Comments on: On Group Membership and Taking Offence at Dumb Jokes http://www.deirdrakiai.com/2009/02/06/on-group-membership-and-taking-offence-at-dumb-jokes/ videogame development from the margins Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:28:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Chris http://www.deirdrakiai.com/2009/02/06/on-group-membership-and-taking-offence-at-dumb-jokes/comment-page-1/#comment-21520 Chris Tue, 10 Feb 2009 07:59:13 +0000 http://www.deirdrakiai.com/?p=317#comment-21520 A friend of mine who now lives in Ohio was the first to note to me that it's principally white male hetrosexuals who don't understand why people would find "ist" jokes or various other forms of prejudice offensive. I don't think it's wrong to make jokes about other people, but I do think it's crazy to believe that because a joke has humour as its intention it can't be offensive. Confusing intent with effect is usually a mistake. But as for putting people down for their own amusement, we seem to be wired as a species to make hierarchies, and part of this is picking on the "runt", something we mammals share in common with many bird species. I accept this (reluctantly) at the personal level, although I don't participate myself, but I object to it strenuously at the cultural level. Thanks for extending the reach of this piece by posting about it here! Best wishes! A friend of mine who now lives in Ohio was the first to note to me that it’s principally white male hetrosexuals who don’t understand why people would find “ist” jokes or various other forms of prejudice offensive.

I don’t think it’s wrong to make jokes about other people, but I do think it’s crazy to believe that because a joke has humour as its intention it can’t be offensive. Confusing intent with effect is usually a mistake.

But as for putting people down for their own amusement, we seem to be wired as a species to make hierarchies, and part of this is picking on the “runt”, something we mammals share in common with many bird species. I accept this (reluctantly) at the personal level, although I don’t participate myself, but I object to it strenuously at the cultural level.

Thanks for extending the reach of this piece by posting about it here!

Best wishes!

]]> By: default http://www.deirdrakiai.com/2009/02/06/on-group-membership-and-taking-offence-at-dumb-jokes/comment-page-1/#comment-21505 default Tue, 10 Feb 2009 01:45:21 +0000 http://www.deirdrakiai.com/?p=317#comment-21505 Defaults make fun of Defaults and you don't see defaults complaining. http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/ Defaults make fun of Defaults and you don’t see defaults complaining.

http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/

]]> By: SSH http://www.deirdrakiai.com/2009/02/06/on-group-membership-and-taking-offence-at-dumb-jokes/comment-page-1/#comment-21475 SSH Mon, 09 Feb 2009 09:59:22 +0000 http://www.deirdrakiai.com/?p=317#comment-21475 I always categorised you as a "sensibilist", Deidra... you discriminate against people who are not sensible. I always categorised you as a “sensibilist”, Deidra… you discriminate against people who are not sensible.

]]> By: Rikard http://www.deirdrakiai.com/2009/02/06/on-group-membership-and-taking-offence-at-dumb-jokes/comment-page-1/#comment-21389 Rikard Sat, 07 Feb 2009 12:19:26 +0000 http://www.deirdrakiai.com/?p=317#comment-21389 I read the blog post you linked to, and agree with it: "freedom of speech must at times yield to principles of offence (and I do not suggest that legislation is the correct way to approach this issue)". That quote pretty much sums it up. Rule #1: Be considerate. Hmm... “young white male heterosexual” - yes, that's me, but I'm also a Christian so I don't fit into the "default person" label (at least here in Sweden) and do meet my share of things to take offence at. So, do I get offended when people make sexist/racist/insert your favourite “ist” here jokes? Not always. It's also important to remember to not take offence too easily, or things will turn silly (or worse). I read the blog post you linked to, and agree with it: “freedom of speech must at times yield to principles of offence (and I do not suggest that legislation is the correct way to approach this issue)”. That quote pretty much sums it up. Rule #1: Be considerate.

Hmm… “young white male heterosexual” – yes, that’s me, but I’m also a Christian so I don’t fit into the “default person” label (at least here in Sweden) and do meet my share of things to take offence at.

So, do I get offended when people make sexist/racist/insert your favourite “ist” here jokes? Not always. It’s also important to remember to not take offence too easily, or things will turn silly (or worse).

]]> By: organic io http://www.deirdrakiai.com/2009/02/06/on-group-membership-and-taking-offence-at-dumb-jokes/comment-page-1/#comment-21363 organic io Fri, 06 Feb 2009 22:27:57 +0000 http://www.deirdrakiai.com/?p=317#comment-21363 I'm default, and I take offense to you ignoring me! Psych! But for real, I can empathize largely with Sirc's comments on only a game. I guess we "just don't get it", simply put. I’m default, and I take offense to you ignoring me!

Psych!

But for real, I can empathize largely with Sirc’s comments on only a game. I guess we “just don’t get it”, simply put.

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