I'm Offended!

[ssjones]

Well said Pax, and thanks for the support!

Our local small-town newspaper had a unmoderated free-for-all in the editorial section. That made for some unpleasant reading and I generally avoided that area. (web and in print). A few months ago, they instituted a new policy where a reader had to post their name and anonymous screen names were no longer accepted. As you might guess, once your real name was applied to a commment, civility and decorum increased considerably.

I recognize that due to the sensitivity of tobacco use, some folks might not be able to participate so screen names are a fact of forum life in this world.

 

[lochinvar]

Being offended is like stress. Things are going to happen in the world, how you react is up to you. I rarely get stressed or offended because I don't have a hyper-inflated view of myself and my importance.
People would be better off if they looked at the situation that is stressing/offending them, realize it really amounts to nothing 99.99% of the time and just say "Ehhh, f it" and get on with life.

 

[beastkhk]

@Brass regarding your mention of certain sites going so many comments before someone gets called a Nazi; you should check out Godwin's Law.
Wiki Godwin's Law
I just heard about it earlier this year and got a good laugh as it seems to be the case on some of those larger sites you mentioned.

 

[jfox520]

@huntertrw You should be offended you got what you asked for. Which never pleases anyone. By the way you should feel honored I use my 500th post on you. I think that I am offended.

 

[allan]

Pax
You may play your sax poorly (Dizzie' comment) but I do agree with what you've written and I do agree a moderator's job is not easy.

 

[huntertrw]

jfox520:
I am offended that you squandered your 500th post to offend me even though I (in essence) asked to be offended...or did I? All that I wanted was a cab!

 

[brewshooter]

Well, whenever I start to get worked up about anything I just remember what Neil Diamond told us and thank the lord for the night time! Sage words Neil...sage words.

 

[brass]

Thank you for refreshing my tired brain. Now that you mention it, I do recall that our inspiration for Nazi hunting in threads was inspired by Godwin's Law.
Regarding comments about not taking offense, I would argue that the principle sounds solid. Why give the power and control to the duffuses that are insulting you, your heritage, your family, you country.
But there are lines that shouldn't be crossed. No black man or woman should ever have to suffer through the indignities of being called the "N" word. No holocaust survivor should have to listen gas oven jokes or sit through asinine fatuities by holocaust deniers. If someone thinks they should just let it roll off their backs, well, ok but you're just asking to star in a Twilight zone episode of ironic Karma going amuck.
On the other hand, I recognize what wyfbane alludes to in that the insistence of political correct vocabulary is actually a battle for our our thoughts and is a form of mass ideological brain-washing. That is why I refuse to use the term "gay marriage" to describe homosexual unions. To do so for me is a surrender to the culture wars. But PipesMagazine isn't the venue to assert my opinion on the the topic - no matter which position I take.
And wyfbane, I don't know what branch of the service you were in, but I bet you agree calling a marine a grunt or a sailor a squid was a good way to get punches flying - or at least it was before PC was folded into basic training or OCS.
Pax

 

[pipebaum81]

Offense is the new black. If you haven't replaced your hardwood floors with egg shells you are so 1975.
If you are cut off in traffic by an obvious offender, road rage is NEVER acceptable. Society expects you to get on with your life and deal with it. After all, are you not grown? And yet virtual road rage on the web is allowed and, often place, encouraged. "Someone did something that really hurt my feelings and now someone must PAY"
I encourage others to own what they say and say what they mean. A good first step is to follow the advice above and lose the super cool avatars and screen names. Every user here has the option to post using the name your mama gave ya and share a personal photo and yet so few do. Am I really supposed to be careful if I offend "pipebaum81" with the Donald Duck in an Army Air Corps uniform?
Undoubtedly this post will offend some folks and I say in that case this post was meant for you. Look to the left, that is Jeremy Baum, 33, born in California and serving in our armed forces for the last 13 years. I take responsibility for my comments.
j/B

 

[plateauguy]

That's the spirit! Laugh, the world is tough enough!
Someone just bested my top bid for a S. Bang pipe I had my eye on, NOW I'm offended!

 

[brewshooter]

WHAT, you don't really believe my name is Brewshooter?!?!? Well, let me just pull out my birth certificate and show you, you lit... Wait, oh dear, this can't be right. I always believed... I mean, why would my parents lie to me for all these years?!!? This doesn't make sense. NOTHING MAKES SENSE ANYMORE!!!!

 

[pipebaum81]

But there are lines that shouldn't be crossed. No black man or woman should ever have to suffer through the indignities of being called the "N" word. No holocaust survivor should have to listen gas oven jokes or sit through asinine fatuities by holocaust deniers. If someone thinks they should just let it roll off their backs, well, ok but you're just asking to star in a Twilight zone episode of ironic Karma going amuck.

If anything has to do with the Twilight zone it is the above. The highest use of the "N" word is by blacks within the hip-hop culture and amongst the in the inner-city minority. As a Jew I can tell you that the worst holocaust jokes I have been told were by Jews amongst Jews. Jews worldwide live in a world that hates them and kills them. Holocaust denial and Zionist hate is everywhere. Jews do not protest in the streets of America. Israel fights when attacked. Iran still stands despite its holocaust denial and Israel's extreme competence and ability. Every day millions of people have things "roll of their backs" and are none the worse for wear.
j/B

 

[mso489]

Hard to sort it out. There is an social and emotional climate where maybe a majority of people are energetically looking for someplace to posit their anger, which has to do with something other than the subject they choose to make the issue. I do try not to offend others. I think that is the responsibility of an adult human being. I do try not to take offense, even when something is thrown my way that would be taken by most as an insult. Overlook it when I can. It's hard work, both ways. Much of the "comment" online is mindless fuming and is a symptom of a public personality disorder. If I were a sage, I could sort that out for us. Can't.

 

[johnnyreb]

If the Irish are truly offended by the seasonal jokes (trite?) that invariably come around this time of yr as St. Patrick's Day approaches then they should follow the lead set by Native Americans who are offended by the logo of the Washington Redskins, and dispense with the use of images of the drunken leprechaun for starters.
As I told Jason in asking him to close my thread, I am of Scottish & Irish, and Cherokee ancestry. My grandmother was born in the Nation before Oklahoma became a state. Joke about any of those and I'll laugh right along with you and not be offended because I know the man I am and the stock I came from, and of that I am proud.
I have enjoyed the friendships I have made here on the forum.

 

[huntertrw]

Hummm...perhaps Kevin could add two new types of member status: Offended and Not Offended.

 

[plateauguy]

I plan on celebrating all 3 nationalities of my heritage on St. Patrick's Day by drinking lots of beer (German), dancing a jig (Irish) and falling down drunk (Indian). :mrgreen:

 

[beastkhk]

And that concludes tonight's programming. Tune in next time to find out if....
made it in before the lock.

 

[beefeater33]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8KD-NbHlYw

 

[beefeater33]

This guy makes some great points!.............

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHMoDt3nSHs

 

[brass]

This thread is an example of what conversation can be. We have here a diversity of opinions from individuals of diverse backgrounds. Ideas are being exchanged. Members are considering the others positions and listening before responding. Disagreements are expressed and argued with respect and humor. It can be done. I'm feeling a little more hopeful. Thanks.
Pax