Do you ever think that society may one day be too sensitive?

[Anonymous]

After reading up on "cultural appropriation" and seeing references to cultural insensitivity on DCUM, I have come to the conclusion that we are becoming too sensitive.


http://elitedaily.com/news/politics/pop-culture-come-accept-subtle-form-racism/697514/


I agree with one of the article comments: (in regards to people wearing native headdresses)

I completely disagree with this article. People who go to festivals or whenever and might wear one of these big head dresses are breaking down barriers not encouraging them. They're also definitely not making a mockery of them, they're celebrating them. Anyone i've known that wore one of these, did it because they appreciate how stunning they are. That's hardly an insult to a race ore group. It's like people wearing some particular traditional british item. or something from british culture, i'm not offended that they're trying to imitate me, i'm happy that people are embracing something from my culture. We don't have this same dramatic reaction when anyone comes to the UK and puts on an old english flat cap do we?

We have discussed on DCUM how some Halloween costumes are inappropriate if they border on stereotyping others and we have also discussed in light of the Redskins team name controversy.

There was also a case of it being insensitive to call something "tribal print" or "aztec print". I don't understand. Generally, I think the "offense" is not from the group in question but instead from other people who have determined this offensive.

What do you think?

[Anonymous]

No.

[Anonymous]

I think one day we will all be part of one big culture.

[Anonymous]

I'd like to think differently but I think we are living in end times.

[Anonymous]

Actually, this forum has made me less sensitive towards other people.

[Anonymous]

Op here. I think that all too often we lump all things that have to do with other culture into the "offensive" group.

It really is a case by case basis.

Not offensive
- Having your 3 year old dressed as Pocahontas for a party or Halloween.

Offensive
- picking out all of the stereotypes of a group and "dressing" like that. I have seen it done before and it is cringe inducing.

[Anonymous]

If some Native American person said the Pocahontas outfit bothered them, what would you get out of dressing your kid in it anyway? Whether you agree or not just the idea that you don't care about someone's reasons for being bothered says a lot about you.

[Anonymous]

We're already both too sensitive and at the same time not sensitive enough.

[Anonymous]

People can be very Pollyanna about this, especially in this geographical area. In fact, they don't even WANT the subject to come up. Much like a small child with their fingers in their ears: "la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la....I'm not listening" "I can make you go away......" type attitude. It's awful, and makes us look like a truly uneducated society, unwilling to discuss others differences, and pretending (for example) "we are all alike..." No, really, we are not. Some of this is good, and some not; but refusing to discuss it, and pretending our differences don't exist??? Come on.

One can't even ask others where they are from here without the respondent flying off the handle and/or being completely put off by the question. I was taught, by an educated and accomplished family, that NOT everyone should be the same. Here, they try to wear it like a badge of pride. But it's not. No one is fooling anyone.

It is awful for a society to try to hide this way.

[Anonymous]

"You are too sensitive" in this context usually means "It doesn't bother me, so it shouldn't bother you".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd like to think differently but I think we are living in end times.

+1

[Anonymous]

We are becoming more in sensitive as a culture because we do not talk but only text, email and chat anonymously on Internet fora

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think one day we will all be part of one big culture.

a New World Order?

[Anonymous]

Being too PC is the same as resisting change b/c you refuse to acknowledge the ugly side of life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
People can be very Pollyanna about this, especially in this geographical area. In fact, they don't even WANT the subject to come up. Much like a small child with their fingers in their ears: "la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la....I'm not listening" "I can make you go away......" type attitude. It's awful, and makes us look like a truly uneducated society, unwilling to discuss others differences, and pretending (for example) "we are all alike..." No, really, we are not. Some of this is good, and some not; but refusing to discuss it, and pretending our differences don't exist??? Come on.

One can't even ask others where they are from here without the respondent flying off the handle and/or being completely put off by the question. I was taught, by an educated and accomplished family, that NOT everyone should be the same. Here, they try to wear it like a badge of pride. But it's not. No one is fooling anyone.

It is awful for a society to try to hide this way.

+1