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Cactus People
Jul. 28th, 2015 12:37 pmSo before I get started on this post, let me preface it with this this key point – while this was most recently triggered by the “man bun” discussion, that is only one teensy example of a much larger thing that is bothering me. And the general topic is this – oversensitivity.
I may very well offend some people by sharing my thoughts here, but if that is the case, I guess that’s just what is going to happen. I don’t want to cause anyone any offense or upset. But that in and of itself is a large point of my issue – there is a huge difference between intentionally saying or doing something offensive and someone else (sometimes creatively) finding a way to be offended. A guy who walks into a movie theater with a shotgun and kills a bunch of random people – that is a deliberate hurtful act. Casually making a random humorous observation about something you see in a coffee shop – NOT a hurtful act. So get over it.
I know a lot of people from all walks of life. And I appreciate their diversity. I appreciate people, gay or straight, religious or not, male or female (or in between)… all the colors… all the cultures… and all the quirky senses of humor. But… and there is always a but… some of the people I know are very simply what I can only describe as Prickly. Now, to be clear, when I say “prickly”, what I mean is the type of person who, time and time and time again, finds a way (sometimes creatively) to BECOME offended by things that I say or do that, frankly, are just not meant to cause offense. And typically, this person really only seems to appear in my life when offended or finding the need to scold me for bad behavior. And ya know what? I’m really pretty fed up with it.
It isn’t that I don’t make mistakes from time to time. Of course I do! I’m only human. And if I really do make a mistake or do the wrong thing, I may not enjoy eating crow, but I will do so. But having said that, I don’t consider it incumbent upon me to make an apology every time I say or do something that a prickly person finds offensive. The fact of the matter is, my mom is still alive and well, and laughs her ass off at my sense of humor. So when a prickly person decides to scold me, I’m gonna start reminding them, “you ain’t my momma. So stop acting like you are.”
What I find truly ironic is that the very same people who take it upon themselves to lecture me for being offensive are, themselves, typically just as bad (if not worse) than I am. Sure, THEY can kid. THEY can make cracks about other people. THEY can be critical. THEY can be catty. But when >> I << do it… oh lordie!
I’m just gonna say it. I’m 47 years old. I’m a grown man. I have a sense of humor. And if you don’t care for my sense of humor, so be it. We don’t have to hang out. We don’t have to be best-of-buddies. And you can choose to take offense where none is meant. And that is on you. But I will remind you – My momma appreciates my sense of humor. You ain’t my momma. Spare me your schooling – it is not your place.
Prickly people can act like such pricks!
I may very well offend some people by sharing my thoughts here, but if that is the case, I guess that’s just what is going to happen. I don’t want to cause anyone any offense or upset. But that in and of itself is a large point of my issue – there is a huge difference between intentionally saying or doing something offensive and someone else (sometimes creatively) finding a way to be offended. A guy who walks into a movie theater with a shotgun and kills a bunch of random people – that is a deliberate hurtful act. Casually making a random humorous observation about something you see in a coffee shop – NOT a hurtful act. So get over it.
I know a lot of people from all walks of life. And I appreciate their diversity. I appreciate people, gay or straight, religious or not, male or female (or in between)… all the colors… all the cultures… and all the quirky senses of humor. But… and there is always a but… some of the people I know are very simply what I can only describe as Prickly. Now, to be clear, when I say “prickly”, what I mean is the type of person who, time and time and time again, finds a way (sometimes creatively) to BECOME offended by things that I say or do that, frankly, are just not meant to cause offense. And typically, this person really only seems to appear in my life when offended or finding the need to scold me for bad behavior. And ya know what? I’m really pretty fed up with it.
It isn’t that I don’t make mistakes from time to time. Of course I do! I’m only human. And if I really do make a mistake or do the wrong thing, I may not enjoy eating crow, but I will do so. But having said that, I don’t consider it incumbent upon me to make an apology every time I say or do something that a prickly person finds offensive. The fact of the matter is, my mom is still alive and well, and laughs her ass off at my sense of humor. So when a prickly person decides to scold me, I’m gonna start reminding them, “you ain’t my momma. So stop acting like you are.”
What I find truly ironic is that the very same people who take it upon themselves to lecture me for being offensive are, themselves, typically just as bad (if not worse) than I am. Sure, THEY can kid. THEY can make cracks about other people. THEY can be critical. THEY can be catty. But when >> I << do it… oh lordie!
I’m just gonna say it. I’m 47 years old. I’m a grown man. I have a sense of humor. And if you don’t care for my sense of humor, so be it. We don’t have to hang out. We don’t have to be best-of-buddies. And you can choose to take offense where none is meant. And that is on you. But I will remind you – My momma appreciates my sense of humor. You ain’t my momma. Spare me your schooling – it is not your place.
Prickly people can act like such pricks!
