him over there said:
Freezy_Breezy said:
Ragsnstitches said:
This isn't critical thinking. He isn't analysing the hows and whys of the things that are happening, he's saying "yeah shits bad, but what can I do about it" and then burying his head so he doesn't have to feel bad about it. That's a pretty shallow mindset, hardly worthy of such praise.
Just because it resonates with your own opinion doesn't mean it runs any deeper or reaches broader subjects.
He's analysing the how's and whys of "Why should I give a shit and how much emotional attention should I give to this topic" and the answer is, despite the ranting and raving that the internet spawns as usual, is none.
You can't do anything about this, people are dickheads and anonymity grants this a whole new level. THIS IS NOT NEW NOR UNFORESEEABLE. This is not a shallow mindset, this is a reasonable and realistic mindset.
It goes beyond "I should feel bad about this because I'm expected to", which, honestly, describes like 60% of this website. Let's get up in arms because we feel we should! Yeah! Can we do anything? No! But let's feel better about ourselves anyway!
I just wanted to second this. Nobosy on this site seems to ever think in any way besides "that is so horrible and that is bad". Rarely have I seen people talk about solutions, or causes or anything else besides that what happened was bad and then move on. At least Smash said something.
What do I think sends huge hate mobs off like this? Well I have a story. I'm sure many of you can relate to it in some way, whether that be directly or from hearing other similar stories. So when I was littler, about Fourth Grade all the kids ran around calling each other faggots and cunts. Obviously homophobic and partially sexist but plenty of us didn't even know or could conceive of the concept of sexuality or gender discrimination. We had simply picked up the language when we were little and used it for the sole reason we knew they were bad words. Then of course we grew up and realised that we couldn't run around calling people faggotcunts anymore but most people I know fought it. Despite the obvious hate behind the words most arguments are merely "but that wasn't the context we were using them in" etc. And to be fair it wasn't, I doubt any of us had purposely homophobic or sexist intentions, though that didn't make it any more acceptable. The point I'm trying to make is that it isn't the fact that you're trying to make people less bigoted that sets them off, rather that you're trying to change them at all. people appreciate a status quote, and it's uncomfortable to get rid of it when it's been around for so long.
"Despite the obvious hate behind the words most arguments are merely "but that wasn't the context we were using them in" etc. And to be fair it wasn't, I doubt any of us had purposely homophobic or sexist intentions, though that didn't make it any more acceptable."
You know, you might be right... I wonder if I apply this reasoning to any other potential daily confrontation, would it makes things better?
Running down a street and its not an emergency I'm just a bit impatient. I bump into someone, knocking them down. I didn't mean to knock them down, the running was intended to get me somewhere faster not to bowl over passer-bys. I don't bother apologising or help them out as obviously I didn't do anything wrong, they're just being unreasonable when they give me dirty looks and shout after me calling be an ignorant brute. I also don't slow down as the well being of everyone around me is not my responsibility.
Wow, the release of that burden makes me feel so much better.
So I just broke a window after kicking a ball. I was kicking it off a wall and I didn't mean for it to go through the window. Because obviously I didn't mean it, I won't tell the owners of the damaged window, apologise about it and offer to pay it off in some way or form. Whats more, I won't take a break from kicking the ball around (don't ask how I got it back) or kick it an area less susceptible to damage, as the property around me isn't my responsibility.
That certainly makes me feel better, especially the fact I don't have the angry person who owns the window.
So I was chatting with my friends when, in jest, I said something along the lines of "your mom has aids" to one of them. Everything went awkwardly silent, until another one of the group came over and planted his fist in my Face. Whats his problem? So what if his sister has HIV, I obviously didn't mean offend him, it was obviously a crude joke that wasn't completely out of nowhere, directed at the other friend who doesn't have a terminally ill family member. I didn't deserve to have my nose rearranged because he takes such things to heart. I also won't keep check of what I say, because other peoples feelings are not my responsibility.
Wait... wait a minute! This makes me sound like an asshole.
