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I wonder idly whether if I'd made the same post but starred out the word it would've generated the same backlash. If the answer to that is "no" then I'm probably never going to understand people.
Oops.
A bit of cross posting by me up there. The first bit is for this thread. The second bit should be for another.
Bloody iPad. If only it was Dracs. It wouldn't have done that. ;-).
@cromolyolly > That's really, really helpful. Thank you. Food for thought.
I wonder idly whether if I’d made the same post but starred out the word it would’ve generated the same backlash.
To be honest I would never in a million years have guessed that it was that word, unless you had only starred out 1 or 2 letters because I can't recall the last time I heard or saw the word outside certain very limited uses (certain kinds of rap, movies etc).
If I had then yes. Because it isn't the word itself it is the meaning of it, and the burden it carries.
@Cougar Does anybody on here actually know you ? If not can't you just claim to be Afro Carribean and then you are off the hook .
😆
I've met a few folk off here a while back, and I've a co-worker who's a lurker.
@Cougar Does anybody on here actually know you ? If not can’t you just claim to be Afro Carribean and then you are off the hook .
Best post on this thread so far!
On the bright side, Cougar is allowed to sling the offensive terms “geek”,”nerd”, “dork” and “Tom Savini” about with impunity. 😉
Well, I'll take two of those.
Seems to me that there's a lot of 'white priviege' here in saying that no-one is allowed to use that word.
If the community that that word was originally targetted at in a derogatory manner decide that they want to use that word themselves in whatever way they want, then who are we to complain? A bunch of losers on a bike forum ?
Language use changes over time, look at the word 'gay'.
saying that no-one is allowed to use that word.
I don't think anyone has said that, have they? They've said it is offensive and it is. There is a definiotn from a dictionary a few pages back.
If the community that that word was originally targetted at in a derogatory manner decide that they want to use that word themselves in whatever way they want, then who are we to complain?
They have to decide that for themselves, those not in that community don't really have a say. That community has rightly made it clear that they will decide that for themselves. They have also made it abundantly clear that they reserve that privilege and the privilege to use or not use it. Also that that priviledge doesn't extend to anyone else. And that the word is offensive.
Nothing is inherently offensive, anything may cause offense and whilst I would like to argue for context that's clearly not the whole story. For instance; Superdry, I have only to see the logo to be fair, doesn't matter who's wearing it, even when mates do it. Look hard enough and you'll find someone who is offended, so to that extent it is evident that the use of particular words will always cause offense to some regardless of context, but if our intent is clear and right - it's a close friend, evidence in a court case, the reclaiming of a word long used to abuse us, then we should not be concerned about the offense caused because it is very much the problem of the offended - they are choosing to be offended and see offense where there is none, so **** 'em I say
They have to decide that for themselves, those not in that community don’t really have a say. That community has rightly made it clear that they will decide that for themselves. They have also made it abundantly clear that they reserve that privilege and the privilege to use or not use it. Also that that priviledge doesn’t extend to anyone else.
which is what I was saying...
And that the word is offensive.
Not if it isn't used in an offensive way by those in the Black community ?
Or are you really saying that you take offense of their right to use the word in whatever way they want ?
And no-one has the right to not be offended - this isn't Canada...
And no-one has the right to not be offended – this isn’t Canada…
The only 'offended' people on this thread are those stood on the back of their tall horses harking look at me, look at me, I've been offended! It reads like a Monty Python skit.
It reads like a Monty Python skit.
business as usual then...
I'm at a loss as to why Superdry is offensive.
I’m at a loss as to why Superdry is offensive.
That got me as well.
I’m at a loss as to why Superdry is offensive.
Dampist?
I’m at a loss as to why Superdry is offensive.
I have a very good set of reasons for being offended, but I'm sure they'll make no sense to anyone else. That's pretty much the point, I mean who is to blame for my state of outrage, me or the guy who noticed in the late 90's that there were loads of Japanese T'shirts that were given away free with washing powder sold on Ebay and worked out there were people who would actually pay twenty quid for one if it was sold in a nice shop on the High St?
I think I might be just making shit up to get angry about it
I’m at a loss as to why Superdry is offensive.
They’re from Cheltenham.
I think I might be just making shit up to get angry about it
You could also be the most honest person on STW at this moment 😀
I genuinely don't know if you don't understand, or are just taking the Michael. I sincerely hope it isn't the latter because that would be incredibly crass, given the subject matter. However, if it is the former perhaps this will help
Not if it isn’t used in an offensive way by those in the Black community ?
There really is not such thing. It is a diaspora like most. And in case you missed it earlier:
in the communities most affected by it, there is extreme disagreement as to whether it should be used and whether some of the reasons given for its use justify it (you can do you own research on it, it is too vast to cover in a post).
See if this aids you comprehension, from earlier:
blasphemy is a blasphemy. Whether you are offended by it in the extreme or are “what’s a blasphemy” it is and always will be a blasphemy. So the Wider world has decided the word is offensive. Hopefully it always will be considered as such.
There is a definition earlier in the thread from a dictionary, or use your preferred one. I suspect you'll find that they all define the word as offensive.
Or are you really saying that you take offense of their right to use the word in whatever way they want ?
No. As I think you are well aware. See earlier about "provocative"
As earlier, anything else you need to know, it would be better if you simply googled it for yourself, it will mean more to you and you can double check sources.
Just to help me keep up at the back, can I request that people make it clear who they are addressing their posts to. Just saying ‘you’ in a 6 page thread is not enough for me to follow.
blasphemy is a blasphemy. Whether you are offended by it in the extreme or are “what’s a blasphemy” it is and always will be a blasphemy.
Well, that's complete bollocks for a start. What was blasphemous many moons ago could be perfectly acceptable now (for example, working on a Sunday)
What was blasphemous many moons ago could be perfectly acceptable now (for example, working on a Sunday)
I'm reasonably confident that the bible has not been rewritten recently so what was defined as blasphemy then is still defined as such.
That we accept it means we have changed our opinion on blasphemies but not what things are blasphemy.
Your living room is painted bright pink. You have decided that you aren't sufficiently annoyed by this to re paint it. Doesn't make it not pink. See the parallel?
Why can't people just stop being idiots?
I have a very simple philosophy...
As far as I'm concerned, people can do what they damn well please and call themselves what ever they want as long as they don't hurt others, then that's fine by me.
Well Matty, that's just fine as far as it goes and no one would object to that. The problem is what happens when they do hurt others. Should they stop just because people are hurt by it?
If only there was a long divisive thread discussing such behaviour.