Some things are just not funny. Or, at the very least, they shouldn't be funny. As a society, we have social norms and mores in regards to what is acceptable to joke about and what is not. By and large these days it is unacceptable to make racist jokes, or to make jokes about the Holocaust or other human tragedies. I think making jokes about molesting children would fall into this category, as well as a "joke" about face raping someone.

What kind of sick bastard would even THINK things like that, then actually think it was funny, and then feel the need to write it down and share it with his friends. (and anyone else reading livejournal). The fact that there are those who either a) thought it was funny, or b) "don't see what the big deal is, it was just writing, he wasn't serious" make me concerned about what kind of people they are as well. Anyone who would defend Ken Gagnon is just as guilty as him.

And as far as having "talent", he certainly wasn't using it when he wrote in his livejournal, and if he cared about being able to use his talent in class and out in the community, he should have exercised better judgement. We all have the right to speak freely, but we also must take responsibility for that speech. That is why members of hate groups have been found guilty of inciting violence when their speech results in the injury or death of a member of a group they don't like.

Speech or writing like Gagnon's creates an environment in which violence against women is no big deal; something to be laughed at. When we joke about something we normalize it, make it ok. Violence against women and children should never be okay. It is and should be reprehensible. But Gagnon's statements de-sensitize it for us. When we laugh at something, it is pretty hard to then make an about face and take the same thing dead seriously.

I, for one, think Gagnon deserves everything he gets. Ken Gagnon clearly only cares about Ken Gagnon. He showed no restraint in his writing and doesn't seem to care who he offends. He's not sorry. He's sorry he got caught.