So, you've just bought some funny t-shirts from somewhere on the Interweb. Congratulations on your new purchase! You're now ready to wear your new clothes out into the world and brighten the day of all you encounter with cheerful laughs and good times for all. You put on one of your new funny t-shirts and go to the Farmer's Market, where you plan on buying some delicious tomatoes.
That seemed like a great plan until you actually arrived and left the safety of your vehicle. Once you walked up to the fruit and veggie stand you popped your chest out so that everyone could read your funny t-shirt in order to join you for a laugh. Well, that's not what is happening. What's happening is that you are being yelled at by an old farmer lady and being chased back to your car. Something has gone wonderfully wrong. You have offended everyone with one of your funny t-shirts. I wonder what could have happened?
I can tell you what your problem is right now. Your taste in funny t-shirts may be great, but the problem is that you are part of a generation of people who have been completely desensitized to offensive material. You have spent so much of your younger years online, that there is nothing new under the sun that you have not seen. Car crashes, shoot-outs, nakedness, and cursing are how you spend your lazy down time. It's no wonder that you've become so blind to what is "offensive" and what is not.
There are just a few things you have to remember in order to avoid wearing one of your funny t-shirts in a place where people may find it offensive. Look very, very closely at your new funny t-shirts. Try to put yourself in the shoes of a stranger in order to judge these shirts as appropriate. If I were a devout Christian or Muslim, would my shirt upset me? If I were a young woman who had undergone the difficulties of an abortion, would I find my t-shirt hard to look at? See how that works? Just try to think about the feelings of others.
Where do you stand on this issue? Do you feel that the Freedom of Expression is more important than the grief of one woman who may be angered at your abortion humor? Should you have the chance to say whatever you want, no matter what kind of damage is may do in a social situation. I've always felt that the old adage, "First, do no harm." to be a good thing. Is there even a right answer to the question of what is "too" offensive? I suppose the only way to find out is to wear your funny t-shirts and see what happens.
That seemed like a great plan until you actually arrived and left the safety of your vehicle. Once you walked up to the fruit and veggie stand you popped your chest out so that everyone could read your funny t-shirt in order to join you for a laugh. Well, that's not what is happening. What's happening is that you are being yelled at by an old farmer lady and being chased back to your car. Something has gone wonderfully wrong. You have offended everyone with one of your funny t-shirts. I wonder what could have happened?
I can tell you what your problem is right now. Your taste in funny t-shirts may be great, but the problem is that you are part of a generation of people who have been completely desensitized to offensive material. You have spent so much of your younger years online, that there is nothing new under the sun that you have not seen. Car crashes, shoot-outs, nakedness, and cursing are how you spend your lazy down time. It's no wonder that you've become so blind to what is "offensive" and what is not.
There are just a few things you have to remember in order to avoid wearing one of your funny t-shirts in a place where people may find it offensive. Look very, very closely at your new funny t-shirts. Try to put yourself in the shoes of a stranger in order to judge these shirts as appropriate. If I were a devout Christian or Muslim, would my shirt upset me? If I were a young woman who had undergone the difficulties of an abortion, would I find my t-shirt hard to look at? See how that works? Just try to think about the feelings of others.
Where do you stand on this issue? Do you feel that the Freedom of Expression is more important than the grief of one woman who may be angered at your abortion humor? Should you have the chance to say whatever you want, no matter what kind of damage is may do in a social situation. I've always felt that the old adage, "First, do no harm." to be a good thing. Is there even a right answer to the question of what is "too" offensive? I suppose the only way to find out is to wear your funny t-shirts and see what happens.
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