Every once in awhile I get reminded why I don’t like FaceBook and why I should never forget the I shouldn’t post anything — even the most innocuous thought — on it. FaceBook is the cyber equivalent of “tornado alley.”
My latest Facebook blunder was to post a picture of the autumn moon rising over the football field at Hockinson High School — I thought it was pretty. My mistake was to mention the event I was attending. It was the Annual Powder Puff Football Game between the girls of each graduating class. (The Junior girls won the tournament, by the way). It was organized by the young women of the senior class who had printed pink T-shirts (the color of breast cancer awareness) with “Powder Puff Football” clearly visible; did the promotion and even recruited an all-boy “rally squad.” What a hoot!
Who would have known that I (and apparently the senior girls of Hockinson High School) had run afoul of the FaceBook “propriety police?” Immediately, somebody jumped to the defense of all women who were diminished and demeaned by the words “powder puff.” Moreover, I was informed that there was a whole league devoted to “flag football” apparently to remind me that I had demeaned the achievements women athletes everywhere–powder puff indeed!
Sighhhh…
I just thought it was a pretty moon rising over the football field. I hadn’t even thought about what an admirable thing the girls were doing that night. And you can bet it never occurred to me that I, male chauvinist that I am, might be insulting an entire gender…oops…
Gender. Dang! I did it again!
I can only imagine what might have happened if I had slipped and mentioned gender on FaceBook. What about all the persons who are “non-binary” or “trans?” And what about the guys that identify as girls who want to play in the powder puff football fundraiser? I can’t take a step left of right without offending somebody.
So, here I am, hunkered down in the safety of my own blog where the “comment” feature is turned off. [If you want to know more about that, click the link at the beginning of this post.] And if you object to this post, grab a Tums. The churning of the stomach will pass.
Anyhow, it was a pretty moon rising over the “powderpuff football fundraiser.” Don’t you think?
PS: I was once criticized for my endorsement of Abraham Lincoln for president. apparently, on the basis of some of Lincoln’s decisions in office. Seriously. It apparently didn’t occur to my detractor that my endorsement was a snide commentary on the present candidates. Lincoln, after all, died a few years back…
Sighhhh…