this post was submitted on 29 Jul 2023
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I had someone steel this and change “butts” to “Christian” and weirdly enough, lengthen my skirt. Kept the flame boots, but no short skirts.

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[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 year ago (2 children)

The point is, this argument doesn't hold up.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Because it's a short comic, it doesn't have the time to go into the nuances. One word has a long history of being used to dehumanize an "other" group and the other just a word for a body part. If body parts offend you as much as racial slurs, you may have your own issues.

[–] [email protected] -2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Still missing the point

If this logic can be used to defend race hate, then maybe the logic isn't sound

Also, if the issue is too nuanced for you to convey in a short comic, maybe don't make a short comic about it

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If the only argument against something is that it's offensive and they can't rationalize it at all, the argument can be thrown out. That's all the comic is about.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

That's just rationalisation. To me, this comic highlights the absurd logic of bigots and free speech absolutists. "Offensive to everyone" is an impossible standard to meet; bigots are obviously never going to be offended by bigotry, so even hate speech doesn't meet that threshold.

Also, it's never just "butts", and it's never just a single person, so it's a bit of a misrepresentation.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Bigots can't rationalize their bigotry. At least not in a way that can't be torn apart. They always end up using circular logic, which is what the comic is address.

I'm "offended" at racism because it creates an unsafe culture for everyone involved. I can cit research about the effects of generational racism leading to higher crime for instance.

They're offended at the sight of black people being able to use the same water fountain as them. They can't tell me why, which is why their argument ends at their "offense" and is the scenario the comic is about.

Also, it’s never just “butts”

I've seen people online get offended at the bumper sticker "Fuck Cancer".

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That seems like a reach to me. This comic reads to me as the fantasy of a bigot.

[–] [email protected] -2 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

That's just a failure of understanding what someone is actually stating with their offense. Being offended does not "give you any rights", and arguing against that is fighting a strawman.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The argument isn't about racial slurs.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I'm gonna need you to engage in just a little more abstract thinking for me. I'm not talking about racism either.

Let's try another thing instead: "Got hates fags"

How about: "Jews did 9/11"

It's pretty easy to say "free speech! I can say whatever I like!! I'm not responsible for your hurt feelings!" without any nuance, but speech is a bit more complicated than that.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Abstract thinking is impossible for some people it seems

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The cartoon isn't about free speech absolutism. It's just about offensive stuff. All the things you said are hate speech.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It contains the single most popular defence of free speech absolutism

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 year ago

It's from a website called TheDevilsPanties bro. I get where you're coming from but it's clearly about book bannings/conservatives getting upset with content in movies/books/signs/etc. The comic doesn't explicitly say it's excluding hate speech but it shouldn't have to.