The new, tiresome culture of outrage

[jaysunb]

But when so many people are so busy looking for ways to be offended, reasonable questions aren't only pointless, they are threatening. The very act of questioning someone's outrage is often taken as act of aggression, one that just leads to further outrage. But whether we are talking about businessmen who don't exercise adequate diplomacy in (private, by the way) emails or abrasive comedians who have made an art of insulting people, the truth is that all of us have a little bit of Joan Rivers in us as well as a little bit of humorless Wisconsinite. We're all capable of offending as well as being offended. The key lies in knowing when to shut up.
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-daum-column-rivers-levenson-20140911-column.html

[Adam051188]

1. i don't think "so many people are so busy looking for ways to be offended".

i think things are absolutely at the point of outright absurdity in the united states right now. it's embarrassing.

[RKP5637]

3. Agree! n/t

[AverageJoe90]

16. I'm not so sure I can agree with that.

This is primarily a RW problem, and has been for a long while now(I could honestly go on almost without end on that subject!), but our side isn't totally immune, either.

[Silent3]

6. The snap judgment part is key, and pretty its bad on DU, actually.

Last edited Sat Sep 13, 2014, 10:05 AM - Edit history (2)

There seem to be a lot of people who think that it's vitally important that they recognize and attack the "enemy" as quickly as possible -- skim posts quickly, look for offending key words, ignore any attempts at qualification, disclaimers, or nuance (these can be offhandedly dismissed as "weasel words&quot , and then pounce!

You must do so as dismissively, derisively, and impatiently as possible. It's important, you know, to make sure that the enemy isn't slipping any of their shit by you, nosiree, show 'em you've got them pegged!

[1StrongBlackMan]

8. Guilty as charged. eom.

[kcjohn1]

4. Mob mentality

That is all this is. The case of Rice could be a teaching moment but all you here is the pitch forks and how we should throw the book at people. The outrage is all's at 10 instead of appropriate level. Rice was wrong and should be punished but all you hear is basically banishing him outside of society with no discussion on rehabilitation.

[alp227]

11. you're seriously defending Ray Rice? nt

[Luminous Animal]

14. Indeed. I cry for Ray Rice and his lack of opportunity to be rehabilitated.

Feminists and their pitchforks suck.

[blkmusclmachine]

9. In other words, sit down, shut up, and clap louder, dammit!!!

No way.

[LeftyMom]

10. If you seem to be in the midst of an epidemic of offense, perhaps the common denominator is you? nt

[Enrique]

12. "oh please, you are so stupid"

god she was funny

"Let me tell you what comedy is about," she continues. "Oh, please. You are so stupid! Comedy is to make everybody laugh at everything and deal with things!"

[Luminous Animal]

13. The old tiresome culture of marginalizing human beings who have a legitimate beef.

[freeplessinseattle]

15. Is this part II of your "What, exactly is the pupose of the Ray Rice saturated coverage?" thread?

Seems like someone is especially outraged about outrage!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5511951

[Sheldon Cooper]

17. That's what it sounds like to me, too.

Comes across as someone who is tired of hearing oppressed people talk about their experiences. It's all so dreary, don't you know?

[freeplessinseattle]

20. Hey, now, those poor souls subjected to all these bummer stories are

suffering, too, if not more, by the fearsome, yet silly, "shiny objects"

[chrisa]

18. Twitter / Social Justice Warriorism is the cause.

They're real activists! No need to volunteer at shelters or food pantries. Everyone knows posting comments of raving offense on Twitter has the same effect!

[Bluenorthwest]

19. When someone has a legitimate issue and you address it as 'outrage' you are characterizing their

feelings, not questioning them. This author sounds like every last homophobe I have ever heard complain about being called out as a bigot. This claim that apathy and hatred for others is the only true way to be, emotionless and without any passion or concern for progress, this is poisonous thinking which I see as far right wing.