Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

How is it offensive to state a fact? Both look like chimps. If I was to say that my phone looks like a phone, is it offensive? No, it's just a fact.

Obama doesn't look like a chimp because he's black. he looks like a chimp because he looks like a chimp.

Relapse wrote:Not saying that a person shouldn't be outraged at some things, that's how positive change can take place. What I mean is the kind of scenario where it seems like someone is loaded for bear and looking for the slightest thing to get pissed at.

While in principle I agree, how do you determine that line? If it isn't offensive to you, others shouldn't be offended by it?


Automatically Appended Next Post:

DeadlySquirrel wrote:Obama doesn't look like a chimp because he's black. he looks like a chimp because he looks like a chimp.

Only if you want it to, and only in the sense that all humans and primates share some physical characteristics.

DeadlySquirrel wrote:How is it offensive to state a fact?

Last time I checked, calling attention to the fatness of a fat person was considered offensive.

That is exactly my point! It shouldn't be. If they're fat, then they're fat. It's a fact. Why should they get offended when people point out that they eat too many pies and don't exercise enough?

DeadlySquirrel wrote:That is exactly my point! It shouldn't be. If they're fat, then they're fat. It's a fact. Why should they get offended when people point out that they eat too many pies and don't exercise enough?

It isn't really about whether or not they should be offended, but that they probably will be offended.

Also, its generally frowned upon to call undue attention to personal flaws in a nonconstructive manner. For example, a doctor might tell you that you need to lose weight out of concern for your health, but some random donkey-cave calling you fat just wants to make you feel bad.

@ Ahtman


That's a good question. I'm thinking along the lines of little girls being heckled for being the first at an all white school or the ethnic cleansing in Kosavo as something anyone who cares about humanity should be outraged about.
On the other end of the scale, I've seen people get over the top uptight about an innocent misspelling of their name or the fact that someone upon first meeting them, and with no disrespect intended, uses the short version of their name.
There can be circumstances that justify someone losing it on what I call the lower end of the offence scale, but I can't see them popping up that often.

The problem is that most racists also think all the hateful things they say are true as well.

Thankfully anyone with some common sense and the ability to read/reason/ think objectively can figure out the absurdity of what they claim rather easily...

DeadlySquirrel wrote:That is exactly my point! It shouldn't be. If they're fat, then they're fat. It's a fact. Why should they get offended when people point out that they eat too many pies and don't exercise enough?

What if they have a medical condition and are accused of being an over eater?

CT GAMER wrote:

Slarg232 wrote:

I have never heard of Monkey being an insult against black people.

Your lack of knowledge and/or personal experience does not mean much other then that you are clueless in this instance.


I suppose you have never heard of the slur "Sambo" either?

It dates back to the 18th century, and it is believed the word came into English from the Latin American Spanish word "zambo" (monkey), which in turn may have come from one of three African language sources such as the Kongo word nzambu (monkey).

Many things exist beyond your personal knowledge or witnessing.

No, I haven't heard that one either.

Relapse wrote:

DeadlySquirrel wrote:That is exactly my point! It shouldn't be. If they're fat, then they're fat. It's a fact. Why should they get offended when people point out that they eat too many pies and don't exercise enough?

What if they have a medical condition and are accused of being an over eater?

Then rather than being offended, they should explain their condition.

Also fatness is subjective The Japanese will call you fat if you're half a kilogram away from the perceived norm, for example.

Why should they have to explain anything to anyone? Some things can be extremely painful for people to talk about.

DeadlySquirrel wrote:

Relapse wrote:

DeadlySquirrel wrote:That is exactly my point! It shouldn't be. If they're fat, then they're fat. It's a fact. Why should they get offended when people point out that they eat too many pies and don't exercise enough?

What if they have a medical condition and are accused of being an over eater?

Then rather than being offended, they should explain their condition.

Why should they have to explain jack gak to you?

Why should you be judging them in the first place?

Why should they get offended when they are told they are fat?

Slarg I wonder then why you are in a thread attempting to discuss something you keep admitting you know nothing about?

Maybe go read a book or two or practice using google?

DeadlySquirrel wrote:Why should they get offended when they are told they are fat?

Because some ass is telling them offensive things.

DeadlySquirrel wrote:Why should they get offended when they are told they are fat?

If you can't understand why, you habe either been locked in a closet overlong, or for some other reason have had very limited contact with people.

How is telling a fat person they are fat offensive?! It's a fact. It's like telling someone with a broken arm that their arm is broken.

The question of why is irrelevant.

And "fat" is subjective based off of cultural norms.

There's no point in continuing this conversation. If you are of an age where you can use a computer, but not understand basic social conduct, I have nothing I can tell you.

Why is entirely relevant because there is no need to be offended. It makes no sense.

We are insanely off topic, by the way.

Medical obesity, on the other hand, is not something the average person is qualified to tell you about.

You're not qualified to tell someone they're fat, so stop doing it.

Or do you want me to call you stupid because you're not a Mensa member?

CT GAMER wrote:Slarg I wonder then why you are in a thread attempting to discuss something you keep admitting you know nothing about?

Maybe go read a book or two or practice using google?

It doesn't take reading a book to know what being offended is. If someone gets offended because they get called a Shamolaboopakis, is that any different than being offended by being called a Rukinalonian?

But once again, we are talking about how it's ok to call one person something, while it's not to call another person the same thing.

Let me ask you something; is Obama offended by this picture of him as a monkey? Or are you?

Melissia wrote:The question of why is irrelevant.

And "fat" is subjective based off of cultural norms.

That's interesting about the Japanese.

Slarg and squirrel seem to be getting enjoyment out of being obtuse...

My ignore list grows...

Relapse wrote:That's interesting about the Japanese.

Japanese doctors will tell you that you broke your leg because you were "too fat".

Rather than, you know, because you fell off a roof.

Never get treated for something in Japan. Seriously. For a nation so obscenely obsessed with large breasts (putting America's love of them to shame by far), they're also obscenely obsessed with keeping minimal body fat, thus rendering large breasts impossible. Amongst other weird and bizarre cultural norms for them.

CT GAMER wrote:Slarg and squirrel seem to be getting enjoyment out of being obtuse...

My ignore list grows...

Don't ignore people! It means you don't have a backbone!

How am I being obtuse by thinking that people are too sensitive, and that facts aren't offensive? Your logic is flawed.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Slarg232 wrote:

CT GAMER wrote:Slarg and squirrel seem to be getting enjoyment out of being obtuse...

My ignore list grows...

Don't ignore people! It means you don't have a backbone!

Don't ignore people, I have a better solution. MTFU.

DeadlySquirrel wrote:How am I being obtuse by thinking that people are too sensitive, and that facts aren't offensive? Your logic is flawed.

Is everyone over sensitive, or do you have no social skills?

DeadlySquirrel wrote:How am I being obtuse by thinking that people are too sensitive, and that facts aren't offensive?

Your opinion isn't a fact. That is reserved only for my opinions.