4 ms·

There's the old idea of "you judge your actions by your intentions and others intentions by their actions." I think culturally we've entered into this weird ar

There's the old idea of "you judge your actions by your intentions and others intentions by their actions." I think culturally we've entered into this weird area where we're not even judging people so much by their actions but rather by how their actions make some people feel. There is nothing wrong with being mindful of how your statements and actions are perceived. Communication is always a two-way street where what is heard is sometimes more important than what is said. It's just too bad that we're shifting so far away from being able to understand the intentions of the speaker. Fear of saying the wrong thing never teaches someone why and what is wrong to say.

istjohn 10y ago
Absolutely. It's great that societal norms of what is acceptable in speech are progressing to be considerate of more and more out-groups. But we need to be mindful that news of these new norms do not reach everyone simultaneously, and we should not tar and feather people for not independently coming upon the insight that a certain element of speech can be hurtful. While we should all seek to understand and empathize with the rest of the world, it's a vast, complex world beyond any one person's direct experience. If someone gratuitously drops the N-word, ostracise them; but if there is good reason to believe the speaker is well-intentioned but perhaps ignorant on some point of concern, the proper response is to discreetly engage in a respectful, open dialogue, not to publicly shame anyone. If the speech is hurtful and dialogue fruitless, direct action may be required, but not before.
- dogma1138 10y ago
  These aren't norms and they aren't new the subject has changed but this is exactly the level of thought policing that true liberals used to fight and even die for. This is no different than the puritans or any other group that wish to enforce their own opinions at the expense of everyone else.
  - istjohn 10y ago
    Asking that white men respect others is not hurting "everyone else." White men are the small group here. Norms of tolerance and mutual respect only ask that white men welcome everyone else to the table.

istjohn 10y ago

Absolutely. It's great that societal norms of what is acceptable in speech are progressing to be considerate of more and more out-groups. But we need to be mindful that news of these new norms do not reach everyone simultaneously, and we should not tar and feather people for not independently coming upon the insight that a certain element of speech can be hurtful. While we should all seek to understand and empathize with the rest of the world, it's a vast, complex world beyond any one person's direct experience. If someone gratuitously drops the N-word, ostracise them; but if there is good reason to believe the speaker is well-intentioned but perhaps ignorant on some point of concern, the proper response is to discreetly engage in a respectful, open dialogue, not to publicly shame anyone. If the speech is hurtful and dialogue fruitless, direct action may be required, but not before.

dogma1138 10y ago
These aren't norms and they aren't new the subject has changed but this is exactly the level of thought policing that true liberals used to fight and even die for. This is no different than the puritans or any other group that wish to enforce their own opinions at the expense of everyone else.
- istjohn 10y ago
  Asking that white men respect others is not hurting "everyone else." White men are the small group here. Norms of tolerance and mutual respect only ask that white men welcome everyone else to the table.