Chris Pratt Apologized for Saying "Listen" Because I Guess it's a Trigger Word for the Deaf Now
Chris Pratt posted a heartfelt apology after one of his Instagram videos offended some of his hearing-impaired followers pic.twitter.com/vdQAXZcgD7
— NowThis (@nowthisnews) May 6, 2017
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I love Chris Pratt. As far as I’m aware, I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love Chris Pratt. You never know for sure about what celebrities are really like, but every instinct in my gut tells me he’d be cool to hang around with. And one of my favorite actor moments of recent vintage was he and Chris Evans showing up at children’s hospitals in Seattle and Boston dressed as Star Lord and Captain America as part of a Super Bowl XLIX bet.
Which is why this video, well-intentioned though it may be, is so excruciating. I’d call it “a bad look,” but I don’t want to offend any of the millions of vision-impaired Stoolies. Because this is what it’s come to. We are now at the point where, in order to right past wrongs, we’ve swung pendulum of inclusion so far to the other side that it just crushed someone for the crime of saying “Enjoy this pleasant sound!” to his fans. And forced a perfectly likeable actor to walk himself before the Shame Bell for sharing a piece of music on Instagram like he violated the Americans with Disabilities Act. That is, if I’m even allowed to reference the Shame Bell, since some of us can’t hear it.
Look, I’ve got as much empathy for the Hearing Impaired as the next guy. I see the Closed Captioning on the TVs at the gym and feel bad because the words on the screen are never anywhere close to what is actually being said. It’s like a much, much worse autocorrect and it bothers me deaf people will never know they’re being lied to. But we all have our crosses to bear. And it doesn’t justify coming after Chris Pratt for wanting the rest of us to listen to something. I’ve been wearing glasses my whole life. I’ve never had the hand/eye coordination I wanted. I’m disappointed with my penis size. But I don’t take that out on people with 20/20, athletic skills and massive wangs. That would be wrong.
And if you’re going to draw the line at “listen,” prepare yourselves for a world without:
*”Look” – Offensive to the blind
*”What would you to say?” – The Mute
*”Wait a minute.” – People with ADHD
*”Have a nice day.” – The clinically depressed
*”Get well soon.” – The chronically ill
*”Get up, stand up. Stand up for your rights.” – The wheelchair bound
…Not to mention the end of all forms of audible entertainment. Because it’s 2017 and intent doesn’t matter any more. If two people they’re offended because you forgot about them, there’s no more falling back on “C’mon, you know I wasn’t out to offend anyone.” You’re guilty as charged. So throw yourself on your sword (without offending the suicidal) and demand Instagram right your wrongs. I’m glad the professionally offended are saving the world. I just doubt that in two years we’ll think like it was worth saving.