Who is served by all this thick skin? Those who want to behave with impunity. I’m not talking about constructive criticism or accountability but, rather, the intense scrutiny and unnecessary commentary people have to deal with when they challenge others’ expectations one way or another. Toughen yourself, we’re told, whoever we are, whatever we’ve been through or are going through. I think a lot about how we are constantly asked to make our skin ever thicker. It is a rejection of the expectation that we laugh off everything people want to say and do to us.

It is a repudiation of the incessant valorizing of taking a joke, having a sense of humor. It is a defense of boundaries and being human and enforcing one’s limits. This is not a defense of Will Smith, who does not need me to defend him.