Well I’m glad my friends weren’t that tyrannical.
Plenty of people go to RHPS and don’t participate. It’s not a sin. If your friends are giving you crap, you just have to learn to give some back.
Believe me, if my friends had pitched THAT type of attitude I DEFINITELY would have felt perfectly free to mock and mock and mock some more without mercy. The only reason I didn’t is because everybody was being civil and having a good time regardless of who was or wasn’t doing whatever.
Just be your own person and stand up for yourself. Everyone’s tastes are different. If they’re acting like this is their new religion and you’re the resident atheist then fulfill your part. Tell them they’re being brainless idiots blindly following the crowd. Feel free to mock them llike they mock you. You have every right to be a nonbeliever.
Feel perfectly free to borrow the age old question of individualists everywhere “if so and so jumped off a ten story building, would you do it too”?
You have as much right to your preferences as they do. If they’re giving you that much crap just give it back to them. And if they get offended, go get some new friends. If they can dish it out but can’t take it, what kind of friends are they anyway? You are not a doormat.
Don’t be afraid to be your own person. Defend it. Humorously at first and more militantly if necessary. Don’t be afraid to put your foot down.
As I said, I’m glad my friends were a nicer bunch which is why I can look back with fond nostalgia to RHPS. If I had a bunch of idiots riding my back about not participating and I didnt deal with it, I might very well feel the same way as you.
Either give as good as you get or find a better quality of friends. Never be hesitant to be your own person entitled to whatever likes or dislikes you have. If everybody were the same it would be a dull boring world indeed.
If your friends insist on continuing to act like douches, go find some who aren’t.