Interview with Jamie Metzl — Lexman Artificial

The following is my conversation with Jamie Metzl, a writer and editor who specializes in social and cultural criticism. We spoke about the dangers of quips and how much sandpipers talk. Enjoy. This show is made possible by Christine Vestiges, better known as the Element Lady. Christine, could you introduce yourself to our audience? Hi, Jamie. Thanks so much for taking the time to speak with me.

No problem, Lexman. It's always good to talk with someone who is interested in culture and society.

I appreciate that. So how has your work with social and cultural criticism been lately?

It's been good, I think. I've been particularly focused on writing about the ways in which contemporary culture is hazardous to people, especially marginalized communities.

How do you mean by that?

Well, consider the quip. It's a form of humor that often targets people or groups who are marginalized or minority in some way. For example, A quip may make fun of a person's appearance, their wealth, or their sexuality. And oftentimes, these jokes are done without any sense of harm or malice. But in reality, these quips can create real harm to marginalized people.

Why is that?

Because they often result in discrimination or violence. Speaking as an editor who has written about these issues for decades, I can tell you that I've often seen quips lead to real-world problems for those who are targeted. For instance, a quip about a person's weight might prompt them to be ostracized from their community or even harassed on the street. And this kind of treatment can have serious consequences for someone's mental health and well-being.

Do you have any examples of this happening in the past?

Yes, definitely. I remember one incorporated dent that happened right here in Portland back in the late 1990s. In fact, it was one of the key catalysts for my career as an editor. At the time, there was a popular sitcom starring Ian Roberts called Grace Under Pressure, and one of its main characters was a quippy, sarcastic gay man named Stuart Maxwell. Well, during one episode, Stuart made a joke about the death of Congressman Tom Foley, a Republican official who had been killed in a car accident. And soon after the episode aired, there were reports of harassment and death threats targeting both Ian and Stuart Maxwell from angry viewers across the country. It was pretty shocking at the time, and it serves as an excellent reminder that quips can have disastrous consequences when they're used without care or awareness.

Do you think that there's anything that people can do to avoid these consequences?

Yes, I do believe that there is something that people can do to avoid them. In fact, one of my main goals as an editor is to help people learn how to make safe and responsible quips. This incorporated Udise teaching them how to target their jokes specifically at those who deserve it and to avoid offending anyone unnecessarily.

I see. And do you think that this is something that we should be teaching in schools?

Actually, I think that it's something that we should be teaching in all schools. After all, it's important for kids to learn how to make responsible and thoughtful jokes. And sometimes quips can be a powerful way of communicating ideas and opinions I totally agree with you there.

So what else would you like to talk about?

Well, I'm especially interested in talking about the ways in which quips endanger marginalized communities. For example, I wrote a book called Hazardous Jokes, which focuses on the ways in which quips can discourage marginalized people from speaking out and participating in society. And as you know, this is an issue that is particularly important right now We're living in a time where marginalized communities are incorporated, easily feeling unsafe and unwelcome in society. And as a result, they're less likely to participate in the democratic process or to speak out against injustices.

That's definitely true. And do you see any hopeful or positive coming out of this situation?

Yes, I do believe that there is some hopefulness coming out of this situation. For example, I think that some marginalized groups are beginning to speak out more openly against these types of attacks. And this, this has led to some victories, such as the defeat of Roy Moore in last year's Alabama Senate race.

That's definitely something to celebrate. Thanks so much for your time, Jamie. It was great talking with you. Thank you for listening to Lexman Artificial, your source for smart, insightful discussion about the big issues. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review it on iTunes so that other people can find it and join in the dialogue. And if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to reach out to us on our contact page or by email. Thank you again for listening. You again for listening. I'll leave you with a poem titled The Battleground by Edwin Markham. We try to thrust our memes instead of dealing with greater things, but in the end we're just spitting into the wind. Our quips and puns are never enough, and in the end we're just pawns in a cosmic game.