In which we lose VGCats

[aumentou]

Comic VGCats posts issue 294 containing a joke which could avoid including a transphobic reference but does not. Conversation ensues. Author doesn't give a shit and refuses to make the trivially simple change, or even consider it.

Result, I am no longer reading said comic.

How long before I run out of comics to read? How long before I run out of escapes?

Comments

[grok-mctanys.livejournal.com]

Why is non-mainstream porn more embarrassing?

Why is finding out that someone watches porn at all embarrassing? Because it's private. Because society says we're either not supposed to watch it, or not supposed to admit to watching it. Finding out that someone definitely has viewed porn is an intrusion into their privacy, and therefore embarrassing. However, it's only somewhat embarrassing because so many people really have viewed porn. But, if you find out exactly what sort of porn someone likes, you're finding out more about them that's supposed to be hidden; it's more of an intrusion into their privacy. The specificity, the nicheness, the personal knowledge makes it more embarrassing.

As another random example, "Barely legal flat-chested neck-down-alopecic flexible cheerleaders doing kinbaku" again would be more embarrassing (and hence more funny) than plain "porn", and not because any of those attributes are prejudiced against in society (in fact, I'm pretty sure they're not, which is why I chose them for this example) but simply because of the extra detail they give us about something that is supposed to be private.

At least, that's why I find it funny.

every time anyone says that something is prejudiced, someone says this back to them.

Sorry I wrote that. I don't mean to be an enormously insensitive asshole, but it happens sometimes. I'll try to make sure it doesn't happen in that way again.

Are you sure you aren't trying not to see it?

Well, that's entirely fair. And, no, I'm not sure at all. And even though I probably know more than my fair share of transgendered people compared to most members of society, and like to think of myself as tolerant and fair-minded (but, even the most bigoted racist homophobes tend to think that about themselves), and honestly think that it doesn't bother me, I'm aware that my unconscious prejudices are, well, unconscious.

And when I read your post, I was totally getting my rage on at whoever writes VGCats. Some motherfucker insults one of my friends, and then doesn't even care when this is pointed out to them? That asswipe was going to get some bad vibes from me, naughty words shouted at him through my monitor (which part of my unconscious insists is a microphone directly wired up to the speakers of whoever my ire is for) and possibly a vicious email too! So, I went to the comic in question in order to get good ammo for my feelings, and looked hard for this dire insult, and.... looked again. And again.

I wasn't trying to miss it. I was trying to look hard for it, and thought I was, and I wanted to stand with you against the forces of prejudiced bigoted fuckheadedness.

But I really could not figure out which bit might be insulting, or why.

Yeah, it may be that part of me doesn't want to see it. My interpretation of why I find it funny could be due to me rationalising my humour in a way that allows me to keep thinking of myself as non-*phobic.


OK, now I'm a bit lost. Also, I'm going to be misled by the introspection illusion if I try to find my own way out.

Any ideas?

[mr-s-face.livejournal.com]

No. I'm too tired of all this to make sense of the problem.