Alligatorjandro
Banned
Im offended by racists.
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When did it stop being OK to be offended?
- Thread starter NinjaBoiX
- Start date
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Im offended by racists.
NinjaBoiX
Member
You're probably right, but fucking hell, you're trying really fucking hard if that offends you. His name, in pixellated, barely legible form, written on the floor of a fictional arena, in a piece of software. You need to just let some of 'em go, surely!
I think it's part of the meme.
personal racism offends no one
Ravensmash
Member
A vigilant warrior against the easily offended crowd who need to learn their place.
this was the gist of an argument on here a while back
A republican?
travisbickle
Member
I wouldn't be offended because I know your existence is about to be removed by myself.
So go ahead
I'm offended by you suggesting you would kill someone for offending you!!
User 100115
Banned
I see more people who aren't Muslim being offended by the mere mention of Islam or the Muslim religion than people who are Muslim. Especially if its portrayed in a positive light.
Byakuya769
Member
The issue being you are insensitive? Seems like their offense is right in line with discussing that point.
Some things are more universally offensive than others.
If a journalist doesn't have the good sense to know that 'chink' is a racially derogatory word, then they probably need to reevalute their career choice anyways.
I agree that people are too easily offended nowadays, but this is not a good example.
Oh yea. Totally see how they're similar things. lol
On the flipside for example calling someone fat or ugly isn't offensive(in many parts of Asia), it's telling the truth. Different standards.
Arjen
Member
That's just plain insulting someone, that's not the same as being offended.
Rhomega Beta
Member
It stopped being OK when it was taken to court and political correctness took over.
Cerebral Assassin
Member
I don't think you understand how religion works, to a Muslim that is hugely offensive(also given that it was unintentional & Harada seemed to have no issue removing it, it strikes me as very interesting to see all the complaints about its removal, given that no artistic integrity has been compromised, it's almost as if any chance to complain about Muslims is jumped on).
Well being offended is a broad term. That's what makes that Stephen Fry quote so damn stupid.
NinjaBoiX
Member
Succinctly put my man. That's usually the case, "OK, I get you, you thought that was in bad taste. But not only are you going to kick up a stink, rather than turn the other cheek, but demand action be taken to appease your sensibilities."
But again, it comes back to cultural differences, I'm not a religious man, so I can't understand why anyone would care so much.
Wait, what the fuck? This kind of thought process really exemplifies the problem, which is that people put a lot more work into justifying why you should shut up than why they should.
Joel Was Right
If you smell burning, it's probably the generators acting up. Report it anyway.
This isn't, in any way, shape or form, intended to offend or bait anyone. Please post respectfully and thoughtfully.
I've noticed in the last couple of years, that the term "offensive" gets thrown around more and more often, sometimes entirely inappropriately. It seems that if something is even remotely offensive these days, it must be banished immediately, without hesitation. Now obviously, when it comes to race, sexual orientation, religion, etc, you need to conduct yourself with poise and respect. But it seems the mere mention of something regarding someone's religion nowadays is considered offensive.
I'll preface by saying, I am not at all informed about Muslim culture, and therefore have no frame of reference, so I apologise in advance if I offend anyone or miss the point entirely, but two recent issues seemed to be particularly innocuous. The painting on the Modern Warfare 2 map that had the Holy teachings: "Allah is beautiful and He loves beauty." written round the frame. Now I don't see where the offence comes from? Is it simply the mere mention of his name outside of prayer? It seems to me that it's a positive message, and should be embraced, not removed. And recently, the Tekken Tag Tournament 2 stage with the Arabic script for Allah etched on the floor. Again, where does the offence come from? In both these instances, the "offending" items where requested to be removed.
Now if these incidents had their deities name taken in vain, then it would be entirely understandable. But it seems, to the uninformed such as my self, that they are being blown out of proportion. Again, if I've missed the point, and it actually is horribly offensive, then I apologize. I'm eager to find out more. Also, I'll just leave this here:
Just because you don't understand why someone finds X, Y or Z offensive doesn't mean their offence is any lesser or illegitimate. Should Muslims have to take Ninjabox's interpretation on something he admittedly has no understanding of before they can form an opinion? The mere fact that you have no idea arguably renders your opinion quite irrelevant. Talking about this generally, why should it be okay to offend someone? Why can't a man walk on the street and have the right not to confronted with insult? Equally as curious, why should it be acceptable to insult someone?
Wow. I can't believe his post went directly over that many people's heads, even after thoroughly explaining it multiple times. Hilarious.
teruterubozu
Member
You're not really offended unless you puke.
Conciliator
Banned
The fact that I work in an office building in the deep south is probably relevant to this, but I hear every week about how stupid it is for people to be offended, and never(I can recall one specific incident, after which the offendee was temporarily ostracized) actually hear someone talking about being offended about something. At least speaking from a local anecdotal perspective, I think this anti-PR pendulum has swung so far in the opposite direction that people ironically get extremely offended about people being offended about something.
A common soundbyte here is how having first-amendment rights protects you from other people being offended at what you say. What?
A common soundbyte here is how having first-amendment rights protects you from other people being offended at what you say. What?
NinjaBoiX
Member
I couldn't care less if it's removed or not, it's more the immediate, kneejerk reaction to remove. Why not just issue a statement, "sorry, no intent to offend". Done.
But I hear what you're saying, it's an entirely different culture, and most of us have no frame of reference.
vas_a_morir
Banned
Gaffers really whiffed on that one. The sycophantic scramble to denounce Ottoman's post was pathetic and transparent.
Truth is, you can't walk down the street and not be offended. You can find offense in anything if you look hard enough, which some people, sadly enough, do all the time.
Well now you can check if you have empathy to your fellow man and understand why someone could be offended.
Rhomega Beta
Member
1st Amendment means you can say whatever you want, even if you use the n-word. Offended? Too bad, 1st Amendment!
Baraka in the White House
2-Terms of Kombat
Same goes for racism. Call anything racist and get a backlash for being the REAL racist.
Ravensmash
Member
That's what they did say, then they removed it out of respect.
An issue was brought up in a civilised manner, and responded to in an equally polite way. Good.
Exactly. What exactly did he prove there? You think Fry would've given a shit that some random on the internet called him something?
That's the point.
NinjaBoiX
Member
Fair point.
Can someone post this brilliant OttomanScribe post? All I see is him saying, "offence is sometimes justified." I was hoping for some witty, cutting rebuttal.
Actually this is a totally normal interaction that many people in our culture engage in every day. If you unintentionally cause distress or injury to someone else, in addition to apologizing, it's polite to take some actual action to show that you are genuinely concerned for the other person and not merely feigning interest to avoid consequences for yourself. This is really bedrock, 5th-grade social interaction stuff.
Joel Was Right
If you smell burning, it's probably the generators acting up. Report it anyway.
This is true. There is no way to avoid this. I'm talking specifically about those with the intent to do/say something they know is likely to provoke a reaction. Lets take an example: freedom of speech.
Scenario A. You say something in the media, shit hits the fan, you use this legal right to shield yourself.
Scenario B. You say something in a public place face to face, shit hits the fan. Either an apology or an altercation occurs. You don't get away with it
The belief that you can go around with the attitude that people should be okay in being offended is devoid of any realism.
He called Stephen Fry a faggot. People on Gaf got offended.
The Technomancer
card-carrying scientician
Huh, I expected something very different from the title. Almost the exact opposite actually. Because I think we've gone a bit too far in the other direction where its not okay to be offended because you don't have a right to find anything offensive, that you just have to accept literally everything everyone else says without emotional reaction.
Cerebral Assassin
Member
Perhaps Harada is a religious man & wouldn't like it if something similar happened to his deity of choice, again the point is that this had nothing to do with artistic integrity, they had no idea what it said so they were fine changing it & that is Haradas/Namcos right (& therefore any people wanting the texture returned are far worse than the original complainers).
As for the frame of reference , is empathy such a foreign concept on Gaf these days?
Penn & Teller's take on this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2h6v01FlU4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2h6v01FlU4
I can't believe people actually think that that's a good argument. Everyone can be offended, but it's the feeling of people that they have extra rights because of it that he's denouncing. The point is going straight over your head. Banning people on a forum because of speech that goes counter to productive discussion and communication is something entirely different to banning people on a forum because you're offended by their statements. It has also nothing to do with free speech in general.
WanderingWind
Mecklemore Is My Favorite Wrapper
But, you know, he really didn't. He was making a point that sailed stupidly high over some folks head. A crass way to do it, but succinct. Thread was just jam packed with irony.
In any event, people lately seem to want to break down this "overly offended" and "asshole" thing into binary, when reality is so much more nuanced.
There are people who are too easily offended. There are people who are overly offensive. There are people who, because of circumstances beyond understanding of others, own a level of reaction they are entitled to. There are some who use that position to browbeat others. There are some who use that as a gateway to be offensive without consideration, then use it as a scapegoat. Etc.
Why without emotional reaction? Any reaction within the boundaries of the law (or more important, morality) is alright. It's the forceful silencing, boundaries set by the law on free speech that are the issue, which has nothing to do with any 'reaction' to free speech, your 'emotional reaction' is just as well free speech.
You make the same exact scenario with any other religion and there's nowhere near as much uproar.
Why does Islam get special treatment?
watervengeance
Member
SquiddyCracker
Banned
Lovely show.
How though? What hypocrisy? Did Fry call him to tell him he's offended? Did he tell him to stop? Does Fry not/being offended lessen the rights of Scribe? I honestly don't see where the hypocrisy is.
Risible
Member
Aren't we just bandying semantics here? How is "offended" different than "pissed off"? They make comments you don't like, you get offended and try to set them straight. I'm not being snarky, I honestly don't see any difference.
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