Gatogateau

:::sighs and puts on some Bruce Cockburn to get into the Canadian frame of mind::: I so want to disagree with you, and I do. But I don't. That awful continuum of mean intent on one end and innocent on the other. I can't watch shows like Hoarders because it just makes me cringe. Sure I cringe, and can get a little "train wreck watching" on the piles of junk (plus feel less guilty about my own questionable housekeeping skills/desires); but ultimately I cannot watch because it makes me very uneasy watching obvious pain and mental illness. That isn't entertainment for me. I worry about the folks who think it is, but it is a free country and obviously many people do like this sort of thing, and may not even be aware of the points you were making above about marginalizing the "other" to justify ourselves. Obviously I have fallen into the wallowing in maple leaves trap... le horreur. BUT to save myself, it is interesting that while I certainly see how you think the Carson clip was one of those making-fun-of-people things, I didn't! I truly watched that in a different way. I watched it as, "Wow, that's interesting, tell me more." I was fascinated by the chips and amused by that. I wondered, "What makes someone collect chips?" And of course I thought "That's just weird" but that isn't what made it funny. The oddness of all of it did make it funny for me. Carson's "innocent" goof of making a loud potato chip noise was hilarious, as was her reaction. I'm kind of with you on the meaner isn't funny... unless it is a target I don't like, such as bigots, trolls, Trump (wait, that's redundant...) Then GO FOR IT! I also don't consider such groups as marginalized. However, I love irreverent, sarcastic, dark, off-limits, hell just about anything humor. Pretty much everything is fair game, if done well. There are just bad jokes out there, not that the topic is bad, just the craft isn't there. There's a recently scandalized comedian that I used to think was very funny (and still think his old stuff is). Then he tried to make a comeback and honestly, I was reluctantly willing to listen and... his stuff just wasn't funny. It wasn't the subject, it was the joke itself and the delivery that just fell flat and bitter. zomg. I've typed way too much Deep Thoughts this morning. I think now is the time for me to go chase an imaginary bug up the wall for an hour and then nap. (I'm not talking about the avatar!)

I agree that "creatives" often process the world differently. But then you run into the problem of defining creatives, and I know for a fact that people will/can pop up and say "everyone who is functioning in the normal range, is creative in some way." I know this because I've heard it a lot. You get, what I would call full blown creatives, people who from day one were drawing, acting, writing... whatever. They know of no other way to be. Then there are what I would call the full blown practicals. People who from day one were analyzing, figuring, spreadsheeting... whatever. I've lived with both. (And yes, of course, ffs, there are the people who fall into some gray area. Most people, I'd wager, lean more toward one side or the other.) Then there are some people, like me, who are a frustrating 50/50 blend of the creative and the practical. You'd think that would be a blessing, and sometimes it is, but it is also a curse. So... the tl:dr point to my rambling is that while creatives vs practicals certainly process their worlds differently, the distinction really doesn't matter because it falls down to everyone is one of these. It still boils down to "everyone processes differently" and that includes humor. We still all need (?) to process 2+2 =4 in the same way, or chaos ensues, but "did you hear the one about the..." not so much.

While your first paragraph is true for some, I am not sure where you get your figures for stating it is "very few." For any topic it is difficult to know what is going to offend whom. As to the last paragraph, comedians joke about both the ways people fall short and about the actual concepts and beliefs of a religion. Have you never heard a comedian riff about, say, Scientology?

I'd kind of like to espouse the old, "Trolling. Ya knows it when you sees it" approach, but then you start getting into the subjective things like, oh, I don't know, religious humor. I said to Orwar about something, in some thread, about shades of gray. I think there are a FEW instances where you might get universal agreement of, in this case, trolling. The rest are all varying shades of gray, and there really seems to be nothing where you'd get universal agreement that something is "OK" because someone, somewhere, is always looking to get offended by something/anything.

Oh, I would so be doing what Carson did, eating that first chip with a loud crunch. The lady's reaction was spot on perfect, as was Carson's "innocent" response.

This is me musing, in general not in specifics (like that'll make a difference). Does "trolling" involve intention? Say two people do the exact same posts, same circumstances, same... everything. Except, Person A makes those post with the express purpose of driving people nuts. That's it. They have no skin in the game, could easily post one way or another, and simply want to annoy the most people at the least effort. Pretty sure most people would label A a troll. But person B, doing the same thing, has a different intent. Through whatever reason, or lack of reason, or impairment, or who knows? sound argument, is posting to express their thoughts, annoying as they are. B gets the exact same reaction from lots of annoyed people as A did. Is this person a troll? Is the trolling in the action or the intent? I'm leaning more toward action because you can't know someone else's intent. But then again...

I think the answer to your last question has been demonstrated to be "no"...alas. Regardless, thank you on behalf of... well...me! Probably lots of people, but I shouldn't assume. But I will. "Lots of people."

In case anyone else needed to Google

Those sound lovely, and a springboard to some mild role play. Thank you. I will check them out. As to the periodolia, I'm sorry... just ... like... I think you missed your target audience with that one.

I wish I still had the transcripts of when H and I would travel through SL. That's why Gato was created. He'd be in human form, in a terrific bathrobe, like in Hitchhiker, and I'd be the cat. I could talk, but would only talk to him. The cat was very droll and sarcastic (I know, shocker, right?), kind of an anti-Lassie, in that if H had fallen down a well and I was Lassie, I'd do my utmost to save him. As Gato, no so much. Sit on the edge of the well and taunt him, possibly tossing things on his head to watch them bounce ('cause cats do that). We'd wander, take pictures, kind of role play the characters but not too much... great fun. But I digress, off topic and all.

I'll bet she's a riot at parties...

Eff. I wish you'd notify me upon which things you are going to comment, because then I can just sit back and see what you have to say. You said this better than I did. I'm going to hold with "extremists" but you can't make me define what I mean. :p

Pet peeve: Yup, still holding steady with "People" today. yeesh

I'm saying this as gently as I can, "Yes, Rose, it is wrong for you to ask a bunch of people having a conversation to stop." Clearly, you have a difficult RL situation. No one denies that. No one is happy about that. Many people are holding you and your husband in their prayers. But that is one thing. This thread is another. This thread has nothing to do with your family or your faith. Your faith is strong. It can handle people having a conversation. Clearly, THIS THREAD bothers you. You know it bothers you. We know and understand why it bothers you. But this is a public forum and people are using it. You do not have to be here, and clearly, you shouldn't be in this thread FOR YOUR OWN GOOD. Just don't click it. It isn't the end of the world for you not to see it.

Wait. Wut? Atheists have no sense of humor when it comes to religion? Since when? Sure, every group has their dour members, and the extremists the same. So I would agree with the typical, extreme, born-again not having a sense of humor. But generic Muslims? But I don't know what kind of atheists or agnostics you've been hanging out with, but all of them in my circle are hilarious. So, yeah...to part of what you are saying, but a big no to other parts.

But but but that's what happens for realz! 😄

Context, while maybe not everything, is close. And then it is who is doing the perceiving, the giver or the getter. Obviously people have differing levels of tolerance. Judging another's intent is also difficult. But it is often a matter of you know it when you see it kind of thing. There are many things that just about everyone would consider "too far." Then there's all the shades of gray in between. And I think this Forum is an excellent example of there is no absolutely universal "ok" thing, because no matter what someone does, there's that one person who will be offended forever. ETA: The people who see things in only black and white, live such limited lives, and often get so much wrong.

Granted. But as they say, practice makes perfect. You become obsessed with the hula hoop. In short time you are like one possessed and cannot take it off. Simple things like eating, sleeping and showering become impossible. You lose your job because you cannot drive or get on a bus because you cannot stop hula hooping. Your health soon fails. But darn, you're the best person who ever did the hula hoop. I wish I'd finish the sim design I'm doing that's taking me too long.

(To Sylvia saying she's gonna put a Taylor gif in her sigline)(because I still can't make embedded quotes) For some reason that instantly made me start humming, "oooh look what you made me do, whatcha made me do, look what you made me do..."

Mine involves esoteric knowledge of alternative methods beavers use to build their dams in unconventional habitats, and someone's ability to recite the lyrics to "Muskrat Love" without the Internet helping. Then I divide by three. I take that number of PINK rose petals and toss them in the air and leave them there, while turning around clockwise twice, and then selecting the appropriate tarot card. I've found it really useful.

Absolutely ROTFL What? I mean what? Dude... Seriously? I want some of what you're having... Do you notice that my comment was made SEVEN HOURS ago? And I made it once. ONCE. :::just laughing::: So I "keep bringing it up"? And now you're explaining for the eleventy eleventh time why you have to drag out the crap no one cares about. Did you read ANYone saying, "Oh thank you! I needed to know this important information SEVERAL times! Hugs!"? Because I sure didn't see anything like that by anyone, who found it the least bit educational. But ok, sweetie, you do you. So your last line is just patently false. I DID drop it, seven HOURS ago, bless your little heart. And please, feel free to block me for about 10 years longer than you think is necessary, and I really don't need an explanation. Thaaaaank youuuuuuuuu. ♥ PS. Yeah, I know folks, this will spark another 20 posts to "explain" and get in the last word here from She Who Has Blocked Someone. Sorry. But jeebus. And yeah, scroll scroll scroll

Oh! 500 POSTS? Well... eff. ::: looks, does the math, nods::: :::does the interlocking of fingers thing while stretching arms out in front, and fingers crack::: phhht I can crank that out in a couple of hours, only limited by that stupid throttle they put on "you have to wait 47 seconds before replying, you can't post too close together" thing they have. pppth "Let's get ready to RUMBLE!" :::raise your hand if you think I'm kidding! assesses audience & nods::: :::raise your hand if you think I'm serious! assesses audience, chortles & nods::: BWahahahahaha

Yay! only 300 stupid reputation points to go and I can change my profile and add a sig line. :::hopes for a lot of scorn laughs to see me through to goal:::