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Taking Offense - Has It Gone Off The Rails?
HughFreakingDillon
Winnipeg Posts: 39,402
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kirker-butler/dont-be-offended_b_2838657.html?utm_hp_ref=entertainment
Don’t Be Offended. Seriously, Don’t.
By Kirker Butler
5.1k
Recently, our country was shaken to its core by two events that future historians will mark as the point-of-no-return for America’s long slide into moral depravity. I am speaking of course about The Oscars, and a sketch on Saturday Night Live called “Djesus Uncrossed.” I am not going to rehash either here because this is a time for healing. However, I would like to take a moment to address the people who have spent hours blogging, boycotting, emailing, and tweeting their disgust. In short, I would like to speak to the offended, and I would like to say this:
No one cares that you’re offended.
Literally no one. Okay, maybe your mom, but even she wishes you would take it down a notch. The offense you’ve taken at something you saw on TV is completely and utterly irrelevant to anyone other than yourself. Taking offense is just that, something you willingly take, and you have every right to do so. But once you take it, that mess is yours and yours alone.
I’m not saying people shouldn’t be offended by anything. There are plenty of things in this world that are truly offensive and worthy of our thoughtful attention. But I would argue that your hypersensitive overreaction to some televised comedy bits is far more harmful to our nation’s wellbeing than the bits themselves. I mean, how can we continue calling ourselves The Home of the Brave if we collectively shit our pants over every little boob and/or Jesus joke?
I know you’re going to say that you’re just trying to protect your children, but ask yourself what kind of message your reactionary hissy-fits are sending them? Certainly not one of bravery. At your funeral, do you think your kids will stand up and say, “My mother was so brave. In 2013 she got Sears to pull their ads from ‘Saturday Night Live’ for six whole weeks because she didn’t think a sketch they did was funny.” Probably not. But they might remember you sitting at a computer sending angry emails while they really just wanted you to take them to the park.
But I don’t blame you entirely. Being offended has become an epidemic in America. In fact, it’s become an industry. Scores of non-profit organizations have been created with the sole purpose of getting butthurt at things, and then trying to convince you that you should be butthurt, too. The Parent’s Television Council, One Million Moms, The American Family Association, etc.—all exist solely to spread phony outrage about one perceived offense or another. Their goal, they say is to inform and advise, but in reality they’re just humorless busybodies who believe that their opinions are more valid than others. Oh, and it’s also a good way to make money.
They’ll start some online boycott or petition, which will then trend on Twitter for a couple hours. Some cable news producer, desperate for content, will put them on TV, which only validates the busybody’s already overinflated sense of entitlement. Their website gets more traffic; they get more tax-exempt donations; and another finger wagging, “family-advocacy” organization gets more control over what we all see and hear. But what makes this dangerous is that these people embolden other busybodies watching at home to “take a stand” (i.e. cry like a bitch) when anything, no matter how insignificant, “offends” them. And their incessant whining is making us weaker as a nation.
People are having to remove t-shirts before they board planes so as not to offend other passengers. They’re having to peel bumper stickers from their cars so offended co-workers won’t have to see them in the parking lot. Textbooks are being rewritten, stand-up comics are second-guessing their jokes, all because some thin-skinned brats think the world should bend over backwards so they don’t have to experience a single moment of discomfort.
How does that make us better, or stronger, or smarter, or more prepared for the difficult challenges we all must face in our lives? It doesn’t. It just makes us a nation of pussies.
And if that offends you, who cares?
Don’t Be Offended. Seriously, Don’t.
By Kirker Butler
5.1k
Recently, our country was shaken to its core by two events that future historians will mark as the point-of-no-return for America’s long slide into moral depravity. I am speaking of course about The Oscars, and a sketch on Saturday Night Live called “Djesus Uncrossed.” I am not going to rehash either here because this is a time for healing. However, I would like to take a moment to address the people who have spent hours blogging, boycotting, emailing, and tweeting their disgust. In short, I would like to speak to the offended, and I would like to say this:
No one cares that you’re offended.
Literally no one. Okay, maybe your mom, but even she wishes you would take it down a notch. The offense you’ve taken at something you saw on TV is completely and utterly irrelevant to anyone other than yourself. Taking offense is just that, something you willingly take, and you have every right to do so. But once you take it, that mess is yours and yours alone.
I’m not saying people shouldn’t be offended by anything. There are plenty of things in this world that are truly offensive and worthy of our thoughtful attention. But I would argue that your hypersensitive overreaction to some televised comedy bits is far more harmful to our nation’s wellbeing than the bits themselves. I mean, how can we continue calling ourselves The Home of the Brave if we collectively shit our pants over every little boob and/or Jesus joke?
I know you’re going to say that you’re just trying to protect your children, but ask yourself what kind of message your reactionary hissy-fits are sending them? Certainly not one of bravery. At your funeral, do you think your kids will stand up and say, “My mother was so brave. In 2013 she got Sears to pull their ads from ‘Saturday Night Live’ for six whole weeks because she didn’t think a sketch they did was funny.” Probably not. But they might remember you sitting at a computer sending angry emails while they really just wanted you to take them to the park.
But I don’t blame you entirely. Being offended has become an epidemic in America. In fact, it’s become an industry. Scores of non-profit organizations have been created with the sole purpose of getting butthurt at things, and then trying to convince you that you should be butthurt, too. The Parent’s Television Council, One Million Moms, The American Family Association, etc.—all exist solely to spread phony outrage about one perceived offense or another. Their goal, they say is to inform and advise, but in reality they’re just humorless busybodies who believe that their opinions are more valid than others. Oh, and it’s also a good way to make money.
They’ll start some online boycott or petition, which will then trend on Twitter for a couple hours. Some cable news producer, desperate for content, will put them on TV, which only validates the busybody’s already overinflated sense of entitlement. Their website gets more traffic; they get more tax-exempt donations; and another finger wagging, “family-advocacy” organization gets more control over what we all see and hear. But what makes this dangerous is that these people embolden other busybodies watching at home to “take a stand” (i.e. cry like a bitch) when anything, no matter how insignificant, “offends” them. And their incessant whining is making us weaker as a nation.
People are having to remove t-shirts before they board planes so as not to offend other passengers. They’re having to peel bumper stickers from their cars so offended co-workers won’t have to see them in the parking lot. Textbooks are being rewritten, stand-up comics are second-guessing their jokes, all because some thin-skinned brats think the world should bend over backwards so they don’t have to experience a single moment of discomfort.
How does that make us better, or stronger, or smarter, or more prepared for the difficult challenges we all must face in our lives? It doesn’t. It just makes us a nation of pussies.
And if that offends you, who cares?
Hugh Freaking Dillon is currently out of the office, returning sometime in the fall after a very restful summer exploring the Great Canadian Wilderness and beaches, listening to Pearl Jam, Headstones, Watchmen, Queens of the Stone Age, and many others.
In my absence, please refer to the following for any reasoned debate on any given matter (please note this list is not exhaustive):
@mrussel1 , @Go Beavers , @tbergs, @mickeyrat, @brianlux, @PJ_Soul, @The Juggler, @Gern Blansten
In my absence, please refer to the following for any reasoned debate on any given matter (please note this list is not exhaustive):
@mrussel1 , @Go Beavers , @tbergs, @mickeyrat, @brianlux, @PJ_Soul, @The Juggler, @Gern Blansten
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Pretty interesting perspective: http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/films/last-laugh/
Cincinnati 2014
Greenville 2016
(Raleigh 2016)
Columbia 2016
Libtardaplorable©. And proud of it.
Brilliantati©
Cincinnati 2014
Greenville 2016
(Raleigh 2016)
Columbia 2016
Libtardaplorable©. And proud of it.
Brilliantati©
In my absence, please refer to the following for any reasoned debate on any given matter (please note this list is not exhaustive):
@mrussel1 , @Go Beavers , @tbergs, @mickeyrat, @brianlux, @PJ_Soul, @The Juggler, @Gern Blansten
That'll show those touchy bastards.
Tossing some shit off the top of my head...
Many are way too thin-skinned. As I can be as well at times, given hormones and / or circumstances but do try to let rationale prevail. That thinness is, I think, not just a nowadays thing, but simply how some are...almost looking for something to decry for whatever reason. If that's how they want to spend their time and effort, so be it. I don't get it and tend not to think much of them, overall, after that.
My own sense of feeling offended? Yes, when it's personal and from someone I respect. But, I also feel that sense of "fuck you" on behalf of others...those who are victims of pedophiles, of rapists, and of, among the many sick fucks out there, the "mother" who filmed torturing her young son so she could send the footage to her ex-husband. I feel for them and yes, my sense of humanity is fucking offended by the actions of their perpetrators.
Also agree that technology has opened the floodgates for all to share every little slice of so-called outrage and (non?) thought of "how dare they", or "how could they", or (fill in the blank).
Progress laced, ultimately, with ramifications.
Micro aggressions
Safe space
Those two are the most ridiculous.
I was in another world- walking through the halls liberated from my desk. Senses overwhelmed with the echo of my footsteps in the hall and the emptiness of this other dimension... I pushed the bathroom door open to go have my first pee.
This dude had his GWGs down by his ankles and was letting his stream fly into the urinal. He unabashedly turned and looked at me for a moment despite the fact his bare bum was hanging out... then returned to his business. I stood there for a moment or two- again... astounded. I'd never seen such a tactic before. Never even heard of it.
I saddled up to the next urinal, minimally undid my GWG zipper and fly mechanism, and carefully pulled my 'penis' out to begin urination.
When I got back to the class... I shared my story with a few friends and we all had a good laugh.
I laughed too then thought to do the same. I asked to go to the washroom and was granted permission. I sprinted down to the bathroom, kicked open the door, saw the feet and crumpled pants around them, and triple jumped my way to the edge of the stall- leaping to grab a handhold on the edge of it.
Pulling myself up to peer over... I set eyes on a grade seven kid. He looked at me and said, "You're f**king dead."
Cue needle scratching across record.
I slumped back to class thinking, "That's just great. Now I'm going to die." I knew the guy was serious because he swore- we rarely heard any swear words then- especially the 'f' word.
As it turns out and as you could likely surmise, he never killed me. He never even beat me up. But it was a rough few days waiting for the end that never came.
Safe space used in the proper context doesn't bother me.
In my absence, please refer to the following for any reasoned debate on any given matter (please note this list is not exhaustive):
@mrussel1 , @Go Beavers , @tbergs, @mickeyrat, @brianlux, @PJ_Soul, @The Juggler, @Gern Blansten
And universities, once the bastion of free speech and the exploration and free exchange of ideas, have now turned into hyper-sensitive institutions that suppress speech and focus on ensuring that nobody is exposed to anything that may slightly offend even the most sensitive millennial college student. Micro aggressions and triggers everywhere! Professors being reprimanded for challenging ideas, speakers uninvited if anyone makes noise. Idiot college students will unfortunately remain idiots if they are not able to deal with counter-opinions. I'm not sure how they'll even survive the real world outside of the emotional safe space they attempt to create on campus.
He explains: Tragedy + time = comedy
People at the time took offense to jokes about racism, nazis, etc., because they were still relatively recent events.
This was totally acceptable to be funny because it had happened hundreds or years before: