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Separation of church and PAX
kokuou
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I did a couple searches and didn't find anything on this, but I was really annoyed with the person (people?) handing out what looked to be PAX swag, but turned out to be coins for Christianity at the top of the escalators when PAX ended on Sunday.
I don't mind game advertising, but I despise being preached to, especially when I pay to go to a convention for games and game-related stuff. I'm sure these guys weren't allowed to do this, and I tried to locate an enforcer, but was unable to.
Just thought I'd post it in hope of catching an organizer's eye so that this type of thing can be stopped in the future.
I don't mind game advertising, but I despise being preached to, especially when I pay to go to a convention for games and game-related stuff. I'm sure these guys weren't allowed to do this, and I tried to locate an enforcer, but was unable to.
Just thought I'd post it in hope of catching an organizer's eye so that this type of thing can be stopped in the future.
kokuou on
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PAX is a time to celebrate gaming and gaming culture. There are plenty of appropriate venues for other sorts of discussions.
On the bright side, you now have a gift for your religious friends!
PSN: Quintonious
Me personally? I think one day I'll eat pizza with Jesus and play video games and share high fives but that's MY view, I'm not going to make buttons of it and pass them out.
If I see them at PAX East I'll follow them until I can find an Enforcer and get them booted.
It's not fair to the attendees or the religion to have those people around
For the record, I'm not Christian and have mixed feelings about being preached to myself. But it is possible, however unlikely, that it was a joke that was simply not taken as what it was in this particular case.
A. Creepy "This is MY Jesus and you follow this way too"
or
B. A joke gone awry
I'm hoping for B
2. Did they have badges?
3. Was this the only thing you grabbed without paying attention?
4. Did grabbing a piece of metal made in china take away from your Pax fun?
I hope that's what it was too, Jaysonguy. For the record, I have no idea what the particulars are. I didn't even see these people on Sunday, although knowing me it is highly likely that I just failed my Spot check (I only finally leveled up enough to get an actual Wisdom bonus, lol). If they actually were Enforcers, though, and this wasn't some elaborate joke gone awry, then someone needs to have a sit-down with Khoo and the boys.
Be forewarned, that place was down the street from the police station and is constantly raided. Police reports are fun to read.
Obviously it was stupid, but was it really that offensive?
It was just kinda like "Awww sweeeee--AW MAN. Pranked by Jesus." *tosses coin*
All the jesus stuff come from this same place, it was probably one of their goons, who like to corner you, and not let you leave till you know the story of our father.
Since the new Scientologist building has been added by westlake, there's a bunch of creepy folk handing things out.
in before crybaby atheists/God haters
*cough*
This is really a silly thing to sour your PAX over, in my professional opinion.
I will check it out.
Also yes, if i saw this i would kick said person out.
HAHHA!
"Dammit Jesus! You got me again!"
I had a conversation with the E's in the media room, and they just laughed. Technically, the center escalators are public admittance, so they have every right to be there just like you and me. They just cant go deeper in.
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While I thought it was really interesting, I think they should have toned down the viral-ness of it and made it a bit more obvious. Most people weren't taking their ads or were just straight up confused.
By no means was my PAX ruined; I just think there's a time and venue for these things, and that's not PAX. For those wondering, he was handing them out not at the main elevators, but at the top of the ones to the right of the main ones. In other words, he was inside the area where passes were required.
When in doubt, if looking for an enforcer, info booth is the place to go. For anyone not in the know, it's the area at the top of the central escalators.
That sounds really strange that an enforcer would be handing these out, especially because wearing an enforcer shirt means they're on shift. Assuming that was the case, info booth also would be the place to go to.
This is currently the rule.
But I'm sure it may matter to their employer.
I kinda wish I saw this / grabbed a coin so that I could make ironic use of it now.
IAAL
The first amendment provides, among other things, strict limits on the ability of the government and public bodies to regulate/prevent individuals from speaking freely. It does NOT prevent private persons from limiting speech and expression on private property.
E.g. A bar may legally prohibit the discussion of politics on its property; a corporate entity may prohibit the discussion of sports events inside its building (or over its communication networks). Conversely, a law prohibiting the discussion of politics in bars would be in violation of the first amendment, and a public body (e.g. a school or government agency) would find it extremely difficult to prohibit the discussion of a particular topic. Though, it is of course possible to construct scenarios where that might be permissible.
In this situation, from what I understand, individuals were licensees on private property. The owners of that property have extensive powers available to control the behaviour of licensees. Therefore the convention centre and their clients (PAX) would have the ability, if they so chose, to control this behaviour.
Whether or not they should is a question above my pay grade.
The guy was wearing a blue shirt. Not an enforcer shirt.
Look to recognize enforcers from their badges.
Personally I like the thought of a religious group that is willing to embrace and welcome the gamer culture instead of just automatically rejecting and demonizing it.
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Perhaps they are handing out said coins in an effort to save us from our destructive lifestyle? I didn't see these guys though, so I have no idea how they were acting, etc.
May his balls of steel never rust brother.
Just playing devil's advocate there. Really though, if you have a problem with random people handing things out in a public place, don't ever go outside. Since it was in the convention centre public zone, it's outside of PAX's control. Register your complaint with the convention centre.
Ame...I mean Hail to the King baby!
I never finish anyth
Is it any different when other organizations like Planned Parenthood or the ACLU or Jehova's Witnesses were the ones doing it? It doesn't have to be religions too. As for me, if I'm not interested, I just politely decline them then move on. If they are being aggressive then they are the ones in the wrong and as an evangelical, I apologize if anyone did that. We should try to respect each other in the end and not get so easily offended either.
Agreed with that. Several guys in my church were there and I saw them various parts in the day. We've played D&D and one of several zombie boardgames. Games are only considered evil by radicals and there are radicals coming from all view points.
As a Christian, this stuff bugs me too. As someone that has worked, and does work in the same Security type capacity of an Enforcer, these types of people can become a problem only if they cross a line.
I work Security for the Haunted Hotel in Downtown SD, our line, which at times gets to be 2-4 hours long, is constantly patrolled by chicks in next to nothing advertising strip clubs, dance clubs, bars, and the such. Not to mention the Red-bull girls, Monster Girls, and radio station employees that are allowed there by agreement.
Now the Haunted Hotel line is outside, in a public space, and so we can't do shit about it. However when the person giving things out become a problem we can. Example, a religious group in SD that thinks Halloween and Horror movies are "THE WORKS OF TEH DEVILS!!! ZOMG!!!" shows up every year.
Now we, security for the Haunted Hotel, dress up as monster, zombies, aliens, vampires, iconic horror movie peoples, so we are recognizable as staff, easy to find and available for attendants to interact with if need be. We also have a group of outside actors that cannot act as security, as they are there to entertain the line, but are also available resources of information.
Our local religious group, Born Again Christians, as crossed the line of passing things out or spreading the message in a few ways. Protesting our establishment by blockading the line, using a bull horn to shout into the faces of our line from less than a foot away, and dressing like staff/security and using that as a way to communicate their message.
The fact that the dude passed you something, whatever, public place, what can you do? The fact that the person, or group of persons identified how Enforcers dressed, and then used that to attempt to press a message. That's fucked up, and illegal in some cases.
The Question is, did they dude plan to look like an enforcer, or is someone being to sensitive?
Dude, you do that, I'll have do "Porn for the Porn God"
Mmm...delicious Chaos.....
Hahaha, exactly.
See, gaming has a solution for every problem