General Discussion

merrily

(45,251 posts)

77. Often, "offend" is used when "hurt" is what is meant.

Wed Sep 2, 2015, 06:11 AM

Sep 2015

Last edited Wed Sep 2, 2015, 07:04 AM - Edit history (2)

"I'm sorry I offended you with my insistence on using whatever words I please" masks the truth: "I am sorry I caused you pain, perhaps damaged you, with my insistence on using whatever words I please.

As one example, fat jokes hurt and damage people more than we might imagine. I would rather live without fat jokes than hurt a lot of people for no good reason whatever. If that makes me just "too pc" for someone, too fucking bad.

Can it go too far? Sure. And? Can't that be said of anything?

ETA: seems to be a lot of willful ignorance or something else willful on this thread. Apparently, males are not especially bothered by the use of "he" to describe all humans, even though a majority of humans are female. But it does seem to bother women. Gee, whodda thunk it?

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Ban on Banning Words [View all] n2doc Sep 2015 OP

Referring to women/men as females or males? Really? Chemisse Sep 2015 #1

There are gender neutral pronouns. Glassunion Sep 2015 #41

But why? Throd Sep 2015 #42

Mandating the use of such pronouns is no different legally than the bans branford Sep 2015 #43

Wouldn't thoughtful discussion include the use of gender neutral pronouns? Glassunion Sep 2015 #46

Like the gender neutral pronoun "It?" nt alphafemale Sep 2015 #57

No. Glassunion Sep 2015 #59

Nope. This is just silliness. nt alphafemale Sep 2015 #61

Except "they" is not always grammatically correct. Quantess Sep 2015 #99

As I indicated in my post, I certainly would happily use non-gender specific pronouns. branford Sep 2015 #63

Agreed. I hate the very idea of "banning" words. Glassunion Sep 2015 #66

I think the problem you run into there Erich Bloodaxe BSN Sep 2015 #83

Then that would be the problem of the "some people", and not the comedian. Glassunion Sep 2015 #87

Sometimes it is necessary to identify if someone is male or female. Chemisse Sep 2015 #76

Ah, but that discriminates against people who identify as intersexuals Erich Bloodaxe BSN Sep 2015 #85

That sounds easy enough Chemisse Sep 2015 #92

I would love for there to be gender neutral pronouns. Chemisse Sep 2015 #75

Male and female are not pronouns. Chemisse Sep 2015 #74

Because those are adjectives, not nouns REP Sep 2015 #47

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, kiva Sep 2015 #51

Unfortunately I don't have an OED on me REP Sep 2015 #55

"Jackie is a female." Noun. Jackie has female genitalia." Adjective. merrily Sep 2015 #78

You would have to hear it in regular use coming from those who use it regularly to understand. dogknob Sep 2015 #54

That may very well be true, but do you really believe that the only solution branford Sep 2015 #65

I honestly am not picking but Quackers Sep 2015 #72

No. gollygee Sep 2015 #86

The use of language to demean is a problem with an attitude, not a word. Chemisse Sep 2015 #93

Good! romanic Sep 2015 #2

Good. Censorship should never be an official policy, especially at a university Warpy Sep 2015 #3

Post removed Post removed Sep 2015 #4

I'm for it. hifiguy Sep 2015 #10

You want to shut tumblr down entirely? Warren DeMontague Sep 2015 #49

This idea that no one must offend anyone, anywhere, at anytime Seeking Serenity Sep 2015 #5

+ a googolplex hifiguy Sep 2015 #8

You created multiple white males? GummyBearz Sep 2015 #21

That we did (my husband played a key role in it all) Seeking Serenity Sep 2015 #27

I hate to go there but GummyBearz Sep 2015 #30

Well, Hitler loved dogs too. Seeking Serenity Sep 2015 #58

=] GummyBearz Sep 2015 #62

I couldn't help but think ... lpbk2713 Sep 2015 #6

Or Washington dixiegrrrrl Sep 2015 #88

Long, Long, LONG overdue. hifiguy Sep 2015 #7

"The Man" and "referring to women/men as females or males"? arcane1 Sep 2015 #9

I was thinking the same thing Matariki Sep 2015 #12

This gives me a sad PowerToThePeople Sep 2015 #11

How would we "put a stop" to real hate? Marengo Sep 2015 #13

Hate is socialized PowerToThePeople Sep 2015 #14

It is socialized by parents and peers long before anyone gets to college. hifiguy Sep 2015 #15

True, but you must start somewhere PowerToThePeople Sep 2015 #16

The banned words in that syllabus covered a FAR broader reach hifiguy Sep 2015 #17

I disagree PowerToThePeople Sep 2015 #18

Do you feel the same way about conservative professors? branford Sep 2015 #20

It is all so ridiculously subjective hifiguy Sep 2015 #24

The conservatives are currently doing this exact thing PowerToThePeople Sep 2015 #25

That really didn't answer my questions. branford Sep 2015 #28

We must, then, agree to disagree. hifiguy Sep 2015 #22

And who defines "repressive terminology?" TexasMommaWithAHat Sep 2015 #96

No, not "professor's class, professor's rules," particularly at a state institution. branford Sep 2015 #19

I do not agree PowerToThePeople Sep 2015 #23

The goals of a college class are not to indoctrinate students or demand social compliance. branford Sep 2015 #34

I agree PowerToThePeople Sep 2015 #36

I'm confident that if the professors are smart, dedicated, caring branford Sep 2015 #45

Is "I see your point" offensive to people who are blind? TexasMommaWithAHat Sep 2015 #95

There are some who would take it to lengths hifiguy Sep 2015 #97

+1 TexasMommaWithAHat Sep 2015 #98

As the husband of a professor.... Adrahil Sep 2015 #26

We are not really in disagreement. branford Sep 2015 #39

Disruptive and rude is one thing. Seeking Serenity Sep 2015 #56

I'm not genrally a fan of blanket bans.... Adrahil Sep 2015 #60

The administration acted to prevent the inevitable lawsuits once the syllabi became public. branford Sep 2015 #67

The First is not unlimited in a University... Adrahil Sep 2015 #69

Virtually all "civility policies" at public institutions cannot survive judicial scrutiny. branford Sep 2015 #70

I think that's completely ridiculous... Adrahil Sep 2015 #71

Again, in most instances, a professor can set rules to prevent legitimate disruption branford Sep 2015 #73

classroom discipline? this isn't grade school. cali Sep 2015 #79

No. romanic Sep 2015 #29

"The real world doesn't work like that" PowerToThePeople Sep 2015 #31

I was referring to identity politics romanic Sep 2015 #33

And people are not obligated to deal with microagressors either PowerToThePeople Sep 2015 #35

It doesn't matter either way. romanic Sep 2015 #37

/\ SO MUCH THIS /\ nt hifiguy Sep 2015 #32

Just how far are you willing to go to ensure that nobody "has a sad"? Throd Sep 2015 #38

I thought that was what the professor was doing? PowerToThePeople Sep 2015 #40

Banning actual hate speech is one thing. Lizzie Poppet Sep 2015 #53

The difficulty in drawing the line at what constitutes "hate speech" branford Sep 2015 #68

I think that banning words is not the way to do that. LWolf Sep 2015 #100

So proud of our Cougar rivals LittleBlue Sep 2015 #44

The Man cant keep me from saying "The Man" Warren DeMontague Sep 2015 #48

I support this. bigwillq Sep 2015 #50

I know some academics who are pretty despondent Sen. Walter Sobchak Sep 2015 #52

I am existentially amazed that hifiguy Sep 2015 #64

Check Post #4 philosslayer Sep 2015 #90

That poster is not one of the ones I was thinking about. hifiguy Sep 2015 #91

Often, "offend" is used when "hurt" is what is meant. merrily Sep 2015 #77

I knew I'd finally find something we disagree on JackInGreen Sep 2015 #80

Well, you were bound to be wrong sometime! merrily Sep 2015 #81

Priceless! JackInGreen Sep 2015 #82

You've mentioned the leash. I think I'm getting the picture. merrily Sep 2015 #84

It is your choice to refrain from offending fat people with fat jokes. Chemisse Sep 2015 #94

Professors profess, not indoctrinate. Kurska Sep 2015 #89