It happens here on the Escapist, too. Every time Asperger's syndrome gets namedropped on the Escapist it becomes Asperger's anonymous because it kinda justifies bad social skills and is in pop-culture somehow associated with genius.Eamar said:
I hope you don't mind me quoting you from a two day old post, with a video that is far from eloquent. But I think it takes a good example of the kind of people that take serious medical and mental conditions and romanticize them or use them as simply a way to draw attention to themselves to really appreciate this strip. Internet Aristocrat, like I said, is far from eloquent in his delivery, but I think the video includes good examples of the kind of people this comic is targeting.Zachary Amaranth said:
the whole thing is left kind of open to interpretationVanQ said:
I wonder if it is objectively an attack though. Would this not be more satire? Personally, I was completely unaware of any reference to any trend as to how a group of people wanted to refer to themselves (and I consider myself completely sympathetic with the promotion of equal treatment and dignity of all people). I took the strip completely at face value, figuring, hey someone on tumblr must have made a meme or something about grammar. Maybe my Tumblr exposure is more limited than that of other people. So to say it was obvious - I have to admit I was clueless of this aspect as I read the strip.MarsAtlas said:
And that group is big and varied and growing as we speak. And considering the usual opinion of the comic makers, which should be quite easy to figure out, is very much liberal and pro-LGBT rights, how do you single out the transgender people as the intended targets here? I mean I can kind of see it if you want to think "************" as a sexual orientation, but considering the whole feel of the comic, that interpretation really has little ground to stand on. Hell, one could even reason that comics point is to make fun of people who are making up stuff to stroke their ego, at the expense of people who are doing it for legitimate causes.Andy of Comix Inc said:
Yes, but could we just for ONCE not immedeately assume that the author is making fun of transgenders? Why is it that some people read this comic and instantly assume the author is sitting in a leather chair, with a fluffy cat going:Andy of Comix Inc said:
When you live in towns like mine it just kind of becomes common parlance. I kind of assume the worst of people when they make even a tangentially gender-related joke. I apologize.ERaptor said:
That sounds a lot more reasonable. Its just that I think people assume the worst a bit too quickly. I mean, people = shit nonetheless. But its not quite as bad as some people make it out to be. And honestly, how would you tackle making the comic less open to interpretation? A bottom line saying "It's a joke!" or a specific sideline that this isnt aimed specifically at Group X? I think the Author made it pretty clear that it's aimed at the more...questionable Tumblr-people.Andy of Comix Inc said:
I'd look to Penny Arcade, who very much make their point exactly known and if it's in any way open they usually have attached a several paragraph-long blog post to sum up the thought process and circumstances under which the strip was created. I don't even like Penny Arcade, but I'm impressed by their brash, to-the-point demeanour. There is never any doubt as to what Penny Arcade is saying with their jokes.ERaptor said:
This is pretty much my reaction. Who gives a damn, and why does it bother people so much? What business is it of yours if someone wants to be referred to as a cauliflower or whatever, you don't have to associate with them, and yeah, I have to say due to the rather open nature of this comic it does kind of lump transgender people in there too, unintentionally, but that isn't exactly an excuse.Zachary Amaranth said:
You are one of the few people in this thread who has made a valid point and isn't making this black and white. Just wanted to acknowledge that. As a side note, I'd say that if you can't ask a person their preferred pronouns (and it isn't brazenly obvious) to try and use gender neutral ones, some people don't pass well and it can be a rather hurtful reminder when others use the opposite pronoun.KisaiTenshi said:
While that'd be an approach, I think its overkill JUST to clarify your stance everytime you do a comic. I Like PA's Blogposts as well, but I dont NEED them to know that PA isnt parading around hateful Propaganda. I seriously think people default to the "author probably an asshole"-impression a tad to quickly, which is especially silly if that author has a long list of previous content, or actually expresses himself elsewhere. Doubly so if the Comedy-Context is made very obvious. Its also a doublestandard if people only get angry once the content gets aimed at certain groups. Its the equivalent of a swiss audience at a comedy-gig, laughing at jokes about italians, french, germans, whatever. But getting up in arms once the guy on stage jokes about Switzerland. And this happens a lot on the Web.Andy of Comix Inc said:
It tends to be used as a defense when the joke has backfired or been taken way too far and consequences are inevitable. I'm speaking from personal experience on the receiving end of such a "joke" (death and rape threats are not a joke, it's intimidation.) Character assassination is also not a joke, there are a few exceptions like when someone is being "roasted", birthdays, and wedding receptions where you're in the company of more friends than strangers (who may also be inebriated) and the few people who don't have the context of the joke need to be reminded it's joke time.ERaptor said:
The problem with "the internet" especially places like 4chan, reddit, and tumblr, is that you are never among friends and anything mean spirited you say has immediate consequences. SJW momentum comes from removing the context for maximum offense. So you can't go "I was only joking" after it's been reblogged/retweeted once.
If someone reblogs or reposts something without Context, then hes at fault. There isnt even a defense needed, either provide the context or outright ignore the shitstorm as Spam. Most of these Outrage-Blogs or sites function like some of the worse Newspaper we know in reallife. Pull out sentences or statements entirely out of context and without background and watch the tide roll. Easily fixed by clarifying the statement by providing the missing information and ignore the illiterate retard banging at your door. Heck, its even easier on the Internet, as in RL.KisaiTenshi said: