Yes, we have a right to express our opinions. That even covers the right to voice stupid opinions. This is a right, though, not an obligation. No need for anyone to try so hard.
I don’t agree with your opinion sir, but I’ll defend to the death your right to voice it.
You can call my opinion stupid if you like. If I really cared about what every person on the internet thought about me I might even try to defend my opinion (I would also probably have gone crazy by now.) Oh, and for the record if my opinions are stupid it’s not taking any effort on my part, so you can stop worrying. I get by on my raw natural ability to post stupid opinions.
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I, for one, am not saying he can not use those words. I would be the last to do that. I do, however, believe he should be aware that using those words speaks on his character.
I have used 'gay' negatively. I have used the N word. I have even told blonde jokes. I do try to only 'go there' in company that knows me well enough to know my true feelings for blonde, homosexual African Americans.
But what about blonde, homosexual Africans?
Aside from my poke at the term "African American" being assumed to encompass all black people, I completely agree with you.
I use a lot of very offensive language, but only in a context where it's understood that I don't mean anything by it. Outside of that context, people that don't know me have every right to make assumptions about me based on their limited observations.
Expecting people to assume the best of you is pretty unreasonable when you're using improper language.
ninja'd
Yes, we have a right to express our opinions. That even covers the right to voice stupid opinions. This is a right, though, not an obligation. No need for anyone to try so hard.
I don’t agree with your opinion sir, but I’ll defend to the death your right to voice it.
You can call my opinion stupid if you like. If I really cared about what every person on the internet thought about me I might even try to defend my opinion (I would also probably have gone crazy by now.) Oh, and for the record if my opinions are stupid it’s not taking any effort on my part, so you can stop worrying. I get by on my raw natural ability to post stupid opinions.
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Dear Mr. Shiny and Other Posters,
I am sorry and embarrassed. But most of all, I am deeply sorry.
Yesterday was one of my worst days back from Iraq. I was extremely tired and pissed off, as I was the only one in the office and had to deal with a stack of paperwork. I may have made some regretable statements, but I at no time meant to offend anyone, except perhaps ChrisRevocateur, who I disagreed with at the time, and Aberzombie, but I don't know why, I guess I just don't like the vibes i get from him.
Words cannot express how truly sorry I am for the anxiety, frustration and inconvenience that I caused. This is especially saddening because I pride myself on the promise of bringing humanity back together and making the experience of posting happier and easier for everyone who chooses to post at Paizo. I know I failed to deliver on this promise yesterday.
I am commited to having you, my fellow posters, and I am taking immediate corrective steps to regain your confidence in me. I have begun putting a comprehensive plan in place to prevent such terriblely regretable actions from happening again. I am confident, as a result of these actions, that I will emerge as a more friendly and even more poster responsive person than ever before.
You deserved better—a lot better—from me yesterday. Nothing is more important than regaining your trust and I hope you will give me the opportunity to provide you the positive posts and feedback you have come to expect from me.
Sincerely,
PVT Jared Ouimette
Budgeting & Execution
US ARMY Hawaii
Does this work?
Well I had a brother in a wheelchair who had to put up with being called a retard for 4 years and being told that my brother is a retard because he is in a wheelchair. So yes I find the use of the word retard being thrown about very offensive
I'm not offended by anything anyone says, so why are you?
+1
After many incidents where children on the regular bus would call my disabled daughter 'The Retard' as she boarded her bus and my 'normal' daughter would end up getting in a brawl, then yes. I can vouch that the pejorative 'retard' is quite offensive to those who have suffered under its lash. Not just the people with disabilities, but also those who try to safeguard them through a very hostile world.
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You can call my opinion stupid if you like. If I really cared about what every person on the internet thought about me I might even try to defend my opinion (I would also probably have gone crazy by now.) Oh, and for the record if my opinions are stupid it’s not taking any effort on my part, so you can stop worrying. I get by on my raw natural ability to post stupid opinions.
Heh... I totally dig. I get by on my own natural ability to ask really stupid questions. I think one of my professors is ready to shoot me.
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Dear Mr. Shiny and Other Posters,
I am sorry and embarrassed. But most of all, I am deeply sorry.
Yesterday was one of my worst days back from Iraq. I was extremely tired and pissed off, as I was the only one in the office and had to deal with a stack of paperwork. I may have made some regretable statements, but I at no time meant to offend anyone, except perhaps ChrisRevocateur, who I disagreed with at the time, and Aberzombie, but I don't know why, I guess I just don't like the vibes i get from him.
Words cannot express how truly sorry I am for the anxiety, frustration and inconvenience that I caused. This is especially saddening because I pride myself on the promise of bringing humanity back together and making the experience of posting happier and easier for everyone who chooses to post at Paizo. I know I failed to deliver on this promise yesterday.
I am commited to having you, my fellow posters, and I am taking immediate corrective steps to regain your confidence in me. I have begun putting a comprehensive plan in place to prevent such terriblely regretable actions from happening again. I am confident, as a result of these actions, that I will emerge as a more friendly and even more poster responsive person than ever before.
You deserved better—a lot better—from me yesterday. Nothing is more important than regaining your trust and I hope you will give me the opportunity to provide you the positive posts and feedback you have come to expect from me.
Sincerely,
PVT Jared Ouimette
Budgeting & Execution
US ARMY Hawaii
Does this work as an apology?
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You know another one? Indian giver, used that one when I was younger, too.
[tangent] Ever watch Psych? The socially clueless main character at one point accuses his friend of being an 'Indian giver,' while surrounded by people from India at a wedding or something. Everyone turns and looks and he's like, "No, no, I'm insulting a completely different ethnicity!"
Heh. [/tangent]
I'm often surprised, and occasionally aghast, at the sorts of jokes my Italian, Greek, Jewish, Chinese and Irish friends make about their own ethnicities. The members of my family of French descent used to be similarly self-deprecatory, with some pretty scandalous (and usually dirty) jokes flying around the dinner table, but after the whole 'cheese-eating surrender monkey / Freedom Fries' thing (for doing the *exact same thing that Germany did, and pooh-poohing the since-discovered-to-be-a-tissue-of-lies leadup to the Iraq War*), they have gotten a bit prickly about French-bashing, since it feels like French people are the new Jews, these days, as making snarky comments about French people or France is not only acceptable, but encouraged and rewarded in some quarters.
While not an ethnicity, the funniest (and horribly tasteless) gay jokes I've heard came from a gay guy, as well.
On the one hand, some say that this sort of thing is people 'taking back' slurs and 'empowering' and signs of self-assurance and a willingness to laugh at themselves (Sheryl Crow's 'I'm a B~~*&' song, for instance). On the other hand, others say that it's a sign of self-loathing and / or defeated resignation to sit back and take this sort of thing, rather than stand up and rebuke / reject it. I suspect that, as in so many things, it's a little of Column A, and a little of Column B, and not something that can be generalized to apply to every single instance or situation...
Having had a gay uncle (passed away), and having a retarded aunt, means that I don't feel comfortable using 'gay' or 'retarded' as pejoratives. I don't dislike or look down upon either of these family members, so I'm not going to fling around terms representative of them as put-downs.
First off, why can't I say something is "gay" or "retarded"?
Because that's the rule of whoever's running the board, and the board is private property, that you have no moral entitlement to, and it's not up to you to decide what is and isn't allowed on the board?
Well I had a brother in a wheelchair who had to put up with being called a retard for 4 years and being told that my brother is a retard because he is in a wheelchair. So yes I find the use of the word retard being thrown about very offensive
I'm not offended by anything anyone says, so why are you?
+1
After many incidents where children on the regular bus would call my disabled daughter 'The Retard' as she boarded her bus and my 'normal' daughter would end up getting in a brawl, then yes. I can vouch that the pejorative 'retard' is quite offensive to those who have suffered under its lash. Not just the people with disabilities, but also those who try to safeguard them through a very hostile world.
I can understand where you’re coming from with this. I have a cousin with Cerebral Palsy, and I’ve had to hurt people who’ve made fun of her, and yes they used the word retard to do so. But retarded is just a word, it wasn’t the word that made me angry it was the fact that these people were mocking my family member who had a disability. English is a funny language, you can say the same thing two different ways and mean two different things depending on the way you say it, or the context of the sentence you say it in. Those a**holes could have been calling my cousin a “sweet little angel”, but by their body language I would have known they were insulting her. Whenever you hear the word retard it might bring back bad memories of people making fun of your loved one, but you have to realize that the people saying it don’t necessarily mean it the way the people who insulted your daughter did, and that those people would have insulted her some other way if the word retard never existed.
Budgeting & Execution
I know what you mean by execution. Still funny on first glance.
“Sir the men in charge of executing traitors are on strike.”
“Just roll their responsibilities in with the budgeting department, that’ll show em’.”
“Yes sir.”
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Budgeting & ExecutionI know what you mean by execution. Still funny on first glance.
“Sir the men in charge of executing traitors are on strike.”
“Just roll their responsibilities in with the budgeting department, that’ll show em’.”
“Yes sir.”
It's not funny, because it's true.
You have no idea what happens on pay missions to outlying camps.
Them: "Oops, another convoy is being attacked, sorry guys, but you're soldiers first, let's go get 'em!"
Me: "But I was trained in machine gun operation, like, in basic training 2 years ago, what the hell am I going to do?!"
Them: "Don't point the barrel at us, and you'll do fine."
No, I'm not saying it's okay to be insulting, I'm saying I'm human. Everyone's a little bit racist.
And at least I admit it, instead of putting on a facade and being self-righteous on a message board.
While I think it's true that we're all a little bit prejudiced towards other people deep down inside, I think that if you acknowledge that you're racist, yet continue to say and do things that you know will offend people of color, it's like admitting that you're an alcoholic, yet continuing to drink excessively.
Admitting that you have a problem is only the first step towards recovery. It shouldn't be the last.
It's not funny, because it's true.
You have no idea what happens on pay missions to outlying camps.
Them: "Oops, another convoy is being attacked, sorry guys, but you're soldiers first, let's go get 'em!"
Me: "But I was trained in machine gun operation, like, in basic training 2 years ago, what the hell am I going to do?!"
Them: "Don't point the barrel at us, and you'll do fine."
Reality makes for the best comedy.
It's not funny, because it's true.You have no idea what happens on pay missions to outlying camps.
Them: "Oops, another convoy is being attacked, sorry guys, but you're soldiers first, let's go get 'em!"
Me: "But I was trained in machine gun operation, like, in basic training 2 years ago, what the hell am I going to do?!"
Them: "Don't point the barrel at us, and you'll do fine."
Hey Jared sounds like you might be having stress from your deployment. If this is affecting your outlook and behavior you might be experiencing some PTSD. As an Iraq veteran myself I recomend talking to someone, there should be plenty of people willing to help you if this is a problem.
Brine
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I've never felt overly stressed, Brinebeast, but I have to deal (in my job, not on these boards) with utter morons who happen to be at the highest echelons of power, and to be ignored when I raise intelligent questions to them or voice my opinion makes me frustrated. Thankfully, I'll be done with my contract in 7 months, and I'll have free college anywhere that I want to get into and get paid for going there.
Was it worth it? IMO, not really, it would have been a better time in the Army if someone had decided to listen to me, I might have even stayed in, but nope. I can't stay in a job where my efforts are both not appreciated, or the credit for them is given to someone else.
Oh, and Dove, something logged me off my account, so I'm sure they do, in fact, have a problem with it.
I'm so sorry. I'm just killing the last 30 minutes of time before I can go home from work. I'm a time murderer.
I feel ya.
. . . I won't be offended as long as I get to use the words that I want to.
There is some language that one simply does not use in polite company. This is not "political correctness," it's basic manners.
"Polite company" means just that. Not buddies, not family, but a mixed group of people who you or I don't know very well.
For a long while, using uncouth language in public has been the province of the base class. Do people swear? Yes. Do people swear, curse, and use foul language at dinner parties? No.
The board that Paizo provides for our benefit are like one gigantic dinner party. Certainly, if one doesn't like the conversation 'here,' one can go over 'there.' If one feels the need to use base and insulting language, perhaps one didn't have a good point to make after all.
I've never felt overly stressed, Brinebeast, but I have to deal (in my job, not on these boards) with utter morons who happen to be at the highest echelons of power, and to be ignored when I raise intelligent questions to them or voice my opinion makes me frustrated. Thankfully, I'll be done with my contract in 7 months, and I'll have free college anywhere that I want to get into and get paid for going there.
Was it worth it? IMO, not really, it would have been a better time in the Army if someone had decided to listen to me, I might have even stayed in, but nope. I can't stay in a job where my efforts are both not appreciated, or the credit for them is given to someone else.
Oh, and Dove, something logged me off my account, so I'm sure they do, in fact, have a problem with it.
Ha ha ha ha, higher up officer types being ignorant of there duties and taking credit when someone lower ranking fixes their mistakes and then ignoring them when they provide solutions to preventing those mistakes from happening in the future.
Yeah, I know what you mean. :)
I'm a bad, bad man with snack food.
How did that go over? :-P
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. . . I won't be offended as long as I get to use the words that I want to.
There is some language that one simply does not use in polite company. This is not "political correctness," it's basic manners.
"Polite company" means just that. Not buddies, not family, but a mixed group of people who you or I don't know very well.
For a long while, using uncouth language in public has been the province of the base class. Do people swear? Yes. Do people swear, curse, and use foul language at dinner parties? No.
The board that Paizo provides for our benefit are like one gigantic dinner party. Certainly, if one doesn't like the conversation 'here,' one can go over 'there.' If one feels the need to use base and insulting language, perhaps one didn't have a good point to make after all.
** spoiler omitted **
But thinly veiled insults are fine? If I recall, you tried to derail my evil-based campaign idea by posting all the money you would save if you didn't buy the campaign, and all the money you would save if the RPG industry decided to publish evil campaigns and adventures.
My rebuttal would have been, if you bought my adventure you would be richer for the experience.
You can't fool someone who works in finance with financial strawmen, my friend.
I'm a bad, bad man with snack food.How did that go over? :-P
Did you know that diversity trainers don't have a sense of humor? But my boss does.
But thinly veiled insults are fine? If I recall, you tried to derail my evil-based campaign idea by posting all the money you would save if you didn't buy the campaign, and all the money you would save if the RPG industry decided to publish evil campaigns and adventures.
Um, no. I said my gaming dollars would not get spent on such an item. Then, I elaborated with an exercise in compound interest, the beneficiary being my son. There was no insult of your idea, unless you count dissension as such. There was no derailing.
And I thought it wasn't a campaign anymore, but simply one module. But next time, please put off-topic comments in spoilers.
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We were discussing what people find offensive, and message board etiquette, to which that is extremely pertinent. But, if I must:
If you don't like something, just say no, I don't like it, maybe a few in-game experiences you had to explain why you don't like it, instead of saying a bunch of drawn-out mathematical crap that implies you not only don't like it, with the money you save by not buying it you could send your kids to college.
Of course, in doing so, it would be polite of you to reply in kind.
And I thought karma and irony was a dead scene. ;)
And I thought karma and irony was a dead scene. ;)
Only when the dogma gets run over by the karma.
We were discussing what people find offensive, and message board etiquette, to which that is extremely pertinent. But, if I must:
** spoiler omitted **
Of course, in doing so, it would be polite of you to reply in kind.
You find compound interest insulting?
Is it just the power of multiplication, or are addition and subtraction also disrupting to your calm? I can't imagine what happens when you leave a tip at a bar/restaurant/establishment of your choosing.
So, are servers, like, your arch-enemy? Wait, how do you interact with your bank? I assume you deposit your paycheck somewhere . . . .
On the plus side, if compound interest causes you such pain, I'm sure you forego the use of credit cards. That's a good plan. I can't fault someone for not using credit cards.
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We were discussing what people find offensive, and message board etiquette, to which that is extremely pertinent. But, if I must:
** spoiler omitted **
Of course, in doing so, it would be polite of you to reply in kind.
You find compound interest insulting?
** spoiler omitted **
You're not going to Paizocon, are you?
Doug's Workshop, you should go. It sounds like Jared's gonna buy you a beer!
You're not going to Paizocon, are you?
That's the second time I've seen you say that out of the blue. Why is that?
Doug's Workshop, you should go. It sounds like Jared's gonna buy you a beer!
Or Seattle's finest hoors. :P
Doug's Workshop, you should go. It sounds like Jared's gonna buy you a beer!
But I have a feeling I'm the one who'll be left figuring out the tip.
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You're not going to Paizocon, are you?That's the second time I've seen you say that out of the blue. Why is that?
Sure, I'll buy him a beer. I actually like debating with people, it was something I was good at in highschool. You'd be surprised by what people will say on the internet but don't say in person. Most people are slightly different in person.
I bet $50 I could convince you to not only by my book, but help finance it. Of course, with that $50, you could compound the interest, divide by t and make millions, but I think I could convince you otherwise.
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But I have a feeling I'm the one who'll be left figuring out the tip.Doug's Workshop, you should go. It sounds like Jared's gonna buy you a beer!
I don't tip. I don't believe in underpaying my employees, I don't tip the dishwasher, I don't tip the cook, why should I tip the waiter/ess?
So yes, you will be paying the tip.