Cruelty abounds

[elfs]

I had a nascent sense of humor. Had, mind you.

Omaha killed it.

Comments

[riverheart.livejournal.com]

I actually thought it was mean, and not funny. I hope you thought it was funny (I know Omaha did), but given your history, I thought it cruel.

I think I have a pretty good sense of humor, but I've never enjoyed these sorts of pranks, whether directed at me or at anyone else.

[j5nn5r.livejournal.com]

Maybe in this case it would be better to take a more neutral stance (at least in public) than to assign cruelty where none was intended.

[elfs.livejournal.com]

If the intent is not to harm but to please, then if things go awry I tend to be forgiving.

In this case, there was no intent to please, or if there was, it was based on a very poor understanding of my sense of humor. I don't find this kind of humor at all funny. It's conceived in cruelty with the expectation that the victim, if nothing else, will be forgiving, since no harm is done.

Well, I am forgiving. I'm just not amused.

[j5nn5r.livejournal.com]

Since I care for you both very much, and I do not want to contribute
to this in any negative way, I will respectfully bow out of this right
now and leave the comments to others. I want no part in adding to
anything unpleasant for either one of you.

Hugs to you both.

[riverheart.livejournal.com]

Saying "I thought it cruel" is a statement of my opinion rather than an assignation of cruelty.

I reserve the right to express my opinion as such, even in public. This is why I phrased my comment in such a way as to denote an opinion, not a statement of blame.

words meaning things

[j5nn5r.livejournal.com]

I fully support your right to an opinion. My observation about what you wrote was not unreasonable (words do mean things)and my suggestion was not an invitation for anyone to give up their right to say any old thing they wish. Say what you wish but please understand it isn't in a vacuum.

Re: words meaning things

[riverheart.livejournal.com]

Yes, words *do* mean things. That's why I said "I thought it cruel", making it a clear statement of my opinion, rather than "that was cruel", which assigns blame.

I try to be careful with language. The English language is far too full of ambiguities which can trip the writer, or the reader, if care is not exercised.

On the other hand, I love to play with language and phrasing. That, too, is carefully (but lightly) done.