Ruminations on the importance of being offensive.

Soon we will all be saved.

Aweh dearly beloved fellow ruminants & groupies

Dearly beloved readers, I kindly ask those who might be easily offended to consider skipping this week’s blog post and maybe even blocking out the featured image from your mind. Nowadays, a lot of us belong to private chat groups where we chat about everyday stuff like our chess club, neighbourhood group, or just hang out with friends who share similar interests. It was in one of these private groups that I came across the featured image. These private spaces often see all sorts of content shared, some of which might rub people the wrong way. Cartoons and images like the one in question here can fall under the category of offensive satire.

I’m not exactly a Trump supporter, and I can confidently say there aren’t many among my close family, friends, or colleagues either. So, it’s pretty easy for me not to take offense at the image. In fact, I find it quite amusing.

But let’s consider: is this image truly offensive? It could be seen as blasphemous, engaging in fat shaming, potentially verging on pornographic, and its intention seems to be to provoke offense. It shows a deep lack of respect for Donald Trump, and he might even tweet about it in response. So, yes, it’s a highly offensive image. What’s more, it’s not even unique; I’ve received many equally offensive or even more so images of Donald Trump in the past.

So, I’ve made the decision to share this offensive image. But should I have? Are there other images I’ve received that I find too offensive to share? Yes, there definitely are. The real question here is: where do I draw the line? Honestly, I can’t give a precise answer to that. But for those who know me well, they’d say I’m pretty tolerant when it comes to offensive material. I set the bar quite high.

Does Donald Trump deserve this? Objectively, the answer is no. However, when ranking powerful and influential people who are extremely offensive, he certainly ranks high on the list. The catalogue of offensive remarks made by Donald Trump is extensive. From calling Mexicans rapists to displaying behaviours that many would argue are misogynistic, his track record speaks volumes. Moreover, there’s a significant likelihood that he will serve a second term as the president of the United States. It’s unlikely that a kind word would make much of an impression on him.

Some advocate for an idealistic and polite world where nothing offensive is said, and we all reside within a safe space. What’s my response to this? Firstly, it’s hopelessly naïve and detached from the reality we live in. Secondly, and more crucially, it’s a very dangerous notion. Why do I say this? Because to truly learn about yourself and the world around you, you have to be open to being offended.

In a previous era, house training a dog involved rubbing its nose in its own shit. Recently I lost a very blunt friend who often rubbed my nose in my own shit. She did not do this to hurt me or to offend me but because she cared about me. I did get offended but the sooner I got over that and reflected on what I could learn the quicker I could make progress. There are some inconvenient truths about me. Some I can improve, and some will require constant reminders and repeated nose rubbings. I will miss her dearly. Needless to say, her blunt style was not for everybody. Nerine, my wife, and you dear readers and friends will need to step into that role aggressively because the alternative is too ghastly to contemplate.

Some argue that achieving the same results can be achieved by always being kind and polite, and avoiding offense altogether. While a certain level of diplomacy can indeed be beneficial, the amount needed will differ from person to person. Yet, if you’re quick to take offense, making progress becomes challenging. The path to progress can be accelerated if you can get over yourself.

Why was the featured image created? It’s satirical, intended to provoke offense. Will Donald Trump carefully examine this image, engage in deep introspection, reflect on his flaws, and strive to become a better person? Herein lies the problem.

Offensive material plays a crucial role in society. What is its message, and why is it deemed necessary?

The global fascination with Trump, an offensive man, is overwhelming, and the media minute by minute coverage of the most mundane details of his latest trial has been rightly ridiculed by Jon Stewart. Why do people want to watch Trump’s ostentatious cavalcade of SUV’s twenty-minute commute to court? Some poor TV presenters must keep talking. And the wheels of the SUV went round and round – all day long. What does this say about us?

We reside in a world where offense is prevalent—accept it and move on. Interact with both offenders and offensive content. While you may rightfully feel deeply offended at times, the more you can respond thoughtfully, the more influential you become. Remaining in your safe space renders you irrelevant.

I want to express my gratitude for all the ideas and comments received. I genuinely appreciate them, and please continue to share your thoughts.

Regards

Bruce