WHITE GUY DEFENSE FORCE GO!

[Ticklefist]

Well that was a tad excessive. People may say offensive shit when anything comes along and shakes up their precious status quo, but you just compared them to a guy that murdered a child.

 

[Something Amyss]

That's not my point. It's almost never really permissible to shoot anyone. But quite probable that if Trayvon Martin didn't have a history of drug abuse and violence, the entire incident might have been avoided.

Wait, so he got shot because Zimmerman knew about his history?

what about Zimmerman's history of abuse and violence?

 

[Tireseas_v1legacy]

...I don't get it. At all. Maybe the Zimmerman bit? Could someone just go through it panel by panel and explain what hte hell it was I just read?

Spoiler: Strip

Panel 1: A common problem in comics and video games is the plethora of white, straight, male characters and a dearth of other demographics (or at least in a way that doesn't play toward hetero-normative standards; see Catwoman or pretty much any female superhero). In response, some minor characters, when they get a reboot or reimagining by a new artist will change their race in an effort to add depth or interest in the character (also, publicity so people will actually buy comics).

The usual pushback by critics of the changes usually involves "but now the character doesn't connect with the audience as well," which does suggest that the race of the character is still a factor for human characters even while the same audience are able to connect with totally alien characters (i.e. Fox McCloud). To many, this seems like a double standard stinking of racism. But the moment you mention that...

Panel 2-8: You get the bile flinging rage monsters of the media (particularly the internet) who claim "discrimination" against white males. Beta represents your Rush Limbaugh-types: those who claim that racism/sexism/bigotry is gone except against straight white males. Gamma represents your pseudo-intellectuals who parade around heavily biased/flawed facts to support absurd claims (The chart is likely a reference to this Penny Arcade strip on the subject [http://penny-arcade.com/comic/2010/12/20]). And Alpha, appropriately, represents the vain Alphamale hypermasculine "douche-bag" who thinks all women are into him and refuses to address his own personality problems that turn everyone else other than himself off.

Panel 9: Essentially the reaction of every rational person trying to have a conversation about diversity and existing social and cultural barriers in which one or more of these "white defenders shows up in" usually abandons the conversation as it tends to be as that tends to be a more productive use of their time. Of course, if they put their hands into their pockets...

Panel 10: there is a hair trigger response that, if are a dark-skinned male, they have a gun. It also is a reference to how if anyone tries to refute their absurd claims with, say, reasonable explanations of institutional barriers, they claim that that person is pulling the "race card."

Panel 11: Andrew Zimmerman was a guy who shot an unarmed black kid in Florida, supposedly in self defense, where there was practically no investigation and he was taken at his word (along with some other shaky circumstances). To many, the case represented the institutional racism in local police departments and how, even decades after the civil rights movement began, there is still a presumption of guilt over the actions of black and brown people (there were also gun issues in that case, but it's not completely relevant to this comic). To some, Zimmerman is a hero for representing shoot-first self-defense.

Panel 12: It's essentially the hypocrisy of those who claim any discussion on the subject of racism is racist while simultaneously engaging in the very kind of activity that demonstrates validity in their claim that race is still an issue (i.e. would they have shot first if he was a white guy?).

Panel 13-14: ... I have no idea what's going on here...

 

[jluzar20]

That may be the case, but thankfully, I don't particularly care what strangers on the internet think of me, I don't know you, so I don't care.

I care because I thought this was a place for discussion. What I found was a cleverly disguised 4chan. All the hate is there. All the stereotyping. All the memes. Only the targets are different. Nothing is gained. No progress is made. No topic is argued and no points are made. This forum has become a stagnant mess where discussion goes to die, paraded on by faux humor and a tissue thin disguise.

But apparently no one cares.[/quote]

Now you're getting it!

 

[Phrozenflame500]

Oh, is the flamewar finally starting?

Spoiler: Mod edit: Please add spoilers for images!

http://31.media.tumblr.com/da718499419151a2ac97b328b3f78dc6/tumblr_mqiahhtfSc1sykcx0o1_400.gif

It only took you guys 100 posts and four pages, jeez.

 

[Ashley Blalock]

Laughed until I had tears in my eyes. I think we have found a new cartoon series for FOX News.

 

[DataSnake]

That's not my point. It's almost never really permissible to shoot anyone. But quite probable that if Trayvon Martin didn't have a history of drug abuse and violence, the entire incident might have been avoided.

How? It's not like Zimmerman ran a background check on him. The only "suspicious" things Martin was doing were walking while black, and defending himself after being chased down by an armed stranger who had no lawful authority to detain him.

 

[Something Amyss]

Well that was a tad excessive. People may say offensive shit when anything comes along and shakes up their precious status quo, but you just compared them to a guy that murdered a child.

But apparently, he was "asking for it."

But quite probable that if Trayvon Martin didn't have a history of drug abuse and violence, the entire incident might have been avoided.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

So why are you still here?

If there's one thing worse than what you accuse this place of being, is sticking around just to tell everyone how mean they are and how they need to take people's feelings into account.

I can only speak for myself but I share his opinion on the forums at the moment. Right now the thing that keeps me coming back is some of the user groups, which have good communities.

From time to time I go back to the forums and usually it doesn't take long for me to regret that. Right now I'm here because I'm fucking hungry and I'm trying to kill time until the gulasch is ready though.

To be honest, I haven't been venturing into the forums either, but that's because nobody can take a fucking joke any more.

User Groups are a god send.

 

[Something Amyss]

Satire only works when you don't actually shit all over the people you are pretending not to.

That's a new and arbitrary rule. Someone had best go inform Mark Twain.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

snip

Yes, it's a facade, I'm so terribly, terribly depressed, thank you, thank you for opening my eyes. Why, this may very well be the beginning of something new for me!

I'm going to do it! I'll start volunteering at the homeless shelter, start donating money to charity!


Or, you know, none of that ¬_¬

You don't like something? That's fine, you don't like it, not worries.

What does raise questions is why do you care? Other than trying show people the 'error' of their ways in some pseudo-antagonistic fashion?

You can think that all you want, but I never think I'm better than anyone.

I mock myself as much as I mock others, so I don't really give a shit if you think I'm being condescending.

It's not a matter of what I think, it's a matter of how you behave.

Mockery is condescending by default. You might be self-deprecating as well but you're not displaying that behavior here, so it really doesn't change your condescension in any way.

That may be the case, but thankfully, I don't particularly care what strangers on the internet think of me, I don't know you, so I don't care.

I care because I thought this was a place for discussion. What I found was a cleverly disguised 4chan. All the hate is there. All the stereotyping. All the memes. Only the targets are different. Nothing is gained. No progress is made. No topic is argued and no points are made. This forum has become a stagnant mess where discussion goes to die, paraded on by faux humor and a tissue thin disguise.

But apparently no one cares.

So why are you still here?

If there's one thing worse than what you accuse this place of being, is sticking around just to tell everyone how mean they are and how they need to take people's feelings into account.

Read what you just wrote. Now use that in a reply to someone complaining about gender representation in a video game. Don't try to improve or change something! If it's not for you, it's not for you. Leave.

Oh but that's different. Because you're allowed to say it. That's how it works. This is totally different.

Oh, I like to discuss change in important things, gender representation is a very important issues.

This isn't one of them.

Your feelings aren't one of them.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Oh, I care about people who have a point to make, I have yet to see one.

Ergo, I don't care.

The point, of course, was that your condescending attitude - like the condescending attitudes of many on this forum, and the internet at large, is detrimental. To yourself, to those around you, to society as a whole.

We get caught up in ourselves, in our own apathy, and we think that gives us a free pass to be arrogant and derisive towards others, to mock people who are different, to refuse to accept other points of view, to dismiss people who have ideas that differ from our own. We become isolationist, reactionary, vicious and cruel. We revel in selfishness and narcissism and when someone points it out, asks us to try to be better, we shut down or lash out rather than reflect and even consider the possibility that we might shed some bad habits and grow as people.

My point is that we are working below our ability, and that we could be so much better if we just put in a little effort to be kinder to one another.

And that includes not mocking people. It includes not mocking ourselves. We should culture self respect and respect for others, and we should treasure our commonalities instead of alienating one another for our differences.

It's the only point I've ever tried to make. But you don't care, nobody does.

But the thing about it is, I care.

I don't really agree with your synopsis of what I'm thinking, what with you not being a mind reader.

But at least you presented it in a way that doesn't paint me as a baby eating child molesting baby monster.

So thanks for that, I guess.

 

[Rip Van Rabbit]

This comic gave me a good ol' laugh, but this thread...five pages in, this just the icing on the cake

Spoiler: Mod edit: Please add spoilers for images!

 

[jluzar20]

Oh, I care about people who have a point to make, I have yet to see one.

Ergo, I don't care.

The point, of course, was that your condescending attitude - like the condescending attitudes of many on this forum, and the internet at large, is detrimental. To yourself, to those around you, to society as a whole.

We get caught up in ourselves, in our own apathy, and we think that gives us a free pass to be arrogant and derisive towards others, to mock people who are different, to refuse to accept other points of view, to dismiss people who have ideas that differ from our own. We become isolationist, reactionary, vicious and cruel. We revel in selfishness and narcissism and when someone points it out, asks us to try to be better, we shut down or lash out rather than reflect and even consider the possibility that we might shed some bad habits and grow as people.

My point is that we are working below our ability, and that we could be so much better if we just put in a little effort to be kinder to one another.

And that includes not mocking people. It includes not mocking ourselves. We should culture self respect and respect for others, and we should treasure our commonalities instead of alienating one another for our differences.

It's the only point I've ever tried to make. But you don't care, nobody does.

But the thing about it is, I care.

You give the human race a little too much credit.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

And yet, "people can't take a fucking joke" is NOT okay when used to defend a form of insult you DON'T like.

I'm not entirely sure what this means.

Halp? Someone?

 

[Something Amyss]

And yet, "people can't take a fucking joke" is NOT okay when used to defend a form of insult you DON'T like.

From all appearances, he wasn't defending himself but rather explaining why he doesn't post in the forum much. Which still begs the question: if you think it's such a god-forsaken shithole here, why are you posting so much? If you think nothing can change and this is 4 chan and all that....Why not just leave?

It'd be like dressing up like a stereotypical gay man -- you know the image -- and having someone call you a ****** and some other offensive names. Then you reply by crying and asking them to stop being so silly and mean in the most effeminate voice you can. Sure, you've shown how making fun of people is bad, but you also employed and propagated a harmful trope.

I like your neatly constructed artificial parallel, but it has little to no bearing here.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

snip

Yes, it's a facade, I'm so terribly, terribly depressed, thank you, thank you for opening my eyes. Why, this may very well be the beginning of something new for me!

I'm going to do it! I'll start volunteering at the homeless shelter, start donating money to charity!


Or, you know, none of that ¬_¬

You don't like something? That's fine, you don't like it, not worries.

What does raise questions is why do you care? Other than trying show people the 'error' of their ways in some pseudo-antagonistic fashion?

You can think that all you want, but I never think I'm better than anyone.

I mock myself as much as I mock others, so I don't really give a shit if you think I'm being condescending.

It's not a matter of what I think, it's a matter of how you behave.

Mockery is condescending by default. You might be self-deprecating as well but you're not displaying that behavior here, so it really doesn't change your condescension in any way.

That may be the case, but thankfully, I don't particularly care what strangers on the internet think of me, I don't know you, so I don't care.

I care because I thought this was a place for discussion. What I found was a cleverly disguised 4chan. All the hate is there. All the stereotyping. All the memes. Only the targets are different. Nothing is gained. No progress is made. No topic is argued and no points are made. This forum has become a stagnant mess where discussion goes to die, paraded on by faux humor and a tissue thin disguise.

But apparently no one cares.

So why are you still here?

If there's one thing worse than what you accuse this place of being, is sticking around just to tell everyone how mean they are and how they need to take people's feelings into account.

Read what you just wrote. Now use that in a reply to someone complaining about gender representation in a video game. Don't try to improve or change something! If it's not for you, it's not for you. Leave.

Oh but that's different. Because you're allowed to say it. That's how it works. This is totally different.

Oh, I like to discuss change in important things, gender representation is a very important issues.

This isn't one of them.

Your feelings aren't one of them.

"Your feeling don't matter. I'm not going to discuss this issue that offends you."

I hope you never, ever enter into a discussion wherein a group such as women or homosexuals or transsexuals is being mocked. Because remember, your feelings aren't important. Get over it, right?

This is exactly what I'm talking about. You (the royal you, not you) are right. "They" are wrong. Make fun of them. Ignore their points. They don't matter. But they sure as shit better not do the same! Or else they are clearly trolls or assholes.

The issue matters.

Your feelings do not. Your feelings on the matter don't interest me in the slightest, only the facts. Can't present an opinion that isn't mired in hyperbole? Then I have no reason to care.

 

[WindKnight]

Wow... this comic has a little something for everyone doesn't it. I definitely laughed though... laughed more then any other Critical Miss strip.

Around the point where they all shouted "Zimmerman mode Activate" I knew this was going to be something special in the near future.

Of all the things that attract attention in this comic, of all the things that draw one's eye, one thing sticks out to me:

.....what exactly is the "Son zone"?

I don't really know, but I was thinking of the "Son, I am disappoint" meme when I read it.

given the context... (most of the chart is 'friendzone' IE 'won't sleep with you because she sees you as a friend') Son Zone can be summed up as 'won't sleep with you as she sees you as/you are her son'.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

I don't really agree with your synopsis of what I'm thinking, what with you not being a mind reader.

I can't read minds, no. So all I have is your behavior. And that's what I see in your behavior.

Maybe your future behavior will prove me wrong.

You give the human race a little too much credit.

God I hope not.

Whelp, I can't please all of the people all of the time.

You don't like my behaviour, that's fair enough. I don't care about skin colour, gender, sexual preferences, if I think something is funny, I'll laugh, whether it be at my expense or someone else's.

I'm ethnically and sexually diverse like that. Give me a medal.

 

[Something Amyss]

This comic gave me a good ol' laugh, but this thread...five pages in, this just the icing on the cake

Spoiler: Mod edit: Please add spoilers for images!

This isn't on topic, but I'm having a really shitty day and that gif is the first thing to bring a smile to my face.

Intentional or not, thanks for that.