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That's overly simplistic. It overlooks two relevant facts. 1) I use your words to judge what you think, or how you might act. I can reasonably expect people wh
by JabavuAdams 18y ago
That's overly simplistic. It overlooks two relevant facts.
1) I use your words to judge what you think, or how you might act. I can reasonably expect people who use certain words in grossly inappropriate circumstances (context is important) to be a threat to me or my aims.
2) For people with a living memory of oppression or injustice, words associated with those events are not simply neutral -- they're highly charged. It's not that the words "nigger" or "faggot" are somehow offensive in their glyphs. It's that there are people who are alive who have been humiliated or injured while having to listen to these words.
Now, none of this should be viewed as a defense of people who freak out at the slightest mention of an objectionable word, or people who want to ban any possibly offensive speech.
It's true that choosing not to be offended is easier to control than forcing everyone else not to offend you, but this "they're just words" argument is hollow.
Words are the result of intentional speech or writing actions. On hearing or reading words that we attribute to a conscious speaker or writer, we're naturally interested in their intentions, and possible future actions.
- axod 18y agoYou make some interesting points, but the biggest casualty in "being offended" is comedy. In this case it was being used in a comedic tone, as is most often the case. Some people just see the word, and not the context/back story, and assume it's offensive.
- aaronblohowiak 18y agoI don't think anyone here is suggesting that the word 'girl' is offensive, but rather its use in the context/back story. I disagree that comedy is a good excuse for being offensive -- being disagreeable is a very cheap form of humor.
- axod 18y agoIf the joke is just being rude for the sake of shocking the audience, then yes, that's cheap humor. What about satire though. There's some classic comedy that was 'offensive' to people who had no idea what the joke was. For instance the Brasseye pedophilia special is some of the funniest, cleverest TV ever. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brasseye#2001_paedophilia_special http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brasseye#2001_paedophilia_speci... Politicians described the show as "unspeakably sick" (while admitting that they had not seen the programme).