Thin skinned, easily offended need not apply
595564
The good news:  This guy is so right on with everything - and I mean EVERY THING that it's a little scary.

The bad news is that someone like this could never get elected President in this country.

Hoo-Weee! If you are an easily offended wimp, steer clear of this one.  The author lays the smackdown on just about everyone.

It really is a lot of fun to read and see someone say all the things you want to but can't because you need your day job, wife, kids, friends, etc...
2690595
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:, November 14, 2003

Reviewer: Mark Ventimiglia (Jerseyville, IL) - See all my reviews

This is "not" a review since it is posted by me, Mark Ventimiglia, the author of this work. First, I would like to address the many upset people that this book, and my views, has offended. Universal Truths cannot be changed! These Universal Truths are not man-made laws like speed limits, constitutional amendments, etc. They "cannot" be changed! Furthermore, for all the people that claim I am hurting them by preaching "right morality" my only reply is this: I am only teaching what "needs" to be taught. If you cannot accept this, it is your choice. But know this, by living a morally incorrect life, you are hurting yourself much more than I could ever hurt you. In all actuality, I am merely trying to teach "right morality" because I love you! Lastly, there are some people out there that claim I am not Wiccan because I use the terms "sin, enlightenment, righteousness, repent," etc... which are also used in other religions. HA! People, please think for a minute. I use these terms because they are universally accepted. IE: You don't have to look them up in a dictionary to understand their meaning. Understand this: Ignorance of the law is no exception. You don't have to understand gravity to be within its grip. Likewise, you don't have to believe in these Universal Laws to be subject to their consequinces. Again, the choice is yours. I knew there would be much controversey when I wrote this book. So be it.

I will tell you sir that I admire your courage to face us. Some authors shrink in the face of negativity, others lash out. You didn't.

That said, you can add me to the list of readers that strongly disagrees with some of your points(the ones already pointed out).

Most of the book is great I think. It was an informitive read for me,  having never had expeirence to ANY version of the rede before. The shortened version is something I will be sure to add to my book of shadows.

But I must say that I cannot stand by your vies on homosexuality at all. This religion teaches compassion and non-prejudism. That should be our goal. We can always respectfully disagree with others, even try to gently guide them on a better path if we beleive the one they are on is self-destructive. And I have no doubt that was your intention. But there's nothing gentle or subtle about your Evangelical scare tactics which are better suited for a Jerry Falwell sermon or Jonathan Edward's "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God". It's attitudes where the line between loving guidance and fiery hatred is blurred if not crossed that have helped lead me from the Church to the Craft.

And also, I cannot agree with your views on non-vegetarianism. Yes, we all know that a meat diet is bad for you. You do a great job of really outlining that too. But there's a point most people forget that I need to remind you of sir: it doesn't matter if it's an apple, beef, or a mushroom, there is ALWAYS a loss of life involved in eating. Plain and simple. I fail to see how one can distiguish between the life of an animal and that of a plant or a fungus. They are all living creatures of the Great Mother. The only way to not inflict suffering on a living thing to bring ourselve nurishment is to make vitamin-filled plastic.
4329353
Do not purchase if you have a strict HR policy against this sort of thing.  It is completely PG, though.  Only abbreviations and no vulgar words.  It's great if you have a light-hearted office and people who are accepting of jokes of this nature.
1848716
A terrorist costume again. How unoriginal and how rude. Terrorism would not be such a big deal if everybody would stop making fun of people from different cultures. This is down right wrong and very uncalled for.
1122739
This concept is so simple and gets rid of tempting victim mentality. Not too different than picturing your cancer/disease as a monster you are fighting. I find some of the swearing offensive, but that's today for you.
145639
If you're prone to being offended, this isn't going to be the movie for you.  Then again, I find that most people who spend a lot of time being offended tend to go out of their way to be offended, in which case, this will be just the thing!

Do you believe there is such a thing as too much swearing?
Does sodomy offend you?
Does stylized violence get your dander all hackled?
Are disrespectful representations of the President of the United States wrong?
Is parkour lame and played out?

OK -- parkour is played out and lame, but if you answered yes to any of the other questions, you should give this one a pass.

I don't really need to say anything about the movie, because the audience for whom this movie was made already knows everything they need to know just by reading my warnings.
617290
I was too offended by much of the rudeness and lewdness in How to Weep in Public: Feeble Offerings on Depression from Someone Who Knows.  I read up to page 101 before becoming so bothered I couldn't bring myself to continue.  I had hoped to be entertained by Jacqueline Novaks take on the misery of depression, but the vulgar language and excessive sexual references made me feel annoyed and irritated instead of amused. I get that shes a popular mainstream, not-really-religious comedian and the shock factor is what gets to some people, but I wasn't feeling it.  Im sure that watching several of Christian comedian and musician Tim Hawkins hilarious Youtube videos this week also influenced my visceral dislike for Novaks approach.

Ill admit a few of the items on her Top lists included made me smile, but I never found myself actually laughing (which to me is the mark of a book that is truly funny).  At least, she was brutally honest in the Introduction:
What This Book Will Not Provide:
  Useful exercises
  Insights of lasting value
  Relief from depression
  Help of any kind (p. 9)

I get that this is humor and a parody, but skimming quickly through the rest of the book only to discover that my favorite flavor of Ben and Jerrys has been discontinued was more than I could handle.  One of the primary ways Ive experienced significant relief from depression has been to make some rather drastic changes to my diet, so I rarely eat dairy products, chocolate, or lots of processed sugar these days, but knowing that I won't get to so much as glance at my former ice cream fix on the frozen foods aisle seems cruel.

If I were knee-deep in self-help books and languishing in the lingo of depression but had never sat with someone who was feeling suicidal to keep them from ending their lives or considered the possibility of my own early demise, I might feel differently.

I wouldnt recommend this book for those who are suffering from severe depression or in the midst of caring for someone who does.  I personally have found books on the topic by Henri Nouwen, Kathryn J. Hermes, FSP, Joyce Rupp, and Nick Vujicic.  (The first author is a priest, the two are consecrated women religious, and the last one is an upbeat, humorous gentleman author and speaker who was born without arms or legs).  Their faith-based approaches resonate with me and left me with three of the four things anecdotes that Novaks book lacked: "useful exercises, insights of lasting value, and help..."
2595533
I cannot disagree with any of the reviews above.  This is a well written book using the negative stereotypes associated with skinheadism.

That said, if you are a traditional skinhead (read non-racist) you will be  dissapointed with the assumptions in this book.

At no time does the  author attempt to differentiate between the many subcultures involved with  skinheadism.

Those comfortable with the stereotypes involved with  skinheads who like simplistic detective stories you will find this  entertaining.

Those who appreciate realism in their reading will be  dissapointed with the simplistic descriptions and gross abuse of  stereotypes.
4561339
Honestly, unless you have a model figure, you are probably going to be offended by this book. Or if you are a minority. Within the first chapter, the male lead declares he wouldn't sleep with a women because she has a huge behind (I'm putting it a lot nicer). Another character describes a women she is talking to as a female sumo wrestler. I didn't find much to like about most of the characters, especially when they made racially ignorant comments. I was so distracted by these issues that I quit reading it and will be deleting it from my library.....which is something I have rarely ever done!
4186799
Ways you can change your attitude in order to not try and label others would help.  Instead this tries to instil diagnosis of others consistent with a superiority complex and low social skills.  A correct title should be "How to blame your intolerance on others by labeling".
1943282
We seem to have arrived at the point where if you do not give, agree with, describe someone as they want then you must hate them.

What happened to the days we could agree to disagree, when one person's judgment of us was just one person but may be a valid view from which we can learn, and whilst sticks and stones may hurt my bones, prejudiced words will never touch me?

Read the Amazon reviews. Some think The Hate U Give is literary genius. Other think it stereotyped sensationalist trash. The Hate U give seems to have some of both.

My view?

The Hate U Give is a sad indictment of today's society. The fact that in this day of 350 Americans a few, a very few are still racist. However no one can describe todays discrimination without recognising how better things are now. History is the history of human emancipation, from starvation, poverty, poor housing, no education, slavery, sexism, dangerous and exhausting manual work. To fail to recognise what your forebears endured is an insult to their memory. Its just a few words in a book of 100,000.

Reading fiction I like a firm image of the characters, but characters who constantly utter such vulgarity are not likeable and not characteristic of the America nor my American friends of all races. I have never heard any individual or group, or any ethnic or class, use such profanity. Except in fiction.  Amazon blocked the first version of this review because it contained one of the profanities that litter 'The Hate U Give - which seems ironic as Amazon sells the book.

All fiction reinforces or, better, challenges social attitudes and values. The Hate U Give characters reinforce adverse racial sterotypes that provoke the criticism and dismissal the author states is hateful. Read the numerous 1* reviews. The author did not think - 'Is that the way I want to portray my people, my society?' The Hate U Give is black in many ways.

The society we now live in is reflected in the hate this book gives. A world of txt message - The 8te u give,- 140 character Twitter and Face Book trolls where words are cheap and hurled your face to be heard you pay attention however offensive.

Ever heard the wisdom, Give a dog a bad name? which means describe a person bad and they will become bad. Describe a person as good and they will become good. Is the Hate U Give the dark place you want America to become? Not the American friends I know.

Read critically, and because The Hate U Give provokes critical review, I give it 5*
1042300
As for vulgarity and explicit descriptive scenes, this book is not lacking, but I feel this was necessary to convey the fright intended by this book, which I must say, made me go to sleep with my head under the  covers for a week. If you are not easily offended and are able to capture  the true meening out of obscurity, you will love this book, I did.
4394332
Not a fan...I'd rather had the topic in a sermon  or a bullet list of items...and if women should be modest for men - where is their admonition not to be lecherous????
4929371
There's a certain segment of the population that is married to the idea that comics ought to be cheap, semi-literate, kiddie-fare. Garth Ennis is not among them.

Rest assured, there is something to offend everyone in this book. It is crude, coarse, often disgusting and spares no cliche of the superhero mythos. This is not a comic for children, although I can't imagine why anyone would think it was, given the names attached to this book.

Coupled with the writing of Ennis is the fabulous artwork of Amanda Conner, who's long been a favorite of mine. Honestly, I probably haven't laughed this hard since the last time I read Evan Dorkin's Milk and Cheese.

If you are uptight, easily offended, not familiar with comics, or otherwise a bummer to hang around at parties, don't buy this book. It's for the rest of us.
138812
I love a good laugh as much as the next guy, and to be sure, there are plenty of laughs in Carolla's book.  But the self-proclaimed non-racist, non-bigot, non-sexist makes too many derogatory references to homosexuals and "Mexicans" for my taste.  And that's just in the first half of the book!  Referring to a sign posted on the door of a port-a-john calling it a Mexican Space Shuttle?  But he's not a racist (so he alludes at least a few times), he just exploits the incident as humor, but at whose expense?

Someone who claims to not have anything against homosexual marriage shouldn't have anything against not using the words and phrases he does to express certain ideas.

Carolla needs to look a touch closer at the words he serves up for those in Congress who protest too much over gay marriage, and apply those words to his own writing.

As far as what he writes here, he is a racist, sexist, homophobic bigot.

If I could delete it from my Kindle, I would.
581392
As chief of the Atlanta fire and rescue department, this author has shown through his words that his faith is in conflict with his legal obligation to run a fair and diverse department.  Calling gays and lesbians perverts on the level of those who have sex with children and animals does not demonstrate the kind of attitude that would give his employees confidence that he could be trusted to act without discrimination.  Distributing this book among his department's employees suggests not just private beliefs, but an attempt to persuade others in a way that seems a violation of his position of power.  So buyers of this book should be aware that it is on the extreme end of attitudes, with the above only one example of views expressed in such a hateful way that most religious people  would not wish to be viewed as on the same level as he. He went to a lot of trouble to express hate and disdain, and to promulgate those views.
872287
I want this costume taken down!
Wow! I bought this costume last year and LOVED IT! Not only was it completely inappropriate and offensive -- it fit really well too! J/K. We want this costume taken down!
I thought wearing this costume would boil an entire culture down to a racist stereotype. And I was right: Turns out, I was representing the culture in a super inaccurate and unflattering way! I want this costume taken down!
The best news: I wore the costume on Halloween to be funny. Then the next day I took it off, and I was just me again. Isnt it awesome that I didn't have to deal with the racism or oppression some people actually experience on a daily basis? Best Halloween ever! LOL BUT SERIOUSLY: take the costume down.
Cultures are unique. We cannot simply make assumptions based on a few people and generalize it to the entire culture. From personal experience, being associated with certain stereotypes that do not define who I am is not cool; it is hurtful.