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0383 - Vocal tic - 2025.02.03 |
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Comment: Vocal tics and other similar habits can be dangerous. There are always casual euphemisms, running jokes, and slang that may be common in one setting that are incoherent, offensive, or even overtly threatening when taken out of that context or somehow misinterpreted. I know I've certainly let fly with a "your mom" or a "deez nuts" that was poorly received. In an ideal world, of course, we would all think before we speak and we would always understand what context someone is speaking from. Reality is rarely so accommodating. I do art streams in which I find random albums to play. (You've probably heard me mention them? Every Monday at picarto.tv/tailsteak?) A common hazard, when grabbing unvetted albums, is the prevalence of offensive language, and terms like the N-word. It is generally accepted, of course, that the N-word is perfectly normal and inoffensive when sung by actual Black people. If I don't know the artist whose music I just found, is it safe to assume that anyone performing a song that features that word must be of the appropriate race to do so? Does the context and the meaning of the full lyric matter, and does it matter if that lyric is dismissive of the value of Black lives, or presents an unappealing and hopeless picture of the Black experience? Another common slur in music is the G-word, and this is considerably less likely to be sung by Romani people... less likely, but the odds are never zero, regardless of the singer's name or complexion. Is it okay if they say it? If I haven't run a 23-and-me on the artist and can't verify their ethnic or cultural background, am I good to rebroadcast the song? Is rebroadcasting media tantamount to endorsing its content? To what extent does context really matter? Are some terms or sentiments or turns of phrase universally unacceptable? If I take someone's text that is acceptable in one context and transplant it to another context where it would be unacceptable - or even literally harmful - who is responsible for that harm: me, or the original authour? Simply denying that a thing means what it means doesn't generally work, of course, and I don't recommend trying it, particularly if offense has already been taken or harm is already done. Lee is (as both they and we are gradually learning) not as aware of 22nd century society or 22nd century English as they think they are. Perhaps their trepidation at being in the outside world and their impulse to hide behind Zoa's even temperament and social skills is well-founded. Zoa, of course, is blunt and vulgar and glitchy and wouldn't be respected even if it was in perfect working order, but perhaps it's precisely that lack of respect that allows it to skate by. After all, "I fucked your mom" may hit different when said by someone who lacks genitalia with which to fuck, and "I'm gonna kick your ass" may hit different when said by someone you can obliterate with little more than a passing thought. |
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