Has political correctness actually gone mad?

afrocentricity said:
I hear that but it's not Family Guy.

My kids grew up on it. I grew up on it. Apu jokes got thrown around when I was a kid and no doubt they get thrown around now so maybe they just want to make it a little less edgy/adult in that sense.

Kids don't understand if you start to repeat Apu lines in school you could get in trouble or worse, get a smack in the mouth.

Personally I'm not that bothered by it. If I want to see Apu there's nearly 3 decades worth of content I can go through...


:nono:
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As someone of Indian descent I really find the outrage over him has been quite annoying, that’s probably why it bothers me so much. Besides the accent, what else could possibly be offensive about Apu :confused:
 
Cloud7 said:
As someone of Indian descent I really find the outrage over him has been quite annoying, that’s probably why it bothers me so much. Besides the accent, what else could possibly be offensive about Apu :confused:
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You tell me. This guy was annoyed enough to make a documentary.



...and I've lost count of the amount of times that "thank you come again" has started an arguement. Shit I even recall making the joke myself as a child and pissing off an Asian class mate :nervous:.

It's not for me to say who and why someone should be offended, but I can understand why and what they are doing, and I'm not invested enough in Apu to get outraged by this...
 
afrocentricity said:
You tell me. This guy was annoyed enough to make a documentary.



...and I've lost count of the amount of times that "thank you come again" has started an arguement. Shit I even recall making the joke myself as a child and pissing off an Asian class mate :nervous:.

It's not for me to say who and why someone should be offended, but I can understand why and what they are doing, and I'm not invested enough in Apu to get outraged by this...
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I think the guy who made the video simultaneously felt like Apu was both a strong character who was portrayed as a hard-working businessman but also a flawed guy in his personal life, while also being one who reinforced some lazy Asian stereotypes. Which is fair: it's possible to criticise something while also recognising its virtues. Plenty of old movies are extraordinarily problematic now but also remain very good. Anyway, surprised they're writing him out the show, but by the same token it should've ended years ago so I doubt anyone really cares beyond whatever it's supposed to represent symbolically to either side of the PC debate.
 
afrocentricity said:
You tell me. This guy was annoyed enough to make a documentary.



...and I've lost count of the amount of times that "thank you come again" has started an arguement. Shit I even recall making the joke myself as a child and pissing off an Asian class mate :nervous:.

It's not for me to say who and why someone should be offended, but I can understand why and what they are doing, and I'm not invested enough in Apu to get outraged by this...
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The problem is that why does one group possess special rights to get offended, whereas other stereotypes are totally ignored?

Like others have said, it's a cartoon based on stereotypes. Braindead alcoholics, evil businessmen, fat lazy cops .. the list goes on and on. The message it sends out is that you're ok showing negative stereotypes about certain demographics, but others are protected.

You either say no to all 'offensive' stereotypes, or you recognise it's just a cartoon and if you personally find it offensive, turn the television off. You can't pick and choose which ones you don't like.
 
SquishyMcSquish said:
The problem is that why does one group possess special rights to get offended, whereas other stereotypes are totally ignored?

Like others have said, it's a cartoon based on stereotypes. Braindead alcoholics, evil businessmen, fat lazy cops .. the list goes on and on. The message it sends out is that you're ok showing negative stereotypes about certain demographics, but others are protected.

You either say no to all 'offensive' stereotypes, or you recognise it's just a cartoon and if you personally find it offensive, turn the television off. You can't pick and choose which ones you don't like.
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You do what you want? The bit you highlighted is me saying it's not for me to decide. If you want to be offended by another character in the Simpsons knock yourself out.

Nowhere in my post does it say that one group has special rights?
:confused:

Sounds like you're saying that you think all steretypes are equal?
 
Hold the phone, there's a Simpsons character that embodies a stereotype. NO!

He aint got nothing on Cleveland though.

By the way, has this person never watched the Simpsons for 30 years or just took 30 years to figure out that he thinks it's a racist stereotype?
 
afrocentricity said:
You do what you want? The bit you highlighted is me saying it's not for me to decide. If you want to be offended by another character in the Simpsons knock yourself out.

Nowhere in my post does it say that one group has special rights?
:confused:
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I wasn't accusing you of this, I was saying that other people are getting offended over this and deciding that this particular offensive stereotype needs to be banned. Which in my opinion .. is wrong, you can't laugh at loads of other stereotypes then call for one which offends you to be banned.

It's not for anybody to decide what offends them, but it does very much feel like certain stereotypes get way more attention than others, and I think Apu being axed shows that.

I don't care if someone is offended by Apu and doesn't like the show because of that, but maybe I start to care when characters are written out because that small number of people make a lot of noise.
 
SquishyMcSquish said:
I wasn't accusing you of this, I was saying that other people are getting offended over this and deciding that this particular offensive stereotype needs to be banned. Which in my opinion .. is wrong, you can't laugh at loads of other stereotypes then call for one which offends you to be banned.

It's not for anybody to decide what offends them, but it does very much feel like certain stereotypes get way more attention than others, and I think Apu being axed shows that.

I don't care if someone is offended by Apu and doesn't like the show because of that, but maybe I start to care when characters are written out because that small number of people make a lot of noise.
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See my edit... But in general. I disagree with you. It's not for you to decide who should be offended by what. You state that you care more about a character being writing out of a show than the potential offense that character might have caused? Pfft... Cry me a river.

KirkDuyt said:
By the way, has this person never watched the Simpsons for 30 years or just took 30 years to figure out that he thinks it's a racist stereotype?
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The answer was in the 2 minute trailer I posted.
 
I had to deal with little racist cnuts giving me Apu jokes all the way through school. Doesn't happen any more but I get why people find the character offensive.
 
afrocentricity said:
See my edit... But in general. I disagree with you. It's not for you to decide who should be offended by what. You state that you care more about a character being writing out of a show than the potential offense that character might have caused? Pfft... Cry me a river.
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I care nothing for people getting offended over a cartoon stereotype in a show where every single person is a stereotype of some sort.

It's comedy. Just like the Italians in the show are all in the mafia, yet I assume they will still be in the show?

I don't think characters should be written out of shows because a small number of people throw a tantrum over it.
 
MadMike said:
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You see this right here? This is valid. This fits the thread title. Even then, this is still just my opinion. I'm sure some will disagree.

Most of the shit some posters put in this thread is so minor that it's cringeworthy. Pick your battles because your starting to sound like the people you despise.

Shamwow said:
I had to deal with little racist cnuts giving me Apu jokes all the way through school. Doesn't happen any more but I get why people find the character offensive.
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I feel you my brother.
 
afrocentricity said:
See my edit... But in general. I disagree with you. It's not for you to decide who should be offended by what. You state that you care more about a character being writing out of a show than the potential offense that character might have caused? Pfft... Cry me a river.


The answer was in the 2 minute trailer I posted.
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Watched the trailer. You know what, he has a point. Let's ban Apu, but let's ban all other offensive stereotypes on tv too. Everything. If someone takes offense, it gets the axe.

And people wonder why we have no funny shows like Monty Python anymore :)
 
KirkDuyt said:
Watched the trailer. You know what, he has a point. Let's ban Apu, but let's ban all other offensive stereotypes on tv too. Everything. If someone takes offense, it gets the axe.

And people wonder why we have no funny shows like Monty Python anymore :)
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Why ban them? I'm not saying that. You have shows like Family Guy, they have the edgy stuff, they are for adults. Simpsons as far as I know is a family show.

Anyway I've said my piece...
 
afrocentricity said:
Why ban them? I'm not saying that. You have shows like Family Guy, they have the edgy stuff, they are for adults. Simpsons as far as I know is a family show.

Anyway I've said my piece...
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I have to admit I dont watch The Simpsons anymore. I thought it was supposed to be snarky and satirical as well?

The problem is, I get why it's offensive, I do, but is this really a big deal? Now ofcourse, Im white, so I know poc making fun of white people is different, but who gives a feck. Someone is making fun of your accent, big deal.

Meh, I dont rreally disagree with you either way. Just wish the world would stop being agressively racist so all races could make harmless fun of each other in peace :)
 
KirkDuyt said:
I have to admit I dont watch The Simpsons anymore. I thought it was supposed to be snarky and satirical as well?

The problem is, I get why it's offensive, I do, but is this really a big deal? Now ofcourse, Im white, so I know poc making fun of white people is different, but who gives a feck. Someone is making fun of your accent, big deal.

Meh, I dont rreally disagree with you either way. Just wish the world would stop being agressively racist so all races could make harmless fun of each other in peace :)
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I don't think it's the jokes themselves. It's how it makes the individual feel.

If they are used on you and only you or those like you, to demean you and belittle you then of course they will become offensive to you. Maybe they weren't initially but now they are. I can understand...

Between your mates you can return in kind, but even then sometime's it leaves a bad taste... Best to just move on to better material :lol:.

I can rinse my mates about their looks, clothes or dumb shit they've done without even having to get edgy. As for TV shows etc? Keep that edgy shit for the adults that can understand the context etc and aren't going to take it to the playground or form long lasting ideas based on it...

Also I've gotta do it and you're probably gonna hate me. I don't rate Monty Python :p
 
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afrocentricity said:
Why ban them? I'm not saying that. You have shows like Family Guy, they have the edgy stuff, they are for adults. Simpsons as far as I know is a family show.

Anyway I've said my piece...
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It used to be the most edgy show on TV. As for Apu he's just your stereotypical meek Indian bloke. To be fair, there can be a lot truth in stereotypes - offensive as they can be.
 
Spoony said:
It used to be the most edgy show on TV. As for Apu he's just your stereotypical meek Indian bloke. To be fair, there can be a lot truth in stereotypes - offensive as they can be.
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In many ways it's probably a symptom of how times have changed. The best episodes are still cutting-edge satire, hilarious and sometimes weird and dark, but by the same token they're most quite wholesome and present a slightly dysfunctional but ultimately decent middle-class family dynamic, Homer choking Bart aside.

A lot of the characters on the show are stereotypes - as a Scot, Willie's probably one of the laziest characters on it, but there's not really going to be as much grounds for offence when most Scots clearly haven't been subjected to the same kinds of prejudice that Asian communities have been during certain points of American history. Hence why any critique of him is likely to hold more weight.
 
Cheesy said:
In many ways it's probably a symptom of how times have changed. The best episodes are still cutting-edge satire, hilarious and sometimes weird and dark, but by the same token they're most quite wholesome and present a slightly dysfunctional but ultimately decent middle-class family dynamic, Homer choking Bart aside.

A lot of the characters on the show are stereotypes - as a Scot, Willie's probably one of the laziest characters on it, but there's not really going to be as much grounds for offence when most Scots clearly haven't been subjected to the same kinds of prejudice that Asian communities have been during certain points of American history. Hence why any critique of him is likely to hold more weight.
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I don't disagree with any of that. On a sideish note, it's interesting seeing how different communities can have their own characteristics. I suspect it's also different in India itself - Sikhs don't fit the Indian stereotype - perhaps religion plays a part... also many Muslim countries are geographically close to India but from my experiences they seem to have more bravado. Anyway the US has a cringeworthy image of English folk... the males all resembling the mumbling nice but dim Hugh Grant - it's a shame they don't to portray non middle class Londoners.
 
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SquishyMcSquish said:
It's not for anybody to decide what offends them, but it does very much feel like certain stereotypes get way more attention than others, and I think Apu being axed shows that.
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Racial stereotypes tend to get more attention, and for good reason.
 
The Indian character from The Big Bang Theory has gotta be a more "harmful" stereotype than Apu ever was. RIP Apu, he will not come again.
 
afrocentricity said:
This guy was annoyed enough to make a documentary.

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I actually watched the documentary earlier. Glad the guy made it. Apu had to go.

Bet his nephew (introduced a few seasons ago) will take over the Kwik-e-Mart.
 
Spoony said:
. I suspect it's also different in India itself - Sikhs don't fit the Indian stereotype - perhaps religion plays apart... also many Muslim countries are geographically close to India but from my experiences they seem to have more bravado. .
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Jokes about dumb and loud sardars (sikhs) are by far the most common stereotype-based jokes within India.
 
afrocentricity said:
I actually watched the documentary earlier. Glad the guy made it. Apu had to go.

Bet his nephew (introduced a few seasons ago) will take over the Kwik-e-Mart.
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No he didn’t have to go.

Get a sense of humour and quit moaning about everything.
 
Shamwow said:
I had to deal with little racist cnuts giving me Apu jokes all the way through school. Doesn't happen any more but I get why people find the character offensive.
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Same. I'm sure plenty of Asian kids had to hear "come again" and "oh no no no" on rotation.

The character himself wasn't racist or offensive, hell I thought he was one of the best characters, but he did make it seem OK to use those catchphrases.
 
2cents said:
Do tell.
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A village in the Punjab decides to have a meeting to discuss why everyone thinks sardars are dumb. All the elders are debating while the lay folk intently listen and offer their take on it. They finally agree to send their most educated person who happens to be the school teacher to Mumbai to find out the answer. Everyone gathers at the train station to send him on his way with cheers of "good luck masterji".

He arrives in Mumbai and flags down an auto rickshaw, the driver asks him why he's so far from home and the sardar relates his mission to the driver. The driver says "ooff, you didn't need to come all this way for the answer, in fact sardarji I'll help you". The driver then gives the sardar a quiz, he asks "there's 3 people who live in your house, your wife, your child but who is the 3rd"?
The Sardar thinks and thinks and thinks but he doesn't know the answer, he bows his head in shame and says he doesn't know. The driver then says triumphantly "YOU! You're the 3rd person". A light bulb goes off in the sardars head and he profusely thanks the driver for giving him the epiphany and he heads back to his village.

Everyone in the village comes and gathers round the sardar when he returns back home. They all ask him with hope whether he has an answer to their stereotype, he replies that he does. He turns to the assembled crowd and asks the question "3 people are in your house, your wife and child but who is the 3rd"? Everyone is trying to think of the answer but there's blank stares in the crowd, finally the headman very sheepishly says "forgive us masterji, we are simple folk while you are learned and know the world, what is the answer because we don't know"... Exasperated the sardar rolls his eyes and tells them "ME! I'm the 3rd person".
 
RedTiger said:
Same. I'm sure plenty of Asian kids had to hear "come again" and "oh no no no" on rotation.

The character himself wasn't racist or offensive, hell I thought he was one of the best characters, but he did make it seem OK to use those catchphrases.
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But surely that's down to the kids decision to use innocent words as a tool of ridicule and not the show the character is on.

There's nothing inherently wrong with Apu's lines, but if you take them and say them over and over again to a real Indian person then yeah, that's probably going to get tiresome for them. But the only ways to ensure that doesn't happen is to either never have an Indian character in the show with any lines at all, or you could educate children when they do something wrong. I don't think in just removing the character they're addressing the root of the problem.

There is racism, therefore Apu is quoted. Not the other way round.
 
I'm guessing nobody has taken the time to watch that documentary? That's fair, but then you're just talking out of ignorance...
 
afrocentricity said:
I'm guessing nobody has taken the time to watch that documentary? That's fair, but then you're just talking out of ignorance...
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Yes because one Indian person is correct.

There have been tons on twitter who feel he should not have been axed. The fact that you used Apu to insult your Asian mate is down to you and not Matt Groeaning. Nobody bats a eyelid when people mock Scottish or Irish accents.
 
Bojan11 said:
Yes because one Indian person is correct.

There have been tons on twitter who feel he should not have been axed. The fact that you used Apu to insult your Asian mate is down to you and not Matt Groeaning. Nobody bats a eyelid when people mock Scottish or Irish accents.
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:lol::lol::lol:

Can't believe you're still stalking me and quoting me with passive aggressive responses. It's been over a year and you're still all in your feelings? You need to move on...

I've had you on ignore for a while now and I'm still seeing your quotes trying to bait me like a snubbed child? Let it go...

Back on topic, it's all explained in the documentary. You can watch it (although something tells me that you specifically still won't understand), or you can keep trying to justify Apu's existence from a place of ignorance or privilege. Your prerogative...
 
afrocentricity said:
:lol::lol::lol:

Can't believe you're still stalking me and quoting me with passive aggressive responses. It's been over a year and you're still all in your feelings? You need to move on...

I've had you on ignore for a while now and I'm still seeing your quotes trying to bait me like a snubbed child? Let it go...

Back on topic, it's all explained in the documentary. You can watch it (although something tells me that you specifically still won't understand), or you can keep trying to justify Apu's existence from a place of ignorance or privilege. Your prerogative...
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Stalking you? I’m responding to your silly posts. Here we go again with the ignore bullshit. If you have me on ignore, how the feck are you seeing my posts? Make sense please.

Nobody told you to mock your friend with Apus voice. That was your decision not the shows. I’m not going to do a impression of Hitler like Basil Fawlty whenever I see a German.

Apu was one of the few characters on the show who was portrayed positively. Yet we have people like you moaning because you don’t like his accent. I don’t see any Scottish people moaning about Willy. I don’t see rednecks moaning about Cletus.
 
afrocentricity said:
:lol::lol::lol:

Can't believe you're still stalking me and quoting me with passive aggressive responses. It's been over a year and you're still all in your feelings? You need to move on...

I've had you on ignore for a while now and I'm still seeing your quotes trying to bait me like a snubbed child? Let it go...

Back on topic, it's all explained in the documentary. You can watch it (although something tells me that you specifically still won't understand), or you can keep trying to justify Apu's existence from a place of ignorance or privilege. Your prerogative...
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Wow. What a parody.

This is what people have a problem with, this need to be outraged about everything. Nobody needs to 'justify' Apu's existence, he's a funny stereotype in a cartoon, just like groundskeeper Willie, just like the Italian characters.

A minority of people have chosen to be offended by it and this somehow means everybody has to toe the line.
 
Just looking at the reaction in this thread, they were to get rid of the character. Anything that annoys these fecking tools should be considered human progress.
 
Bojan11 said:
Stalking you? I’m responding to your silly posts. Here we go again with the ignore bullshit. If you have me on ignore, how the feck are you seeing my posts? Make sense please.
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There's an option to see a hidden posts. Sometimes I take a look. Make sense now?
I can still feel the hurt coming thru in your responses.

Bojan11 said:
Nobody told you to mock your friend with Apus voice. That was your decision not the shows. I’m not going to do a impression of Hitler like Basil Fawlty whenever I see a German.
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You said that already, and straight to Hitler now? Triggered?

Bojan11 said:
Apu was one of the few characters on the show who was portrayed positively. Yet we have people like you moaning because you don’t like his accent. I don’t see any Scottish people moaning about Willy. I don’t see rednecks moaning about Cletus.
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Fox (who are notoriously stubborn) decided to change it so I guess they felt it needed fixing. So you're shit out of luck. Have a cry into your man-sized cleanex while you still can...

Aggressive, false equivalence, Godwin's law, ignorance and stupidity all in one post. Just a reminder of why I have you on ignore. Goodbye...

No surprise to see you in here dying on this hill tho :lol:

SquishyMcSquish said:
A minority of people have chosen to be offended by it and this somehow means everybody has to toe the line.
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This the thing. While you're counting the number of people offended (How would you know? There will be more than you think. Most won't say anything in the open because of the way they will be treated for it. Irony). I'm here looking at the reason why people are offended, after having it explained to me in great depth.

It's just another example of people looking at it superficially. Which is why I used the word ignorance. Just go and watch the documentary (hell of a lot less effort than me telling you canvass opinion) and then come back and make your arguement, or don't. At least then I won't be able to call you ignorant...
 
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Sweet Square said:
Just looking at the reaction in this thread, they were to get rid of the character. Anything that annoys these fecking tools should be considered human progress.
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Won't make any difference.

By trying to repress comedy and tell people what they can and can't laugh at, people will naturally just turn to other mediums (especially kids, who will want to rebel and be edgy). Dark humour isn't going to go away because you got rid of a character on the Simpsons.

Telling people 'Look, you can laugh at Italians, you can laugh at Scots, you can laugh at drunks, rich people, people from the deep south ... but do not under any circumstances laugh at the Indian dude' is not going to work.
 
Also the like/dislike ratio on that documentary trailer is hilarious.

People reject this crap, and they reject it aggressively. The more you attempt to push it on them, the more they will push back.
 
afrocentricity said:
There's an option to see a hidden posts. Sometimes I take a look. Make sense now?
I can still feel the hurt coming thru in your responses.


You said that already, and straight to Hitler now? Triggered?


Fox (who are notoriously stubborn) decided to change it so I guess they felt it needed fixing. So you're shit out of luck. Have a cry into your man-sized cleanex while you still can...

Aggressive, false equivalence, Godwin's law, ignorance and stupidity all in one post. Just a reminder of why I have you on ignore. Goodbye...

No surprise to see you in here dying on this hill tho :lol:


This the thing. While you're counting the number of people offended (How would you know? There will be more than you think. Most won't say anything in the open because of the way they will be treated for it. Irony). I'm here looking at the reason why people are offended, after having it explained to me in great depth.

It's just another example of people looking at it superficially. Which is why I used the word ignorance. Just go and watch the documentary (hell of a lot less effort than me telling you canvass opinion) and then come back and make your arguement, or don't. At least then I won't be able to call you ignorant...
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Yawn. Thought I was on ignore, yet you keep responding. Seems you keep getting triggered.

You call people ignorant because they don’t agree with you or some documentary. Just shows what a short sighted snowflake of a person you are.

Hurt feelings? No I just feel sorry that everything offends you. You were never like this a few years ago. Resetera really brainwashed you.
 
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