Just a bit of devils advocate here: Is it not overreacting to get mad at somebody using the word rape in a joke? Obviously, rape is a horrible act, and so is murder, but I have never heard of anybody calling somebody out after they said they got killed on a test. Words are words, and in my opinion they have as much power as you let them. Maybe its just me but Ive never heard a rape joke and thought in any way that any humour anybody found was indicative of acceptance or justification of rape by the individual or by our culture as a whole. People can have whatever sense of humor they want. Does that mean certain things are disrespectful, ugly, disgusting, or insensitive in certain situations? Of course. Does that mean certain topics are absolutely, 100% out of bounds in all situations for the rest of time? Maybe to some people, but not to me. Telling somebody what is and isnt ok to joke about is telling them what to think, and in some situations, thats completely necessary. Other times, however, its an overreaction. If I heard somebody make a rape joke, or use the word in a way that some might find offensive, I wouldnt put them on blast for promoting rape culture or practicing misogyny, i would probably just tell them to be more aware of their audience to try not to offend anybody. If you try hard enough, everything is offensive, and sometimes the best answer is thick skin. What will help eliminate offensive or inappropriate behavior is not a tirade or a public shaming for all to hear, but a nonaggressive reminder to be aware of the situation and what is and is not appropriate. TL;DR: I think humor is relatively harmless in most situations when the intent is to be benignly humorous. When people are malicious or have the intent to hurt the feelings of others then it crosses a line.
Posted on: Mon, 06 Oct 2014 06:00:01 +0000
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