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Originally Posted by Cynthetiq
A member here posted, "In my social circle, we don't use namecalling or foul language because it's considered to be impolite. For some of us, namecalling hasn't reached the point where it is so overused that it has lost meaning and power. Some of us are still offended by such language."
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Wow, that sounds a lot like me. If I'm not the one who said that, please add a "me too" for that.
[Insert standard "language usage depends on context" response here]
If someone consistently uses the word "slut" as a way to generally describe women in my home, that person would be given the initial benefit of the doubt, but asked to leave and not invited back if it persisted. Likewise, such language is not permitted in my classroom. If such language were being used at another's home or in another venue I would make note of that as one factor to be used in determining whether to return there, a strongly negative one.
It is one of many words of that nature that are commonly and loosely used in some subcultures that don't travel freely into others or to more formal contexts.
I know of several GLBT people who regularly refer to themselves and other gays as "queer", a similar attempt to reclaim a slur. I personally don't want something that came from a bigot with the intent to treat or describe me as less than human.
Gilda