On jokes made in poor taste.

[kirideth]

I moderate a gaming chatroom. I see a lot of shit. Mountains of really crappy "jokes" made in an attempt to fit in with the community. Made under the pretense that people will respect you if you have the courage to say something controversial. The problem with that pretense, naturally, is that it's not all that controversial. These jokes are "safe

Comments

[astridsdream]

The internet has been full of misogyny this week. Can I share this on Facebook?

[kirideth]

Go right ahead.

[lotusduck]

A lot of people rag on insincere apologies for statements that the public has gotten mad about, but I don't know! I think that you get so much of 'but they made fun of me!' ala Kramer from Seinfeld or 'Grow a sense of humor!' kinds of reactions that when someone can apologize, whether it's genuine or self preservation, it speaks well to their character.
David Bowie's apology, 'Sorry everybody, I shouldn't have mixed amphetamines with Nietzsche. Not an excuse, just an explanation' for instance, I like that apology, others who have offended should remember such words, also including, I never mean to frighten and demean others, and these are sensitive issues.

[kirideth]

It would be one thing if the person in question apologized. Even insincerely. But the vast majority of times, with few exceptions, the response is much closer to "grow a sense of humor". Though, admittedly, typically a bit more inflammatory. Something like "Oh my God. Can't you take a fucking joke? You must be some kind of retard." Perhaps this has something to do with my ability to take their speaking privileges away. But even then, that says to me that it's most important to them that their misguided attempt at humor be "safe" and that they be allowed to continue, at the expense of anyone else who may be put off by it.

[lotusduck]

Yeah, it totally makes sense when people on the internet do this, but someone with a PR team...really? Figure out what apologizing is, then do that.