2 ms·

your perceptions of how Othering should feel don't fucking matter if you aren't the party being Othered in that specific circumstance. This is the exact same a

your perceptions of how Othering should feel don't fucking matter if you aren't the party being Othered in that specific circumstance. This is the exact same attitude that leads to such things as affirmative action and pampering. You also make the fallacious assumption that all "nerds" (what a vapid and pointless label) have been socially ostracized during their lives, thus begging the question. Your entire argument basically revolves around accommodating to the feelings of others, consistently. There are cases where this should be taken into account, but it is not a rule of thumb. Sometimes a triviality is a triviality, a ridiculous expectation is a ridiculous expectation. I think this is the main reason of our present misfortune: we just can't handle getting offended. If we stopped being so emotional about the most minor of annoyances, we'd be much happier. In some ways, technology has contributed to this. We now have too much convenience, and not enough annoyance. It has made us brittle, weak and sensitive.

rosser 13y ago
This stuff is less about being unable to "handle getting offended" than it is about being unwilling to tolerate people who behave offensively. I don't think it's okay to use the word "gay" pejoratively, even when there aren't any queers in the room. I don't think it's okay to make rape jokes, even when there aren't any women around. I don't think it's okay to behave or speak in a way that is deliberately and hurtfully exclusive of anyone, for any reason, at any time. To me, being deliberate and mindful about Othering is less about being "accommodating", and more of a useful means to help keep me from being "That Guy" in any of the countless, subtle ways that I might be — because we all do it, even the people you think of as the typically Othered, no matter how hard we try not to. If you want to call that pampering, that's on you. I call it courtesy and decency, personally.
- vezzy-fnord 13y ago
  I don't think it's okay to use the word "gay" pejoratively, even when there aren't any queers in the room. That's the whole point of an insult. I don't think it's okay to make rape jokes, even when there aren't any women around. I don't think you understand how comedy works. In many ways, it's a coping mechanism. The jokes we laugh at are often quite depressing or disturbing if you try to elucidate their underlying subject matter, but they're presented in such a manner that we can be humored by and cope with the dark side of life. Not making jokes of X type is just censorship and idiocy. Comedy has no boundaries. I don't think it's okay to behave or speak in a way that is deliberately and hurtfully exclusive of anyone, for any reason, at any time. I can agree with that, but the way you put it is excessively vague.

rosser 13y ago

This stuff is less about being unable to "handle getting offended" than it is about being unwilling to tolerate people who behave offensively. I don't think it's okay to use the word "gay" pejoratively, even when there aren't any queers in the room. I don't think it's okay to make rape jokes, even when there aren't any women around. I don't think it's okay to behave or speak in a way that is deliberately and hurtfully exclusive of anyone, for any reason, at any time. To me, being deliberate and mindful about Othering is less about being "accommodating", and more of a useful means to help keep me from being "That Guy" in any of the countless, subtle ways that I might be — because we all do it, even the people you think of as the typically Othered, no matter how hard we try not to. If you want to call that pampering, that's on you. I call it courtesy and decency, personally.

vezzy-fnord 13y ago
I don't think it's okay to use the word "gay" pejoratively, even when there aren't any queers in the room. That's the whole point of an insult. I don't think it's okay to make rape jokes, even when there aren't any women around. I don't think you understand how comedy works. In many ways, it's a coping mechanism. The jokes we laugh at are often quite depressing or disturbing if you try to elucidate their underlying subject matter, but they're presented in such a manner that we can be humored by and cope with the dark side of life. Not making jokes of X type is just censorship and idiocy. Comedy has no boundaries. I don't think it's okay to behave or speak in a way that is deliberately and hurtfully exclusive of anyone, for any reason, at any time. I can agree with that, but the way you put it is excessively vague.