I See You're Trolling
Calling someone 'toxic' is probably the most toxic thing one could do, in that moment of confrontation. Usually one who sees themselves high up on a pedestal, looking down upon all of those they see as disgraceful, will throw that word 'toxic' around as if someone gave them the go-ahead to be what they'd like others to think should be frowned upon.
Personally, I don't like the word 'toxic' in that context. Mincing your words doesn't take away from the fact you're still attempting to insult someone. I see right through the mask.
A toxic environment.
Different story.
A few hours ago I left a joke on the Steemitblog.
I said something like, "I'll offer Justin 40 STEEM for one ounce of truth."
The intention was lightheartedness. A little zinger. An innocent poke. A light jab. Some sarcasm. A bit of satire. All that in one tiny quip.
As someone who's attempted to write humor and be a humorist on occasion, for many years, I realize often the message I'm attempting to convey will be misconstrued.
It comes with the territory.
What makes writing humor more difficult around here on this platform is the fact many walks of life all intersect at the same set of lights. What makes one human laugh in Canada could be incredibly confusing to someone living halfway around the world.
What makes writing humor even more difficult here is the fact this is the internet. Some people seem to think trolling and throwing around insults is a form of humor. So when actual humor gets thrown into the mix, the joke could be misinterpreted as trolling. The humorist gets lumped into the pile of disgrace and ends up looking just as bad as the rest of the chaos.
Now
Political humor.
If you want to be a lazy humorist or comedian, all you have to do these days to get a laugh is fill a room with one team and insult the leader of the other team.
Add in forced laughter and you got yourself a Stephen Colbert or maybe a Bill Maher.
Telling someone what they want to hear does not take skill.
Moving right along, we now combine political humor and the online world of trolling. What do we get?
The current toxic environment on this platform.
There's a lot drama in this world, now. People are picking teams. What's making one side laugh is hurting the other.
Humor is not supposed to hurt someone. A joke either makes someone laugh or it doesn't. I realize some people might find certain forms of actual humor offensive but in those cases it isn't the actual humor causing the pain, it is the human's own personal belief system and politics they brought to the table before hearing the joke that has caused them to feel uncomfortable.
An example of this would be if I wrote a joke full of profanity. Many people in our society have been conditioned to believe profanity should not be tolerated. There's nothing funny about this fucking sentence.
Yet
Someone out there just laughed.
In the context, the f-bomb wasn't used to insult anyone. The one-liner wasn't placed there to offend anyone intentionally. The line simply exists because the timing was right.
But I'm not writing this to claim I know what's right or wrong when it comes to beliefs. Everyone can have what they believe and I will do nothing to interfere with that. And to be fair, I expect the same in return.
So
I left a joke under a blog post.
If there's one thing I despise doing, it would be feeling the need to explain a joke to someone.
I left my joke there, went to sleep shortly after. I wake up, I check my messages, my jaw hits the floor.
Let me start out by saying I will not, under any circumstance, ever feel comfortable working on a platform that forces me to tiptoe around the number four.
I realize some members of this community have been throwing around fours, as a weapon, for trolling purposes, to get a cheap laugh out of those who partake in pack mentality and can't think for themselves.
I also realize there are one million and one ways to interpret something so simple as a number four.
Apparently in some cultures it's a sign of bad luck. Chain enough of those fours together and apparently that could mean some really bad luck.
I do not subscribe to those beliefs. In general, I am not one to be superstitious though there are a few things I do that might seem odd to other people. I do not use another human's belief as a weapon or tool to cause inner turmoil.
I chose the number 40.
Not to be disrespectful.
It didn't even cross my mind the number 40 could be interpreted as a sign of disrespect. The only time a 40 truly pisses me off is when I didn't notice the school zone sign asking me to slow my speed from 50 down to 40 and there's a goddamn cop sitting right there.
I chose the number 40 because that was nearly all of the liquid STEEM in my wallet at the time. What if dude takes me up on that offer? I have to be able to pay, right?
But unfortunately, the responses I received took the joke to a different place. The four I used innocently was converted into the 4 some have been using as a weapon to cause inner turmoil for certain members of this community.
Attention bigots.
Do not fuck with my freedom of speech.
It's bad enough I'll be judged for saying something like the word 'fuck'.
Now, because of the reaction my joke received, combined with the insights previously stated, would it be unreasonable for me to feel shame?
Yes. I think it is incredibly unreasonable that I had to wake up and change my original joke from a 40 to a 30 because some grubby online trolls with no class or respect thought it would be wise to make it appear as if my usage of the '4' stood for what they currently believe a '4' is good for.
I shouldn't have to put a condom on my microphone and tiptoe around not only profanity, but numbers now, too?
If I say 40 and someone comes along to cheer and act like I'm somehow attempting to be disrespectful to an entire culture....
I'm lost.
I don't get it. Where in my '40' does it say it's okay to approach me and start acting like it's fine to be disrespectful on that level to others?
That 40 does not say what you think it means, so fuck off with your bigotry. Go have a clan meeting.
I can't even use a four...
without looking like I've done something wrong?
And somehow the use of a four makes online trolls think it's okay to chime in with their petty details?
It's clear the environment is toxic when something so simple as a number is being used as a tool to cause inner turmoil.
Being surrounded by all walks of life.
I embrace that.
Having the ability to create, then have that creation spread all over the planet within seconds with the simple push of a button...
One century ago that would have been classified as a miracle.
I love it. All walks of life are welcome in my world. People from every continent have viewed my artwork. That is a big deal to me.
I can't say I appreciate some of the trolling around here though. I can say I'm not alone either. I've read plenty of posts and comments. Many members don't feel comfortable presenting their work here at the moment. There are many reasons for that but creating a toxic environment is not the solution needed in order to bring them back.
We got enough on our plate here as it is.
Be a good person. Do the right thing.
Have a nice day.
Fucking hell, really?
I will have to check this out when I get back in the house. That's ridiculous!
It was only a few lines but ... that's enough to set me off.
Maybe I should be more clear. A couple lines set me off, but I've been watching this community for a LONG time, and I thought it would be a good time to say a 4 is a goddamn 4 and nothing else.
Aaah! I looked, I know what you mean. The meaning seen that is not there. It's kinda hilarious that people have to show everything into their own current world view.
My first thought when I saw it was, hey, it's 40 bucks for an ounce here too. Lol!!
I thought it was a good deal!
The whole thing got me thinking though. Normally, under a different set of circumstances, oh, say, like before, when the four wasn't being used derogatorily, that joke, would have been a 'hit'. Who would vote for it though after they saw the comments below? They wouldn't want to be associated with it, correct? And because I wasn't there to correct them, it appears as if I'm fine with it and creates the illusion the 40 was meant to be derogatory.... but goddammit dude I didn't even think of that.
Living in a world where I have to be careful about numbers scares the fuck outta me.
It's shit when you have to be careful. I hate double thinking what I am writing sometimes. I mean, I wrote what I please but sometimes I look at something and think, oh shit, they will be coming for me next!
What I was seeing was early warning signs.
Wouldn't it be screwed up if we suddenly found ourselves in a world where 4 is just as taboo as the N-word or that other F-word? Notice how I won't say those words? I notice that in countries where people call cigarettes that word, they won't even use that word to refer to cigarettes in a place like this. That's absurd. It means cigarette. Yet some will refuse to acknowledge the intention and context and insist they meant something else.
We were just talking about prudes. It's those prudes who get society into these situations. They're the ones calling people 'toxic' as well.
Every time I write the F word I have to put an explanation in brackets after it and a joke. Which is annoying.
However, I am looking forward to getting a couple of tasty faggots in my mouth later tonight.
Those faggots would be banned in Canada.
The salt content?
The packaging isn't safe for the environment.
Well, 2+2 just doesn't add up for some people....
Piss enough people off with those attitudes and soon enough the censors will step in to ban April.
Wait, I think I should be the one saying something like this, being the one labeled an idiot for making a joke you failed to catch. I'm confused. xD
It's my fault. Yes. Okay then.
I fixed the part where I called you an idiot. I apologize for that. Just know, I wasn't happy when I saw the reaction and realized what it turned into. I was also just waking up. Hadn't even had my first cup of coffee yet. Idiots was pretty light compared to some of the other shit I've said in my day.
And I apologize for making you feel like you were the ringleader of something you absolutely disagree with. But I wasn't even offended. And I know what it feels like to just get out of bed and see some shit before having some coffee. I've said much more in this position. xD
Edit: I hate autocorrect.
You're not a bad human. Humanity is twisted at times and I find it strange how something so innocent can turn on a dime due to a misunderstanding. This world is going to shit if I have to worry about which number I choose, on top of which words I choose. This post could be treated as an early warning sign. Let's not let this get out of hand.
I've been thinking about it for a few days now, since the 22.4444 softfork went through. That 4444 was misinterpreted by a few members and labelled as an attack on a certain culture. Once that happened, bigots picked up on it and began using it as a tool to... be bigots.
The problem started with the "social justice warrior types" giving a definitive definition to something that could be interpreted a million different ways. They do this all the time. Then the assholes use that definition as a way to hate. Then we get censorship. Then anyone using a four in this case is labelled and thrown in the pile. It might sound crazy but this happens in society all the time now.
All I'm really saying is hey, I see where this is going and it doesn't make me comfortable.
By the way, idiot is a Greek word, which stems from the word ''ιδιώτης''. In modern Greek it translates into ''the owner of property'', but in ancient Greece the term was used to describe someone who didn't care at all about politics. It was an insult back then.
Useless info of the day. Or maybe not? Not even Greeks know this nowadays,so I felt like sharing.
Thanks! My brain needed more useless information.
Zing. I'm joking.
No, you weren't joking at all! I'm offended now. (More failed humour)
I wonder what they call vote4vote, as it seems to be common practice
I think if numbers here keep declining, the only option we'll be left with is I scratch your back, you scratch mine.
Let's see how it plays out. No point leaving half way through the show...
Apparently Justin is on twitter again... bullshitting. Drinking problem maybe? Maybe he uses too much Adderall. Guilty conscience? Have you ever seen someone lie so openly and carefree?
Lol, yes. But he has a lot more to lose than the ones I know :D
It seems to stem from his complete willingness to do and say anything in order to get his way. An extreme fear of failure perhaps.
A pride thing. He's not saving face though. He's making it worse.
His face is taking a hammering.
Much like the movie Fight Club, when the dude was punching himself and throwing himself around the room, but thought he was fighting someone else.
I think it brings to mind the movie Liar Liar, where Jim Carrey does the same thing.
I know, right? Can't stand these guys.
I feel much better now having left a few comments on that thread. And I too like to live dangerously, so I won't even edit them. xD
I just checked that thread. I see I must be one of the idiots. I was just trying to be funny. I know I've failed multiple times in the past, but I never thought that makes me an idiot.
Yes. Unfortunately you were one of the two who decided to misinterpret my joke and take it some place IT DID NOT BELONG.
I will not hold a grudge. I will not tell you how to act or what to do. But at least you know where I stand.
You also misinterpreted mine, but I do not hold a grudge either.
Source.
That's all I knew about number 4, until I had to do some further research after reading your post.
Have a good one.
Edit: More positive stuff about number 4. I honestly always thought it was a lucky number.
Source.
Edit2: And more.
Source.
I'm aware of that interpretation, and many others. If you look at the context there, you'd see why I might have trouble believing this is the interpretation you were using at the time.
The whole point though, is since a couple people chimed in their bad attitudes, I look bad. I wasn't around to correct it or set the record straight. I wake up and it looks like I'm the ringleader. That other dude sent a pretty clear message there. It's not hard to see what you folks were getting at. And using that context as a joke? That's not humor.
If it's my 40th birthday, and I wrote a post, it would be pretty fucked up if people came along to "joke" with their 4444's. That's the point here. I shouldn't have to tiptoe around the use of a 4 simply because there are bigots out there willing to use it as an insult.
This is your way of interpreting the situation, and maybe someone else's too. But I do know better than anyone else where I was going with this, so you guys can speak for yourselves and only. I wouldn't have a problem to admit it anyway. I'm just a stranger here.
But I don't have the right to claim the same thing, right?
Anyway, I'm not here to argue. I meant what I meant and anyone can think whatever they want.
Writing a simple 4 shouldn't even be something that could be misinterpreted. But here we are. See my point yet?
Yes, and you said it better in your post.
I just think it takes a bad person to joke about the death or well-being of another man, and I'm certainly not that person. If I were I would be proud about it I guess. Just assuming though.
I can handle dark humor. The context of my joke got twisted out of shape... and it's only because I said 40. That's just nuts. Shouldn't happen.
Agreed. I guess we have to get used to living in 2020. So much about failed humour.
Failed humor can be a bitch. I can accept your intentions were pure. Others who would be offended by that 4444 might see you in a different light though, regardless of your explanation.
I really wouldn't mind, and wouldn't even try to explain anything to anyone else. Just realized this post was dedicated to me, which is an honor, so I had to take part in this discussion.
I am not a famous author, nor do I have autovoters supporting my work, so there's literally nothing at all to lose for me. It's not like my life is at stake or something.
To summarize, I'm not trying to explain myself. Just holding an interesting conversation with a talented author I look up to on Steem.
It's good you spoke up. Owning it. People can see you're not as bad as the failed humor might make it look.
It's not about you or even that joke though. It just makes me uncomfortable to think something so innocent as a four can now, somehow, get ugly.
I'm actually having trouble explaining the point. I think I could have done a better job.
They see me trollin', they hatin'...
something something something riding dirty.
Yea I fourgot the lines as well
It took me this long to see what you did there.
It was pretty witty, even by my standards :o)
This could turn into that. That's the point I'm trying to make.
I find it strange though. Any time I go off on one of these tangents, nobody ever comes to argue my points.
Most likely they realized they were wrong or simply don't want to further embarrass themselves by
acting like screeching monkeysreacting without thinking.It would be cool to be able to enter one of those brains, just to be able to visit the circus.
I have oddball take on all this though. For instance, writing off someone as trash for using profanity is no different than frowning upon someone for speaking their native tongue in a foreign land. Not liking someone simply because you don't like the sounds coming out of their mouth is kinda ridonkulous. I'm a smoker too. I face a lot of discrimination with that. Remember the 'smoking section' in bars and restaurants? It was for health reasons, whatever. What if they told obese people to go sit in a specific place? Good luck telling a big dude he has to go outside to eat. Yeah, I'm rambling.
I see your point with the smoking but also sitting next to a fat guy wouldnt really effect your health, unless he fell on you, but sitting next to someone thats smoking a cigarette will. I'm a smoker I like to think of it as a choice thing, that dude choses to be fat, I chose to smoke, Bitchy Britney while annoying didn't make the choice to light a cigarette so she shouldn't have to be in smoke.
I totally agree. It's a choice. And because of that choice, others are allowed to make choices for you. There was a time when certain races had designated seats on a bus. Certain races weren't allowed to enter certain establishments. Addicts are treated poorly. The cigarette I had just now, I can't say I had much choice. I find it odd, at least where I live, one can't open a smoking only establishment. I kinda miss that haze walking into a bar. I know it's unhealthy but it should be my choice to basically... slowly die? LOL....
See if it was smoking only and clearly labeled as such I could roll with that. If I didn't smoke and went there its be my choice to sit in the smoke. If I went to Denny's not expecting it it and having it forced upon me however, not so much.
why u use 7s all the time man? makes me puke
Honestly, I think the entire thought process that went in to writing this started with that short talk we had the other day. I saw folks giving 4 ONE definition and knew that's a bad idea. If it means death and nothing else, then I can't even enjoy 420.
School zone 40? You lucky bastard.
Come back to Edmonton. It's 30 here, he he.
I noticed those 30 zones. Damn that's slow. Around here though, speed limits are only a suggestion to most drivers. So many would drive 30 anyway, in all zones. And they never shoulder check. Edmonton is fairly aggressive but most drive as a team. Lots of honking. Nobody honks here unless they're saying hi.
"Humor is that thing you use to make people think without them notice it."
“If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?” – Abraham Lincoln
Yeah! I'm "trolling" you!! :)
It's just seen as bad luck by some because the word for "four" and the word for "die" is similar (both si with different tone) (I'm not even sure if this is Mandarin or Cantonese, I'm currently assuming Mandarin because all "Chinese" seems to be Mandarin).
Some places go as far as to not have 4 numbered floors apparently like some buildings in western countries don't have 13th floors but like any other given place they're not all over the top superstitious. So because some people have been slinging 4s like faeces your unlucky (haha the irony) choice of number got caught up in the insanity.
Though given people if you'd randomly used another number someone somewhere would probably have had something to say about it regardless XD
I've been waiting for an explanation like this all day.
And you're right. Tell someone a 2533 means something bad and the bad people will be all over it.
If you do the numerology thing where you have to reduce all numbers to single digit (done by adding them together til the answer is a single digit) you end up with 4 again. 4 on the brain! XD (and also what can be done at a stretch ;D)
Congratulations @nonameslefttouse!
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