Turning up the fire in the kitchen!
Well if you read the post prior to this (I need your opinion) you will see that I sent a joke which was forward to me to the entire College of Law Mailing List. This evening I received another e-mail stating my "forwarded" joke was tasteless. This person did so in a colorful manner, some may even say his reply was even more tasteless than my joke. I'll let you decide.Yeah. Child abuse is f'ing hilarious. Congratulations, dirtbag. You
just joined the small but exclusive list of people that I wish had been
beaten your whole life. I'm going to make Career Services my second
home and do everything I can to find out which employers you are
applying to, and then I'm going to forward this email to the hiring
committee at each one. Scumbag. Waste of life. Shame on you. I'm
also going to be forwarding this to the Illinois Bar Association...I
doubt it will do any good, but if I have a chance of burning you over
this, I'm taking it. You want to tell this in the locker room, go
ahead, although from your picture, I'm guessing you don't see the inside
of one often. But you have the COMPLETE lack of intelligence to send
this to the whole mailing list? How did you get into this school?
I've said some offensive things on the mailing list, but you take the
cake, you moron.
posted by Kris Anderson @ 11:36 PM
28 Comments:
My name is James Waller and I am the one who sent that email. I appreciate you addressing the issue here on your blog. It is a good first step in changing my opinion of you (whether you care or not...I probably wouldn't.) Anyway, I'm pasting into here parts of a follow-up email that I just sent to the mailing list, so that your readers may know a bit more of my thought processes:
Could you imagine the repurcussions that would ensue if instead of "an abused child", the joke had been "The U of I football team couldn't even beat a slave." Or "a Dachau inmate" or "an Arab detainee"? The sound and fury would have been deafening and rightly so. Even though in all cases we'd be dealing with "a fictitious slave/jew/arab". In all cases you could say "it's just a joke". In all cases you could say "of course the underlying thing isn't funny, but this is!" But in all cases you would be making light of an intensely hurtful situation. Everybody would recognize the latter versions of the joke as hurtful, possibly hate-speech. But if you get personally offended by a joke about child abuse, then you have no sense of humor. This makes no sense to me.
Kristopher is the Treasurer for the Young Democrats of America. As his website says: "He is not only a visible advocate, but a vocal advocate for fiscal responsibility...In holding true to the high character values of those who came before him, Kristopher will be one of hope for all people with dreams but the lack of resources to make those dreams a reality." Anybody who holds themselves out as a public figure, a "visible, vocal advocate" for anything is more than fair game for attack when they demonstrate a callousness and insensitivity to what is arguably the biggest domestic problem we have in this country. As a young(ish) Democrat, I'm ashamed of being associated with him. It's entirely possible that Kristopher is a great guy who really believes in the things his website says, and that his original "joke" was just a brain-fart. If that is the case, then it's important that he know how deeply feelings on this subject can run and what people may infer about his character from reading it. If he is, instead, the jerk that his email makes him sound like, and everything on his website is just politician--bs, then it's also important that he know the implications that revealing this would have on his political career.
I suggest you show everyone that you can turn something bad into something positive. Do something affirmative for victims of child abuse - a fundraiser perhaps. The interest certainly has been drummed up.
I wish you weren't anonymous, I would like to talk to you more about it.
This Thanksgiving I want to participate in an event feeding Vets at the VA hospital on Chicago near westside. I may participate in a NO clean up effort over Christmas Break, but I can assure you I will do something regarding child abuse. I may spend a few hours volunteering in the State's Atty.'s office or seek a SBA group do something with. Regardless, I probably won't do the SA ofc for credit to further prove my commitment and its not always about "what can I get out of it".
But sincerely, thank you for the suggestion.
Kris,
I'd like to participate in any event you have planned regarding child abuse victims. I'd also like to address the issues we've caused on the mailing list. Please email me at you earliest convenience.
Thanks,
James H. Waller
One of the firs treplies I received.
Hm...what about: 1.) Desire to abuse career service resources; 2.) Lack of judgment in sending this to the mailing list rather than privately trying to work this out; 3.) Inability to handle a joke; 4.) Public admission that you've said some "offensive things"; 5.) Will hold grudges (think law firms want to hire someone that will try to burn them after the person leaves?); 6.) Extremely judgmental, etc. etc.
Another.
In the words of Colonel Sanders from the Waterboy, "Something's wrong with his medulla oblongata." Oh, and just to clarify: by "his" I mean "james waller's"
BTW, if you make Career Services your second home, the attrition problem in that office is not likely to improve.
AG
Wasn't this joke like 80 years old? I think I've heard it about the Bears, the post-Jordan Bulls, and any number of other poor sports teams.
The man was attempting to provide us all with a respite from outlining...I assume through laughter, but instead, through yet another email list battle initiated by Mr. Waller.
I, for one, am willing to degenerate into almost anything to avoid outlining - so lets get busy!
MK
Selling Waller's Sense of Humor
$10 OBO
"if I have a chance of burning you over this, I'm taking it."
isn't it an honor code violation to threaten other students?
For the purpose of full disclosure and compliance with any yet-to-be-discovered Illinois bar rules, below you will find a list of some things I have found funny over the years. The list is not exhaustive. I reserve the right to laugh at stuff that does not appear below.
- oral sex performed on the police academy commandant
- The Honeymooners. See, even shows with clear references to spousal abuse can be hilarious. "Alice!!!!"
- any time I see Kleenex and moisturizer on some office rat's desk
- that Conan episode where he showed a clip of some dude's head getting stuck up an elephants bum
- the words "bum" and "pants" . . . and "monkey"
- Country Music Television's "2005 Sexiest Video" countdown. The funny thing is that I could be watching anything else right now.
- threatening the future of your classmates because of a JOKE. That one never gets old.
- smiley faces and other stupid emotional signals in emails. I guess it works for those bums :) who have trouble using words. Sad, but funny - e.g. James Waller :(
Have a Great Thanksgiving,
Kris's email was so damn funny I forwarded it to four people myself, ironically all attorneys. You better add my name to the list of Bar reportable offenders. If you only knew what attorneys send to each other...
Have a drink.
This one is from a section mate. If I deeply offended someone from section that will make the
Finals period and next semester more uncomfortable. I hope this person speaks for the other 60. Oh, as far as his efforts to recruit me, I am still a loyal Democrat but in the mold of Harold Ford of TN, a Blue Dog.
For the record, the correct reply to Kris's original e-mail was the third bullet in your last e-mail. You're offended? Fine. Make your point and be done with it.
Also, your fifth bullet point is not an apology; it's the equivalent of a 3 year old who grudgingly says "Sorry" because his mom's going to take his toys away. The insults you threw at Kris were more then just "name-calling"; they were ugly personal attacks that anyone with an ounce of class would be embarrassed to put in a personal e-mail, let alone a public one.
And Kris, just want to let you know that if your fellow Democrats can't take a joke, you’re welcome to come over to our camp. We'd be proud to be associated with anyone who can work the word "carrot" into a question about specific performance.
I like this one a lot! Even though TN and FL are my favorites in the SEC.
Perhaps this would have been more appropriate. Either way, I think Kris was just trying to give everyone a much needed break from studying. I hope Mr. Waller accepts my sincerest apologies if he is deeply offended by “white powdery substance” or picking on the Tennessee football team.
This just in.....more trouble for UT
Tennessee Volunteers football practice was delayed nearly two hours today after a player reported finding an unknown white powdery substance on the practice field.
Head Coach Phil Fulmer immediately suspended practice while police and federal investigators were called to investigate. After a complete analysis, FBI forensic experts determined that the white substance unknown to the players was the goal line.
Practice was resumed after special agents decided the team was unlikely to encounter the substance again.
I just stat down at my computer after playing dolls with my daughters. I feel like I have to give my (less-than) two cents:
Waller is 'wallering' again, what else is new? I think he takes great pleasure in how inflamed he makes people. Remember back in elementary school when the kid who wanted attention would pick on the other kids?
However, one man's incindiary remarks shouldn't overshadow the fact that there isn't anything funny about child abuse. If you think the punchline if funny, great. I doubt that any of you, even you Eugene, truly believe that abuse is a laughing matter. If so, please let me know so I can keep my three children away from you.
I ask you this: if you wanted to tell the joke to an associate or partner at your summer employement, would you use Kris's [or the other]?
There are no winners here. Kris made a bad judgment call in sending the original joke. The response was disproportionate and inappropriately public.
Happy Thanksgiving!
P.S. As a Republican, I intend to keep this entire string of emails to use against any of you that run for Congress, are nominated to the Supreme Court, or look at me the wrong way on the playground during recess. Maybe we could just settling this whole thing at the flag pole after school. Do we have a flagpole at the law school? Maybe that could be the gift from the Class of 2007.
This one is from a West Point graduate and former military officer. Anyone who knows me knows my alter ego is that of a general storming a beach (with or without the glasses and the corncob pipe). So I really appreciate this one.
Waller, you crack me up! Thanks for the laugh (at you). I have traveled four continents in my 31 years and never met anyone as absurdly out of touch with society and reality as you. Truly an accomplishment on your part, cause I've met some real weird folks.
It fascinates me that there is someone like you out there!
You ever feel like it's just you against the world there buddy? What's that like?
By the way...the target on your latest diatribe? Kris Anderson is an absolutely sincere guy, and from the short time I've known him, a genuinely good person. That's a hard standard to achieve in my book. He erred in posting a joke in a public forum that could be offensive if taken rediculously out of context - big deal. Your response was insanely out of proportion. Kris's potential is probably in the top 5% of the whole school. You would be extremely fortunate to work for him some day. (Of course, you'll be fortunate to work for anyone if you can't refrain from your email habit)
PS - Please add me to your "exclusive list". If Kris is on there, I would be happy to be in such company.
I am unsure what this in response to but in the best interst of fairness.
Heh . . . Either the email from Mr. Turner was some especially witty mimicry, or I think SOMEBODY might have a little case of hypocritis, if you know what I mean . . .
And boys and girls that's it! Anyone know any good jokes?
I understand Mr. Waller's concern for wanting to alert the relevant bar associations. While he's at it, I suggest he contact administration, the Champaign police department, as well as any firms or political campaigns that Mr. Anderson is affiliated with. To do so would only be proper.
Get to work Waller!!!
it was certainly poor judgment of him to post it to the mailing list.
For the record, I kind of wondered whether his joke was appropriate as well. I think when someone sends a mass mail to 600+ people one has to assume that at least one person on the list was probably beaten as a child.
I don't know which bothers me more - Anderson's joke, or the shockingly blasé and defensive responses to your protest.
Before you had even sent your initial (and, unfortunately over-the-top, but appropriately passionate) e-mail, I had already written Anderson and asked for a retraction/apology (no response as of yet). I know that we have many parents/juvenile law advocates/formerly abused children, and for that matter just plain good people at our school - how this wouldn't obviously offend them, I just don't know....How such a played joke is hilarious, I just don't know.
Your "final" comment was well done, and your analogies hopefully point out what should have been obvious, although this crowd doesn't seem to be capable of grasping such a thing.
You seem secure that your reaction to this was in the right place, but I want to let you know that it took a good deal of restraint to have not beaten you (figuratively) to the punch with your public response.
Sometimes my grandpa tells racist jokes at the dinner table, which he thinks are hilarious. I am infuriated when no one backs me when I tell him it is inappropriate.
Certainly, Mr. Waller's comments are . . . oftentimes abrasive, and I will admit I have not read the entirety of his initial response, but I have to say . . . jokes about child abuse, whatever the intentions behind it might be, are tasteless and deleterious to social progress, and should be publicly condemned as such. As was just pointed out to me by a little bird reading over my shoulder, of course, there are better ways for Mr. Waller to convey whatever Mr. Waller's sentiments are at any given point in time . . . and his "outrage" does at times smack of insincerity (sorry, James), but I, for one, do not think that he needs to apologize under the present circumstances for his reaction, however overblown . . . I think, in this case, much like my performance at the dinner table, an overreaction is preferable to no reaction.
I was ignorant to the word deleterious. I like it and I will use it more.
As it relates to insensitive comments I want you all to know, that upon my initial reading I never thought this joke would begin such an uproar. Knowing that is has that potential I shall never do it again.
As it relates to an apology, I was counseled not to make any statements, hoping that the situation blow over. Now that it has a statement is in the works.
Allow me to say for any of you reading this that and do not know me: I AM FERVENT ADVOCATE OF PROTECTING THOSE IN ABUSIVE RELTIONATHIPS: spousal, children, geriatric and the likes.
Honestly, I did not see the "joke" as a reflection of the child abuse situation but of the terribleness of U of I football, which I endured as an undergrad and now as a professional student. I thought that was the beauty in it, it drew you in and then with the ending it releases you.
In retrospect, I appreciate the personal e-mail I received around noon from Mr. E. If JW was not so inflammatory with his response I am sure people would have seen him as an OUTRAGED (personal joke for members of Section B Torts) person.
I have learned a valuable lesson and personal messages will be generated to those who it applies (JW, Mr. E and a few others).
Great holiday to all. This Thanksgiving I am thankful for the power of forgiveness, you all forgiving me allows us to move on.
Kris...
Please stop attacking people groundlessly. I posted to this thread follow-up emails that you either neglected to include or were sent to me privately. The only reason I did this was to give your readers a balanced view of the responses. I appreciate your last post, but please, do not attack people who did not post anything to your blog.
Luckily, I am fortunate enough to say that I belong to an elite group of people that I am proud to be a part of. As a law student at UI, I, along with my collegues command respect wherever we go, and are all blessed enough to have educated opinions.
I am so disappointed when someone who is representing a group that I belong to shows anything less then class and respect . . . and what was shown by James' email was complete ignorance and disrespect.
I hate more then anything when a person sits on the fence. Pick a side, even if it's not mine. I have no qualms about the fact that James may very well have been offended by the joke.
He might have felt like Kris was the one being disrespectful and ignorant. He's entitled to his opinion, but two wrongs do not make a right.
Where the problem clearly enters is how he reacts. 10% of life is what happens to you. The other 90% is how you react to it.
It's going to be a miserable life for a certain someone if this is how he is going to spend his time reacting to life's lemons.
I really hope, for the sake of the reputation of my soon to be alma mater, he doesn't go around calling the attorney across the courtroom names like scumbag and moron when she is defending an alleged child abuser. FYI buddy, this is how America works. . . Free speech & fair trials. Like it or not . . . You need a reality check.
I believe I've stated in my apology that that was the wrong thing to do. You can continue to pile on, if you want, but you won't find anyone who disagrees with you.
And then you ACCUSED me of posting stuff on your blog. Really classy KA!
This is the first time I have ever visited your blog. Even if I had posted that stuff, it would not have mattered. This is a public forum.
Waller was practically FORCED to apologize to you...where is my apology for your FALSE ACCUSATION?
I do not want one...just want you to understand that what you did was WRONG. I guess b/c I'm not one of the individuals at school that you feel can "take you to the next level," you do not feel the need to show me respect or common courtesy.
And now you plan to join forces with Waller? What happens the next time you offend someone? I think it is good that you know how to be everyone's favorite guy. I certainly don't have that quality. I just go to class and get good grades. Not too popular...but oh well!
Welcome to our COL...you'll fit in nicely. And I see you've got the best of the best to DEMAND AN APOLOGY for you...boy boy boy...the next year and half will be interesting.
Take care!!!
Hey KriS, I looked on your blog to see how you were doing, and whoa!
While aspiring to lead and spur conversation you were only able to get a response on an old joke you posted. Keep on leading, use some discretion, but this won't be the last guy to dedicate his life towards destroying yours. Keep your head up! Allen
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