[2014-04-07] I yam what I yam

[Liriodendron_fagotti]

I actually got a good chuckle out of today's.

http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=3319#comic

[Michele-Michel]

Not sure if 'roids or BPA...

[herecomesdrtrans]

Trans guy here. Very much appreciated the note on it, but seeing a joke about a man being very distressed about having female breasts at the beginning of my day just made me sad instead of giving me my usual SMBC-induced chuckle and smile. I don't really need anything "done," just thought I'd mention it. Maybe I'm too sensitive, but sometimes the small things add up.

[abowden]

Yes, Yes you are bieng oversensitive. Do you think a (non trans) woman would be pleased if she woke up with no breasts? or male genitals? (a bit of an extreme axample, but I think you get it.)

[Bathysphere]

Yes, Yes you are bieng oversensitive. Do you think a (non trans) woman would be pleased if she woke up with no breasts? or male genitals? (a bit of an extreme axample, but I think you get it.)

But… a cis woman waking up with no breasts or male genitalia is a pretty similar experience to what many trans people have to deal with every day, except for the suddenness of it. The fact that this could be hurtful to cisgender people too (women who've had mastectomies, for example) doesn't make it better.

I'm agender, and I was sad when I read it, too. I deal with having breasts that feel wrong every day, and it's fucking difficult. It was just kind of difficult seeing those feelings as a joke, you know? Reading it wasn't a horribly traumatic experience for me, but like herecomesdrtrans said, the small things add up.

Gender dysphoria has a really big negative effect on my life, and it's not very nice to make jokes about it when we live in a world that treats trans people like a joke so often already. It's just another little thing from someone who I think should know better.

[Kimra]

Yes, Yes you are bieng oversensitive.

Oh? Oh? Well there you have it. One person isn't offended so therefore no-one can be. Welcome to the world. No-one is allowed to be offended (no matter how polite and honest they are in explaining this offence) if one person or even the majority of people aren't offended by it.

*slow claps*

[smiley_cow]

Yes, Yes you are bieng oversensitive. Do you think a (non trans) woman would be pleased if she woke up with no breasts? or male genitals? (a bit of an extreme axample, but I think you get it.)

Just out of curiosity have you ever had to deal with gender dysphoria? Because if you're cis, you're not really in a position to be judging if people who actually do have to face these kinds of issues every day are being oversensitive or not.

[GUTCHUCKER]

Wow, this discussion is happening right here, on the forum I visit. It's like somebody just took a shit on the doorstep.
You have the right to be offended about anything you want, and you have the right to express your opinion that someone is being over-sensitive. You also have the right to choose whether or not to reserve your judgement, but I don't think you should refrain from voicing an opinion just because you have no personal experience in something. It's one of the many ways to learn. As human beings, as long as we communicate, we can emphasise (unless we're mentally incapable).
Finally, Zac can and has made comics about whatever the fuck he wants, used to beg for hatemail and as far as we know doesn't read the forum.

[Kimra]

I believe I'm expressing my right to mock people who are either incapable of, or unwilling to, consider perspectives outside of their own. But way to go on the 'free speech' parade to counter the free speech. I'm sure that made everything better.

[GUTCHUCKER]

I can't handle this torrent of irony. It's too much for me.

[Kimra]

Well that's great. I can't handle people crudely dismissing an issue because they don't think it's worth defending or discussing.

And maybe the circuitous discussion about everyone's right to express their opinion has confused the issue. I'm not the smartest jellybean in the jar, and I get that I'm not clear minded when already angry, so maybe I'm not being clear. But I can sure as hell tell you you aren't being clear either.

The fact is: No-one has the right to tell you not to be upset or offended because of things that touch on and appear to dismiss, belittle, or mock personal issues that you experience. Especially when you are in a minority group. Especially still when you have expressed it politely, with decorum and in a reasonable setting.

I don't know what your issue with this is, but you clearly have an issue or you wouldn't have been so crass and pathetic about the entire discussion.

God forbid anyone come onto this forum and say they didn't like a comic for reasons.

[smiley_cow]

Wow, this discussion is happening right here, on the forum I visit. It's like somebody just took a shit on the doorstep.
You have the right to be offended about anything you want, and you have the right to express your opinion that someone is being over-sensitive. You also have the right to choose whether or not to reserve your judgement, but I don't think you should refrain from voicing an opinion just because you have no personal experience in something. It's one of the many ways to learn. As human beings, as long as we communicate, we can emphasise (unless we're mentally incapable).
Finally, Zac can and has made comics about whatever the fuck he wants, used to beg for hatemail and as far as we know doesn't read the forum.

Sure, people can express their opinion, but people in positions of privilege telling people not in positions of privilege that they're being over-sensitive is a common tactic used to keep those people from discussing issues they face in their daily lives. And besides, all I did was point out that if this isn't a subject they know much about. If they don't see the daily micro-aggressions, and have a good idea of all the anti-trans, anti-non-binary shit society casually throws around all the time, they're not really in a position to be telling people who do what's being over-sensitive or not, are they?

That's all I'm saying. Dude can have the opinion that people are being oversensitive, I'm just making the point that without being in the position, it's not really a thing they have enough information about to really judge.

[Liriodendron_fagotti]

I think it's because this is a comic that made people laugh at spousal abuse, various family-cides, Hitler jokes, etc.

Athe forbid he return to making offensive jokes, even if that wasn't his intent.

[Michele-Michel]

I read problematic stuff full and well knowing that it's going to hurt me. I tend to like the SMBC stuff because even if it pushes boundaries, it's still more truthful than other stuff, manages to push in a diverse amount of subjects, and sometimes better than my own community treats me on a regular basis (like that drag queen that decided I needed a discussion on why I should be happy with my body exactly as it is...blech). That's my personal perspective. I've experienced it.

All the same, if I see this comic one way, and another trans/non-binary person sees it another way, that is in no way shape or form them being too sensitive, especially since the way I experience mine is going to be different. They're in another set of stimuli and pick up different things.

[Kimra]

I think it's because this is a comic that made people laugh at spousal abuse, various family-cides, Hitler jokes, etc.

Athe forbid he return to making offensive jokes, even if that wasn't his intent.

I find when a joke is actually funny and has a point it mitigates the offence it might cause exponentially (but not completely). But as is the common trend these days instead of being amused all this comic made me do was look into the effects of Anabolic Steroids.

Zues forbid he make actual jokes.