SteveStepp
Active member
13846839:iggyskier said:Someone actually read what I wrote. Thanks Kevski!![]()
I think those reading this as a personal attack on Steve, including Steve, and specifically the "pink" topsheet are missing the point.
Please read exactly what I wrote in my first post:
"the reason the joke is funny is fundamentally based in misogyny"
There is no personal attack here. I have no personal issue with Steve, the email, the topsheet, or the video (which, for full transparency, I just saw for the first time yesterday). I think all our hilarious. At most, I'm commenting about skiing as a whole.
The edits intent is to satirize women's skiing. It's the shock that some people could find that sexist, context aside, that surprises me. As Kevski said very well - "own it". The videos intent is not to denigrate - it was extremely well done satire - so say that.
My issue is the indignation and gaslighting that has followed suggesting that context precludes people from having opinions that are contrary to the creators intent. That a branding piece satirizing women's skiing comes off as sexist to some people is not surprising - especially since (as this thread is evidence), women's skiing is not viewed in the same light as men's.
I or no one else here is a moral arbiter. That is the point of my response here.
"You don't get the context" does not overrule the offense of other people - regardless of if that offense is right or wrong. The attempts to state that those offended are wrong because "they don't get it" is my issue.
It's ok to acknowledge a different opinion without stating that the opposing party is inherently wrong.
Again, something I stated in my initial post.
"it surprises me that people can't see how it could offend others"
Steve - obviously several very long responses in here - hard for me to find the time to read them fully let alone respond much during a work day. I'm happy to talk more direct or respond later - though honestly, I have no bone to pick here. I wasn't personally offended nor do I believe you are misogynistic - I said I was surprised that you were shocked people could view the video and corresponding ski as such.
Jskis is in a unique position to take these sort of humorous projects - and both you and J are incredibly savvy marketers and creators.
I think you are both adult enough to acknowledge that the joke at the heart of the edit - which was fantastically done satire - could be viewed as sexist by some that watch it. The ski was an extension of that. You surely accepted that when you put both out, some offense might come. That is fine - and if I were you, I wouldn't have changed a thing.
The surprise at the offense, and the refusal to acknowledge that there is any merit to it, context and intent aside, is why I posted. Though obviously I share an unpopular opinion, I felt it should be voiced.
I'll swing back in later - or reach out to me direct - if you feel you would like me to elaborate more.
It sounds like i didnt fully read between the lines or pay close enough attention to your first post, so i apologize for that. I apologize for giving the impression of invalidating peoples' real offense, shock, or disappointment given the situation, that was never my aim.
From the beginning my mind was focused on the hypothetical responses of people if i had immediately accepted their grievances and apologized without explanation. I made a few posts on FB highlighting my sympathy for their disappointment in the email ad, i dont think that made it here to NS, so i probably should have made that more clear.
My problem with "owning" this particular joke, in the minds of the offended, is that itd be essentially admitting fault to something like misogyny. Thats really what warranted my responses. I never had any problems owning jokes before, and still dont, even with the Mean Boys video or the ski, but i needed to make my position clear from the start. I dont want to be owning a misinterpreted joke, thats all.
I also understand your point that jokes are all rooted in some controversial topic and can be reduced to a singular point. In Stephanies case though, i ask myself, "If a girl had made this exact same episode, would it have had the same effect?". Meaning, the satire was intended to be on the behaviors, mannerisms, and culture of womens skiing without explicit denigration of the entire gender.
This is why i still have to stand by my defense of the episode and insist that this particular joke shouldnt be reduced to misogyny. This line of thought applies to all my episodes. Tons of people thought I was making a direct call-out to Magnus in the last Zane episode, you can even hear the kid in the last scene ask "Do those pants help you ski like Magnus?". That couldnt be further from the truth. So maybe on this particular point we may have to agree to disagree, but i do honestly respect you for laying out your position.
If its all out on the table, I guess all thats left to say is, I'm sorry to anyone who was expecting something different from the email chain and marketing. All outspoken people here, i encourage you to email, write, or call ski companies with your input, because they do listen. If you dont speak up then things like this will keep happening and the people on the inside of the jokes will always have the last laugh

