As My Returning Post...

[magicaddict]

...after a couple of weeks away, I was going to update with what's been going on. I can do that now.

Bugger all. Ah'thang'you.

Unfortunately, the post I was moved to write instead has been done to death by me and no-one's taken any notice before, so I thought I wouldn't bother and instead shrink my sentiment down into a simple mathematical equation. For those with a diplomacy modifer.

You have given insult + You did not intend to give insult ≠ You have not given insult.

I will repeat that in purely textual form.

You have given insult PLUS You did not intend to give insult DOES NOT EQUAL You have not given insult.

If you are reading this post, and give a flying fuck about those you address when you speak or write, there may be some merit to factoring this in your thinking. Some of you might do so already.

Some of you definitely do not.

Comments

[trailbreaker.livejournal.com]

"Your suggestion that because they didn't intend it they are exonerated of all blame is wholly wrong in my opinion."

But that's not what I'm suggesting. What I'm saying is that they ARE responsible for the effects of their actions. The point I am trying to make is that, just as murder is different from manslaughter, intentional hurt is different from unintentional hurt, and no-one should accept being punished for the former when they are responsible for the latter.

Moreover, those who act as if every hurt they receive is intentional are behaving in a way that is, to my mind, wholly unacceptable.

The Sudanese mobs calling for the death of Ms Gibbons are completely and utterly in the wrong. The Sudanese courts, likewise, who feel they have the right to arrest try and punish Ms Gibbons are also in the wrong, because they are punishing her for deliberately insulting religion when that was clearly not her intention. Her only intention, so far as I can tell, was to allow the children to have their choice of name for the teddy bear. It wasn't even her choice to name the bear Mohammed.

When people make mistakes, as they are bound to do, then the first reaction of a rational person should be to alert them to the situation, and then give them ample opportunity to amend their behaviour, and/or make amends for those previous actions. Assuming that every effect of every action that someone makes was both forseen and intended is effectively expecting people to be godlike in their behaviour. People who do that are acting irrationally, and are in my opinion wholly responsible for any hurt they receive as a result.