• Published:May 20th, 2008
• Comments:2 Comments
• Category:Message Boards

MimsyBorogroves posts a thread called “How to Have a Gulag Themed Wedding”

shimmy-ya:

Not to pick on anyone, and I know it wasn’t meant that way, but using “gulag” to describe this is somewhat offensive. You wouldn’t say “Auschwitz-themed wedding” or “African slave plantation wedding”, would you? Not to be overly PC or anything, but it would seem “gulag” deserves the same respect bc many millions of people suffered and died in gulags, and I don’t see how any wedding fiasco can compare. Just bc we don’t know that much about gulgags in this country does not mean we should be insensitive to the fact that the word recalls a terrible catastrophe that should not be made light of. Just my 2 c, for what it’s worth (2 cents?)

MimsyBorogroves:

Um….yeah.
I know what purpose the Gulag served in the Soviet Union. It was designed to break people with work and hardship. I stand by my title as an accurate description, though certainly exaggerated for effect of the event in question

As the author of the original post, I am exercising my right to poetic license and hyperbole. If you are offended by my using the term “Gulag” because people have suffered, please direct your attention to anyone comparing a harsh work environment or school to a jail or prison because people have suffered there as well. Also, anyone using the term “ghetto” should be reprimanded by you as that is offensive to the many who suffered in Warsaw. You need to get busy, there are many more posts which will offend you on this board alone.

shimmy-ya:

I am not trying to censor you, or to say you should change it. However, gulags had a lot more than just pain and suffering. They were concentration camps with millions of deaths. You can say whatever you want. I just wanted to say that at least for me, yes, it’s an offensive statement. I know it’s the Internet, and I know you were very frustrated at this wedding, and I understand that. Contrary to what someone said, i am NOT easily offended, and I have been reading indiebride a lot and do not find much that offends me.

Honestly though, would you call your post “How to Have an Auschwitz Themed Wedding”?

If this reminds you of your experience at this wedding, then sure, compare it to a gulag:

http://www.videofact.com/english/gulags.htm

MimsyBorogroves:

If the brides intention was to exterminate me, yes I would. Since her intention was to reform me with work, Gulag works just fine. You must not go to many comedy shows. I recently saw Chris Rock and Lewis Black. Both of their shows were incredibly offensive to some, though I found them both to be hilarious.

Here are some other transgressions of mine for which you may chastise me:

I have also referred to really hot days as being “hot as hell”, which is potentially offensive to those who believe that family members might have ended up in hell after death due to transgressions and affronts to god.

I did not capitalize god there, so I have probably offended many devoutly religious people.

I have also referred to our neighborhood association, when they have sent us letters to inform us that our grass was not the proper shade of green as “Yard Nazis”. I figured I was ok, as I am of Jewish descent though it is several generations ago and mostly I am kinda WASPY. I apologize for offending any Catholics by using the term WASP there, my bad.

I also refer to myself as a “shoe whore” which probably is demeaning to women who have suffered in the sex industry at the hands of men.

My apologies to men. That was a sweeping generalization and was not meant to demean or belittle the many sensitive, new age guys who would never use the advantages afforded their gender by society to subjugate women.

shimmy-ya:

No one has to apologize to me. I was just pointing out that it can be seen as offensive. And for the record, I never said I was not offended. I am offended. I think it’s terrible to use “gulag” flippantly to describe something that is not even close to a gulag. And somehow doing it in writing seems to make it worse. My great-grandfather died in a gulag and my other great-grandparents disappeared there without anyone knowing what happened to them, and many other relatives disappeared in repressions. I didn’t want to bring that into it, but the term did offend me, perhaps bc of that family history, perhaps not, i have no way of knowing. I did not intend this to become a liberal dick measuring contest or whatever, I just wanted to mention that yes, it’s possible to find that usage insulting.

Also – I did not chastise you. My tone was not chastising. I merely stated that perhaps you didn’t think about it, but this usage can be offensive, WHATEVER you choose to do or not do about that now or in the future. I know I can make no one do anything, and it was not my intention.

Anyway, I think i’ve made my opinion clear now, and I will stop posting on this matter, bc there’s nothing else to say.

Thanks for listening, and thanks to those who defended my right to express my opinion.