In the interest of not thread-jacking...

[Deleted User]

Why must every light-hearted, fun thread turn into a battle over who is offended by someone else's actions??

Everyone is going to be offended by something that another person says or does...  Why must a Federal case be made out of everything? Let's all put on our big girls panties and move on... Not just here on TK but IRL... Unless people are doing something to directly hurt another person just shake your head and move on.... 

Jersey Shore is a terrible misrepresentation of how actual Italian people act and as an Italian-American I could take offense to it and jump up and down but I don't... I watch the show... Laugh at the stupidity and move on...  Why can't everyone else do the same thing??   

Anyway, right now, I'm sitting in my office on 8th Ave in NYC and I'm listening to screams coming from the street from people that have been partying since 10am... I'm offended by the fact that I am hold up in this office and can't be out there partying with them but I'll get over it!

tuarceatha

I concur.

[Deleted User]

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_interest-of-not-thread-jacking?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:136Discussion:1f690099-b822-4a1a-baa3-3cdd52699baaPost:dc6e3bac-0dc6-4440-b58b-06de4f94d0b8">Re: In the interest of not thread-jacking...</a>:
[QUOTE]I concur.
Posted by jenjenniferf[/QUOTE]

Thank you... I saw what was becoming of your thread and I just felt that someone needed to actually say something about it...

peekaboo2011

Lyz FTW!

AudgiePodge

heyimbren

I get what you're saying Lyz, but I do think there are some situations where the offended party shouldn't just simply be told to "get over it".

And I also think its okay to discuss things, but preferably without actually fighting. Discussing things and seeing things from another point of view is what having an open mind is all about.

jeanacorina

You know what I think?

Well, not a whole lot on this topic. People are weird.

marleylikeair

What Lyz and Bren said.

AudgiePodge

I like elephants

and potatoes

and coloring

and birds

and naps

and NEY

What do you like?

Wrkn925

I just don't get offended easily. 

I'm just a little insensitive.  It's a quality that BF is not a fan of.  It comes from years of learning how to let things roll off my back.

peekaboo2011

When I lived in Europe, my host-sister's boyfriend actually started talking to me about this.  How American's are sue-happy.  He couldn't understand why everything went to court, and why people couldn't figure things out on their own.  I didn't have an answer for him then, and, honestly, I still don't.

I agree that there are some cases where people need to put their big kid underwear on and deal with things.  But, like Bren said, there are cases where people need to stand up and say "Hey, wait a second, this isn't right."

In the case of Americans adopting other holidays and using them as drinking occasions, well, IMHO, whatever.  I think if American society weren't so closed-minded about teenage drinking, college parties wouldn't be what they are.  But, historically, we are a nation of all nations.  Everyone is from another culture.  And part of being American, for me, is taking that culture from your ancestors and adding something new to it.  Our society being what it is, it's turned to alcohol fest.  Or maybe we see that more now.  Maybe it means something else as a kid.  I didn't really know about drinking when I was 8, and St. Patty's day was still way cool.  Maybe the drinking connotation just shows up when you get older.

Either way, the social rules of holiday drinking probably will never go to court.  And so, the rest of the world will kind of get annoyed about Americans taking their holidays out of context and using them to drink, but at the end of the day, isn't America kind of like that big clumsy puppy?  The one that steps on your toes and pees on the carpet, but as a reasonable person, you still kind of like it at the end of the day?

tuarceatha

I love lamp.

[Deleted User]

@ Bren - You're right... There are certain situations in which someone (or a group of people) are being intentionally targeted to inflict harm and they should not be expected to 'just get over it'...  But those situations are very specific...   I'm speaking in a very broad sense.... I think that in general someone can always find something to be offended by and that it's not always necessary to take everything so seriously...  Life is a long journey that's meant to be lived but the end result is always the same... Why spend the time we have here worrying about every little thing that other people do and say... Like I said before, unless actual harm is being done, like someone is being emotionally or physically abused, just live and let live...

@ Jeana - I'm disappointed... I expected more from you!

@ Audgie - lmfao - I like you!

@ Wrkn - I agree... maybe I'm just insensitive but I don't get easily offended by much either...  Maybe it's from being the fat kid all my life... I grew a thick skin because I couldn't break down and cry every time someone called me fat.... shrug

@ peekaboo - I 100% agree with you...

Hazel_B

Peekaboo - Yeah, I don't understand the suing thing either from my Canadian perspective.

I do think people need to say something sometimes, how else are people going to learn. For example, I know a number of Americans who live in Canada and feel that our media institutions, specifically the CBC, are anti-American. I was taken back inititally and it really made me think. Are they being really sensitive about this or have I grown up in a culture that is anti-american. Sure Canadians have a healthy inferiority complex which is contributing but is there something more than this. I really had to think about this because I don't want to offend my FI.  I won't get into my conclusions on this one. The point is, until FI said something I had no clue.  

motoLyn

THREAD JACK!

I love goldfish crackers!

Wrkn925

THREAD JACK

I just got called for an interview. :-D

It's for an Administrative Assistant for a Law firm. :-D

It's 40 mins away from my house :-( I hate driving.

bourgehm

I love all of YOU!!

And sexy underwear.
And pickles.
And tea.
And candles.
And the colors yellow and green.

bourgehm

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_interest-of-not-thread-jacking?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:1f690099-b822-4a1a-baa3-3cdd52699baaPost:26cb8e2b-2614-4474-9bb7-a3f672a2832a">Re: In the interest of not thread-jacking...</a>:
[QUOTE]THREAD JACK I just got called for an interview. :-D It's for an Administrative Assistant for a Law firm. :-D It's 40 mins away from my house :-( I hate driving.
Posted by Wrkn925[/QUOTE]


YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Deleted User]

Lmao!  Those were the best thread-jacks EVER!

Lyn, I love gold-fish crackers, too.... but the salt makes me retain water so, I'm offended that you would bring them up!! lmao jk

Wrkn, I drive 30mins to work and it takes about an hour to get home.. I love driving but I hate paying for parking...

jeanacorina

Okay, you want more from me? You got it. You are forewarned, though!

I agree with the big clumsy puppy analogy. I've been to England and Mexico. Twice each. That doesn't make me a certified source of information on all things international, but I did make some observations:

Some people in other countries think Americans are crazy and are sometimes annoyed by us. We are sometimes viewed as the know-it-alls, the "World Police," the stick-our-nose-in-everything kind of country. Compared to other countries, the US is really young. REALLY young. And I think our nation is viewed as adolescent in many ways. Some things we do as a culture really kind of go hand-in-hand with that view. Like, turning every little celebration into a national day of partying, even if it's not an "American" holiday.

However, we are a nation of mixed cultures from all over the world. This country is made up, as much or more than most other counrties, of people of all kinds of backgrounds and cultures and lineage. We're Heinz 57. We're a melting pot. Whatever you want to call it, that's the US for you. Our identity is jumbled up and influenced from so many, many different things. Sure, there's a lot of British influence... but we're also a pretty far cry from being a cookie-cutter version of England. We're European, African, Asian, you name it.

And as Americans, it's our God-given right to put our own US of A stamp on the cultural influences that flow so freely among the people who brought those traditions with them. We embrace some of the old stuff, we add some new, we throw out what we don't like... and voila! Green beer and red wigs for everyone!

Some people in other countries love us. They might think we're rambunctious, but generally speaking, we've got money and know how to have a party. They're cool with us as long as we're spreading the good times and the wealth. Other people in other countries hate us and think we're cocky and ridiculous and eventually we're going to royally screw something up.

Yes, as a nation, the US is probably that big clumsy puppy who steps on your toes and pees on the carpet. And not everyone is a dog person. But, those who do love big, clumsy dogs will love them no matter what.

There are so many other countries, other cultures, other points of view. Not everyone hates us for our weird celebrations, but not everyone loves us for them, either. I don't even know why it's an issue in this thread. It's just normal for people to have differing views. It's obvious. It's nice to be aware that the whole world doesn't think Americans are cool... but it's also good to know that some people in the world DO think we're cool. Or at least worthy of a pat on the head.

tuarceatha

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_interest-of-not-thread-jacking?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:1f690099-b822-4a1a-baa3-3cdd52699baaPost:26cb8e2b-2614-4474-9bb7-a3f672a2832a">Re: In the interest of not thread-jacking...</a>:
[QUOTE]THREAD JACK I just got called for an interview. :-D It's for an Administrative Assistant for a Law firm. :-D It's 40 mins away from my house :-( I hate driving.
Posted by Wrkn925[/QUOTE]
YAY you! I have a 45+ minute commute myself.... blah! But working is awesome!

coastiegrl25

Thread JACK

Pumpernikel 

Wrkn925

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_interest-of-not-thread-jacking?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:136Discussion:1f690099-b822-4a1a-baa3-3cdd52699baaPost:7f13a550-bee4-42c2-94dc-2ea6c2d1830f">Re: In the interest of not thread-jacking...</a>:
[QUOTE]Thread JACK Pumpernikel 
Posted by coastiegrl25[/QUOTE]

Bread?


Thanks ladies.  It's tomorrow evening.  I'm really hoping for another call, too.  I'm afraid this one will not be worth my trouble.

calindi

I feel like it's okay for someone to say they're offended by something, explain why it's offensive, and then let it go.  Others can go, "Huh, that's interesting.  I never thought of it from that perspective."  Or even "I don't find that offensive personally, and here's why."  But it's really annoying when someone says they're offended and then others tell them that they shouldn't be offended because it's fun.

[Deleted User]

Jeana - Although it's a deviation from my original topic... it's all true so, no argument here.

motoLyn

GOOOO JEANA!!!

jeanacorina

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_interest-of-not-thread-jacking?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:1f690099-b822-4a1a-baa3-3cdd52699baaPost:9671fd08-ef0c-422b-8c30-0f7426c2dd92">Re: In the interest of not thread-jacking...</a>:
[QUOTE]Jeana - Although it's a deviation from my original topic... it's all true so, no argument here.
Posted by LyzMcFlyz[/QUOTE]

Sorry, I forgot what thread I was in. Oh, well. LOL

<img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-innocent.gif" border="0" alt="Innocent" title="Innocent" />

heyimbren

US may be a melting pot, but Canada's a cultural mosaic.... oh snap.

jeanacorina

Mosaic sounds prettier.

marleylikeair

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_interest-of-not-thread-jacking?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:1f690099-b822-4a1a-baa3-3cdd52699baaPost:c6988bd4-4f70-41ee-8006-6ae2ef8d6a99">Re: In the interest of not thread-jacking...</a>:
[QUOTE]I feel like it's okay for someone to say they're offended by something, explain why it's offensive, and then let it go.  Others can go, "Huh, that's interesting.  I never thought of it from that perspective."  Or even "I don't find that offensive personally, and here's why."  But it's really annoying when someone says they're offended and then others tell them that they shouldn't be offended because it's fun.
Posted by calindi[/QUOTE]

This is a good point, and I agree with this as well as with Lyn and Bren.

[Deleted User]

Personally, I think that there are many more important things going on in the world that it's not necessary to take offense to every. little. thing...  and there's a big difference between trying to enlighten others to try to make a difference and standing on a soap box. 

ETA - @Jeana - It's okay... I enjoyed reading it! lol