Yeah. I said I understand why. Twice. Like I said, I don't get offended. I see why other people do. I personally don't. That's not be insenstive. What's insensitive is to USE those words. But to not PERSONALLY take offense to it is different.
No, you don't understand.
Clearly.
I don't know how exactly you can have gotten to this stage of life and not get it, but in the immortal words of Innigo Montoya, let me 'splain.
If you as a white person don't get offended by the n-word, it's because it doesn't actually affect you. Although, it makes you completely unsympathetic, it's understandable, I suppose. Now, if Nugget, as a black person DOES get offended, it's because it has a history of hatred, violence, intimidation, etc., behind it. If she wasn't offended, I would be shocked.
If you as a white person don't get offended by the word "chink", it's because it doesn't actually affect you. Although, it makes you completely unsympathetic, it's understandable, I suppose. Now, if Miso, as a person of Asian descent DOES get offended, it's because it has a history of hatred, violence, intimidation, etc., behind it. If she wasn't offended, I would be shocked.
Do you understand now? You can be unoffended because you have this little thing called "white privilege". Others don't have that privilege.
Post by underwaterrhymes on Jan 23, 2013 19:06:38 GMT -5
I do think ignorance is occasionally the reason for hate speak. More often it's because someone is a jerk, but I'm willing to allow that someone might just not realize.
But that doesn't mean that a strong reaction when a word is used - whether it's used by someone who is ignorant or someone who is just a giant dickhead - is unwarranted.
No. You said, "I feel people are quick to say, "YOU'RE RACIST!!!" and are offended so easily."
Your implication is that others are in the wrong.
I'm of the opinion that hate speech SHOULD offend EVERYONE. It has no place in our lexicon. The words are disgusting and ignorant and hateful and the people who use them generally are too.
Yes, but...like past threads show that some people don't exactly KNOW when it's racist or not. Just like the whole, "is it okay to say Jew or not?" Some feel it is racist...but a lot of people dont.
I'm not saying "gee...i dont know what words or racist or not" but sometimes the whole "you're racist" gets thrown out so often that the poster was actually just saying something stupid/chose poorly.
I don't think others are wrong for thinking anything is racist/sexist/whatever.
"The whole 'you're racist' gets thrown out so often"?
Please give me examples of when the use of a racial slur is not racist.
Please give me examples of when cries of "you're racist" were false.
I'm not saying "gee...i dont know what words or racist or not" but sometimes the whole "you're racist" gets thrown out so often that the poster was actually just saying something stupid/chose poorly.
I don't think others are wrong for thinking anything is racist/sexist/whatever.
Racism is not a matter of perception. It is not the gray area you believe it to be. If you use a racial or bigoted slur against another person you are being racist.
I cannot explain without being called stupid so any of my arguements will not be tolerated. There will be something "wrong" with the way I word my arguement. So it's pointless. Flame away. I just simply said that I get where jj didn't know and that I personally don't take offense. Apparently because of my "white privalages"
...which seems rather presumptuous.
Now I see this wasn't really a fair fight because you don't seem to know words generally.
Credit to @jjwriter for at least being willing admit her error and being willing to learn something new today.
I get this. I am educating myself every day. My coworkers laugh often at lunch when they say something and I have a blank expression. They also laugh often when I say something crazy.
And I only learned the dictionary definition of it over Christmas break.
If this is all true, don't you think it might be wise to take some time to continue to grow as a person as you continue "educating" yourself before you take on the responsibility of nurturing another human life?
I was going to say some stuff, but then Jermys and @misoangry said all the things.
Oh! I know what I was going to say. So I spend a lot of time with a rowdy group of soccer fanatics. American hooligans, you might say. Stay with me here. We drink, we smoke, we fucking LOVE to curse. And we're creative. The c-word is one of my all-time favorites to hurl at opposing players. ONE TIME someone threw the F word. One time. And it was shut down, immediately. Even a group of 200 drunk, aggressive men knows where that line is. It's shocking that some of you not only don't, but willfully refuse to admit its existence.
@breebirdy-my grandma called the couch a davenport and the fridge an icebox. I think I was at least five before I figured out what she was talking about!
so, jenny1980, what's your proposed solution? no one ever point out hurtful speech because sometimes people don't point out hurtful speech? or are we supposed to have a shitstorm (TM his) post every time someone uses an offensive word.
i'm just trying to figure out your endgame. i mean, other than calling everyone, collectively hypocrites (despite the fact that individuals here in the past have expressed differing views about the very words about which you are complaining). you want us to use our delorean to go back in time and get unmad about this word? or go way way back to like 1999 and get pissed off all the time, always about any word that you don't like?
LOL. I love when "just relax" makes an appearance.
I am not particularly worked up, but thanks for your concern.
Look, lol all you want, but you seem awfully wound up over nothing. I haven't seen anyone use "gay" or "retarded" around here in, um, ages. And people were horrified at jj's use of a slur. And no one's saying that the reviled c-word is nice.
In short, I'm not sure with whom you're arguing, because we're all on the same side.
Also, I'm not concerned. I'm annoyed. K?
I am only an occasional lurker, and I hear gay around here all the time. I actually got made fun of by some regular for calling someone out on the word. All the negative responses about my saying something about the use of the word gay here made me feel like I was the weird/uptight/wrong one....
Is this the same ML that embraces "retard" as an insult? That is just as offensive to people with disabilities.
I would never in a million years use "faggot", but it seems completely hypocritical that this board has collectively eye rolled protestations of some derogatory words and some are clearly verboten.
And cunt is a completely misogynistic words and is absolutely used by people who commit crimes against women.
What the fuck is this shit. There are bad words, and there are "why in the fuck would you let that escape your lips?" words.
"Retard" is a bad word. It is not, however, on the same level as n*gger. Or f*ggot. So while I will side-eye someone who says retard, and probably say "yeah, that's not really cool" I will haev a stronger reaction to someone who calls someone else a f*ggot or a n*gger or a spic. If you don't think there exists a sliding scale in society as to what words will get you a disapproving look, what words will get you a shocked face and what words will get you straight up jacked in your mouth then I don't know what to tell you.
But you are discounting how offensive today's usage of the word "retard" is to people with disabilities and their families. As the mother of a Hispanic child with brain damage, I'd much rather my child be called a Wetback than retarded.
Post by Captain Serious on Jan 24, 2013 13:14:34 GMT -5
nuggetbrain, I posted this before I finished reading the thread. I understand now, after reading on, that I shouldn't have called you out, but I still want that post out there so people who do use the word "retard" may realize how much it can hurt and may reconsider their usage.