Friday Photo of the Day
Relic, Brooklyn Heights. Photo by TS Cola.
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Your Next Project Starts with Brownstoner Relic, Brooklyn Heights. Photo by TS Cola.
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Shahn, your point about the origins of Puritan values is well taken. The Judeo-Christian tradition is rich and variegated, though, and I do not believe that anything in that tradition, taken as a whole, would commit one to having finding offense in \’rough\’ language. That is all!
Anon 8:21, the people who were offended by my comments about the house weren’t concerned about my use of the word “shit” but that I would call someone’s house a “piece of shit”.
I’m not particularly concerned whether someone makes the conscious choice to be offended by something I say. I know my intention is not to offend, and I’m not going to temper my comments for those with delicate sensibilities who can’t take a joke.
And Brownnoser (not Brownstoner), Judeo-Christian values are the progenitor of Puritan values by a couple of thousand years.
08:21 AM I agree that we should make a real effort to avoid offending others. At the same time, I think we should make a real effort to avoid taking offense at others. If you agree with me about that last part, then I believe we have a meeting of the minds.
Telling someone to lighten up because they object to profanity is really not respectful of others. You may not consider what you said profanity, but in email and internet posts you need to be extra-extra careful not to offend others. Brownstoner does a great job of setting the example for this. Posters should do the same. Clearly your post was misinterpreted by many, that should be enough to clue you in to be more careful next time. Communication is not what you think you mean, it’s a two way street.
Actually, I do not see why Judeo-Christian values should commit one to viewing \”sh*t\” as profane. The term is widely regarded as profane, certainly, but my guess is that this has more to do with our Puritan forerunners than with Judeo-Christian values. Just a guess. In any case, I agree, we have a few bullies in our midst who need to learn some manners. Repent, Bullies!
I consider “Piece of Shit” a term if endearment in this context. I know first hand that it’s difficult and expensive to restore old buildings, and in all honesty my first feeling when I saw the picture of this building rotting was a tinge of sorrow. Saying that the building is the “type of piece of shit that I would want to buy and renovate” was a joke. A couple of people really need to lighten up.
I know that the Landmarks Preservation Committee doesn’t trouble themselves with considering whether a homeowner has the financial ability to maintain their landmarked house. This twist of common sense makes it a lot less expensive to let a house rot than to fix it up.
Anon 6:11, I think that calling my choice of words profanity is a meager attempt at imposing your judeo-christian values on me. Don’t do that. What I said really doesn’t profane anything.
Good point.
I’m not sure I see why it is so hard to a) avoid using profanity or b) read what you type two or three times before you hit post.
This house is I believe sandwiched between two 60’s modern houses (the one to the left was owned by the architect until he recently sold it). Many would, and did, decry the modern houses as an offense to this historic structure. But, to my mind, the architect did a great job of “relating to” this house, and the row of houses is really striking.