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Read what I wrote. I didn't say you would find it offensive, I said he was asking you in joining his side as he offended others. A typical audience is, by cont
by ctdonath 15y ago
Read what I wrote. I didn't say you would find it offensive, I said he was asking you in joining his side as he offended others.
A typical audience is, by continued presence and attentiveness, inclined to support what the speaker says. The speaker is not saying "fuck you" to the audience, he's saying it to a third person/thing and at minimum implicitly suggesting the audience support the notion. He's not trying to offend you, he's trying to get you to offend someone/thing else. You don't have to protect the world from the offense, but you don't have to sit there tacitly supporting it either.
- burgerbrain 15y agoWhat the hell does this even mean? He's 'asking' you to support the offending of a mythical "third person"? I have no idea what you are attempting to communicate.
- ctdonath 15y agoI'm asking you to think about obscenity and offenses thereof in a completely different way than you're used to. This means that the use of obscenity is directed at someone or something, intending offense thereto. Yes, he's asking you to support the offending of a third person (or thing), mythical or not. He is acting as an offender (whether there is a being to experience being offended or not), and he's asking you to take the role of offender as well. Do understand: there are times when initiating offense is appropriate. There are times when asking others to join you in initiating offense is appropriate. Some people in the audience may not want to share in offending the subject of the offense the speaker is initiating. Thus, by using obscenity, the speaker may alienate some of the audience. Now, question is, was that necessary?
- burgerbrain 15y ago"This means that the use of obscenity is directed at someone or something, intending offense thereto." Without significant substantiating evidence, I am forced to object to this premise. You are going to need to back that up before the rest of your argument can be coherent.
- ctdonath 15y ago"Fuck you" is offensive to the subject. Changing the subject retains the offense.
- burgerbrain 15y agoThe word is way more versatile than that... That's hardly substantiating evidence for your claim. But lets start simple. What about: "I've got to go take a piss." (Urinate), "He looks rather pissed" (angry), and "Let's get pissed" (drunk).