Fundamentalist religious propaganda from the Oban Times

[NickB]

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Is anyone else annoyed by the full-page 'advertorials' published by the 'born again' sect Words By The Wayside each month in the West Coast Review? Month after month they tell me I have to believe in their God and only their version of God, otherwise I will burn in eternal damnation. Apparently being good is an utter waste of time.

While I accept that people are free to believe anything they want and indeed to seek to convince others, I do not see why I should have to tolerate this being physically pushed through my letterbox every month if I do not want it. I have contacted the Oban Times by phone, email and in writing asking them to not deliver the West Coast Review, but they say they are unable to stop it being delivered. I think I am going to start posting it back to them without a stamp.

[Maggie]

I feel sorry for you NickB

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What right exactly does the Oban Times have to send me religious hate mail?

It can't be very nice.
I suggest a range of courses of action>
a) When the magazine arrives throw it straight in the bin without reading it.
OR
b) Read the magazine but turn over the page before reading the religious hate page.
OR
c) When the magazine arrives get someone else to tear out the offending page then you can read the magazine in comfort.
OR
d) Ask the Post Office to stop delivering unaddressed hate mail.
OR
e)
Report the Oban Times to the police under The Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006.
f)
If the police fob you off take out a Private Prosecution.

Please keep us updated on what you do.

mags
x
ps When I read the magazine I skip over articles which don't interest me, otherwise I might get upset like you are..

[NickB]

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As you will see, I must have been editing my post at the same time you were posting your response Mags - sorry about that. The main thrust of my argument is that I do not wish to receive the West Coast Review, but the Oban Times keeps sending it in spite of me requesting that they desist. Thank you for your considered advice; I have decided however that I will post it back to them in an unstamped envelope, something I often do with unwanted junk mail.

ps When I read the magazine I skip over articles which don't interest me, otherwise I might get upset like you are..

I think that is what most people do. In the case of the West Coast Review, for me that means skipping pretty much everything, which makes it a bit of a waste of (expensive, glossy) paper.

Anyway, Happy New Year - I see this is your first post in 2011.

[smallpaws]

Went and read it after that - it seems I'm not going to Heaven. Ever. But that's OK as I wouldn't know anyone there anyway. See you on the dark side Nick.

[Maggie]

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I have decided however that I will post it back to them in an unstamped envelope, something I often do with unwanted junk mail.

Why not just throw it in the bin?
This site http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones ... -junk#mail tells you how to stop all junk mail whether addressed or delivered en-masse by the P.O. is in this case.

For smallpaws- do you actually believe in Heaven and Hell then?
I believe that when you die you are reincarnated at the next level; higher if you've led a good life or lower if you've been bad. Its something I learned about in Goa. Makes sense to me.

mags
x

[smallpaws]

Yes, I do believe in Heaven, but let's just leave it there.

[MonaLott]

Personally, I fail to see how anyone can feel that strongly and negatively about the West Coast Review. It seems like a fine wee free local magazine, well produced and with some interesting articles and handy for general info. I also believe in freedom of speech. If some folk want to pay money to advertise their religious beliefs, why not? You don't have to read their adverts. Personally, I'm off now to do the Sudoku competition and try to win that bottle of Oban malt! Heaven indeed!

[NickB]

Personally, I fail to see how anyone can feel that strongly and negatively about the West Coast Review. It seems like a fine wee free local magazine, well produced and with some interesting articles and handy for general info. I also believe in freedom of speech. If some folk want to pay money to advertise their religious beliefs, why not? You don't have to read their adverts. Personally, I'm off now to do the Sudoku competition and try to win that bottle of Oban malt! Heaven indeed!

I've been told I can't post it back to them because Kathy does the Sudoku competition as well

I find the fearmongering brand of (alleged) Christianity preached by Words by the Wayside repellent and possibly dangerous if peddled to the weak-minded, but I will just have to curb my morbid fascination and avoid reading it in future.

[MonaLott]

Changed my mind about the Sudoku! Just noticed the prize malt is only a miniature! Now that IS repellent and a scandal!
Live and let live, I say. The world's full of nutters & we all have our own nutty version of things. Paying for a nutty advert in a wee mag is just extra-nutty but it would be nuts to let it drive you crackers, if you get my drift!

[smallpaws]

The world's full of nutters & we all have our own nutty version of things. Paying for a nutty advert in a wee mag is just extra-nutty but it would be nuts to let it drive you crackers, if you get my drift!

You been on the funny juice again MonaLott

[Beetlejuice]

There's no escape even if you throw away the magazine, because they put an advert in the personal column of the Oban Times every week as well.

Looks as though we're all going to be partying together down there, with Old Nick and Younger Nick!

[Maggie]

I've been told I can't post it back to them because Kathy does the Sudoku competition as well

Why not post it back once she,s done the soduku ?
That way they can't simply give your returned copy to someone else
BTW I got two copies through my letter box and posted them both back to the O.T. !

mags
x

[jimcee]

Herby Dice (how do you come by a name like that) seems to be stirring it up a bit to liven up our new year.
Surely even he has had the experience of visiting a newsagent at some time in his life - Balvicar Stores springs to mind.
Within one of these establishments there are numerous newspapers and periodicals for sale to all and sundry who can come up with the wherewithal to purchase them.
A perusal of the contents, for which one has expended a portion of one's hard earned cash, will elicit the fact that in addition to editorial input, there is a huge amount of advertising.
This advertising, one can read or ignore, but there cannot be many who discontinue the purchase on the grounds that it contains one advert which gets up their nose.
These selfsame adverts pay for the costs of production and in the case of the Review even cover the distribution so that Herby Dice can enjoy? a small monthly magazine delivered to his door, without visiting Balvicar Stores or putting his hand in his pocket.
Surely he can ignore one advert which offends his sensibilities, without getting so hot under the collar.

[NickB]

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I was not aware that Herby had posted on this matter

My point was that I would never buy this publication, nor would I pick it up from a pile in Balvicar Stores if it was free. I regard it as a waste of (expensive, glossy) paper. It is however stuffed though my door every month, whether I want it or not, and the publishers are not prepared or able to do anything about it. I don't lose any sleep over the matter, but I do believe I have a valid point of view. I am not entirely surprised that others don't share it - it would be a dull world if we all had the same opinions.

Now, why don't you tell us what gets up your nose in 2011 Jim? Or are you never irritated by life's little vagaries?

[Herby Dice]

Hmm. I have as yet made no comment on this matter so fial to see how I have been stirring things up. Maybe the poster is confused as my moniker appears at the top of the page as moderator.
Personally, as a man of the cloth myself I can hardly complain when my colleagues and brothers of faith attempt to put across their point of view in a periodical, no matter how odious that point of view may be. Some of my opinions are veritable stinkers and I will defend to the death - or at least to the punch in the face - my right to disseminate them to any I can force to listen. If only I could find a way to get the Royal Mail to stuff them through people's doors every month or so....

[Eric the Viking]

To borrow a phrase - I agree with Nick

No platform for these religious fundamentalists - shame on the OT for selling out

[Beetlejuice]

The Oban Times wouldn't print this stuff if it referred to Allah or Mohammed rather than J.C. Would it

[jimcee]

Without getting embroiled further in the hoo-ha over the Oban Times "Review's" lack of censorship on it's adverts and the propoganda of giving us free access to it - the following points -

All the foregoing posts had the effect of making me return to my copy of the Review and actually read the article in question - previously I had ignored it as just another hot head sounding off - and so it proved to be, but this Forum has probably increased the readership of the article in question considerably.

I was invited to sound off about things that get up my nose currently -
The main one is Law Firms touting for business from those who think the authorities can be screwed for recompense, over things were largely their own fault - Ambulance chasing.
A good runner-up is the financial institutions which invite us to get into debt, at exorbitant rates of interest via credit cards.