Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Halx
Martin, just how we all know "gay" didn't start out meaning "homosexual" nor was it ever used negatively - "pussy" didn't start out associated with females. I've always been an advocate of the notion that if you cannot take words in their correct context, then you're probably not worth the breath it takes to explain their meaning.
With that said, getting bent over a word reminds me of a happlessly irreverent quote from Full Metal Jacket. "If I'm gonna get my balls blown off for a word, my word is poontang."
It shines light on the weight that is given to words, as if the word by itself is power. In relation to the quote, take "Freedom" for an example. The mere mention of it is sure to get any redneck NRA local militia member to puff out his chest.
You've gotta be smarter than that. You've gotta be more fluid and free-thinking than that. Being affected by a single word is submitting to the will of whoever would speak it. In my mind, that's too much power to give ANYONE over me.
People who are affected by words and words alone are the weak-minded hyper-reactive nitwits that we're trying to save our culture from.
|
Words and how they are interpreted play a vital role in how one'e message is percieved, obviously. I think it stands to reason that when one is attempting to persuade another on a certain matter, one should use words that don't offend the audience. I don't really get offended by words that other people use. I do try and pay more attention to the words i use because generally words like pussy, bitch, faggot, nigger, etc convey more about the person using them than they do about any particular message.
The idea that anything is "just a word" seems to me to be a tad naive. A gun is not just a "lump of metal". That being said, choosing to get offended by someone else's inability to communicate without alluding to gender stereotypes seems rather bush league to me.