So, if you have NOT read the previous blog, please read it here first, before reading this one.
My wife was disappointed that in my previous blog I did not make it clear to my readers that I am NOT the person depicted in Mindreading 101. God bless her. You know what my first thought was to her statement? I should go on my blog and be an even bigger a-hole and really piss off my readers. I don’t know why, but that is funny to me. I love things that don’t make sense.
The other thing that went through my mind is, why? My friends know me, and they are not going to be tricked into thinking I am someone else because of a blog. I just don’t think about things like that. I just assume that not every reader is going to like or get every blog, and I am amazingly OK with that. Nonetheless, in an effort to make my spouse happy, which is very very very important to me, here it goes. I do not treat my wife like the blog, Mindreading 101 would suggest. I do NOT need a beer to hug my wife, a shot of vodka, maybe, but not beer. I’M KIDDING! I kid cause I love.
I have to run. I want to have dinner ready before my wife gets home, so she can just sit down, relax and eat. Cause that’s how I roll. I’m just sayin …
Race Credit Karma: Brett's Blog 
“My friends know me, and they are not going to be tricked into thinking I am someone else because of a blog.” However, to those of us who don’t know you as well, how we learn about you is by what you say and write. What you say and write is who you are.
“if you are easily offended, I would caution you to not GIVE power to so many things (words). It is not a good life to lead.” Really? That essay was about the power of words. What has more power than words? You’re a strong man, but it’s your words that have far more power than your body.
“I did not say anything new or anything beyond what you would see or hear in a sitcom or comedy show.” Some of us find comedy shows offensive. That’s pretty lame.
“Wouldn’t that be the definition of hypocrisy? To be offended by a gender stereotype, but not be offended when someone calls a Democrat a Godless tree hugger…” Actually, that wouldn’t fit my definition of hypocrisy. And it’s very different for a Polish person to tell Polish jokes, or a man to joke about men. It is OK to laugh at ourselves. Not the same as laughing at others.
I fundamentally disagree with “what you say and write is who you are.”
Words only have the power you, the receiver, give them. Furthermore and most importantly, you have years of data on Brett’s behavior and to disregard that knowledge is neither fair to the life Brett has led nor to most of humanity.
In general, trying to explain one’s sense of humor to someone after they have offended that person is a highly difficult task. Some people have a much lower bar for offense…sitcom TV is typically as milquetoast as it comes, but it’s too much for some people (often, a quite vocal group). In my opinion, the biggest crime of the average sitcom TV is that it insulting to one’s intelligence, but I’m not writing letters to the producers of ‘two and half men.’
As a comedy nerd (I consider Brett to bit a bit of one as well…in fact, I’ll be sending him the latest Bill Burr comedy CD in the mail soon…hilarious), I can comfortably say and provide examples that really offensive comedy bits by a talented comedian can be the most powerful tools of making social change or empowering people. Here’s an example from comedian David Cross:
Referring to then Republican Senator, now Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum’s attack on the homosexual community by claiming that sodomy leads to bestiality and incest….In fact, Santorum has continued to make this argument regarding “sodomy” on the campaign trail. David Cross replies,
“Incest? Incest. Really? Come on, man. Isn’t that ridicul– well, let’s ask the girl who was raped by her father. Hey sweetheart, what was it like when your father was holding you down and raping you? (in little girl’s voice) ‘Ooo, it was gross! It was like two guys making out!’ Ooookay, alright, I gotcha. Well, maybe Rick was right.”
A horrible topic no doubt, but a brilliant exposure of the hypocrisy of Santorum and the people who continue to attack gay people with ridiculous accusations and lies.
At the blog’s worst, Brett made a bad joke, had a bad premise of an idea, and/or delivered it poorly. And anything interpreted about Brett beyond that says more about the offended party, in my opinion.