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> Words cannot hold guns, knives, or other weapons. Yes, they can be unpleasant. Yes, they can be upsetting. Yes, people who have been abused can be triggered.

by AlexMax 11y ago

> Words cannot hold guns, knives, or other weapons. Yes, they can be unpleasant. Yes, they can be upsetting. Yes, people who have been abused can be triggered. Words can't act, but they can compel, coerce, and intimidate. It absolutely _is_ a safety issue. You can argue over the applicability to this particular situation, but to imply that words are harmless is a disservice to rights guaranteed us under the first amendment.

Kalium 11y ago
Indeed, there is great power in words. That is both why the First Amendment exists and why some seek to curtail speech they find discomfiting.
- AlexMax 11y ago
  > Indeed, there is great power in words. That is both why the First Amendment exists and why some seek to curtail speech they find discomfiting. But their power is also why the first amendment only applies to the government not being able to persecute you. Why should people have the right to speech without consequence of any sort?
  - Kalium 11y ago
    Of any sort? No. Only certain sorts of consequences are permitted. Turning the forces of government against you in punishment is not to be permitted or tolerated. Other forms of reprisal are permitted and accepted. Which is why the story about a public university is disturbing. Or the story of a statute for equality being abused in an attempt to silence someone.
return0 11y ago
I (seriously) get triggered when i read arguments like yours. I was just about to come back with insulting retorts and my heart rate went up. Is that not enough to classify your argument as a "trigger", or is it that only certain political views get the privilege to be "triggering"? If we are going to classify all arguing as triggering , then we 'd better all shut up.
- AlexMax 11y ago
  > or is it that only certain political views get the privilege to be "triggering? Yes. Above and beyond things that are horrifically traumatic, those groups who have been marginalized in society ought have that privilege. When you spend decades or centuries having the deck stacked against you, it is a completely appropriate approach to attempt to swing the balance back in the other direction. > I (seriously) get triggered when i read arguments like yours. My apologies. It's my mistake, as I forgot who the _real_ marginalized people are in society - Hacker News posters. Please forgive me.
  - return0 11y ago
    Oh good. I see you have a list already.
EC1 11y ago
The burden should be on the person getting offended. If you are offended, walk away. If you're at a comedy show, and you find a joke offensive, leave. The burden shouldn't rest on everyone else. I know personally I've had to start self censoring in fear of being labelled a misogynist or racist from saying things that are neither. People are capable of incredible mental gymnastics.

by AlexMax 11y ago

Kalium 11y ago

Indeed, there is great power in words. That is both why the First Amendment exists and why some seek to curtail speech they find discomfiting.

AlexMax 11y ago
> Indeed, there is great power in words. That is both why the First Amendment exists and why some seek to curtail speech they find discomfiting. But their power is also why the first amendment only applies to the government not being able to persecute you. Why should people have the right to speech without consequence of any sort?
- Kalium 11y ago
  Of any sort? No. Only certain sorts of consequences are permitted. Turning the forces of government against you in punishment is not to be permitted or tolerated. Other forms of reprisal are permitted and accepted. Which is why the story about a public university is disturbing. Or the story of a statute for equality being abused in an attempt to silence someone.

return0 11y ago

I (seriously) get triggered when i read arguments like yours. I was just about to come back with insulting retorts and my heart rate went up. Is that not enough to classify your argument as a "trigger", or is it that only certain political views get the privilege to be "triggering"? If we are going to classify all arguing as triggering , then we 'd better all shut up.

AlexMax 11y ago
> or is it that only certain political views get the privilege to be "triggering? Yes. Above and beyond things that are horrifically traumatic, those groups who have been marginalized in society ought have that privilege. When you spend decades or centuries having the deck stacked against you, it is a completely appropriate approach to attempt to swing the balance back in the other direction. > I (seriously) get triggered when i read arguments like yours. My apologies. It's my mistake, as I forgot who the _real_ marginalized people are in society - Hacker News posters. Please forgive me.
- return0 11y ago
  Oh good. I see you have a list already.

EC1 11y ago

The burden should be on the person getting offended. If you are offended, walk away. If you're at a comedy show, and you find a joke offensive, leave. The burden shouldn't rest on everyone else. I know personally I've had to start self censoring in fear of being labelled a misogynist or racist from saying things that are neither. People are capable of incredible mental gymnastics.