OT-Taking offense

[mayergirl]

Okay, I'm not trying to tick people off here, but it needs to be said. I just deleted a post because someone took offense to it. First of all, people take a LOT of offense to things on this board that are NEVER meant offensively, and it's getting to the point where I really can't take it anymore. Secondly, deal with these things in private messages. Before you take offense to something, and insult the person who posted it, make sure they were actually being offensive. Words are just words, and no one can offend you unless you want to be offended, so please, can we just be pleasant to one another?

[lscogbill]

Well, I find it very offensive that you think I would take offense to your post. [img]wink.gif[/img]

[LordofthePumpkinPatch]

I do kind of agree with you. I try my hardest to overlook post that I find offensive or irritating. So I think this would be a good policy.

[Miss_Nellie_OMalley]

I know exactly what you are talking about... but I also know that since this is a message board its hard to convay our messages to one another effectivly.

I had a problem here recently where I finally realized that nothing I said on the board was going to make the other person feel any better, and instead we were just going to badger each other's feelings... so I took it to IM, and we found out that we have almost identical beliefs, but it just wasn't being communicated effitiantly.

I have been a moderator on many many boards, and there is no drama like message board drama...

I encourage everyone to try to take it to a chat based place (one on one) IM or PM when the matter is between two parties. This helps clear up misunderstandings/miscommunication and also keeps other people out of it.

Its kinda like the english lesson.
I ate, Sissy. (with the comma and capital S in Sissy makes Sissy a person)
I ate Sissy. (minus the comma and apparently I'm now a cannible)
I ate, sissy. (now I'm calling someone a name not saying someone's name)

Written words are soo easy to mistake.

[llama_dreamdancer_5]

Right on! I secound that! [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img]

[cebula_2000]

The only problem with taking it to PM or IM is that some of us are not allowed any type of interactive chat except message boards... so...

[StarTrekCaptain]

I know you deleted your post because I am the one who took offense to it.

I have to say that I REALLY don't think ethnic comments are anything to take lightly. So I don't feel bad that you think I'm being "picky". I don't think any ethnic derogatory term should be used on this board, including the one you used, and many people make jokes about that word and I just find it really, really rude and insensitive.

I don't think I am being picky when it comes to words like that.

Your post was meant to be funny, but did you think about what group of poeple you are poking fun at?

If you made joke type of post about native americans, asian people, etc, do you think people would take it as a joke or would they be offended by it?
It may have been meant to be funny but it doesn't make it right.
I am really not into "politcal correctness" however I don't think it is right to make fun of any region or group of people in this country (or anywhere else either, of course).

<font color="#051E50" size="1">[ December 06, 2005 05:03 PM: Message edited by: StarTrekCaptain ]</font>

[cami713]

I don't get the problem. If someone is offended by something, and it hurts their feelings, I think most of us would like to know so we could not say the same thing again.

Words might be just words, but we all see how offended people get when their stars get lowered, things like that may be silly to some of us, but it really hurts other peoples' feelings.

If I offend someone by saying something, I'd like to know, obviously I never realized it was hurtful, and now I know not to say it again.

Sometimes we forget that everyone's feelings are different, and what you might find unoffensive could offend someone else.

[Miss_Nellie_OMalley]

OOO I think I know whats going on... does this have to do with the jedi joke?

If so, I live in TN and people are PROUD to be called that. I have never met someone considered a (what Jeff Foxworthy jokes about) that doesn't pass these jokes around like candy.

If we are going to be exessivly offensive (and again I'm making an assumption) then what's with the blond jokes? Why aren't these equally as offensive? Personally, I do not find them so... and I'm blond... If we want to play like that ANYTHING and EVERYTHING becomes offensive to someone somewhere at sometime.

[StarTrekCaptain]

That's the same thing as african americans joking around with a certain word. People feel like they can use it on themselves and it's okay. Well it's not. Why do you think other poeple find it okay? Because you use it on yourseves. ( notice I am not syaing "we use it on ourselves", because I do not use it) If people quit making fun of themselves then other people will realize it's not okay to make fun of them either.

Its just as bad as words like the n-word and jokes made about other ethnic groups.
I don't think it's right, I find it very offensive because whether you like it or not is IS a derogatory slur. And you may notice it is the only one "accepted" by the media and the general public. People should be proud of their heritage and not make fun of it. I am proud of my appalachian hertiage and past and I appreciate it and I do NOT appreciate other people making fun of it. And it is beyond crazy that the people seem to think it's okay to use words like that, and yet any other portion of the population cannot be called a word like that because it is discriminatory. [img]graemlins/thumbs_down.gif[/img]

<font color="#051E50" size="1">[ December 06, 2005 06:26 PM: Message edited by: StarTrekCaptain ]</font>