In this forum, that is.

Over the years in this forum, primarily during the GWOT, members used the term 'religion of peace' so often that I became permanently fed-up with it and disallowed its use in perpetuity.

The forum software has a mechanism which allows me to prevent posts from reaching the forum when those posts contain a specified word. This works quite well for names or unusual words but for commonly used words such as 'religion' or 'peace' it's not so simple.

So, to stop members from using this phrase, I did it the old fashioned way. I just kept hammering it home, addressing it each time it appeared in the forum, and eventually, members stopped using it.

All of the above is true for 'rest in peace' or 'RIP' or 'R.I.P'. I have become tired of seeing it over and over and over and over in eulogy threads. It has become so commonly used in such threads that 'rest in peace' and 'RIP' has become utterly meaningless. Truly, the phrase has lost all meaning and if we have eulogy threads that are filled with this phrase or its abbreviation, then those threads themselves become meaningless.

I realize that members mean no harm. Please believe me, I realize that they have the best of intentions and are paying their respects, but when you step back and take a look at a thread, you'll see that the repetition of this phrase is the problem.

I want us to be able to have these eulogy threads. I think it's important for us to be able to mourn certain public figures, and for members to be able to post a eulogy for a friend or family member, so, please refrain from saying 'rest in peace' or 'RIP' in such threads.

Be original. Speak from the heart. If it's a public figure, tell us about how they might have influenced your life, or, if for example it is an artist of some sort, tell us about your favorite works of theirs, something like that.

The last thing I want to say is that it's very helpful to all posting members to keep up with my posts. Before you post to a thread, scan the page or the last few pages and look for the eagle avatar. If you can't or won't read a thread in its entirety (I don't expect members to read a, say, 16 page thread in its entirety before posting), at least be on the lookout for my posts. If members do this consistently, it will prevent threads from getting locked- as our last eulogy thread was- and it will go a long way to keep the admin from barking at you.

Thank you

Sincerity is lost in repetition. That’s why I don’t respond to every eulogy nor rainbow bridge thread, Though I usually read them

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
Truly, the phrase has lost all meaning and if we have eulogy threads that are filled with this phrase or its abbreviation, then those threads themselves become meaningless.

Be original. Speak from the heart.

Thank you.

Repeated generic platitudes are meaningless. I feel the same way about certain other over-repeated refrains in eulogy threads, like "way too young" or "gone too soon".

While I too want to express my condolences to members for the losses in their lives, I find it very hard to avoid cliche or over worn terms. I spent lots of time in the employ of Hospice organizations and despite that experience, I freely admit that my ability to express condolence is lacking.

I’m gonna start saying, “May they sleep in blissful slumber in non-war conditions.”

Point taken, and I heeded the boss’s request from day 1.

At least they died doing what they loved. Ok. Still bet with hindsight they wouldn’t have done it. Looking at you squirrel suits.

For my eulogy thread I want someone to post my favorite pilot joke. “I want to die peacefully in my sleep like grandpa did. With 175 people screaming behind him”.

A coworker recently lost his grandson, much like on this forum, in real life I don't say much as my words feel meaningless.

So this time I got him a card and wrote a little something in it. Not sure if it helped but I wanted him to know it wasn't of no concern to me.