The wise, black custodian Thaddeus once said, "I'm not racist. I hate everyone equally. Blacks, whites, Spanish, Mexicans, Asians, I hate them all. That doesn't make me racist does it?"

"No, Thaddeus," I replied, "you will only be racist if you hate one more than you hate the other."

Let's face it, I'm sure you've all been offended by something on this site at one point or another. I've gotten lots and lots of nasty emails and had plenty of friends "sit me down to talk about the website."

I believe we all get up in arms and defensive sometimes, but I have a theory. If you've read this website completely, you'll notice I have lots of theories. Some of them are great, some of them are trash, but they are what I live my life by. The theory is this: today's society is WAY too politically correct. The other day in church, my assistant pastor corrected himself because he said, "We are now going to take the offering," rather than, "We are now going to receive the offering." I understand the difference in meaning - and I'm not here to debate what he said or if he should have corrected himself - but the point is we've become way too concerned about offending someone that we've gone to extreme measures to change our lifestyle. While I'm not denying that it is important not to hurt or offend others, we need to get back to a place in society where we don't judge people by their actions but by their hearts. And, seeing as how we cannot judge a man's heart, I bet it should be impossible to judge them at all. Yes, we do have laws set up to prevent criminal activity. That is not what I'm talking about. What I'm talking about is offensive actions. I wrote an email called Life is Baloney that talks somewhat about this - it basically says that the only people we allow to offend us is those we give some sort of power to offend. I personally strive to not be offended when I see something that does offend me. It is a choice I make. Does this mean I do not have a right to be offended? No, certainly I have a right to be offended, but I recognize the person is more valuable than my immediate feeling. Does this mean I never get mad? No, I get mad lots of times; I'm not perfect. But I recognize that when I am angry or offended, the problem is not in what the other person did, but in my reaction to it. I cannot change other people, I can only change myself. To tell the truth, when I was a young kid, I got picked on A LOT and cried A LOT because I got picked on. I was extremely sensitive to being overweight, etc. However, it was during those times of being offended that I realized who I was. I realized I was worth more than just what I looked like, but there was an inherent worth within me. Once I realized this, I no longer was offended when someone picked on my physical characteristics, but was able to laugh along with them, and even join in on the fun myself! Eventually, those who picked on me the most became my very best friends in high school - Scott and Jason Kern. I used to go home BALLING because of things they said. Eventually, I found myself over at their house balling (i.e., basketball) in their driveway after school. If I would never have been picked on, I never would have grown and matured. Today, I feel that we spend too much time trying to "protect" people that we never give them an opportunity to grow.

Anyway, with this epidemic of political correctness sickening our society (Again, might I add, if it continues, it will soon hold every single person in some type of bondage. This may seem extreme, but it is something I am certain of.), emerges my website. I realize we all take life and ourselves too seriously. I'm here to give you all a place to relax and have fun. Yes, some of you may be offended, but please recognize I make fun of myself just as much, if not more so, than I do any other person. I realize I am a chubby, balding, goofy looking guy who is oblivious to what is happening around him. I'm not the brightest guy, I fail at a lot of what I try to accomplish, and I have never had any type of significant relationship with a female. Most of this website PICKS ON ME!!!! It helps me put stuff in a different perspective. :)

I also pick on the people I love the most. Check out JAP-N-A-JAR. I've had MANY people take offense to it, except for two people, the two Japanese girls that are actually in the jar. Know why? Because they know I love them! And they realize that I actually mean it as a compliment! In fact, they loved it so much they showed it to their families - who also loved it. If you are offended by it, I want you to do something. Look in the mirror. Are you Japanese? I didn't think so. Now why are you offended when they aren't? On the rare chance you are Japanese, please know I LOVE Japanese people and wish to be around them all the time - hence the Jap-N-A-Jar concept. Hanging out with Japanese people all the time.

So yes, my rallying cry . . . STOP TAKING LIFE SO SERIOUSLY!!!! LIGHTEN UP, LAUGH AT YOURSELF, AND HAVE FUN! You'll enjoy life and feel much better about yourself when you do.

Here is the deal, most of the fictional characters I use on this website, yes, I DID say fictional, including "Josh" himself, are figments of my imagination. They are idealized, stereotypical, and at times even racial characters. They are BASED off of real people I know, including the use of their real name, but I stretch a lot. I never wanted to make this known, but I'm tired of answering reader e-mail about it. If this ruins the experience for some of you, I apologize. I hope you can forgive me. This website is about MY LIFE and the WAY I SEE IT. Sometimes it what I want to see - not what's really there. Again, idealized to make myself look life the hero while depreciating everyone else I know. I've said before that I never lie, just use words to make myself look better. This website stays true to that statement.

I hope you enjoy your stay. And I hope you do get offended, but at the same time it makes you a better person and you learn to laugh at yourself and at life.

In love,
Josh Manning(.com)

© H.A.M. Productions 2004