Offensive fancy dress

[mikeyboy]

This story regarding people being offended by mental asylum style costumes. The people offended probably best not come to Shetland as there are all sorts of costumes on the go. Just thinking are people easily offended now or is it actually possible to be offended by a costume? 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24278768

[Ghostrider]

The only offence I'll take from any costume will be the gross waste of resources if its an obviously ridiculously expensive one. A costume is just a facade, a veneer, in the same way as an expensive sharp suit and immaculate presentation doesn't make a conman in to a reputable business person, any other costume doesn't suddenly make the wearer or situation become the reality it is inspired by.

 

Specific to the linked story, no costume of any type is necessary to "play the part" of a nutjob, there are several folk I can think of that do an excellent impression very often if not permanently, some would probably even say I'm one of them.

 

Its dressing up to have a bit of fun for a very short period of time, FFS, who cares if somebody wants to pretend to be a Waffen SS Officer, Charlie Manson, Mother Theresa or Jesus. More likely their actions while wearing it are going to generate amusement by their cack handed ineptness at representing their chosen character than anything else.

 

I don't think people in general are any more easily offended, rather I think a very few members of minorities have caught on to the fact that all they need to do is shout "discrimination" about anything, and they get to pull the strings of a whole legion trying to appease their feigned "hurt", and they get off on it. That, and a few folk who appear to be self-appointed "guilt carriers" for all previous discriminatory against minorities "wrongs", that have swallowed the whole PC mantra to absurd lengths, and jump on anything and everything that they perceive could possibly in any conceivable way "offend" any known minority in any detectable way, and holler for blood to have it banned as soon as they find it.

Edited September 26, 2013 by Ghostrider

[Colin]

GR

Glad you got that off your chest..

 

Can anyone tell me what a 'Mental Asylum' type costume looks like..  Might need to get one sometime..

[mikeyboy]

I believe it is an Orange jump suit possibly with a ski mask.

Edited September 26, 2013 by mikeyboy

[Ghostrider]

It looks like a funky coloured extremely cheap and nasty tat boilersuit, that offends me by its lack of realism and rip of price.

 

I have several ex-Shell or some other oily type well worn proper orange boilersuit I got for nowt, that would play the part better.

[MuckleJoannie]

You can see them here http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24278768

[trout]

Would you wonder if wearing a Gollywog suit would be considered wrong too? Perhaps it'd just be seen as something harmless? Wonder if anyone would like to debate and discuss that as a topic? Hmm? 

[Hector's House]

I have several ex-Shell or some other oily type well worn proper orange boilersuit I got for nowt, that would play the part better.

 

Ghostie has a shellsuit? The world is even stranger than I imagined.

[Ghostrider]

^ I couldn't possibly comment. On how strange the world is, that is.

 

As for the shellsuit, many things about me may be questionable, but owning a shellsuit would definitely be breaking a hard limit.

[unlinkedstudent]

GR

Glad you got that off your chest..

 

Can anyone tell me what a 'Mental Asylum' type costume looks like..  Might need to get one sometime..

 

I understand that part of it consists of a T shirt depicting a cuckoo flying over a nest, doesn't it?  (pink feather boa optional)

[Ghostrider]

Would you wonder if wearing a Gollywog suit would be considered wrong too? Perhaps it'd just be seen as something harmless? Wonder if anyone would like to debate and discuss that as a topic? Hmm? 

 

Goadless breeks, but it micht cud wirk....

 

http://www.bambamcostumehire.com.au/upimages/111111111111920s/golliwog_costume2.jpg

[Rachel B]

I reckon a face mask of that poet who made himself quite unpopular up here combined with a straitjacket costume would be quite the thing! 

[trout]

^^ Nah. Probably not. We'll leave such meanderings to the minds of Up Helly Aa skit creation.

 

Moving on swiftly.

[Spinner72]

Normally i can't stand "debates" where people post links and quote others when trying to make a point. It's just lazy.

 

However, I will do exactly that here, and as be as stereotypical as possible by quoting Stephen Fry, who in this case most definitely hit the nail square on the head :

 

"It's now very common to hear people say, 'I'm rather offended by that.' As if that gives them certain rights. It's actually nothing more... than a whine. 'I find that offensive.' It has no meaning; it has no purpose; it has no reason to be respected as a phrase. 'I am offended by that.' Well, so f**king what."

[mikeyboy]

I think it was Dennis Potter who said that no one has the right never to be offended. Speaking of Golly costumes there was a black and White Minstrel Guizer squad a couple of years back. I don't remember anybody mentioning that at the time. I think it has just become a default position now. You don't like something so it offends you.

I always think so what? you will get over it. There are much worse things in the world to be offended by.