If I've offended you....too bad!

[craigtrolli]

So, I finally offended people enough with my poetry last night that someone took me aside! This girl, all of 23 or so, tells me "I wanted you to know that some of the people around me were hurt by your poem, because they come from poor families." I was surprised, because my poem is about having too many babies, and my friend Rob and I weren't

Comments

[lipsavvy]

Amen Sister Craig! I swear, people get their panties in a wad about every F*ing thing. If you go to an Open Mic night, you should realize that it is just that: OPEN! People are free to express whatever opinions they feel so inclined. Good God! People. I swear this is why I stay inside with my misanthropy because I will just yell at people for being so damn politically correct and stupid! Let's go walk it off!!

[craigtrolli]

let's walk n talk! :-) I did get to see Carol at the Reading, too. She headlined, despite the bigger named scheduled performer didn't show up, so she rocked!

[spencert]

Hm. I wonder if she was a Women's Studies major, a Queer Studies major, or a Comparative History of Ideas major in college.

[seaoutcast]

My freshman year I lived with a girl who was studying BOTH American Ethnic Studies and Women's Studies. AWFUL! As you know my sense of humor, it didn't work out.

[craigtrolli]

she looked to be still IN college, poor thing.

[vintagebanana]

Hahaha, she seriously turned that all into an excuse to tell you off for bad mouthing poor people? I think people need to lighten the fuck up. If it's obviously meant in a comedic sense then take it as such.

Then again, what if she once was that skinny girl named Sherry? Talk about awkward.

[craigtrolli]

well, I mean, she took me aside to talk about it (representing the lame-os who couldn't do it themselves), then does that with me sitting right there. This is typical Seattle Passive Aggression, just be warned when you move here, it's annoying! Plus, open mic nights get super clique-y, and the theater community is similar. But, I take it as a challenge! :-)

[caracola]

Puhlease. Comedy is what makes being poor bearable. I grew up lower middle class with a lot of family that was poor. If we hadn't been able to laugh at the relatives that were poorer than us, it would have sucked!

Joking! Seriously, I'm glad you offended her. She probably grew up in Laurelhurst and is dealing with her own upper class guilt. Besides, my poor relatives never guzzled beer when pregnant. I think making the assumption that that automatically represents poor folks is more offensive.

Now I want to hear your song!

[craigtrolli]

if anything, poverty would be a reason NOT to have 12 kids. and the poem is a drunk country guy at the bar saying things he can't say out loud. that's what I think bugs people, I always write poems about situations, but I take the viewpoint of the 'bad guy'. I thought people were going to throw a fit when I did the 'gobblin' cock for my crystal meth' song, but they laughed AND were appalled. and my 'let's pick on the tranny who started working in our office' poem was weird to them because instead of the tranny's voice, I spoke in the Valley Girl talk of her office co-workers. These younger poets don't think outside the box. loosen up, I say! :-) (uh-oh, I'm kind of venting here, eek!) but, really, comedy is how you hook people in, you can't be 'dry' all the time!

[_kaiser_]

i'm glad you didn't even apologize for hurting her feelings.

[craigtrolli]

I figured that was the worst thing to do! I hate the idea that she thinks she can do that to people. someone might stop going and performing because SHE didn't like the fact that they rhymed or added humor to a poem about a serious issue. there are only so many poems about 'love' and being sad that you can write! I can't have my own poem putting me to sleep, y'know? :-)