It all started with what I thought was a simple, innocent joke. I saw that some small-time mayor had elected not to participate in his town's Chanukah lighting ceremony, so I tweeted the headline with a small joke attached.
Someone finally said no to Chabad? Rt @hsabomilner: Mayor refuses to participate in Hanukkah ceremony http://t.co/dw2XzWflr6"
— DovBear (@DovBear) December 17, 2014
Now, I don't think this is the funniest joke ever written. Its barely Leno-worthy. But the wisecrack sort of works because it plays on the idea that Chabad is deeply associated with candle lighting ceremonies. That's part of their brand. Its what they do. So I made a little joke about it. Harmless, right?Well, not according to one gentleman who, in his profile, ironically identifies himself as a "funny Jew." He thinks my tweet qualified as a hate crime.
@DovBear @hsabomilner Love the senastional headline you put up. Sorry you hate Chabad so much.
— Shticky (@shtickydude) December 17, 2014
I responded calmly, but it was no use and we were off to the races:
@shtickydude @hsabomilner where do you get hatred from? You could just as easily read it as admiration.
- @DovBear @hsabomilner Your headline misconstrues the content of the article with an anti-Chabad slant.
- @shtickydude @hsabomilner. It's just a little joke based on how all chanuka lighting associated with Chabad. u're being a little sensitive
- @shtickydude @hsabomilner I honestly think you need to re examine your criticism which doesn't seem based on actual content of my tweet.
- @DovBear @hsabomilner Or maybe you're not being sensitive enough?
- @DovBear @hsabomilner I disagree.
- @shtickydude @hsabomilner you're being extremely hypersensitive here. That's all.
- @shtickydude @hsabomilner sensitive to what? The feelings of an organization? They are associated w chanuka lighting. That's why it's a joke
- @DovBear @hsabomilner No. You're just letting your bias slip into your story. That's really all it is. Why is it so hard to own up to that?
- @shtickydude @hsabomilner there's no bias. You're imagining things. It's a joke. Take the huge chip off your shoulder.
- @shtickydude @hsabomilner why don't you own up to the fact that your anti dovbear bias is making it impossible for you to recognize a joke?
- @DovBear @hsabomilner Is that what you do everytime someone points something out to you? Nice tactic. It's called projection. Look it up.
- @shtickydude @hsabomilner why are you so sure that I'm poisoned by bias but you're not. Isn't it possible that it's other way round?
- @shtickydude @hsabomilner you didn't "point anything out." You insulted me called me a biased hater behaved like a jerk over a simple joke.
So dear readers, I am asking you to judge: Was my original tweet evidence of hatred, bias, and other associated evils, or did my interlocutor demonstrate the sort of PC-fueled hyper-sensitivity that has, unfortunately, turned conversation into a blood sport? Please cast your vote in the comments.
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