We’ve got interesting rules in this modern world. There are words you’re not supposed to say. They’re hurtful. they’re profane. They’re verboten!
There’s the “n” word and the “f” bomb. You get the idea. I can say poop, but I for some reason I can’t use its four letter equivalent. They are the same right?
No sh*t!
Yeah, I can insert an asterisk or other nonsense character. Somehow that sanitizes the word even though everyone knows what I wrote. You know what I wrote, right?
This is crazy.
So it’s not the meaning or intent that causes trouble, it’s the way the letters are placed.
Often the word is part of the story. If someone calls another person he “n” word doesn’t it make sense to say it when you quote it? No one does.
I suppose I could illustrate these words by using them, but they’re so powerful I’d likely get in trouble with my bosses or the company that hosts my website. Certainly someone would be offended. That’s not my intention, but still my responsibility.
Here’s my take. All these forbidden words should be freed for use when the word itself is part of the story. If someone calls someone else the “n” word I should be able to say or write that word.
Using these euphemisms takes the sting out. It dulls the hurt. The best way to show how hateful a word is is by using it.
I’m just not courageous enough to be the trail blazer.
Society is so afraid of these words. I especially get irritated when someone, on TV, flips “the bird” on TV and it’s blurred. Gee, what did they just do? I can’t tell because it was BLURRED. It’s OBVIOUS what was done, so why “clean it up” for society. How offensive is THAT? 😀
all i can say is fuckin’ A!
Bravo sir!
This phony PC crap and phony outrage has completely gotten out of hand. We are quickly losing the right of free speech by caving to all these activist groups.
After Whitney Houston died, DJs in LA made an off handed remark about her being a crack ho. It was VERY well documented how she threw her talents away for drug use, but these guys had to attend sensitivity training, apologize (twice) on-air, and interview someone about their ‘wrong-doings’.
We need to remember, there is a difference between “I’m offended” and “I’m offended and no one deserves the right to listen to these guys.”
When the Jeremy Lin “Chink in the Armor” thing went down, an ESPN radio host was fired after reporting what previously happened on ESPN.com. Recently a CNN reporter got in hot water for quoting “nigger” in his story, as said by one of of the story’s subjects.
It has gotten so bad that the Round Eye Noodle Bar in Philadelphia had to change their name after Asian groups complainted. Their issue? Round eye makes “everyone” think of the ethnic slur of slant eye, therefore making round eye bad.
It’s ironic that the groups fightining for the firing people (ala Imus) are doing it in the name of diversity. What they don’t realize is they are limiting diversity by telling us what we can and can’t hear or feel or see. If I don’t like what I hear, I change the channel.
We have become a nation of babies.
Thanks for putting in print what I’ve been saying for years! Words are just words! When I say it, I’m treated as a pariah. I’m not saying one should deliberately set out to offend, and I agree these words are not pretty; some are downright horrible. But to ban them because they insult or offend a person or group? No. As long as the words are not used to advocate violence, they’re simply a collection of letters, comprising sets of phonemes to which we assign concepts.
It goes beyond political correctness, to the core of free speech. Besides, while I acknowledge I’m no constitutional scholar, as far as I know there’s nothing in the constitution guaranteeing protection against feeling offended or being insulted.
Words may never harm you, but they might get you expelled from high school. Did you see this article? http://games.yahoo.com/blogs/plugged-in/high-school-expels-student-tweeting-f-word-204216086.html
Jacob I applaud you! I agree with everything you said except one. I have to add
That we have become a nation of “cry” babies! Babies put most adults to shame for their love of learning all things.
Ah, somebody gets it! And sometimes the whole politically correct thing just gets ridiculous – I mean, just what is the currently acceptable term for someone with dark skin? Black? African-American (which is inaccurate – not all dark skinned people have an African heritage)? Something else?
Wasn’t “gay” politically incorrect at one point? And whether “bitch” is an insult or a compliment seems to depend on who you’re talking to.
That “chink in the armor” thing I actually had to think about for a minute before my mind left Camelot and made it to Chinatown.
It seems like the PC terms change every week. I’m so confused…
Just an obsevation, IF you call your fellow associates a “n***a” it’s all right (ei.)”That’s my n***a”, which by the way I hear a thousand times a day in our schools, then why not really say the word spelled with an “r” if need be. If you have listened to the new music genres you’d hear it and the “f” word and a whole lot of other VERY offensive words repeated to nausium.I does appear its NOT the words but who says them to whom and why OR if it is going to make some one alot of money.Politicl Correctness does not apply across the board, it’s very selective and does it violate free speech,yes, I think it does even though I don’t personally like OR approve of these words.
As a child I was called the n-word on a pretty regular basis even though I am Irish/Italian. Trust me when I tell you the sting will NOT leave the word even if it is regularly used. I am now in my mid sixties and your entry still brought tears to my eyes. That word is too powerful to just throw around.
Jeff, I really wish you’d picked a different media example to make your point.
Well… this entry and comments are going down a slippery slope.
Glad I’m on my way out of this world and not just coming in. I don’t want to even think what life will be like in another 30 years.
Isn’t saying “the n word” the same thing as saying it? It certainly is to me. And so what does calling me a dugong make me a dugong? Lighten up people