Thursday, March 1, 2007

Personal Essential Question #1: What do I (not) like? (EDITED FOR CONTENT)

I could write a response to a wholesome, clean, and unimaginably dull topic like "What is my life goal" or "What do I care about most?". But I think it would be much more enjoyable to write about all the things I can't stand. If you know me, you probably know that I have an extremely short attention span (sort of like a goldfish) and I need something fun to do if I'm going to do it for a long period of time. Right now I am seriously hoping this will be fun. So here I go:
First off, I'd just like to let anyone listening (technically it's reading I suppose, unless you are some kind of insane person who uses the Apple voice to read things on your computer) know about my thoughts on things and people that are way too "PC", or politically correct. Political correctness is, according to Wikipedia, "a term used to describe language or behavior which is intended, or said to be intended, to provide a minimum of offense, particularly to racial, cultural, or other identity groups." I think this is all well and good (seriously, because some things actually do go too far), but only up to a point. After it hits a certain level of ridiculousness, it is beyond my level of tolerability. People in the world have become way, way too serious about all the little things that shouldn't make anyone care. Those kind of people are slowly but surely sucking all the joy out of the world. Making a joke about anything including something even close to being offensive is instantly considered "too far" and "insensitive". When was the last time you laughed at a clean, wholesome, completely non-dirty joke? I think Stephen Hawking jokes are hilarious (even though Stephen Hawking is truly amazing man). I laugh at dirty jokes and pranks. I think Carlos Mencia and Chris Rock are astoundingly funny, even though they've dropped more F-bombs than McDonalds has sold hamburgers. And yes, I thing Jackass 2 was one of the most disgusting (really, too disgusting) and [expletive]-ing funny movies of all time. But nowadays, when I try to crack a sick and wrong joke or use a not-serious jibe against someone, unless they are one of my closer friends I always have to "be on the lookout" and make sure they understand me and why I do not think seriously about nearly everything. This seems utterly ridicolous to me.
A good example of how I feel towards boring, lame, and prude-ish PC ideas is why I can't stand the comic Family Circus. I almost never read comics, but on the few occasions that I flip through the paper, Family Circus is always there, just waiting to ruin your morning. Its drawn in a circle, so it draws you in because it's so unique. After reading it (which is unavoidable) it makes me want to throw up (figuratively of course). It's simple: Family Circus just isn't funny. I don't know who would actually laugh upon gazing at the demonic works of Bil Keane (author of Family Circus). Whenever I think of people laughing at Family Circus (a rare thought indeed) images of amused serial killers pop into my head for some reason. The type of clean, peaceful, christian, warm, fuzzy and happy family like the one in Family Circus does not exist. If I was forced to live with that family for one whole week, somebody would end up on fire. Preferably not me. Just answer me this: Do you find this funny at all? I'm guessing not. Why does Bil Keane insist on wasting up valuable newspaper space that could be used for things like obituaries and Long's coupons? Does he feed upon happiness? Him and Jeff (his son who draws the cartoons) probably lead sickening, funless (i know, it's not a word), and boring lives. This is probably an average day at the Keane workshop:

Bil: "Gee Son, what a clean and fulfilling day this has been."
Jeff: "Golly Dad, you're right, I really liked your newest idea where Jenny says to Kittycat 'I wish you could talk just like Jeffy'. That made me laugh and feel all warm and fuzzy inside."
Bil: "With luck, nobody will notice that we've actually been running the same 4 cartoons over and over again for the past 25 years."
Jeff: "You're such a great Dad."



Now this right here is a rare serious moment for me. What I'm trying to say is this: people are starting to become so serious and grim nowadays that they frown upon anything remotely offensive, even up to the point that nobody really even gets offended. They make all of these ridiculous rules on what we can say or do that is completely against freedom of speech, and, more importantly, common sense. Make a joke about me. I'll probably laugh at it. I'm willing to laugh at myself. Are you?

No comments: