Even people I respect use 'short' as some kind of slur against people they don't like.
For example against Putin.
(Doesn't matter what you think of Putin - slurs based on personal appearance are always wrong against anyone full stop.)
For example against Putin.
(Doesn't matter what you think of Putin - slurs based on personal appearance are always wrong against anyone full stop.)
Aside from that, he punches up, politicians, celebreties and sometimes just random people, but always in playful manner. Hes quite fond of absurdist rants and comments, I find it thoroughly entertaining.
(admittedly it's phrased better that way because it's more indirect, but now we're analyzing glib four-word jokes)
I mean if we're going to take this to its logical extreme, why should personality be fair judgement? Some people have grating personalities and are annoying to be around, maybe they were born that way. Actions? Maybe Putin genuinely believes that Nazis are oppressing Russians in Ukraine. If he did, would that make it excusable?
How about we just be nice to each other? That doesn't seem a tall ask. Don't make mean jokes about short people! But that doesn't mean we can't acknowledge that this social phenomenon in language or make jokes that aren't mean.
I don't think so. Just don't mock someone's height, sexual-orientation, size-of-hands, etc. That's completely achievable.
> I mean if we're going to take this to its logical extreme
Well then don't take it to an extreme - do the easy bit and just stop yourself each time you're criticising someone for something that they very clearly can't control at all without resorting to surgery.
Let's waaay overanalyze this: Courage makes you taller does not mock anyone. It does however acknowledge heightism. It's not mean to say, therefore it's fair game and not "fucked up" the way that the joke about the garden gnome in the OP is. We can make jokes about guys with huge pornstar cocks without that being an insult to those who are less-endowed.
[1] Overanalyzing further: Size-of-hands is fair game, because 1) Trump's hands aren't actually particularly small, and 2) because Trump seems to be sensitive to the subject, it's a comment on his thin-skinned personality not his physical self. Also 3) Trump is a public figure and isn't entitled to the same level of politeness that a private person can expect.
Strong disagree.
There's a saying in English when someone needs to show bravery: "chin up".
What do you think it means, other than "stand straight and tall"?
Probably because Zelensky is a comedian does TV skits people understand as jokes about having a big enough penis to play the piano with, while Putin's T.V. appeareances are the same bravado without the satire?
But I'm not convinced punching upward in this manner to the obscenely rich and powerful should be considered universally wrong. If Putin did not want to be so judged, he wouldn't put out all those pictures of himself shirtless posing with horses and dolphins. I think he in particular is fair game.
But more than that - if for example you abuse Lindsay Graham by calling him 'gay' - 'punching up' in your mind - then that does that say about what you think about other gay people that you think it's a criticism to call him gay?
What if you used racial slurs, but exclusively on brown multimillionaires?
(To be clear, this question applies to certain kinds of public figures and not the shy kid in the schoolyard)
I don't think most folks are against that.
On balance though, I think I agree with you.