UAE | General
Can T-shirt messages offend your values?
Quirky one-liners on T-shirts often succeed where many authorities struggle - getting people to read. Education with humour can be an excellent mix, but at times the joke is just not funny.
- By Huda Tabrez, Community Journalist
- Published: 00:38 April 12, 2008
- Image Credit: Devadasan/Gulf News
- A psychiatrist says that for various reasons people of different social backgrounds react differently to humour.
Dubai: Quirky one-liners on T-shirts often succeed where many authorities struggle - getting people to read. Education with humour can be an excellent mix, but at times the joke is just not funny.
Gulf News reader Najwa Dafallah, based in Dubai, was out shopping recently for nightwear for her children, when she came across the following printed across a garment: "Virginity is not dignity. It is a lack of opportunity."
She was shocked. "Statements such as these deride values and it is not something that I would like to pass on to the next generation," she said. "I feel very angry when I see such statements."
But not all printed shirts irk Najwa. She is supportive of raising awareness through thought-provoking messages.
"I would love to buy shirts for my children that raise real issues about human rights or the environment," she said.
25-year-old Arun Mohan has an impressive collection of T-shirts with humorous one-liners or philosophical quotes.
"I even wear these shirts to the office and people always enjoy reading them. Now they expect me to give them something new every day," he said.
"My favourite line is, 'Sarcasm is one of the best services I can offer'," he said. According to Dr Sathesh Vadasseril, a practicing psychiatrist in Sharjah, people due to various reasons can perceive humour differently.
"Your social background affects the way you react to humour. It also often depends on your personality," he said.
Dr Vadasseril cautioned that care should be taken that T-shirts with funny messages on them are never "inappropriate."
Mohan seconds the opinion and says that his shirts are an extension of his personality. "Personally I wouldn't want to make fun of others or offend anyone. That is why I choose to make fun of myself," he added.
Your comments
Yes, I do find some one-liners on T-shirts very offending, a major example being the one related to virginity, mentioned in this article. People are just too hyper about humour, and giving the impression of themselves being funny or humorous. If they use their brains to think in the larger interest of the society, they would believe that there's no need of such humour which serves against humanity's values. We are those people who know about modesty and values, and people wearing such shirts should respect this.
Ali
Riyadh,Saudi Arabia
Posted: April 12, 2008, 09:18
Censorship is required on T-shirt messages as there is the chance to spread indecent, provocative, senseless messages by this way. Also, severe penalties should be imposed.
Madukkur
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 12, 2008, 09:15
Personally, I feel liners on T-shirts should be encouraging, and not to tear someone down. The world lacks people who encourage one another, so it's a good way to encourage as you go along and it costs you nothing, but makes the day for the other person.
Beena
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: April 12, 2008, 09:09
I think people should consider the moral value of the messages on the shirts.
Thasimmahe
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: April 12, 2008, 08:28
Most of the time people do not read what is written on a T-shirt, they just go by the look or style of it. Most of the time it becomes difficult to read when somebody wears it, unless the words are in a big size. Some long sentences or quotes can be read only when one buys it from the shop or when somebody wants to read it personally. It is useless to waste time on discussing such an issue.
Anjan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 12, 2008, 07:22
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