Look what came in the mail today! Your super-awesome set of funny t-shirts that you've ordered from the Internet just showed up and you couldn't be more excited! There is nothing you can't do! You are King of your Domain, and you will march forth into the wilderness to conquer all with the hilarity of your funny t-shirts! You decide that the ground of your first comedy conquest will be at the vegetable stand of your local Farmer's Market, because you are in dire need of fresh veggies for the stew you are making later that evening.
That seemed like a great plan until you actually arrived and left the safety of your vehicle. Once you walked up to the fruit and veggie stand you popped your chest out so that everyone could read your funny t-shirt in order to join you for a laugh. Well, that's not what is happening. What's happening is that you are being yelled at by an old farmer lady and being chased back to your car. Something has gone wonderfully wrong. You have offended everyone with one of your funny t-shirts. I wonder what could have happened?
You may have the greatest taste in funny t-shirts in the whole wide world, but that will do you no good if you don't have the right audience to laugh at your wearable joke. There is a huge divide that separates the newest generation coming of age, and the eldest three generations. That divide is the unknowable gulf called the "Internet". Young people have grown up with information right at their fingertips, both good and bad. Blood, guts, cursing, and nudity helped raised our children into young adults. Now, there is no image left that could intimidate or offend for them while the older generations only use the Internet to check their AOL mail and their Ebay accounts.
You may not realize it due to your jaded nature, but your funny t-shirts could very well be offensive. If you are too jaded to figure it out, you need to look carefully at your shirts and run through a mental checklist of offensive material to make certain your shirts are safe to wear out in the real world. You also need to understand that some things that seem hilarious on a computer, may not be so funny to everyone else. Just make sure that your shirt isn't about anything sexual, offensive words, religious, or political statements. Simple, right?
Where do you stand on this issue? Do you feel that the Freedom of Expression is more important than the grief of one woman who may be angered at your abortion humor? Should you have the chance to say whatever you want, no matter what kind of damage is may do in a social situation. I've always felt that the old adage, "First, do no harm." to be a good thing. Is there even a right answer to the question of what is "too" offensive? I suppose the only way to find out is to wear your funny t-shirts and see what happens.
That seemed like a great plan until you actually arrived and left the safety of your vehicle. Once you walked up to the fruit and veggie stand you popped your chest out so that everyone could read your funny t-shirt in order to join you for a laugh. Well, that's not what is happening. What's happening is that you are being yelled at by an old farmer lady and being chased back to your car. Something has gone wonderfully wrong. You have offended everyone with one of your funny t-shirts. I wonder what could have happened?
You may have the greatest taste in funny t-shirts in the whole wide world, but that will do you no good if you don't have the right audience to laugh at your wearable joke. There is a huge divide that separates the newest generation coming of age, and the eldest three generations. That divide is the unknowable gulf called the "Internet". Young people have grown up with information right at their fingertips, both good and bad. Blood, guts, cursing, and nudity helped raised our children into young adults. Now, there is no image left that could intimidate or offend for them while the older generations only use the Internet to check their AOL mail and their Ebay accounts.
You may not realize it due to your jaded nature, but your funny t-shirts could very well be offensive. If you are too jaded to figure it out, you need to look carefully at your shirts and run through a mental checklist of offensive material to make certain your shirts are safe to wear out in the real world. You also need to understand that some things that seem hilarious on a computer, may not be so funny to everyone else. Just make sure that your shirt isn't about anything sexual, offensive words, religious, or political statements. Simple, right?
Where do you stand on this issue? Do you feel that the Freedom of Expression is more important than the grief of one woman who may be angered at your abortion humor? Should you have the chance to say whatever you want, no matter what kind of damage is may do in a social situation. I've always felt that the old adage, "First, do no harm." to be a good thing. Is there even a right answer to the question of what is "too" offensive? I suppose the only way to find out is to wear your funny t-shirts and see what happens.
About the Author:
To fill your brain about funny t-shirts go to funny t-shirt to see how it's done right.
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