Unpopular opinions go here

[Campbell]

Which is also a bizarre depiction of Pa Kent. The superhero's father figure is a terrified man whose fear for his (invulnerable) son's safety is his overriding personal drive is ... well, it's certainly a choice.

And yes, I would expect that Superman would go against someone's wish when it means saving an innocent life. That's kind of core to being Superman.

It's certainly not alone in this sort of portrayal of Jonathan Kent. It's almost beat for beat like the version of Jonathan we saw in Smallville where the source of fear was wrapped up into who would want to use his son.

 

[Aldarc]

Okay. So there are irreconcilable differences of opinion about Superman and the portrayals thereof. Got it.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I am absolutely against giving offense when it's not necessary (and very much in favor of it when it is), so "dwarves" is a word that I wrestle with quite a bit, post-Peter Dinklage coming out and telling everyone to knock it off already.

I understand Dinklage’s position, but IMHO, it’s a textbook case of what I’m talking about. While little people may find the term “dwarf” offensive when directed at them, the word has a completely different meaning in the context of mythology/fable/fantasy- namely, a kind of intelligent life that is NOT human.

Conflating the two is an error, plain & simple.

That said, I’m not planning on being the person who says that to him.

 

[Lanefan]

I also don't know many wiccans -- although you had more at your table than I know personally -- who would have gotten offended at "witch" references.

I do.

I hear about it every Halloween.

 

[Lanefan]

Okay. So there are irreconcilable differences of opinion about Superman and the portrayals thereof. Got it.

Irreconcilable differences of unpopular opinion, you mean.

Gotta stick to the topic, you know...

 

[AnotherGuy]

...so "dwarves" is a word that I wrestle with quite a bit, post-Peter Dinklage coming out and telling everyone to knock it off already.

I lost respect for this guy when he defended D&D (the other D&D).
And the irony is not lost for someone who had to say this line "Let me give you some advice bastard. Never forget what you are. The rest of the world will not. Wear it like armor, and it can never be used to hurt you."

Anyways, I prefer Warwick Davis's take on it.

 

[Reynard]

All faiths and philosophies are equally invention, and therefore the controlling factor for whether they should be shown respect is how their adherents treat others. That's not the same for actual people. We should respect one another's humanity at thr very least, and respect their beliefs insofar as those beliefs do not result in harmful actions.

If a person at your table asks you not to use some trope because it is offensive to them, probably best to acknowledge their preference and accommodate it as long as it doesn't run against someone else's equally valid feelings.

 

[Thomas Shey]

IDK. He would have seen human monsters like Hitler, Stalin and so forth. They’d have functionally the same personality, just not as much individual power.

The idea that there could be a super Hitler like his son is a super American wouldn’t be unimaginable.

I suspect he wouldn't have seen Kryptonians as a plural. In his mind Clark was effectively an isolated phenomenon.

 

[Thomas Shey]

Which is also a bizarre depiction of Pa Kent. The superhero's father figure is a terrified man whose fear for his (invulnerable) son's safety is his overriding personal drive is ... well, it's certainly a choice.

Its absolutely the weakest point of the movie.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

I do.

I hear about it every Halloween.

Do you know what else we hear about every Halloween?

People who are offended by Halloween.

I think it is important to not be a jerk, and to respect that some terms are always going to be offensive (see, e.g., the common term for the the Romani).

I also think that at a certain point, people have to realize that just because someone is offended by something, doesn't mean it's necessarily bad. We all have to live in a society, and part of living in that society is, on occasion, understanding that people will say and do things that we don't like. There is no special dispensation or "get out of jail free" card to claim that you are exempt from the normal slings and arrows that will arise in a free and pluralistic society.

Of course, the devil is in the details. But discussing details requires the type of nuanced conversation you are unlikely to find on the internet.