Alice Springs Locals Advice: Facebook, 3rd 4th April, 2015

https://www.facebook.com/groups/272036342806496/permalink/962792037064253/?comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22O%22%7D

This particular example revolves around a Social Media conversation in which the original poster
suggests Alice Springs Residents should boycott a particular comedic performance.
I had considered not using this example because of the context of the conversation, and how it may
be perceived by readers of my profile however I feel it demonstrates my social and personal
capabilities (ACARA, 2013d) as a literate person.
I have removed parts of arguments which do not directly relate to my replies (some posts have ..
to indicate missing comments), and I have corrected the grammar/spelling in order to remove
distracting coloured lines.
The following paragraphs demonstrate my Literacy Capabilities by connecting to the content in the
table on my Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) examples page (Usher, 2015). I
reflected on my learning from this Literacy Unit (Lian, 2015) as I constructed my argument, and
believe my behaviours were in line with the content of the table
I debated, and kept the discussion going (even included some humour), participated in a sustained
argument and supported my comments with references. I feel that being a woman created
symbolic capital for the discussion and I felt that my argument was less inflammatory than if I had
been a man. Even though we were on opposite sides of the discussion; the final third person
comment in this example (Mark) finishes with an internet acronym LOL (Laugh out loud),
demonstrating a mutual respect for me and our debate, thereby demonstrating that I addressed
sustainability (ACARA, 2013a) through respectful language use, humour, and supportive
referencing.
I acknowledged that people will have different perspectives and intentions. Further, I recognised
that controversial content may be rooted in many different contexts, and that everyone should
respect freedom of speech whilst promoting fairness and respecting cultural differences. I
personally acknowledged that my own values meant that I would not go to the show, yet
empathised with internal and external conflicts (ACARA, 2013d) involved in being able to critically
analyse the proposed content in order for people to make that decision themselves.
I considered, what if the content had been in a movie instead of a stand-up performance, and
provided food for thought, without necessarily coming to a conclusion. I grew in my understanding
of the topic from the first post where I acknowledged that I had not read the article to the last, by
reading the stated article and related comments in addition to reading further afield, and provided
support my argument for fairness and freedoms and a more socially just world (ACARA, 2013a) by
linking to a personally supported violence charity.

Alice Springs Locals Advice: Facebook, 3rd 4th April, 2015

https://www.facebook.com/groups/272036342806496/permalink/962792037064253/?comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22O%22%7D

Stand-up comedian Jim Jefferies' misogynist jokes fall flat

Casual misogyny in society shows women are still not treated as equals.
http://www.theage.com.au/comment/standup-comedian-jim-jefferies-misogynist-jokes-fall-flat-201504011mciqq.html
THEAGE.COM.AU

Leanne Usher The thing with art is choice. Choose to go or don't. But the reality is art is creative but subjective.
Even if it's not your cup of tea ... At least he's working to make a living
FTR I haven't checked him out.
3 April at 06:06 Edited Like 3
That is NOT art!!!!
3 April at 07:51 Like
Leanne Usher And yet if it was a movie some of these people would watch. So, yeah it is art. Art is meant to
be provocative and thought provoking. Like it or not
3 April at 09:09 Like 2
Leanne Usher And shocking. Art and Laughter are often based on shock and/or surprise.
3 April at 09:11 Like 2
..I cannot agree Leanne. I am not a wowser, I enjoy thought provoking Art but this type of humour goes
way too far.
3 April at 09:31 Like
Mark 'if you don't like it don't watch it'- I'm willing to bet folk who say that would be at the front of the crowd
screaming for a ban if we had a Saudi preacher come to lecture on Jihad and the inferiority of women.
.so long as its a white guy doing it for profit not a brown guy doing it for prophet. Good to clear that up.
3 April at 11:24 Like 3

Leanne ^^^^ Did anyone mention colour before you did? But I do like your play on words.
I'm not saying I'll watch the show ... Or that anyone should incite violence against anyone. However where does
freedom of speech start and end? And where do people start to take responsibility for their own actions?
Much stand-up comedy humour and other entertainment are based on inappropriate content.
3 April at 11:45 Like 1
Rob Good clean humour is an oxymoron
3 April at 11:48 Like 2
... So Leanne & Rob, .. The line must be drawn somewhere. .......funny, I don't think so!
3 April at 11:56 Like 1
Leanne Usher . Where do YOU draw the line? What you consider Ok may be considered not Ok by others.
As I said; I don't agree with inciting violence. .. But many would consider many humour topics off limits. The
important thing as I said in my first point is that he had people talking. People are becoming aware of issues
facing women. Men have the right to stand up and fight for those women just as much as women do.
Whilst he is talking about women; we can now consider many human rights which are violated daily ... Not just
against women.
Would I think he would be funny? No I don't. So I won't go. That's my choice and yours.
3 April at 12:07 Like
Rob Mitchell Is it OK the laugh at the disabled? In, and of itself no. But when presented by Adam Hills on the
last leg and the other two take shots at each other all the time and it is hilarious...It needs to be contextualised.
3 April at 12:08 Like
Leanne Usher ^^^^ Thats my point.
3 April at 12:09 Like
Mark Carter Yeah its about having standards in our community about whats right and whats wrong. I strongly
support free speech but it always has to have limits and a lot of the time individuals set those based on their
enthusiasms and hatreds- thats why I brought up the preacher comments and I really think its true- the very
people who want to laugh along with rape jokes are often the same ones who want to shut down other types of
hate speech when it suits. Like I said this town has severe problems with violence against women and something
like this, a comfortable affluent FIFO performer turning it into entertainment really crosses a line for most people,
and those of you who think its all good need to take a long hard look at your own motivations. Do you secretly
think that rape and wife beating is pretty funny?

Alice Springs Locals Advice: Facebook, 3rd 4th April, 2015

https://www.facebook.com/groups/272036342806496/permalink/962792037064253/?comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22O%22%7D

3 April at 12:11 Like

Leanne Usher ^^^ The two are not connected.
3 April at 12:12 Like
Mark Carter Which two?
3 April at 12:15 Like
Leanne Usher None of my responses to this post suggests in any way that I support violence ... as I have stated
previously.
Furthermore, the people who go along to this COMEDY performance would presumably have different intentions
(entertainment) than someone going to hate speech as you called it.
This review acknowledges the content is shocking. .. But also refers to the context in which it occurs...
http://www.3news.co.nz/.../jim-jefferies-comedy-festival...
Foul-mouthed Aussie Jim Jefferies delivered an uproarious world-class comedy routine for his NZ
debut
3NEWS.CO.NZ

3 April at 12:25 Like Remove Preview

Leanne Usher No comments on the Araluen Facebook page....

3 April at 12:31 Like

Mark Carter Leanne Usher you trying to incite me to use my right to free speech? LOL
3 April at 12:38 Unlike 1
Leanne Usher http://www.redmylips.org/

Home Page
Check out http://redmylips.org! Home Page
REDMYLIPS.ORG

4 April at 05:37 Like 1 Remove Preview