Offensive quotes?

[maradnu]

"Liberalism, above all, means emancipation -- emancipation from one's fears, his inadequacies, from prejudice, from discrimination... from poverty. "
— Hubert H. Humphrey

This was offensive?

I know the right wing has tried to make liberal into a dirty word, but seriously, folks....

[maradnu]

Also offensive?

"A boiled egg in the morning is hard to beat. "
— Unattributed

I'm amazed at what offends some folks.

[Laura]

Is that really on the offensive list??

[maradnu]

offensive

Both had offensive ratings of five or more stars.

I don't know if I am helping or hurting, but when I see quotes flagged as offensive, but which I think are pretty benign at best, I rate them at only one star on the offensive scale, which at least brings down the average rating somewhat.

I don't know if the 'offensiveness' is based on average offensive rating, or on whether 'anyone' has rated them offensive. If the latter, I guess my actions are counter-productive.

Nearly anything that mentions G-d is flagged as offensive. Even a Mother Teresa quote that did not mention G-d was flagged as offensive. My mind is still boggled by that one.

[bansaisequoia]

Clueless in Palm Beach

"A boiled egg in the morning is hard to beat. " 

Any conjectures as to why someone found this offensive, maradnu? Or did someone just accidentally click on the offensive stars?

This was offensive?

I know the right wing has tried to make liberal into a dirty word, but seriously, folks.... 

So far I haven't seen you flagging Ayn Rand, Ronald Reagan or Adam Smith quotes in retaliation.

[maradnu]

Ronnie can be funny -

Before I refuse to take your questions, I have an opening statement. - Ronald Reagan

I have left orders to be awakened at any time in case of national emergency, even if I'm in a cabinet meeting. - Ronald Reagan

It's true hard work never killed anybody, but I figure, why take the chance? - Ronald Reagan

But he can also be a major jerk -

Unemployment insurance is a pre-paid vacation for freeloaders. - Ronald Reagan

I have not found Ayn to be the slightest bit funny, just hateful in her attitude towards average working people. But that doesn't mean I'll flag her as offensive.

What's to hate about Adam Smith?

I have found some violently sexist comments by the Marquis de Sade to be offensive, as well as some quotes denigrating religions, women, and the like.

[maradnu]

More

Two more quotes flagged as offensive by solvers. The first 5 stars, the second ten.

"Two friendships in two breasts requires the same aversions and desires." — Jonathan Swift

"Every time that I think of the crucifixion of Christ, I commit the sin of envy." — Simone Weil

I guess someone thought the latter to be blasphemous. I am not sure why the first was offensive.

[bansaisequoia]

Who knows

Two more quotes flagged as offensive by solvers. The first 5 stars, the second ten.

    "Two friendships in two breasts requires the same aversions and desires." — Jonathan Swift 

Go figure. A google image search of "two breasts" and "desires" might yield some interesting results, but I won't post that here on a family-oriented website.[IMG]

[maradnu]

still more

"Every sweet has its sour; every evil its good." — Ralph Waldo Emerson

This one was rated six stars on the offensive scale.

"Prayer should be short, without giving God Almighty reasons why he should grant this, or that; he knows best what is good for us." — John Selden

Two people rated this one ten stars for offensive. I don't know if they were offended by prayer, or by being told to keep it short.

[Laura]

That's really funny!

[ernests]

"Every sweet has its sour; every evil its good." — Ralph Waldo Emerson

This one was rated six stars on the offensive scale.

To be honest, from what I've read of Emerson, I'd consider him to be one of America's finest purveyors of the stuff you might accidentally step in while crossing a farmer's field. I don't think I've ever marked his quotes as offensive though. Ones that seem particularly wrong-headed I might have occasionally marked as confusing if I was in the mood - i.e. it confuses me how anyone could have said this and be taken seriously - but not offensive. This particular quote doesn't seem bad at all for him.

[maradnu]

Emerson, et al

There are any number of quotes that I would tend to take issue with. That I disagree with them does not make them either offensive or confusing - to me at least.

What I find offensive are those quotes which demean or debase another race, gender, or religion, or which advocate, excuse, or condone injury, harm, or violence to others.

[ernests]

There are any number of quotes that I would tend to take issue with. That I disagree with them does not make them either offensive or confusing - to me at least.

True, but sometimes I feel I should click something, and in the absence of an "Oh for God's sake, that's just stupid" rating, "confusing" is the only alternative.

I don't do that with the "offensive" rating though - the few quotes I mark with that are actually denigrating to some group or other - but maybe some people do use it as an alternative to an "I disagree" button. After all, the rest of the ratings are just for people to express their reaction to the quote - inspirational, thought-provoking, etc. It's only the "offensive" rating that has an actual effect on gameplay for others. Perhaps flagging offensive comments should be separated out from the other ratings to prevent mere disagreement being confused with genuinely saying it shouldn't be there.

[ferrym85]

What is offensive is very subjective. I think it's unnecessary to even have that as an area you can rate a quote on if only for the people that have "offensive" quotes turned off. They miss out on a plethora of puzzles because a handful of other people deemed them offensive.

Play all the puzzles and then make a mental note not to pay attention to certain attributed authors. Because in the end, does it really matter if it was offensive? It's just a quote in a puzzle and it's off your screen in a matter of seconds or minutes (and hopefully not much longer than that).

I know most of the time I don't even read what the quotes are... I just find the letter patterns and go to town!

[maradnu]

Subjective

Of course, it is subjective. All beauty and ugliness is in the eye of the beholder.

What has bothered me in the past is that which denigrates others - whether that is sexism, racism, anti-semitism, or any other kind of denigration. I am most offended by some of the violently sexist quotes on this site attributed to the Marquis de Sade. Some of those even border on advocacy of violence towards women.

For all my past ranting, I have not turned off anything.

Just lately, I have been surprised at how seemingly innocuous some quotes are which have been flagged by people as 'offensive'.