I think the point is that certain topics are more sensitive than others. In order to maintain a semblance of civility, it's probably best to avoid them, or at least tread lightly around those topics on a professional web forum. Aside from the usual suspects like sexuality, religion, race identity, and politics, there are additional sensitive topics that can be unique to different forums. We have a pretty international crowd, so there are international topics that might need to be treated carefully (ie discussion of different government styles, and the critique of different national leaders). Also, a many of us English teachers are hopeless pedants, so discussions about things like the oxford comma, regional variations in spelling, the usefulness of the subjunctive mood, and whether people who say "irregardless", "I could care less", and "xir" should be publicly beaten, are all topics that can lead to heated internet arguments. Given the nature of online anonymity, this can quickly lead to flaming, trolling, and hurt feelings. Personally, I don't feel that any topic should be out-of-bounds, but I do think people should be a little more empathetic, and be aware that not everybody is as comfortable debating a topic as they might be. So basically, you know, chill out and be excellent to each other etc etc.
I get it, but my point is more that people ought to be a bit more careful when discussing things they know their audience is sensitive to, not that they shouldn't be discussed at all.All three of your examples are topics that people here use to rile each other up over when more moderate discussion could be a lot more enlightening (although will probably be a bit less entertaining).Saying "People who use the oxford commas are stupid. It's pointless, and just reeks of Britishness." is just venting at the expense of other people's feelings. The same points can be brought up in far less trollish terms. Heated arguments rarely convince anybody of anything, even if they're 100% correct: it just causes them to entrench even deeper.And yeah, chill should definitely be applied to all things equally!
I disagree on the deodorant/antiperspirant needing to be unscented thing. I've always used a scented one and unless it has a really strong smell, tends to be really subtle, to the point you can't even smell it after a couple mins anyway. There are also some really nice smelling ones. But like I mentioned, where I'm from, guys who get perfumes / colognes are gay. So when I saw the original post about it, I couldn't, and still don't, understand how someone, who claims to be straight, puts that much effort into choosing and using that stuff, when there are much simpler solutions out there; but again, it stems from guy culture from where I was raised.Before Korea, I worked out every day, I always shower twice a day, and have never had a complaint about smell; unless after farting counts.
I'm not choosing the simplest way to do something, I'm choosing the best way.
I'm skeptical of how that would work as everyone is sensitive to different things at different levels....The culture of trying desperately to be the victim, to be oppressed, to be victimised because someone is taking the piss out of you.
As a great man once shamelessly stole from a somewhat obscure poet:“You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can't please all the people all of the time.”
If my grandmother had wheels she'd be a bike?
Well, now time passed and now it seemsEverybody’s having them dreamsEverybody sees themselvesWalkin’ around with no one elseHalf of the people can be part right all of the timeSome of the people can be all right part of the timeBut all of the people can’t be all right all of the timeI think Abraham Lincoln said that“I’ll let you be in my dreams if I can be in yours”I said that- Bob Dylan, Talkin' World War III Blues
Just to be clear, Abe stole it from John Lydgate, not Bob Dylan.
[edit: also hey @aristocrat i'm interested in smelling like im "not straight" or whatever. can you recommend a good antiperspirant and maybe a few fragrances for me to check out? thanks brotendo~ (seriously though im genuinely curious)]
People have said this before, but I'll say it again. I don't always agree with you, and you show some holier than thou attitudes, but I truly enjoy reading your posts. You are genuine and we can tell you've thought things through. So, thanks for giving me something to read and ponder occasionally.
sorry to de-rail the venting thread further but i have one more question. where do you recommend buying stuff like this in korea? and do you recommend putting the deodorant on at night? (i heard people do that but it sounds... strange?)
Deodorant on before bed? Why? Who does that?
Haven't you got anything more mature to do than tell people you don't know and you're never going to meet that they smell?
Steels is clearly not a Lynx man.
I can't. Because the person who is not religious doesn't see religion as an excuse for something. Some catholic priests abused some kids? Yes, but they are catholic. Some Muslims murdered some people at at concert, a beach promenade, at a gay club? Yes, but they are muslim. No, mate. Some pedos and some terrorists.Being religious is not an excuse for something. It is YOUR excuse for something.Also, park the whole, you can't make fun of someone for 'religious reasons'. You can make fun of anything someone chooses to do. For example, you can take the piss out of someone who chooses to go birdwatching, you can't take the piss out of someone for having a big nose. This whole, '<insert whatever type of person>...phobia' bs needs to die, and fast. Things need criticising so they fit into our societies.