I don't feel it's disappropriate It may not be relevant but alot of the things on here aren't.
They are in no way try to force anyone into religion or advising anyone to accept Jesus or whatever. It's basically the same basic as RYL.
They talk about themselves on the website so people can understand it and they ask for people to spread the word so they can help more people.
Again, more people wearing t-shirts and stuff is like advertising to make more people aware so they can help people.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ~invisible~girl~
I very much dislike TWLOHA. And honestly, I'm not entirely clear why it's appropriate to advertise it on RYL. Anyway, here are a few of my objections to it...
First, it's a religious organization. At it's very core is the idea of recovering by accepting Jesus into your life. I'm sorry, but no matter how much evasive fluff they try to put around that, it's still about religion.
Second, the material on their site is extremely condescending. I very much resent being called a "broken person" when overall I'm still functioning well above average. I also resent the manner in which they address the issue of their religious ties, and how they present their information about self-harm.
Third, their primary purpose seems to be to promote themselves. Most of the site is dedicated to talking about what the organization is, asking for donations, advertising T-shirts, and encouraging readers to "spread the word" about TWLOHA. However, for all their emphasis on fundraising, only 25% of the money they raise goes to helping people - the rest goes to promoting the organization.
Fourth, as shallow as this may seem, I really, really hate the name of the organization. When I hear "To Write Love on Her Arms," knowing it's associated with SI, my first association is someone carving the word "love" into their arm.
Fifth, the emphasis on the music industry really just pisses me off. I'm sorry, but I fail to see why being a rock star qualifies one to provide information about mental health issues. And I also don't see how setting up tends at concerts to sell T-shirts is actually helping anyone recover.
Honestly, I don't see why religion has seem to have taken over this post.
I quit. Haha. Have fun with your pointless debating kids. =]
Hmmm, I just don't get TWLOHA, and whenever I see anything about it, it's all just 12 year old kids in T-shirts, I dunno, so I can't judge, but I'm not 'broken' and I just don't see the point of it.
*Yes I am aware that this post is pointless, but I'm bored*
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. Make us all feel wonderful. We'll never forget."
They are in no way try to force anyone into religion or advising anyone to accept Jesus or whatever. It's basically the same basic as RYL.
No it's not the same thing as RYL. If you go and read "the story" on their website, the whole thing is about how they picked up this girl and prayed about her and took her to church and now she believes that "God makes things new again"
That sounds pretty much like a conversion to Christianity to me no matter how much they try to say it's not about religion.
Good for them if they can help some people through religion, though personally I'll take RYL and our all-inclusive nature over an organization who only takes non-christians so they can turn them into christians.
**** this.
I started this thread because it's something I believe and I wanted to share it with people.
I didn't ask for anyones opinions and all most people are doing is slating TWLOHA who just want to help too.
I'm not religious at all and I like the orginisation so I don't get why people are talking **** about it because I'm personally offended.
I don't even want any replies to this.
Honestly, I don't see why religion has seem to have taken over this post.
Read the TWLOHA story. Whatever the current organization is like, there's no denying the story is very much about religion. I think that given that story, along with the organizations obvious interest in increasing its following, it's inevitable that people will react to the religious aspect of the organization.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PembeTheClown
Have fun with your pointless debating kids. =]
I'm 21. You're 15. And having looked through the profiles of people posting in this thread, most of the opposition has been from older teens and adults, whereas the support has been from younger people. It seems that around 17 or 18, most people start to be able to see the strong religious influence in TWLOHA, and not take the organization's evasive comments at face value. So your reference to "kids" was entirely misguided.
Emily
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Hah. i'm a 'broken person'
oooh. did i hurt their mirrors?
I neither like or dislike it. Just another thing that some people get a lot of help from.
just has a lot more hype than the rest of them.
when, to be fair, its smaller things like RYL that are a load better.
Look at the end of the day I'm sure TWLOHA has made SOME people feel less alone and helped people find whatever they need to find, just like RYL can do for some people, regardless of religion.
I neither agree or disagree with it. I'm certain it's helped people, I've met Jamie and he seemed lovely, told me some valuable things. However I can see why people would disagree with them, they don't always go about things the right way...
Either way can we all be respectful of others beliefs?
just because you've forgotten doesn't mean you're forgiven
i personally dont have a problem with it being religious
religion has helped a friend of mine
however, i dont think i pushs religion
if it is just a base, then so be it
i am in full support of TWLOHA
my only ify bit is the fact it is all based on one girl
i dont really know how it makes me feel.. but in a way steriotyped i guess
i think if it helps people then they should get respect, not resentment
i dont find it helps me as such because i dont like big big groups
also i dont see the problem with wearing the shirts
they get money to keep going and helping
and if it is making people aware of current issues such as self harm then that cant be a bad thing really. it doesnt mean people have to support it, but awareness helps.
and about calling peole broken..
i dont really have that much of an issue
i dont personally think it was a great choice of words, and i see the offense taken from it, but again, they are only trying to help. if this is a small phrase they use, then so be it.
I say "kids" a lot. It's something I do. I didn't do it on purpose to try and get a reaction or something.
Fair enough. I do things like that too (not 'kids' specifically, but similar things). Just fyi, in that context, it comes off as kind of condescending, and people often use it to suggest the people they're talking to are behaving childishly, so you might want to be careful about that
Emily
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Fair enough. I do things like that too (not 'kids' specifically, but similar things). Just fyi, in that context, it comes off as kind of condescending, and people often use it to suggest the people they're talking to are behaving childishly, so you might want to be careful about that
Just above you said it was young kids that get caught up with things they grow out of when they mature - all the while reminding a poster you had 6 yrs on them. Talk about condescending - you have a habit of browbeating on people like the authoritarian from above without seeing your own contradictions and hostilities.
"I'm 21. You're 15. And having looked through the profiles of people posting in this thread, most of the opposition has been from older teens and adults, whereas the support has been from younger people. It seems that around 17 or 18, most people start to be able to see the strong religious influence in TWLOHA, and not take the organization's evasive comments at face value. So your reference to "kids" was entirely misguided"
Well imo, I really like TWLOHA.
Although they may be religion based I don't think they push that on people which I think is great as I myself am not religious.
And by people wearing the shirts? I like that, it shows support for the organisation and also lets other people know about it, it certainly has for my friends as I proudly own a bag =]
i personally dont have a problem with it being religious
religion has helped a friend of mine
however, i dont think i pushs religion
if it is just a base, then so be it
i am in full support of TWLOHA
Certain topics like religion always quickly bring out a cadre of vexatious sorts who will get tense over a simple Merry Christmas.
Personally I am not much for TWOLA because they have a morbid dark-arty emotional involvement that could cause people to be attracted to things like SI and morbid moods. I don't find TWOLA to be religious as much as religious-ish in some shiny-goth sort of way. It takes a lot of emotional elements and tries to make some uplifting sort of brew that I dont think does much help in the long run even if it doesn't do much harm. I wouldn't want my child in it (or most groups for that matter) but I would guess a lot of the people drawn to the group are nicer than a lot of other groups (as I have experienced them). That doesn't mean I would like the people running this though. Its got too much marketing to be that spontaneous.
I dunno, when i look at the website, and everything, it looks like they just want to make money (i am not trying to offend anyone here, sorry if I do)
I was going to sign up for the forum bit, but the rules seem a bit, I dunno, like you must advertise us, you must do something for us before we will help you, or w/e.
I might be wrong, but going on first impressions, it hasn't really made a good one. I don't even care about the religious aspect, not all christians want to preach the ways of God to every non-believer, It just seems to be a big fuss over something that doesn't really seem(to me) to be that focused on helping people as it says.
I don't think anyone here is saying that TWLOHA is a horrible thing and shouldn't exist. Its one of those "to each their own" situations, and please don't take it personally that people may not like TWLOHA as much as you do.
Well it breaks my heart to see you this way,
The beauty in life, where's it gone?
And somebody told me you were doing okay,
Somehow I guess they were wrong.
Just above you said it was young kids that get caught up with things they grow out of when they mature - all the while reminding a poster you had 6 yrs on them. Talk about condescending - you have a habit of browbeating on people like the authoritarian from above without seeing your own contradictions and hostilities.
Do you have a point, or do you just feel like having a go at me? As far as I'm concerned, I responded to a comment I found insulting, the person who'd posted it explained I'd misinterpreted it, and I explained why I'd misinterpreted. Then you step in and start talking about what a horrible person I am, and I'm really not entirely clear on why.
Emily
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(> < ) This Is Bunny. Copy Bunny into your signature to help him on his way to world domination.
ok - I think that this thread has really strayed from PembeTheClown's original intentions which were to make RYL members more aware of the TWLOHA website (as the people at TWLOHA are aware of RYL).
But since this thread started, the mods have had to edit and delete a number of posts because there has been derogatory comments directed at certain religious groups, and now we're also starting to see some narky remarks and hostility creeping into posts between our own RYL members ... both of which are breaches of our RYL Rules.
So I think it has come time to LOCK this thread, and Pembe - on behalf of the moderating team, I hope you can accept my sincere apologies that your thread ended up in this way, as the mods do realise that you never meant to cause problems by posting this thread, and that you did so with the best of intentions ... but through no fault of your own, the thread deteriorated and needed to be locked.
