Stick and Stones
Statements, such as, “You’re dumb,” “That’s a stupid idea,” or any other insulting dig, are apparently acceptable … if you attach the caveat that you are “just kidding” or “only joking.” This seems to be the prevailing idea of many people in our American society. They can say whatever they want without regard to propriety or reason, as long as they qualify their statement with a satirical implication. I readily admit that I engage in this practice. I reason to myself that it is all in good fun.
C.S. Lewis wrote in the Screwtape Letters, "Humour is for them [the English] the all-consoling and (mark this) the all-excusing, grace of life. Hence it is invaluable as a means of destroying shame." What C.S. Lewis wrote sixty years ago is definitely applicable to the United States today. Words have power, even when spoken in jest. The Psalmist exhorts (34:13), "Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile." This is not "keep thy tongue from evil … 'except when making a funny'"
Have you ever noticed that the people who dish out sarcasm and caustic wit first can't take it back in equal measure? I am sure we all can think of plenty of personal examples, but this is true even on the national stage. Ted "Nothing is Sacred" Rall has plenty of caustic material on his web based comic and column site. When Ann Coulter sarcastically remarked, "Iran is soliciting cartoons on the Holocaust. So far, only Ted Rall, Garry Trudeau, and The New York Times have made submissions." Rall cleared up the situation by saying that Ann Coulter lied and he would sue if his readers voted for him to do so. Simply browsing his site, there are plenty of "lies" flying around there too. He can make fun of everything, but no one can make fun of him.
This is not a post advocating the stopping of "fun." This is a post urging caution. Even among friends, the group dynamic is an important aspect to consider before showing one's wit with words. Not only should we be "slow to speak," but we must be sure to be "slow to anger." In doing so, we can remain friends with our comrades and form friendships with others. This is a thought, a ramble (read the description - "random ramblings"!) Speaking to me (and Mr. Rall), the author Jonathan Swift noted, "Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody's face but their own." I intend to go about trying to find and change myself in that glass before I start criticizing others.
C.S. Lewis wrote in the Screwtape Letters, "Humour is for them [the English] the all-consoling and (mark this) the all-excusing, grace of life. Hence it is invaluable as a means of destroying shame." What C.S. Lewis wrote sixty years ago is definitely applicable to the United States today. Words have power, even when spoken in jest. The Psalmist exhorts (34:13), "Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile." This is not "keep thy tongue from evil … 'except when making a funny'"
Have you ever noticed that the people who dish out sarcasm and caustic wit first can't take it back in equal measure? I am sure we all can think of plenty of personal examples, but this is true even on the national stage. Ted "Nothing is Sacred" Rall has plenty of caustic material on his web based comic and column site. When Ann Coulter sarcastically remarked, "Iran is soliciting cartoons on the Holocaust. So far, only Ted Rall, Garry Trudeau, and The New York Times have made submissions." Rall cleared up the situation by saying that Ann Coulter lied and he would sue if his readers voted for him to do so. Simply browsing his site, there are plenty of "lies" flying around there too. He can make fun of everything, but no one can make fun of him.
This is not a post advocating the stopping of "fun." This is a post urging caution. Even among friends, the group dynamic is an important aspect to consider before showing one's wit with words. Not only should we be "slow to speak," but we must be sure to be "slow to anger." In doing so, we can remain friends with our comrades and form friendships with others. This is a thought, a ramble (read the description - "random ramblings"!) Speaking to me (and Mr. Rall), the author Jonathan Swift noted, "Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody's face but their own." I intend to go about trying to find and change myself in that glass before I start criticizing others.
posted by Matt Pitchford at 22:49
3 Comments:
Thanks for the reminder. Too often I speak before thinking and then talk a "just kidding" on the end of the sentence.
ahhh, what insight Matt. But it's so true. People often dish out satire or sarcasm, and then when they recieve it, they can't handle it. I agree that we should be carefull in what we say and watch the criticism...."we must do unto others as we would want to be treated."
What about the hoary "bless his/her heart?" :-D
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