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I don't know. I'm not arguing that people should be able to sue over using the B word. I am simply arguing that if you call me a B word, don't be surprised if I call you an A word. Etc. It's a two-way street.
I fully understand that.
I don't think we should censor speech. But I do think that we need to take responsibility for our words. If you use a highly volatile word, take responsibility for the increased risk of offense that comes with it.
Agreed also. If I am stupid enough to inflame peoples emotions by calling them names I deserve what may come my way.
You didn't find that offensive. Obviously the other woman did. You are both entitled to your feelings and opinions. I don't think Big Brother needs to enter the picture. I think we all need to take personal responsibility for our words, just as we are expected to do with our actions.
Agreed also. At times people need to take care of issues themselves. Maybe at times a nice couple of punches does the job. In yesteryears that was the solutions and things worked pretty well also. Nowadays we are expected to go to the law, sue, but do not dear even threaten to punch someone because then you are the one at fault, take care.
You don't yell fire in a crowded theatre. Put it like that. People like to say inflammatory things because they KNOW that someone will get pissed and then they can prove their point about how savage they are. TV Tropes calls it Bullying The Dragon.
You don't yell fire in a crowded theatre. Put it like that. People like to say inflammatory things because they KNOW that someone will get pissed and then they can prove their point about how savage they are. TV Tropes calls it Bullying The Dragon.
Ok, does that mean you agree with hate speech laws or not? Take care.
Because identity and audience factor into all language usage, and the N word is no exception. Just like you don't talk to your boss and your dog the same. Your identity and the identity of the person you're talking to do factor into what language you can and can't use. Technically, you can use any language, but it will either cause offense or sound weird. Would you whistle your boss over? Would you ask your dog "would you like something to drink, sir" before giving him a bowl of water? Why is there a difference in the way you talk to your boss vs. your dog? The answer lies in the fact that your identity and the identity of the person you're speaking to vary from person to person. The relationship between you and the listener vary, and language reflects that.
Languages across the world prescribe different pronouns, phrases, and names depending on the amount of solidarity or distance between two speakers. Having the same background gives an added sense of solidarity--whether it's because you're coworkers, went to school together, grew up together, are of the same religion, or of the same race. Race isn't always a solidarity marker but it can be for many people. Likewise religion can be a solidarity marker but isn't always. For example, in the Kingdom Hall, Jehovah's Witnesses call each other "brother" and "sister". They refer to each other as brothers and sisters. Many other religious sects do this. It is to demonstrate the solidarity they feel in a shared belief and a shared experience.
Black people have a shared experience as black people in America. There are a great variety of experiences among blacks, but there is that one common thread of being black in America. When black people use the N word affectionately, they are referring to this solidarity, much like JW's use "brother"/"sister". Obviously that common thread of that experience doesn't exist between blacks and whites. But there are other ways to establish solidarity with people. For example, JW's of all races choose their JW identity over any other identity and refer to each other as brothers and sisters regardless of race or ethnicity. Some black people put their black identity before any other identity with other blacks, and therefore use the language that reflects that outlook. A lot of black people don't do that too, and those black people tend not to use the N word affectionately.
Language reflects solidarity and other social relationships as well. The field that studies that phenomenon is called sociolinguistics.
hey freedom of speech means you say what you want. Doesn't mean you are free to say it WHERE ever you want. Tell it to yourself in a closet. Use an offensive term on me, and I'll do more than stomp my feet.
What are you going to do,become violent because someone hurts your little feelings????LOL....bunch of pussoirs in this country nowadays.
No. Thinking your freedom is unlimited and that you can have freedom at the cost of other people's freedom is selfish. Your right to thrust your fist in the air ends where my nose begins.
I agree,it seems it is the thin skinned crybabies that are prone to violence if their little feelings get hurt...funny how that is.
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Everyone has freedom but for everyone to have freedom, that freedom ends for each person where each other person's freedom begins.
Exactly,I have the freedom to say what I want,you have the freedom to disagree,you don't have the freedom to assault another or demand they be silenced.
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I'm not asking that you do. I am simply pointing out that expecting other people not to also express their freedom of speech is childish and selfish. Express your freedom, but realize others have that freedom too.
I totally agree,take it up with the crybabies whining about being called names and threatening physical violence.
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I am sure there are some things you find offensive and I am sure that you would not want to have your feelings denied in those instances.
But you are free to say whatever you want,I really don't care,I value others opinions slightly less than I value a cockroach.
Actually yes it does mean what and where you want. Again, if you can't handle someone using an offensive term without losing your cool and physically attacking them then you need help. Most people who lose their cool like that end up dead and it's their own fault.
Black Americans didn't go through anything that almost every other group hasn't been through,it just seems black Americans whine and complain more.
Or at least some do...
Whoah, you think Black people complain more than anyone else about their oppressive history. You should spend about 5 seconds in the Deaf community lol. Obviously it's not all Deaf people or Black people, but complaining is HARDLY restricted to the Black community. You should hear some Deaf people's reactions to the term "hearing impaired". I know some Deaf people that will subject you to a half-hour lecture about how they're neither hearing nor impaired and how the deaf have been oppressed if you call them hearing impaired.
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