Offensiveness (request for comments)

[andrewducker]

I posted an entry earlier today with this LJ Icon.

It's not a nice LJ icon.

It's clearly offensive.

In fact the keyword for this icon is Offensive.

And prynne asked me if I could be convinced to delete it. Her reason being that it contains the word "retarded", and she objects to that word (link now public).

I don't disagree that it's an offensive word. I'd certainly never use it in normal conversation.

But then I'd never say any of the things in the icon. It's there, largely, as a list of things _I_ find offensive.

And I think, myself, that it serves a purpose of saying that "Andrew finds all of these statements offensive, and wouldn't care to hear them from people around him."

In particular, it says "Goths are Retarded", which I _clearly_ can't mean, as I have numerous friends who are, or have been goths, and I've seen the Sisters of Mercy live three times, and have a large collection of black t-shirts. Nobody that knows me could in any way think I mean it as something other than "Here are things that highlight idiots when they say them."

But it's not necessarily obvious from the icon. You could read it as "Here are things Andy believes." if you didn't know me very well. You could more easily read it as "Here are things Andy finds amusing."

Knowing the internet like I do, I know that it's very easy not to recognise irony ("Saying one thing and meaning something quite different"). Many's the time I've made a comment intended to be taking as silliness and had it taken seriously.

So should I take it down? Should I depend on my audience to realise what it means?

Comments

[marrog.livejournal.com]

The "fat is caused by eating too much" is quite offensive. My wife ... knows she is currently fat because she ate too much in the past.

I've become way too hardened over the years, because I absolutely could not believe this was a serious comment until I read your further responses.

And while I'm here: Andy, I severely object to your implication that you don't like looking at my art.

[cybik.livejournal.com]

Aye, if someone actually said "I hate art" to me, I would be horribly offended because they would, in effect, be saying "your life is meaningless and worthless".

[andrewducker]

Really? But surely it's their problem if they don't appreciate the work you do?

[cybik.livejournal.com]

No, I meant as a blanket statement. "I don't like your art, but I like other people's art" is fine. Saying "I hate art" is different and probably untrue because I doubt they'd live without T.V., films, books, fashion, photography, etc..

[chuma.livejournal.com]

I guess it comes down to the "what is art?" argument again. Often people are dragged around Galleries and Art Museums as a child and it is a boring and negative experience for your average kid who wants to run around and touch things. I would take a guess that if you thrust your views around what art actually is (rather than be offended) they will probably clarify their comment to pinpoint which areas they dont like or why they dont like it. I would imagine most people seperate Arts and Crafts in their minds subconsciously and it needs to be pointed out how completely related they are.

I think Art is there to provoke a response and sometimes that response isnt well thought out or dwelled upon, it is just gut instinct. "I don't like it" is a reponse; maybe not the one you're looking for but it is a response none the less. If they are unwilling to explore further why they dont like it or what it is about the Artthey find not to their taste, well that's not your problem :)