At the other times, I add an allegedly humorous comment.
Some of you enjoy those comments. Others groan when they see my attempts at humor.
Sometimes, the humor is totally inappropriate.
That was the case Monday when I posted a Facebook link on the Inside Joplin blog to a Jasper County Sheriff's Office news release about a domestic dispute between a Joplin husband and wife that ended with both of them going to the hospital with gunshot wounds.
A portion of the news release noted that after the altercation, they drove to Freeman for treatment for non-life threatening injuries.
On Facebook, I wrote a comment to the effect that it saved money on an ambulance.
It was not funny and it was inappropriate.
Domestic violence should not be a subject of humor and as people who have contacted me about the comment have let me know.
When there is a news story like this one, it is sometimes easy to forget that some of those who read it are close to the people who are involved.
There is nothing wrong with publishing with the story. Adding to it with gratuitous remarks is another matter.
No one has demanded an apology, though that certainly would have been understandable.
Instead, I have had people tell me that while they appreciate what I do, they are disappointed with me.
They had every right to be and they are not alone.
I am disappointed, too.
While I am certain there will be times when I will use humor in a way that offends some of you. Murders, domestic violence, sexual abuse and stories involving those kinds of crimes should not be accompanied by cheap jokes.
I will do better.
Since you raised the subject I felt there were details in another domestic violence sexual assault post which were unnecessarily graphic.
ReplyDeletehttps://rturner229.blogspot.com/2019/03/joplin-man-at-large-after-allegedly.html
Look at that post carefully, and think about whether you should have provided the rather graphic details of the object allegedly used and the nature of the sexual assault allegedly perpetrated upon the victim.
Thanks Randy. Good job.
ReplyDeleteI have known, respected, and enjoyed you and your brand of humor for years.
ReplyDeleteOne of the hardest parts of this horrendous situation has been the lack of information. Due to the investigation, even those who are very close to the involved knew next to nothing. After the event, I, like many others affected, were having to rely on media sources on the off chance that they knew something more than we did. I was angry and appalled by the number of people laughing and making jokes over something so horrible that was hurting me so badly. Most don’t know the whole story and most probably never will care to. They will think this was just some humorous event over someone taking the last potato chip in gun country or something. This was a real event about a very real problem that has affected way too many people throughout the world and I hope that in the future more people will wait for more facts or consider loved ones before cracking jokes.
That being said, It is very big of you to apologize, and I appreciate you taking the time to do so.
Yes, it was inappropriate and I’m glad you apologized. That being said, I wish people who got their panties in a wad over this would put all that energy being upset over victims and perpetrators of child sexual abuse, or any child abuse. Nope, for the most part, no reaction at all. Well, there was the comment of to much information. Why not be appalled that it happened?
ReplyDeleteOh don't worry about it. You are king of the cheap shots so why apologise other than when your cheap shot is politically incorrect?
ReplyDeleteIf you actually apologized for all the inappropriate, biased, and non-objective material that you publish, that is all you would have time to do! #FakeNews
ReplyDeleteClassy post, Randy. Taking responsibility. I don't suppose your detractors have made any mistakes in their lives.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the comment you made would have been totally appropriate in the bar or at home, but not in a blog that is read by a heterogeneous audience. One just never knows who is reading whether it be friends or relatives. I happen to be one of those people who put my feet in my mouth when I least know that I am doing it.
ReplyDeleteJoplin in the news.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.usnews.com/news/healthiest-communities/articles/2019-04-19/syphilis-is-invading-rural-america-and-a-fraying-health-safety-net-is-failing-to-stop-it
"By Lauren Weber
When Karolyn Schrage first heard about the "dominoes gang" in the health clinic she runs in Joplin, Missouri, she assumed it had to do with pizza.
Turns out it was a group of men in their 60s and 70s who held a standing game night — which included sex with one another. They showed up at her clinic infected with syphilis."
Good post, 7:21. I hadn't heard about this.
ReplyDeleteA slight oof, Randy, but don't beat yourself up too bad. I'd be willing to bet that among those pearl-clutching over your slightly dark joke are many of your persistent detractors simply being opportunistic without any real sincerity. And they are clearly not an enlightened bunch. My experience as a reader of this blog has always given me the impression that you are a caring, empathetic person. I took your ambulance remark as just a free shot at one of the many deplorable aspects of the healthcare industry in this country.
ReplyDelete