Reclaiming Offensive Words

[Wingates_Hellsing]

Not having had a conventional job, I wouldn't really know. But it seems like the whole 'business atmosphere' changes lots of things.

I'll be the first if possible to back up the awareness thing. Half of being polite is knowing who you're talking to.

[Boozy]

If the word is offensive, then it is offensive when EVERYONE uses it.

And I do agree with BroomJockey that the intent, not the word itself, is what determines whether or not I would be offended.

But those two statements contradict each other. I find the word "bitch" offensive if a customer calls me one, but not when my sister does. Because the intent is different. Sometimes a word is offensive, sometimes it isn't, and it all depends on who is using it and in what context.

[BroomJockey]

But those two statements contradict each other.

Not if you read the first statement to read "...uses it. In that way."

[Wingates_Hellsing]

Which, I gather, is how it was meant to be read .

[DesignFox]

Not if you read the first statement to read "...uses it. In that way."

Which, I gather, is how it was meant to be read .

Yes. Thank you

[Flyndaran]

People wishing to take offense will find a way.
Do you remember the guy that got offended because a white city political member used the word, "blackhole"?

[protege]

Do you remember the guy that got offended because a white city political member used the word, "blackhole"?

No, but I do remember when a city political member here used the word "niggardly." That went over well

[smileyeagle1021]

Do you remember the guy that got offended because a white city political member used the word, "blackhole"?

No, but I do remember when a city political member here used the word "niggardly." That went over well

the terrifying part about all this, is not only can I remember the outrage over those, but I can remember the lack of outrage in Utah when a state senator did make a legitimate racist comment (his exact words were "this bill is ugly like a black baby")

[BroomJockey]

(his exact words were "this bill is ugly like a black baby")

Well, you see, that comment is very easily justified. I mean, I can't believe you didn't see the true meaning behind this comment sooner. Obviously, that man was a complete imbecile and it's very wrong of you to criticise him for his condition.

[Kalli]

I'm normally an avid side-taker, but I can truly see both sides of this argument.

One one side, I really genuinely dislike how much people get their knickers in a knot over words, personally I just can't understand it and as far as I'm concerned, people should just get over it, choose to ignore the words they don't like (or the person who spoke them altogether, if the words were said in a spiteful way).

On the other hand, I suppose it's not that hard to simply avoid using certain words that you know people may find offensive. I mean, I don't think anyone should be offended by me calling my best friend a fag (or myself a fag hag), or by saying "nigga WHUT!?", but I can understand the argument that it's not too much to ask of me to choose my words with a little bit of care in certain company.

With regard to "reclaiming" offensive words, I can't possibly think of anything more hypocritical. I just cannot understand the logic behind fighting so hard to remove a word from everyone's vocabulary, only for your group to pick it up and use it amoungst yourselves, while still condemning anyone outside your group for using it (even in the same context as you would use it within your group).

[Pedersen]

My favorite personal example of a "reclaimed word" has got to be "geek". Yep, I'm a geek, through and through (I know, big shocker there, hope you all didn't injure yourselves while falling down over the shock).

Honestly, it doesn't matter if someone calls me a geek. It doesn't matter their attitude when they do so. Thing is: They're right. I know it. And since I'm comfortable with who I am (and even go so far as to like myself as a geek), and since I don't want to change the fact that I am a geek, well, let them call me a geek.

Hell, I'll help them.

Go ahead. Call me a geek. Be as hateful as you want. I don't mind. If you're hateful about it, all you've done is tell me that you're not someone I want to have amongst my friends, so you've saved us both a bunch of time.

Yep. I'm a geek. And if you don't like it? Well, quite frankly, that's your problem. Not mine.

[smileyeagle1021]

With regard to "reclaiming" offensive words, I can't possibly think of anything more hypocritical. I just cannot understand the logic behind fighting so hard to remove a word from everyone's vocabulary, only for your group to pick it up and use it amoungst yourselves, while still condemning anyone outside your group for using it (even in the same context as you would use it within your group).

I can... it's a guilt tactic... it's to remind the outsiders what they (generic) did in the past and try to make them feel guilty for it... doesn't make it right, but that's the logic I've seen in most of the people who do that.

-snip-

Yep. I'm a geek. And if you don't like it? Well, quite frankly, that's your problem. Not mine.

oh Pedersen, why must you be straight

and I'm the same way with both my geekiness and my fag tag... you have a problem with it, that's your own damned problem

[lovlybones]

I would say that having only one group be able to say the derogatory term would be racist in itself.

If it was a derogatory word in history to begin with there is bound to be someone who hasn't "reclaimed" the meaning yet and will be offended by any use of it.

[Kalli]

Another example of such hypocrisy are minority-only benefits and clubs and groups etc, especially within schools. I mean, if someone made a "Whites-only after school activities group" can you imagine the fucking drama? However, they have something similar for Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders only etc.

This sends a message of segregation to both groups.

[anriana]

Here's a list of the ethnicities in Australia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demogra...ia#Ethnicities

I'm going to highlight:

British Australian
Greek Australian
Italian Australian
European Australian
Macedonian Australian


Notice something about these groups? They're all primarily White yet it would be silly to lump their cultures together. Yet, that's what you want to do. Do you know why there would be drama because of it? Because it's racist to act as though all White people have a shared culture regardless of where they/their ancestors immigrated from.

And no, it is not segregation to have an extracurricular group to celebrate one's ethnic heritage.