crackers, chunks of bread, warmed meatballs, tiny sausages, and so on! Serves 6
Keep yourselves safe ya hear? We don’t need maytrs.
well.. i’m originally FROM the town in question (Houghton Michigan, rep-rah-zent!) and as a pastafarion from that region (i’m now located a couple hours south of there ^^;;) i find myself betting that nothing will come of this, as about a year ago, i nearly got thrown out of a class at NMU for choosing to do a presentation on the pastafarion group on NMU’s campus for a class presentation on a school organization. i had to complain loudly to my professor’s boss in order to force a passing grade, as my presentation fit all the requirements for the project.
that said, it makes me sad to know that the board of MTU is probably not going to take this offense seriously.
Why does it not surprise me that Xians are using violence to solve their problems. I’m sick of this shit where they say “if you’re wrong in this life, God will see fit to punish you in the next one”, and yet they pass judgement on us! These bastards are comparing themselves to their own deity! Well guess what, now i can too. I’m saucy and full of energy.
stay strong, my mtu brothers. his divine noodlyness rewards the strong of will.
Geez guys,
There is no evidence that these infantile students believe in me. Only that they are homophobic and mildly retarded.
Also I’m not sure that the state of MI or the US considers the statement “many believe they should be shot and hanged from the tallest redwood and then thrown to the raging sea.” a threat. It is a statement relating the opinion of some, regardless of the author.
That being said, I have to tell you now, that I am applying for membership at the MTU campus Pastafarian Club. If the Son of God can be a member then all Xtians should probably follow suit. As a matter of fact I am having tea and matzah crullers with Vishnu, Buddha, Mohammed and Captain Kangeroo this afternoon and will bring them each an application. Flying Spaghetti Monster was invited but has a seriously f***ed schedule right now and he has asked us to pencil him in for sometime in ‘08.
Peace and RRRRamen.
JC
It might be worth pointing out that the “death threats” these two college kids posted are not really much when compared to the ordinary “hate speech” of many christians. Really.
Most christians I grew up around would not hesitate to describe in great, gory detail the eternal punishment set up for all unbelievers. Endless fire and devils with tongs. Tortures without end. Horrible burning repeated endlessly with no relief for ever and ever. And this message is applied liberally to every single unbeliever — even nominally “christian” folk who didn’t belong to the correct christian sect. If you are the wrong kind of christian (and not just mormon or catholic or lutheran) you were doomed.
I’m not kidding here.
So, given this background, can you sincerely say you’re surprised by the the message from these two?
Would they even see it as hate speech? To them, it was simply telling the “truth”.
Sad, isn’t it?
It’s depressing, true, but hardly surprising. I’m from rural Georgia, so seeing things such as this…as I said, depressing, but hardly uncommon, though I suspect that one is less likely to see such things further north. The Bible Belt is renowned for its intolerance of nearly everything different-race, sexual orientation, religion…anything you can think of. I’m leaving the southeast for college ASAP, but I have lived here for most of my life-people are very upset about this incident, and rightfully so, but I’m not so much shocked as just saddened.
It seems people are forgetting that these are technically adults. They are not in high school. They are on a college campus. In all likelihood, they are at least 18 years old. Thus, they should be treated like adults. Threatening someone is considered assault in most, if not all states. They should be prosecuted accordingly.
I think it’s stupid to not critiized a person’s religious beliefs.
Just because a person wants to believe in some unbelievable, unprovable
myths, don’t suddenly make them protected from criticism.
I know people who believe in UFO’s and can quote many of the startrek episodes of the 1960’s word for word.
Is that any weirder than the beliefs of today’s current religions?
What about the Aztec’s and sacrificing children?
How are the masses that pray to the judeo/christian/muslem god
going to fell when they die and find out it is BAAL the ancient god that is
really in charge of eternity?
swbtmis, we are not try to stop criticism of peoples beliefs, we are merely trying to protect the rights of the members of our groups and keep them free from harassment. An example, if I post anything outside my door relating to pastafarianism, this religious kid comes and tears it down. I would report him, but I don’t want to make a big deal of it. Meanwhile he has all of his religious stuff outside his door (e.g. Jesus fish, cross, WWJD sign, etc.) I should go down there and tear his stuff off the wall.
Graham Oct 23rd, 2007 at 6:50 am writes:
I find it disturbing that you’re beginning to talk about this jape as if it were a real religion, one that deserves as much protection as other religions!
Graham, I think you are insincere in YOUR religious beliefs, therefore your religion deserves no protection. Okay, I don’t actually think that. But I hope it makes you realize the nature of what you are suggesting. WHO gets to judge the sincerity of someone else’s belief systems? Either it’s freedom of religion, or it isn’t. There is no middle ground.
Yikes! I thought you were pointing out the silliness of unfounded beliefs, not adding to their number!
To answer that, grasshopper, meditate on the nature of the fun-house mirror.
“talk about this jape as if it were a real religion”
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What is a *real* religion?
I would watch it, you wouldn’t want to offend the followers of the oh-so-real, Jew-Zombie, son of himself, white guy with funny sandals.
I don’t? :p)
I mean they say “do unto others” and they come here to offend my religion…and so….I assume..
Just goes to show how many religious nutters take this seriously. If this happened to muslims or scientologists, we’d hear about it.
Whomever these low brows are, they should be shot with a ball off their own poop!!!! if we had access to time travel, another subject not to be discussed without copious amounts of beer, we should send them back to the time of the crusades!!!
What ever dudes!!! see my comments above!!!
In evaluating the actions of the harassing MTU students, the appropriate question is not, “Is Pastafarianism a ‘real’ religion and therefore protected under the university’s code?” but, “Did the students who threated the Pastafarians consider it a religion?” From the little bit published in the article, it doesn’t sound like they did.
That said, it should not matter - at MTU or anywhere else - whether the harassment is motivated by hatred of someone for their ethnicity, gender, religion, race, etc., but whether the harassment is hateful in and of itself. And on those grounds, threatening someone’s life certainly fits the definition.
I’m not one of those PC-crazed people who think that a kid who hugs another kid is committing sexual harassment, or that a pair of pointy scissors should be considered a weapon. But I do think that there are way too many kids these days who are raised with an entitlement mentality. They get trophies for “trying” and in any dispute about their behavior between a teacher and such a child, the parents side with the child regardless of objective evidence. In short, these children are raised to be the center of their own universe, and when they get out into the world a bit and their world collides with reality, they react badly - in some cases, lethally.
Religiously motivated violence is this entitlement mentality to the nth degree - or to be more precise, the entitlement mentality that leads people to kill in “defense” of or in obeisance to their religious beliefs has now trickled down to the individual level. The kids who left those messages clearly consider the beliefs and even the extracurricular activities of others to be anathema to their own, and to themselves specifically. (Hmmm… like those who consider a gay couple in another state to be a “threat to [their] marriage”.) The students’ threats make them no different than the schoolyard bully who whales the tar out of the geeky kid with glasses just because he can get away with it.
Regardless of the religion angle, the MTU harassers should receive some sort of sanction. Maybe not expulsion, but perhaps suspending them for the semester would be a wake-up call: You can’t be a hater here, and if you try, you’ll pay (literally) by forfeiting your tuition and class credits. Won’t Mom and Dad be proud?
How SAD that this happened in my homeplace. Really. I feel unclean. What close-minded fools. On one hand, they shouldn’t be harrassing based on religeon. On the other hand, they shouldn’t be harrassing period. On the Noodly Appendage, they shouldn’t be wasting time being assmuchers when they could just think for ten seconds and figure out that we’re not attacking anyone. Bunch of noobs.
I’m a student at MTU, and I have also heard a lot of negative talk about the Pastafarians. It was posted in our last MTU Lode (school newspaper) that the Undergraduate Student Government reimbursed the group $54 (I know, huge) for “two gospels and advertisements.” I personally found it frusterating because I know that USG is on a very tight budget and this money is being taken away from the other organizations on campus. I have seen groups that run campus wide events plea for more money, only to be turned down. Obviously death threats are crossing the line, but I think the group needs to rethink it’s approach. Student Activity Fees have been increasing every year because little groups like this believe they are contributing to the campus. They are giving the image that they are buying books for their own personal use. The group needs to do something visible, like have speakers come in, or host movies. That’s just my $0.02
Here’s what’s interesting about that threat. It mentions being shot first, when, since that would probably kill, the rest of the threat is simply a waste of time and energy, and purely academic. After all, the people you shoot aren’t going to care if you hang them from the highest redwood and throw them into the raging sea, they’re dead. On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being “I’m going to put ice cubes down your back”, and 10 being something so unimaginably horrible there aren’t even words to describe it, I’d say that’s around a 6, and that’s being generous. Next time, be more creative, and think more about the implications of each portion of the threat.
… and then, we will taunt you a second time.
There’s two pastafanrians in our school and we beat them up all the time because they are a different religion to us (We do this purely for the comical value, however, the beatings are very real). I’d advise all pastafananararians to arm themselves/flee there country, as the discriminitive beatings in our school are bound to spread.
@irish catlic lad
Wrong!! Pastafarianism is set to take over your Catholicism-infested island. We won’t do it by beatings of course. You yourself will come round. When you grow up, learn that the world view your mum learned you is just a bunch of rubbish fairy tales you’ll see the error of your ways. And the attractions of beer and strippers work wonders for many too.
“catilc” does that leave you with a mouth full of cat hair?
Hey all,
I happen to be the secretary of the MTU Pastafarians, and I just wanted to mention two things -
The people responsible for the note have been dealt with. The university did step in to deal with it, and offered us the choice to have a formal process or an informal discussion to settle things. The Pastafarians chose to go with the informal discussion, and since then the matter has been resolved (I’m actually not allowed to go into any more detail).
Also - to MTUite-
In all actuality, I’ve heard that the USG has no budget problems at all - in fact they have money they don’t know what do do with. I’m not swearing by this - it’s just what I’ve heard. I do know that during our start-up BUDGET meeting, the president of the USG questioned our beliefs.
We’ve got some events planned, but we’re just starting out. We would have been putting on events sooner, but we’ve had to sort out out budget - it’s hard to do anything with $54. We are planning a spaghetti dinner, movie nights, bake sale, and are trying to bring in a speaker next semester. Just you wait - there will be events!
Thanks for following this up MTU Secretary. Good to keep objectivity.
One (amongst many) evolutionary biology perspective on this is that the members of a group - e.g. the group of people who posted the threats at MTU - benefit from xenophobia. Their relationships within the group are strengthened because they are in opposition to those outside the group, so they will have support in adverse circumstances. Their shared, reinforced, and supported aggressive behavior make them more likely to engage in confrontations and more able to win those confrontations, so they are more likely to gain access to restricted resources - breeding partners, food, etc.
This applies to any grouping.
BOILERPLATE MORALITY DISCLAIMER: as noted by any able thinker (e.g. Darwin, Dawkins, the Archbishop of Canterbury) the psychological mechanisms present in modern humans as result of their evolutionary history can be overridden by conscious decision, and this choice of action constitutes an individual’s morals.
Research shows (New Scientist, can’t remember the issue) that the group mentality is created in seconds, and can be created over the stupidest premises, and include the daftest memberships e.g. drawings of animals, bits of coloured card. So it’s no wonder that modern democracy sucks; bring on the RoboPirocracy - Long John RoboSapien as President For Life!!
(Graham - irony in that last paragraph there in case you’re worried)
“they [Pastafarians] should be shot and hanged from the tallest redwood and then thrown to the raging sea.”
So much for Christian charity, love and forgiveness. Osama would be proud of them.
Ringoes, NJ
I have an idea for the most vicious thing possible to do to those folks who issued the death threats. We should organize a campaign to send them flowers or some other type of gift, with the note that we of the church of the great noodely one in the sky believe in forgiveness and acceptance, and we hope that one day they too can follow the noodely one’s example and love their enemies as themselves. How’s that sound?
Good idea, but not entirly sure if they’d appreciate the irony.
It is wrong to condemn a whole group for the stupidity of a few people who happen to belong to it. Each individual deserves the right to be condemned for their own personal stupidity.
I think those religious bigots should be lectured by Pastafarian pirate as punishment as somebody else said before. Anonymous recommended to send them flowers and gift in the name of the FSM. Good idea.
Hah! Henderson’s argument boils for 9 to 11 minutes.
For al dente, of course.
@Doc I.
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Shit - I just get this impression of a really fat bloke with a consumptive voice saying …
“hehehehe - me funeeeeeee!”
Tit.
erm - that wasn’t aimed at Bobby btw! Twas at Dr I.
Annoying. I hate it when people are narrow minded. What is probably going to happen is that if MTU finds out who made the notes, all that is going to happen is they will get a slap on the wrist.
“Hanging someone after they have been shot would be a bit pointless wouldn’t it!?!”
Well, the German Army in WWII would hang all suicides or attempted suicides. It was deserting (sp), and the penalty for deserting was hanging. The Law Had To Be Followed!!!
Of course, if you shot yourself in the army, I assume they gave you a gun, the bullets, and a course on how to use it. If you couldn’t kill yourself with all of that, it is a Darwinian sort of thing to be hung.
I find this to be rather silly and depressing at the same time. I went to the *real* Tech in New Mexico. I always considered all the other Techs to be wanna-bees … this just seems to prove it.
Sigh.
BTW - I am a fundi that thinks a fair number of folks who use that term have a god so small, they can only see him when they have their heads up their asses.
I am also an engineer. The Bible tells Who did What, but not How.
Maybe I should get the Pirate Tattoo …
This may be a bunch of oddballs protesting religion’s influence on education, but so were the Illuminati. Threatening those who think for themselves is as old as religion itself. People who think for themselves have as much right to meet and discuss thier beliefs as those who blindly follow archaic doctrine. Threatening FSMists or any other group of free thinkers is akin to the threats brought by the Unibomber against the purveyors of technology. I am a new convert and look forward to discussing further the happier side of all of this. I also look forward to dressing like a pirate. I look great in vests!
I hope that the people who wrote this stupid message were just drunk. Otherwise it makes one wonder which page they started reading their holy book. I’m pretty sure that they skipped the page where you read “thou shalt not kill”. May be a translation of the book would be useful. Here we go: “You are banned from killing or murdering. This ban includes other humans.”
In either case, they should not be expelled. I seriously do not understand the logic behind expelling or suspension from school. You just make the person worse-off and more pissed-off after missing so many days from school and hanging out with other thugs (this includes their whole future in case of and expulsion). Just force them to take and pass some ethics and philosophy classes. That will teach them (literally).
Cheers, be safe mates!
X
Wow, death threats for not caring about Counterstrike? Which religion is that?
This is a good example of what it REALLY is like out there to be a non christian, and particularly, not affiliated with ANY religion at all. You lose the protection that the law provides against persecution. What I find most disturbing in this is just HOW threatened the christian establishment really is by the pastafarian movement. Before we were scattered “loonies” refusing the protection of the flock. We were an insignificant challenge to the established doctrine.
The christian establishment had better mark these words. We are getting organized, and we wont be patronized and vilified any longer. We ask only for the freedom to believe as we wish, and yet the hate mail section of this website is absolutely packed with threats, condemnation, and ignorance. Quite the turn, the whole “good christian” concept only applies to “real” christians? Hypocracy wears many clothes my friends, it also wears many faces and names…however, you will always know it’s potential, by the presence of a certain little book.
Donovan, Agnostic ex-lutheran, now Proud pastafarian, because all I really want is a sense of belonging to something that will HELP to define us. Something that allows us to only for a second, touch true greatness.
It depresse, our s me that the church of the FSM have lost track of the true god. The FSM’s only offspring our Lord, Terry Tiramisu, died for our indigestion and to provide us with an eternal home in Sicily-in the-sky when we die. To this end he sent the Blessed Braccioli to inspire us to worship him as our Lord and Savior. You who do not enbrace this new redemptive message are doomed to the eternal garbage can and the Tasty Triunity will show you no mercy for all time to come. Embrace the new faith before it’s too late!
In other news, local television in Detroit (http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/14641482/detail.html) is reporting via the AP that the city of Menominee, Michigan - west of MTU - is planning a government-sponsored nativity scene, complete with city-funded lighting. In order to maintain a semblance of church-state separation, “Members of the parks and recreation committee approved the display earlier this month with the provision that non-Christians be allowed to add their symbols.”
GLORY be to his basil-infused sauciness! Finally, an opportunity for FSM to become a state-sponsored religion! All we need is an (oh my goodness will this term be used loosely) appropriate FSM-themed nativity display. If one can be procured/supplied/created/conjured, I will be *more* than happy to fly to Menominee and demand equal space with the other religious displays…
So what about it, fellow Pf’s? Do we have a crafty image of our appendaged holiness to share with the good, godly people of Menominee?
Man this is too good. I see the FSM in the news in the not to near future!!!
Death threats? Expel them! Then have them walk the plank while eating a plate of spaghetti.
No, no spaghetti for them! They are out of communion with FSM! Let them eat Chef He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named!
@Captain Capelli d’angelo - FSM is already “in the news”. The other day (Sunday, Nov.18) in the main news section - page 10A - our Sunday “news”-paper conglomerate (Denver-Post-Rocky-Munchkin-News) had an article about an upcoming religious symposium at which FSM, among others, will be the subject of a panel discussion along the lines of “parody and its effects on religion”. (Don’t have the section in front of me, so am only approximating titles of events.)
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Sunday being the day the garbage wrapper format (Denver Post) takes over, you might want to go to their website, if you want to find the article.
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Would be nice to be the proverbial “fly on the wall” at the event, since the Rocky Munchkin News - the tabloid format in the house the rest of the week - most probably won’t even bother to give it a column inch, as their editorial policy favors the funnymentalcase “christian” line, and such like. Maybe some one of the good Pastafarians out there in cyberspace could follow up on this, and give us all the word on what went on.
I wouldn’t want to live in a world where FSM didn’t exist
Aye! May yer noodles be stiff and stand against the wiles of the evil one (aka religious persons).
PS They don’t have redwoods in Michigan, they have red pine (also known as Norway pine)
Here’s one Christian who says that life would certainly be less than it is without the Flying Spaghetti Monster. I too have touched his Noodly Appendage. I may even have spoken in tongues. I don’t know. I did say something, though …………..
“they [Pastafarians] should be shot and hanged from the tallest redwood and then thrown to the raging sea.”
But hm…. isn’t that a REALLY pirate thing to do to somebody? (They make masts out of redwood, don’t they?) So in a sense, this would be a very symbolic Pastafarian martyrdom!
I hav visited the on-line store and I think you money-grubbing Pastafarians are going to be in a lot of trouble when the vatican releases its line of bobble-headed Pope dolls in its on-line store. You and your deity are at a distinct disadvantage here! Whatg FSM has no anatomically separate head. Guess there won’t be any bobble head FSM! Ha! See, traditional religionsw are still the best. Choose your fairth wisely, everyone.
While I am not an atheist, I think the right-wing effort to push a specific religion into our schools is wrong-headed. Don’t they have confidence enough in their own beliefs to teach these things in church where it belongs?
@neal- He has eye stalks and noodles, all of which can wobble as needed.
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@appnzllr- Apparently they are.