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Abstract

, I said the wrong thing. My comment was reported, taken down and everyone got on with their lives.But it got me thinking.<h2 id="70c1">Censorship</h2><figure id="403c"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*_tUa4o7YLJeVD37LIGraiA.png"><figcaption>(Gan Khoon <a href="https://thenounproject.com/browse/icons/term/internet-censorship/">Lay</a>/Noun Project)</figcaption></figure>Most of the material I write is satirical, ironic, or sarcastic. Even the serious subjects I touch on like the death of my parents, or my ten hellish years at boarding school, are tinged with humour. They have to be!Take the title of this piece:I Was Reported — Now I Can’t Feed My KidsDid you take it at face value?I hope not: I don’t have kids…Joking aside, I’m now more careful what I write in the comment boxes. And have even written disclaimers to point out this is humor. Just in case someone takes wild offense at a comment that was not aimed at them.Am I censoring myself?Yes.Absolutely.I agree that offensive remarks need to be reported: to keep the platform clean and healthy. I wouldn’t want Medium to become like Twitter or Facebook, which are gruesome places.On the other hand, I shouldn’t be scared of speaking my mind.My baby boomer comment was a bit crass: a lazy response to a well-thought-out piece. I’ll be the first to admit that. But how about other comments I’ve made. Were they offensive too?There’s a big difference between being offensive, and having a joke. It’s the basis of comedy, and I try hard to be funny without being offensive. Perhaps it doesn’t always work. But should I be “punished” in a form of a stiffly-worded email from Medium?At least I write my own pieces — they aren’t created by AI. Neither do I sell worthless self-help courses, nor promote my amazing printable PDFs!!!</p

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(YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!)Anyway, all I wanted to say is: I’m sorry. I’m sorry for offending baby boomers. Or anyone.There, I’ve said it.Enjoy the cruise! You’ve earnt it! Cheers!Thanks for reading, for more offense, check out:<div id="da89" class="link-block">

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            <h2>New Suggestion for Medium</h2>
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The Medium Police

I Was Reported — Now I Can’t Feed My Kids

How one person destroyed my life

So I left a comment on someone’s piece a few weeks ago.

I can’t remember exactly what I said because it was deleted. But it went something like this.

“The best thing that could happen to the Baby Boomers is die!”

The piece in question criticized another writer (not me), who’d written an inflammatory essay about baby boomers. His argument being that baby boomers are now taking advantage of their children who live in nice parts of the world in so-called “going away” tours.

I can't comment on what he actually wrote, because a link to his piece wasn’t provided. But maybe he was having a joke. After all, the idea of a “going away” tour seems rather amusing, don’t you think?

Sarcasm and irony for one person can come across as disrespectful and rude to another. Where I’m from (the UK), ridiculing baby boomers is a national pastime. Even right-wing pensioner friendly newspapers, often take a swipe at the privileges the post-war generation enjoyed.

Even my parents admitted before they died, that they’d had it good with the cheap houses, secure jobs and good pensions afforded to them.

When I said

“The best thing that could happen to the Baby Boomers is die!”

It was a nod to my parents. It was a joke. Playing to a crowd who know they’ve had it good, but hate to admit it.

Either way, I said the wrong thing. My comment was reported, taken down and everyone got on with their lives.

But it got me thinking.

Censorship

Most of the material I write is satirical, ironic, or sarcastic. Even the serious subjects I touch on like the death of my parents, or my ten hellish years at boarding school, are tinged with humour. They have to be!

Take the title of this piece:

I Was Reported — Now I Can’t Feed My Kids

Did you take it at face value?

I hope not: I don’t have kids…

Joking aside, I’m now more careful what I write in the comment boxes. And have even written disclaimers to point out this is humor. Just in case someone takes wild offense at a comment that was not aimed at them.

Am I censoring myself?

Yes.

Absolutely.

I agree that offensive remarks need to be reported: to keep the platform clean and healthy. I wouldn’t want Medium to become like Twitter or Facebook, which are gruesome places.

On the other hand, I shouldn’t be scared of speaking my mind.

My baby boomer comment was a bit crass: a lazy response to a well-thought-out piece. I’ll be the first to admit that. But how about other comments I’ve made. Were they offensive too?

There’s a big difference between being offensive, and having a joke. It’s the basis of comedy, and I try hard to be funny without being offensive. Perhaps it doesn’t always work. But should I be “punished” in a form of a stiffly-worded email from Medium?

At least I write my own pieces — they aren’t created by AI. Neither do I sell worthless self-help courses, nor promote my amazing printable PDFs!!!

(YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!)

Anyway, all I wanted to say is: I’m sorry. I’m sorry for offending baby boomers. Or anyone.

There, I’ve said it.

Enjoy the cruise! You’ve earnt it! Cheers!

Thanks for reading, for more offense, check out:

Want To Look Like More of an Asshole Than You Already Are?

Read on

medium.com

The Fucking Inconvenience of Convenience

You know what I’m talking about

medium.com

New Suggestion for Medium

How about the middle finger

medium.com