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Are some words inherently offensive or is context important?

Are some words inherently offensive?

  • Yes

    Votes: 8 30.8%
  • No

    Votes: 18 69.2%

  • Total voters
    26

Dr_Patrick

Androgyne
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This is in regards to the discussion going on in this thread.

Personally, I think it's stupid to view any word as inherently offensive when it is just a word. In the proper context it can be completely offensive, but we shouldn't just ban it from being used in any context because some people give the word more power than it should have. It comes off as fear to me, and an irrational one at that. What does everyone else think?
 
A word is merely a label applied to a concept--it's meaning, if you will.

On their own, words lack any power of offense. Within the meanings we attach to words, however, there is great power for offense.
 
This is in regards to the discussion going on in this thread.

Personally, I think it's stupid to view any word as inherently offensive when it is just a word. In the proper context it can be completely offensive, but we shouldn't just ban it from being used in any context because some people give the word more power than it should have. It comes off as fear to me, and an irrational one at that. What does everyone else think?

I think that certain words, such as "racial pejoratives", are inherently offensive.
They have no other function than to offend or to demean. Context is not important, with regard to "racial pejoratives". If that were the case, they could not be viewed as pejorative.
[ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pejorative]Pejorative - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]
A pejorative (also term of abuse or term of disparagement), as a noun, means a word or phrase that implies disapproval or contempt and is meant to be insulting, impolite, or unkind: "A belittling or disparaging word or expression." When used as an adjective, pejorative is synonymous with derogatory, derisive, dyslogistic, and contemptuous. Standards of politeness limit the use of pejoratives.

Pejoratives are distinct from profanity, which refers to language that is considered rude; Pejoratives refer more to disapproval and not necessarily rudeness.

Sometimes a term may begin as a pejorative word and eventually be adopted in a non-pejorative sense. Big Bang, Quaker, Yankee, Okie, Tory and Whig, Ham radio, Methodist, Shaker, Unitarian, Sooner, and Liberal were originally slang insults but came to be used as non-pejorative standard words. In historical linguistics, this phenomenon is known as melioration, or amelioration, or semantic change. Sometimes a term is still considered as a pejorative word by some but not by others. In other cases, some groups have attempted to "reclaim" formerly offensive words applied against them (reclaimed word).

Ethnic slurs are one kind of category of pejorative. Such terms as pagan,[1][2][3] nigger,[4] nigga, kike, redneck, cracker, spade, white trash, redskin, dyke, queer, fairy, faggot, tranny, geek, nerd, retard, mamak, paki, chav, ginger, gook, and cripple are widely considered pejorative
 
I think that certain words, such as "racial pejoratives", are inherently offensive.
They have no other function than to offend or to demean. Context is not important, with regard to "racial pejoratives". If that were the case, they could not be viewed as pejorative.
Pejorative - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A pejorative (also term of abuse or term of disparagement), as a noun, means a word or phrase that implies disapproval or contempt and is meant to be insulting, impolite, or unkind: "A belittling or disparaging word or expression." When used as an adjective, pejorative is synonymous with derogatory, derisive, dyslogistic, and contemptuous. Standards of politeness limit the use of pejoratives.

Pejoratives are distinct from profanity, which refers to language that is considered rude; Pejoratives refer more to disapproval and not necessarily rudeness.

Sometimes a term may begin as a pejorative word and eventually be adopted in a non-pejorative sense. Big Bang, Quaker, Yankee, Okie, Tory and Whig, Ham radio, Methodist, Shaker, Unitarian, Sooner, and Liberal were originally slang insults but came to be used as non-pejorative standard words. In historical linguistics, this phenomenon is known as melioration, or amelioration, or semantic change. Sometimes a term is still considered as a pejorative word by some but not by others. In other cases, some groups have attempted to "reclaim" formerly offensive words applied against them (reclaimed word).

Ethnic slurs are one kind of category of pejorative. Such terms as pagan,[1][2][3] nigger,[4] nigga, kike, redneck, cracker, spade, white trash, redskin, dyke, queer, fairy, faggot, tranny, geek, nerd, retard, mamak, paki, chav, ginger, gook, and cripple are widely considered pejorative



But in context "nigger" was not used as a racial slur in the other thread. And you sir, were offended by the use of "niggardly" which has nothing to do with race.


I think when one gets offended by the use of vernacular this way, you actually give more power to the word when it is used as a slur.



Oh and I love my white trash, cracker can't dance, redneck side of me.... :thumbs:
 
I think that certain words, such as "racial pejoratives", are inherently offensive.
They have no other function than to offend or to demean. Context is not important, with regard to "racial pejoratives". If that were the case, they could not be viewed as pejorative.
Pejorative - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A pejorative (also term of abuse or term of disparagement), as a noun, means a word or phrase that implies disapproval or contempt and is meant to be insulting, impolite, or unkind: "A belittling or disparaging word or expression." When used as an adjective, pejorative is synonymous with derogatory, derisive, dyslogistic, and contemptuous. Standards of politeness limit the use of pejoratives.

So if I was to use the word to reference something that someone else said or to even reference the word itself as being offensive that my use of it would be just as bad as some racist guy who used it against someone else in a derogatory way? You can't be serious. I'm sorry, but if that really is your stance that is idiotic. It's just a word. Personally I would place more blame on the people who use it in the derogatory sense than on the word itself.

Pejoratives are distinct from profanity, which refers to language that is considered rude; Pejoratives refer more to disapproval and not necessarily rudeness.

The word is rude in the proper context, I agree.

Sometimes a term may begin as a pejorative word and eventually be adopted in a non-pejorative sense. Big Bang, Quaker, Yankee, Okie, Tory and Whig, Ham radio, Methodist, Shaker, Unitarian, Sooner, and Liberal were originally slang insults but came to be used as non-pejorative standard words. In historical linguistics, this phenomenon is known as melioration, or amelioration, or semantic change. Sometimes a term is still considered as a pejorative word by some but not by others. In other cases, some groups have attempted to "reclaim" formerly offensive words applied against them (reclaimed word).

Kind of a hypocrite aren't you? You just used words that others consider offensive and it was only in a referencing context. However, according to your logic that doesn't matter.

Ethnic slurs are one kind of category of pejorative. Such terms as pagan,[1][2][3] nigger,[4] nigga, kike, redneck, cracker, spade, white trash, redskin, dyke, queer, fairy, faggot, tranny, geek, nerd, retard, mamak, paki, chav, ginger, gook, and cripple are widely considered pejorative

You did it again!
 
But in context "nigger" was not used as a racial slur in the other thread. And you sir, were offended by the use of "niggardly" which has nothing to do with race.


I think when one gets offended by the use of vernacular this way, you actually give more power to the word when it is used as a slur.



Oh and I love my white trash, cracker can't dance, redneck side of me.... :thumbs:

Not only that, but he said just used those terms in a referencing context, which according to him is just as offensive. Kind of a hypocrite, wouldn't you say? :lol:
 
Words can only be offensive if you take offense to them. A word is inherently value neutral, it's just a bunch of sounds coming out of someone's mouth. If you don't get offended by those sounds, they remain value neutral, but the offense you might take comes from within, not from the words themselves.
 
I don't think words are inherently offensive.

However

I can fully understand how certain people can view words as offensive no matter the context.

I can see how a black person could perhaps hear "spic" and not be instantly offended no matter the context while hearing the n-word and be offended no matter what the context.

There is no universal "offensiveness" scale that is somehow consistant all across the board; the offensiveness of a word is unique to each person.

I'm sure if he was still alive you could go up to George Carlin and tell him "You're a mother ****ing patty drunk that goes out every night to take cocks up your ass while your munch on potatoes doused in alcohol" and he'd laugh at you and not be offended. I'm sure if you went and told a relatively sheltered 70 year old woman the same thing she'd be horribly offended.

Some people are firmly rooted in history, and thus the history of the words mean more to them than the context. I don't share this view, and I do not think they should PUSH this view onto others and try to force it onto them as it is a personal opinion, but I also do not begrudge them for having that opinion no matter how much I disagree with it.
 
If I just typed in the N word and posted only the N word I think that would be offensive. If I use it a context it could go either way IMHO.
 
So if I was to use the word to reference something that someone else said or to even reference the word itself as being offensive that my use of it would be just as bad as some racist guy who used it against someone else in a derogatory way? You can't be serious. I'm sorry, but if that really is your stance that is idiotic. It's just a word. Personally I would place more blame on the people who use it in the derogatory sense than on the word itself.

Sorry, but some words just fall into that category of "off limits", for me.
And, of course, you're entitled to your opinion.


The word is rude in the proper context, I agree.



Kind of a hypocrite aren't you? You just used words that others consider offensive and it was only in a referencing context. However, according to your logic that doesn't matter.

No. No hypocrite. I cited what others may do. Not that I do it. It's not a word I'm attempting to "reclaim". I don't like the word. I thought that was plain.

You did it again!

Ah, caught. I should have been true to form and replaced the word with "n-word", to be consistent. Forgive my oversight.
 
Ah, caught. I should have been true to form and replaced the word with "n-word", to be consistent. Forgive my oversight.

Dude, I wasn't just talking about the 'N' word. You listed a whole crap load of offensive terms.
 
Ah, caught. I should have been true to form and replaced the word with "n-word", to be consistent. Forgive my oversight.




You harped on lerxst for using "nigger" in a context that was in no way offensive.


You then did exactly what he did in your post above.
 
Words can only be offensive if you take offense to them. A word is inherently value neutral, it's just a bunch of sounds coming out of someone's mouth. If you don't get offended by those sounds, they remain value neutral, but the offense you might take comes from within, not from the words themselves.

From what I've seen, is a lot of jockeying for position. Why does the onus fall upon the person offended and not the person offending? I fail to understand that. I can't tell you what's offensive to you. I rely on you to tell me what you find offensive, and for me to consider your feelings in the matter, human being to human being, and avoid offending you...that is if I care. If I have empathy, or sympathy. Some people don't possess it, and go through life treading on the feelings and beliefs of others, thinking that their feelings and beliefs trump, somehow. I didn't grow up that way. My mother instilled care and concern for other human beings in me. I summarily reject arrogance. And it's arrogant to suggest that folks should be offended by words which historically have the sole purpose of offense, and was commonplace, during slavery. Unless things haven't changed that much.
 
From what I've seen, is a lot of jockeying for position. Why does the onus fall upon the person offended and not the person offending? I fail to understand that. I can't tell you what's offensive to you. I rely on you to tell me what you find offensive, and for me to consider your feelings in the matter, human being to human being, and avoid offending you...that is if I care. If I have empathy, or sympathy. Some people don't possess it, and go through life treading on the feelings and beliefs of others, thinking that their feelings and beliefs trump, somehow. I didn't grow up that way. My mother instilled care and concern for other human beings in me. I summarily reject arrogance. And it's arrogant to suggest that folks should be offended by words which historically have the sole purpose of offense, and was commonplace, during slavery. Unless things haven't changed that much.





I found your accusing Lerxst and me of racism as highly offensive. ;)
 
I'm w/ George Carlin on this:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZCS5I80X-8"]YouTube - The word 'Nigger' - Richard Pryor & George Carlin[/ame]

Start @ 1:30
 
Personally, I think it's stupid to view any word as inherently offensive when it is just a word. In the proper context it can be completely offensive, but we shouldn't just ban it from being used in any context because some people give the word more power than it should have. It comes off as fear to me, and an irrational one at that. What does everyone else think?

I do think that some word ARE offensive, but that's me. There are some (loaded) words that have become to sound like "pass the butter" to some, but to me, they rankle. And perhaps a small part of the reason they rankle me, is in some part, because they don't seem to rankle others, and sometimes that puzzles me. Words matter. The meaning of words matter. The way we use words matter.

I am offended by the way some grabbed hold of the word "feminist" - and started using it in a derogatory way. The word "feminist", in its nucleus was never designed / brought forward as a word to be used in a derogatory fashion - but some others have made it that. "Feminazi" is a pretty hideous and offensive word to me.

Sometimes I wonder if partly / possibly this is a little bit / a lot about making "concessions" to others... why should we? Because we are human, and it helps us to understand ourselves and each other a lot better when we understand the other, and when we make a concession to the other for "experiences" that the other may have had that we most likely have no comprehension / understanding of.

For any of us that have lived through any form of difficult / overt oppression / denigration in our lives, I think it probably makes us a lot more sensitive / alert / attuned to the tenor / vibrations of all manner of human interactions / exchanges. At least, that's what I tend to think...
 
I do think that some word ARE offensive, but that's me. There are some (loaded) words that have become to sound like "pass the butter" to some, but to me, they rankle. And perhaps a small part of the reason they rankle me, is in some part, because they don't seem to rankle others, and sometimes that puzzles me. Words matter. The meaning of words matter. The way we use words matter.

I agree that the way we use them matters. That underlines even more the importance of context. A person using the word as a way to reference something isn't a racist just because he/she used that word.

I am offended by the way some grabbed hold of the word "feminist" - and started using it in a derogatory way. The word "feminist", in its nucleus was never designed / brought forward as a word to be used in a derogatory fashion - but some others have made it that. "Feminazi" is a pretty hideous and offensive word to me.

I agree with you. Most people that use the term "feminist" in a derogatory way don't even know what feminism really is. Feminazi doesn't really offend me. I just think it's an absurd comparison and I think it's hilarious how a lot of people always go to the nazis as a reference point for something they don't like.

Sometimes I wonder if partly / possibly this is a little bit / a lot about making "concessions" to others... why should we? Because we are human, and it helps us to understand ourselves and each other a lot better when we understand the other, and when we make a concession to the other for "experiences" that the other may have had that we most likely have no comprehension / understanding of.

I agree with you on that also. I still don't think that using the "n" word as a reference is offensive or racist like using it in the derogatory context is.

For any of us that have lived through any form of difficult / overt oppression / denigration in our lives, I think it probably makes us a lot more sensitive / alert / attuned to the tenor / vibrations of all manner of human interactions / exchanges. At least, that's what I tend to think...

I agree.
 
Feminazi is actually a wonderful example.

I can see how someone that considers themselves a strong feminist may see it as all around inherently offensive.

For me personally, its a context thing. If someone calls anyone that simply is pushing for womens rights a feminazi, I'd think they're rather ignorant. However, if someone was using it to refer to a specific group of feminists that are so overblown on their views that they begin to swing it from an honest attempt to bring women to an equal playing field but instead to place women above men and to actively work to punish and oppress males for the sake of raising up women then I'd see it as a rather junvile, but understandable, attempt to label them with a word that invokes the imagery you view their thought process to be like.
 
Feminazi is actually a wonderful example.

I can see how someone that considers themselves a strong feminist may see it as all around inherently offensive.

For me personally, its a context thing. If someone calls anyone that simply is pushing for womens rights a feminazi, I'd think they're rather ignorant. However, if someone was using it to refer to a specific group of feminists that are so overblown on their views that they begin to swing it from an honest attempt to bring women to an equal playing field but instead to place women above men and to actively work to punish and oppress males for the sake of raising up women then I'd see it as a rather junvile, but understandable, attempt to label them with a word that invokes the imagery you view their thought process to be like.

Just curious. What "word" would you use for a man who is "... so overblown on their views that they begin to swing it from an honest attempt to bring men to an equal playing field but instead to place men above women and to actively work to punish and oppress women for the sake of raising up men..."

So how does it work when said that way? And is there a word equivelent to "feminazi" for men, and what is it? Neanderthal? Sounds kinda soft... maybe something a bit harsher, maybe...
 
Feminazi is actually a wonderful example.

I can see how someone that considers themselves a strong feminist may see it as all around inherently offensive.

For me personally, its a context thing. If someone calls anyone that simply is pushing for womens rights a feminazi, I'd think they're rather ignorant. However, if someone was using it to refer to a specific group of feminists that are so overblown on their views that they begin to swing it from an honest attempt to bring women to an equal playing field but instead to place women above men and to actively work to punish and oppress males for the sake of raising up women then I'd see it as a rather junvile, but understandable, attempt to label them with a word that invokes the imagery you view their thought process to be like.
I bolded the exact definition of a feminazi as was originally used. I am technically a male feminist as I see nothing wrong with a qualified(insert human being here) getting the desired position, what gets to me is when standards are argued lower by(insert overreactive braindead zealot here) group that takes things to the dangerous extreme.

My second point for all is, what is wrong with offending a specific person who needs to be offended. Let's face it, some people are jerks no matter their sex, ethnicity, creed, etc.. Why is it all of a sudden a kid gloves situation when a true jerk gets a little humbling?
 
Just curious. What "word" would you use for a man who is "... so overblown on their views that they begin to swing it from an honest attempt to bring men to an equal playing field but instead to place men above women and to actively work to punish and oppress women for the sake of raising up men..."

So how does it work when said that way? And is there a word equivelent to "feminazi" for men, and what is it? Neanderthal? Sounds kinda soft... maybe something a bit harsher, maybe...

I would take a step above and use the word misogynist. And for men hating women I would use the word misandry.
 
Just curious. What "word" would you use for a man who is "... so overblown on their views that they begin to swing it from an honest attempt to bring men to an equal playing field but instead to place men above women and to actively work to punish and oppress women for the sake of raising up men..."

I don't think guys like that are really that complex. I'm sure they wish they were. I think you are giving them far too much credit. :lol: To me they just have extremely fragile egos and want to lash out at others because of it.

So how does it work when said that way? And is there a word equivelent to "feminazi" for men, and what is it? Neanderthal? Sounds kinda soft... maybe something a bit harsher, maybe...

I agree. There should be a good name for guys like that.
 
I don't think guys like that are really that complex. I'm sure they wish they were. I think you are giving them far too much credit. :lol: To me they just have extremely fragile egos and want to lash out at others because of it.

If we all whittle away and take off our gender garments... we are pretty "basic" human beings, methinks. :)

Thank you for your responses, dclxvinoise. Very well received and appreciated by me. Plus I really like the quote in your sig? Who said that?
 
If we all whittle away and take off our gender garments... we are pretty "basic" human beings, methinks. :)

Thank you for your responses, dclxvinoise. Very well received and appreciated by me. Plus I really like the quote in your sig? Who said that?

No problem. :mrgreen:

It's from a movie that a friend of a friend made called "Onward To Calgary". It's very surreal and strange, but also hilarious.
 
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