Comic Discussion > QUESTIONABLE CONTENT

WCDT strips 3666 to 3670 (29th January to 2nd February 2018)

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BenRG:

--- Quote from: SpanielBear on 30 Jan 2018, 08:42 ---Out of interest, I really can't recall- when did Faye last actually indulge in physical violence?
--- End quote ---

The last time I remember it happening is when Marten propositioned her whilst he was stinking drunk and on a bad rebound from Dora dumping him. That was arguably self-defence though as I think it was not inconceivable that he was going to attempt to force himself on her (although he was so drunk I would have considered it more likely that he'd miss even a kiss, let alone anything more mechanically complex).

What I found interesting about that scene and it's aftermath is that Faye's behaviour towards Marten didn't change; indeed she even declined to tell him why he had a black eye, instead, IIRC, making up some story about him falling over whilst drunk. That was a truly kind thing to do because I think realising that he'd got that out of control would have destroyed him.

[EDIT]
Having thought about it, I recall her more recently hitting Angus but, once again, that was arguably self-defence or at least justifiable on the grounds that Angus during the early phase of their relationship was creepy almost to the point of being a stalker.

David F:
Since it's a slow day, I figured I'd go read part of the archives.  The last person Faye hit was Corpse Witch, in #3365.  With cause, and major consequences.

Interestingly, Bubbles has been more violent since then, to Corpse Witch a little later, and then shaking Clinton (#3525) when he suggested she was sleeping with Faye.  And there was the door incident in #3564 leading to refinement of the Claire Threat Evaluation Protocol...

Even Hannelore has been more violent recently.

Case:

--- Quote from: dutchrvl on 30 Jan 2018, 07:16 ---Perhaps I am the odd one out.

For me personally, the threshold to call another human being "garbage" (i.e. worthless, to be discarded) is very, very high, and I typically only use that qualification if the person has shown evil intent.
--- End quote ---

Nope, you're not alone - we're at least two oddballs.

Mayhaps my socialization as a German makes me more sensitive to the connotations: Calling people 'garbage person', or 'human garbage' is a pretty unambiguous violation of their human dignity. Which, in turn, has really ugly historical connotations, and has been used as a means to incite against vulnerable minorities, or suppress political dissent. Truth be told, I find that at least as offensive as 'playful threats of violence', and I don't like those to begin with. Habitually violent people are jerks, true - but violating the human dignity of others is often taken by jerks as a permission to be violent, to give just one example.

I get where people are coming from with disliking even comedic violence, and I feel similar, believe me. But I do think that 'garbage person' is coming close to the line where the cure starts becoming as toxic as the poison.

dutchrvl:

--- Quote from: Case on 30 Jan 2018, 10:14 ---
--- Quote from: dutchrvl on 30 Jan 2018, 07:16 ---Perhaps I am the odd one out.

For me personally, the threshold to call another human being "garbage" (i.e. worthless, to be discarded) is very, very high, and I typically only use that qualification if the person has shown evil intent.
--- End quote ---

Nope, you're not alone - we're at least two oddballs.

Mayhaps my socialization as a German makes me more sensitive to the connotations: Calling people 'garbage person', or 'human garbage' is a pretty unambiguous violation of their human dignity. Which, in turn, has really ugly historical connotations, and has been used as a means to incite against vulnerable minorities, or suppress political dissent. Truth be told, I find that at least as offensive as 'playful threats of violence', and I don't like those to begin with. Habitually violent people are jerks, true - but violating the human dignity of others is often taken by jerks as a permission to be violent, to give just one example.

I get where people are coming from with disliking even comedic violence, and I feel similar, believe me. But I do think that 'garbage person' is coming close to the line where the cure starts becoming as toxic as the poison.

--- End quote ---

Well howdy then neighbor (I'm Dutch and was there until 24, but have been living in Japan for 2 years and now the USA for 10).
(your last line incidentally is also why I feel the more radical left groups in the US right now are not doing the left in general a favor, but that's a different story altogether...)

SpanielBear:

--- Quote from: Case on 30 Jan 2018, 10:14 --- Calling people 'garbage person', or 'human garbage' is a pretty unambiguous violation of their human dignity.
--- End quote ---

I think this actually gets to the heart of my problem with the phrase as well, also why I felt the need to defend Evie last week- I think it's the dismissal based on absolutes that gets to me. I can't see any reason to object to someone not liking a character, or if they don't like what a character is doing. It's when characters (or people in general in fact) get labelled as *objectively* irredeemable that I find my metaphorical hackles rising. No one is perfect, and everyone screws up. Perfection is an unreasonable standard to hold people to, especially if the price of falling beneath it is to become eternally reviled. And to assume then that because someone has behaved badly once all their behaviours must be suspect is frankly exhausting.

Again, I'm not saying one has to like or even tolerate people or behaviours one finds unpleasant. But if we make them entirely other, something less than we are, we are ignoring the need of self-reflection and the possibility that we ought to check our own behaviours to ensure there aren't uncomfortable paralells. "If bad behaviours are only done by garbage people, and I know I am not a garbage person, my behaviours cannot be bad". I don't for a moment believe that anyone here actually thinks like this, but I worry that characters/people get judged too quickly.

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