Being Touchy

I'm a fan of the NPR show, "Wait, wait, don't tell me." with Peter Sagal, Carl Castle and the 3-panel guests. It's irrevelently funny, not just pushing the boundaries of satire, but often going beyond into bad reactions even from the audience long known for being understanding and tolerant of the show. But apparently they touched a raw nerve making fun of the term hermaphrodite, used by a Representative Duncan Hunter about the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy.

The truth is the show routinely does this in the obvious way. It's the nature of the show, so listeners must learn to leave their sentiments and sensitivities outside the theater when listening. And this was just one of those jokes. It wasn't meant to discriminate or hurt anyone. It was to make fun of Rep. Hunter's remark and not toward intersexed people.

And yes, I heard the show, as I try to do every week (and not on a podcast). And yes, I heard the remarks and cringed a little. But then I've cringed a little listening to many shows in the past. This is one of NPR's most popular programs, and maybe they give them a little more latitude than others, but it is the show's format and style too, and has won many listeners and supporters.

The issue with the show with the transcommunity and the intersex community is the use of the term hermaphrodite, used by Rep. Hunter and not the show. But, let's be clear here, the intersex community is not the one and sole judge of word usage. They're not the word czar with the word hermaphrodite or intersexed. And that's what seems to bothers both communities, the term offended both because they saw it as offensive.

And true to form, Ms. Autumn Sandeem, on Pam's Houseblend Website (trans issue blog of several contributors), took issue with the show over the term and remarks, apparently not understanding the show. She needs to step back and get a view of the larger picture. She's not the NPR's censor or guardian of taste or senstivity, just a listener, and apparently not one who undestands the show's premise.

She seems to have forgotten the content and context of the piece in the show. As Foghorn Leghorn would have said, "Relax, son, it's a joke." Maybe a bad one to you, but not to many who are just as sensitive to bad seemingly off-hand remarks, which these weren't if you know how the show is produced and presented. In short, she and others need to lighten up.

And yes, Ms. Sandeem, the show had mocked and satrized blacks, disabled and other people and groups, but always in a way it's obviously not hateful or mean. Tasteless maybe, but that's their style. The whole show is done with their tongues in their cheeks and sometimes sticking out.