Being Offensive

One thing I learned early in my career publishing small town newspapers is that no matter what you do, you’re going to upset or offend somebody. One of my mentors in the newspaper business told me that if you write that puppy dogs are the greatest pets in the world, the people who love kitty cats are going to be mad at you. And if you write that chocolate ice cream is the best, you can bet your butt that somebody is going to tell you you’re wrong because strawberry is better. As he said, you can’t please everybody no matter what you do, so say what you think and let the chips fall where they may.

I was reminded of that recently after two different blog posts seemed to offend somebody. In the first, a couple of weeks ago, titled Let’s Get Intimate, someone told me that I was insensitive to women, and someone else left a comment saying, “No one wants to read about your intimate and personal “spooning” moments. It turns our stomachs just thinking about. TMI!” Now, I wasn’t describing our sex life. I was talking about the fact that Terry and I sleep spooning and that we enjoy cuddling for a little while every morning when we first wake up and every night before we fall asleep.

As happens so many times, while somebody was quick to criticize, they didn’t have the backbone to state their name. Some people hide behind anonymity to say things they don’t have the courage to say to your face. In that particular exchange, Terry and several blog readers left comments setting that person straight. By the way, they weren’t cowards that hid behind a fake name. They stated their case quite plainly under their own names. That’s what adults do.

Then, after I wrote about Terry and I going target shooting at the range at the American Police Hall of Fame and Museum in yesterday’s blog, Not Bad After 9 Years, someone wrote that it was terribly insensitive of me to post something like that given all of the gun violence and mass shootings in this country. At least that person dared to use their real name when they commented. My response was to ask how target shooting at a range that supports a police museum equated to me being a mass murderer, any more than someone driving a pickup truck into a family made me just as bad because I also drive a pickup truck.

I am sensitive to the terrible toll that gun violence takes in America every day. But I don’t pull those triggers. And my guns are secured safely and used responsibly. I make no apologies for that. And as for cuddling and spooning with my wife, as soon as I post this blog, I’m going to go do it again. If that offends anybody, it’s your problem, not mine.

And finally, here’s a chuckle to start your day from the collection of funny signs we see in our travels and that our readers share with us.

It’s Thursday, so it’s time for a new Free Drawing. This week’s prize is an audiobook of More Than Human by my friend Heather Ashbury. It’s a blend of fantasy and paranormal romance that begins when a young woman returns to an enchanting town in New Mexico following a mysterious death, where she is unexpectedly pulled into the mystical world of gods, demons, werewolves, nymphs, and more.

To enter, click on this Free Drawing link or the tab at the top of this page and enter your name (first and last) in the comments section at the bottom of that page (not this one). Only one entry per person per drawing please, and you must enter with your real name. To prevent spam or multiple entries, the names of cartoon or movie characters are not allowed. The winner will be drawn Sunday evening. Note: Due to the high shipping cost of printed books and Amazon restrictions on e-books to foreign countries, only entries with US addresses and e-mail addresses are allowed.

Thought For The Day – Don’t take yourself too seriously. No one else does.