How are you, you old bastard?

Whoa!



Yesterday's "50 shades of gay" email riled up the peanut gallery.



Hate mail galore!



Some of it was truly amusing, too.



My favorite was the gal who told me what a (and I quote) "bastard!" I am. (I couldn't help but chuckle at the irony of her using "bastard" -- see below for why.)



Seriously.



Where do these people come from?



It's like an endless source of entertainment.



Another guy asked why I don't use the word "Niger" (that's how he spelled it) to be controversial.



Kind of a weird question.



After all, what's controversial about a country in Africa?



He also asked "how could gay not be derogatory?"



Well, let's see, boss.



The dictionary says the word means "foolish" or "stupid."



It can also mean "lighthearted and carefree."



Or that someone's a homosexual.



Hmmm.



Context & common sense says when Jim Yaghi called FaceBook "gay" he meant foolish or stupid. Certainly not lighthearted and carefree. And obviously not homosexual.



(After all, how can FaceBook be a homosexual?)



It's like the word "bastard."



Some of my haters like calling me that.



The dictionary says it's someone born from two parents who aren't married to each other. But, it can also mean an unpleasant or despicable person. In Australia (and my friends from down under are free to berate me about this if I get it wrong) calling someone "you old bastard!" is a sign of affection.



Those Australians are a bunch of jerks, eh?



I mean, making fun of all those kids born out of wedlock...



Unfortunately, this is what society has come to.



Everyone's offeeeeeended by something.



Whether it's a word.



Or an unpopular idea.



Or even being wished a Merry Christmas at Wal-Mart.



The solution?



Don't worry about it.



If someone is offended by something you say, it's their problem. Some (most?) people like living with constant drama and angst and use any excuse they can find to get their "fix."



The angsters aren't going to censor me.



If someone doesn't like something I write, good!



They can unsubscribe.



I definitely don't want them as customers.



And, IMH(but accurate)O, neither should you.



Hey!



The next "Email Players" issue may be a tad controversial.



Maybe, maybe not.



Depends on the person.



But it'll be fun, either way, methinks.



Subscribe here:



http://www.EmailPlayers.com



Ben Settle









Ben Settle

Email Specialist

Settle, LLC

www.BenSettle.com



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