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Jul. 15th, 2013 08:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stormdogThere are a couple of things I'd like to explore a bit in writing that I don't have time for. But one of them I can summarize briefly because if I were to go into detail, it might be awkward.
I've been wondering in light of a few recent experiences and conversations, whether it's possible for a group of people (I know, this is a rather loose term, but that's ok) to interact regularly at more than a superficial level without behaving or expressing themselves in a way that could give legitimate offense to some other person or group of people. I really wonder whether it can happen. So much of what makes for bonding between people comes from creating frameworks within which the people involved show sameness and the people outside are somehow othered.
I'm not saying that doing offensive things should therefore be forgiven. But so much of what constitutes offense is contextual. So much relies on shared understandings and assumed meanings. If a particular expression is offensive in one context, is it necessarily offensive in all contexts? Is there *really* any kind of objective cause for offense? I would argue that there is, but that there are a lot of things that may only be subjectively offensive that are characterized as being objectively offensive, or uncategorically offensive.
And before I go, this is what I kind of wish I was doing instead of going to do various bits of grown-up responsible stuff.
As I settled into bed to sleep earlier this weekend, Danae gave me a bunny to snuggle. She's sweet like that.
Sleepytime - Pic-a-day 13 July 2013
Copyright 2013
I've been wondering in light of a few recent experiences and conversations, whether it's possible for a group of people (I know, this is a rather loose term, but that's ok) to interact regularly at more than a superficial level without behaving or expressing themselves in a way that could give legitimate offense to some other person or group of people. I really wonder whether it can happen. So much of what makes for bonding between people comes from creating frameworks within which the people involved show sameness and the people outside are somehow othered.
I'm not saying that doing offensive things should therefore be forgiven. But so much of what constitutes offense is contextual. So much relies on shared understandings and assumed meanings. If a particular expression is offensive in one context, is it necessarily offensive in all contexts? Is there *really* any kind of objective cause for offense? I would argue that there is, but that there are a lot of things that may only be subjectively offensive that are characterized as being objectively offensive, or uncategorically offensive.
And before I go, this is what I kind of wish I was doing instead of going to do various bits of grown-up responsible stuff.
As I settled into bed to sleep earlier this weekend, Danae gave me a bunny to snuggle. She's sweet like that.
Sleepytime - Pic-a-day 13 July 2013
Copyright 2013
