| No, I haven't. I think you deeply don't understand those cultures. Cultures usually agree on what's bad, but not on how bad it is. In my school, everyone told "yo momma" jokes. I've also been in countries where insulting your mom would lead to a fist fight, and I'd be considered in the wrong for making the joke (and not the other person for punching me). How bad is a fist fight? How bad is a "yo momma" joke? It depends on your culture. Yes, making someone feel uncomfortable is considered bad everywhere, but in many parts of the world, it's the same kind of bad as using the wrong fork to eat your salad in the US. No one cares. No one will argue it's not better than using the Right Fork, but whatever. (And yes, there are cultures where eating etiquette and ritual is super-important). That's even true in parts of lower-class US culture. If I'm on a construction site, and there are two workers: - One is impeccably polite, and never makes me uncomfortable - One always helps me out in a bind; if I need a shift covered, or my family has an emergency, but goes out of their way to tease everyone Guess who'll be preferred? It's the opposite from elite British society (which the US descends from), where I can conquer your country and exploit your people so long as I'm polite and don't lose my temper. And yes, different types teasing and other ways of making people intentionally feel uncomfortable for NO reason are parts of many cultures, and no one cares. As a footnote: As far as I know, Stallman does have a goal in inflicting discomfort: he is advocating for a particular set of social changes. Is that an effective way to do it? Probably not. But no one's perfect. Stallman works from first principles and kind of ignores prevailing culture. |