4 ms·

> Living in a liberal and free society means tolerating views you find repugnant. Not if they call me a "faggot" on the street.

by aiig 10y ago

maratd 10y ago
> Not if they call me a "faggot" on the street. Even then. Be an activist, go out and vote, fight for yourself, but don't attack others because they said something you didn't like.
- splawn 10y ago
  ...but is it reeeeally "freedom" if I am not free to attack others because they said something I didn't like? (Yes...Im being facetious... discussions centered around "freedom" are meaningless because of how subjective the term is.)
- aiig 10y ago
  > Even then. How about you try getting chased out of a subway station after midnight getting called a "faggot" and we'll talk. And people say that the SF tech class is out of touch.
  - FeepingCreature 10y ago
    How about you try getting uninvited from a conference getting called a "bigot" for supporting the wrong politician? I hear it feels great. Really makes you consider the other side's arguments dispassionately and clearly.
    - aiig 10y ago
      I'm so glad that you equate me fearing for my safety the same as you getting kicked out of your tech conference. You were so victimized I'm sorry.
      - FeepingCreature 10y ago
        Not a race.
  - vsl 10y ago
    Surely you do grasp the slight difference between words and being chased? FWIW, I think there's a difference between repugnant opinions and insults, so "faggot" is not a good example, but you're twisting OP's words dishonestly.
    - aiig 10y ago
      Definitely see that. Though as we've seen recently, there are a lot of people who say, e.g., in the flower shop / bakery trope, "I don't have a problem with gay people, but my religion prohibits me from serving them." In such a case, do you really need an epithet to read hate? Do you really need to hear the N word to know that people are racist? It's, at best, a very privileged (and at worst, an entirely naive) POV to suggest that you do.
- ScottBurson 10y ago
  Tolerating their views, yes. Tolerating violence or the threat of violence, no. To call someone "faggot" is indeed to threaten violence. The word originally meant "burning stick"; that's why a lit cigarette is sometimes called a "fag". By calling someone "faggot", one is saying they should be burned alive.
  - flukus 10y ago
    Faggot hasn't had that connotation since around the same time that gay meant happy.
    - aiig 10y ago
      How enlightening this discussion is.
  - grzm 10y ago
    Etymology is really interesting. And the meaning of words can change and new meanings can be associated over time. The word computer dates back to the 17th century referring to a person who calculates.[0] I don't think this is the meaning most people intend when using the word computer today. I'm not condoning the use of hateful language or threats. I just find your example problematic. [0]: http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=computer http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=computer

> Living in a liberal and free society means tolerating views you find repugnant. Not if they call me a "faggot" on the street.

by aiig 10y ago

> Living in a liberal and free society means tolerating views you find repugnant. Not if they call me a "faggot" on the street.

maratd 10y ago

> Not if they call me a "faggot" on the street. Even then. Be an activist, go out and vote, fight for yourself, but don't attack others because they said something you didn't like.

splawn 10y ago
...but is it reeeeally "freedom" if I am not free to attack others because they said something I didn't like? (Yes...Im being facetious... discussions centered around "freedom" are meaningless because of how subjective the term is.)
aiig 10y ago
> Even then. How about you try getting chased out of a subway station after midnight getting called a "faggot" and we'll talk. And people say that the SF tech class is out of touch.
- FeepingCreature 10y ago
  How about you try getting uninvited from a conference getting called a "bigot" for supporting the wrong politician? I hear it feels great. Really makes you consider the other side's arguments dispassionately and clearly.
  - aiig 10y ago
    I'm so glad that you equate me fearing for my safety the same as you getting kicked out of your tech conference. You were so victimized I'm sorry.
    - FeepingCreature 10y ago
      Not a race.
- vsl 10y ago
  Surely you do grasp the slight difference between words and being chased? FWIW, I think there's a difference between repugnant opinions and insults, so "faggot" is not a good example, but you're twisting OP's words dishonestly.
  - aiig 10y ago
    Definitely see that. Though as we've seen recently, there are a lot of people who say, e.g., in the flower shop / bakery trope, "I don't have a problem with gay people, but my religion prohibits me from serving them." In such a case, do you really need an epithet to read hate? Do you really need to hear the N word to know that people are racist? It's, at best, a very privileged (and at worst, an entirely naive) POV to suggest that you do.
ScottBurson 10y ago
Tolerating their views, yes. Tolerating violence or the threat of violence, no. To call someone "faggot" is indeed to threaten violence. The word originally meant "burning stick"; that's why a lit cigarette is sometimes called a "fag". By calling someone "faggot", one is saying they should be burned alive.
- flukus 10y ago
  Faggot hasn't had that connotation since around the same time that gay meant happy.
  - aiig 10y ago
    How enlightening this discussion is.
- grzm 10y ago
  Etymology is really interesting. And the meaning of words can change and new meanings can be associated over time. The word computer dates back to the 17th century referring to a person who calculates.[0] I don't think this is the meaning most people intend when using the word computer today. I'm not condoning the use of hateful language or threats. I just find your example problematic. [0]: http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=computer http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=computer