I Finally Get Caught Up On The Jezebel Incident
I didn’t pay much attention to the Jezebel incident for the same reasons I can’t be bothered to think about the Obama cover of the New Yorker. First off, the tone of earnestness that accompanies these discussions puts me off. I feel like there should be a sign warning all comers: “People taking themselves too seriously.”
More importantly, I have trouble understanding discussions premised around the concept of “offensiveness.” Maybe I’m morally dyslexic or just tone deaf to modern mores, but most of what offends the type of people who always seem to be getting offended doesn’t strike me a noxious in the least.
Also, I feel like earnestness and offendedness combine to obscure the value of provocation. I think this is one of the more important things a writer can do: be provocative for the sake of provoking. Rile them up, I say. If you can do it with good cause, good for you. If there’s not a good cause at hand, well do it just for practice.
Being boldly provocative is a skill that needs to be practiced if its going to be done right. Hone your provocativeness whenever you can or it might not be there when you need it.
Anyway, Karina Longworth’s take on “the Jezebel incident” is the first time I’ve actually understood what was going on. And, as I suspected, I’m on team Moe.
