Presidential Campaign: 2012

[melliedee]

Originally Posted by ProfessorPibil

Good afternoon, bro.

Nigga Slang: Usually Disparaging and Offensive
Retard Slang: Disparaging
Retarded Slang: Disparaging
Scum: Rude and derogatory
N word Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive

I know everyone here knows the difference in magnitude, just as they know the way words are used is more significant than the words themselves. I also know some people like to pretend there's no such difference, because they get their kick from doing that - good for them.

I don't even have an issue with your habit of cursing and being offensive whenever you lose an argument, you're like that, that's cool.

roni's action though, is sort of inexcusable.

If you recognize that the term is disparaging to an entire group of people, why use it? And I don't mean that you don't understand the differing context/significance or different emphasis or varying degrees of offensiveness depending on the exchange. I mean, why use it at all when it has such potential to be offensive (and perhaps not even here on a message board where, who knows, it may be your goal to be offensive) but in other situations? Do you call people "retards" in real life; or use the expression "that's retarded?"

[ProfessorPibil]

Originally Posted by melliedee

If you recognize that the term is disparaging to an entire group of people, why use it? And I don't mean that you don't understand the differing context/significance or different emphasis or varying degrees of offensiveness depending on the exchange. I mean, why use it at all when it has such potential to be offensive (and perhaps not even here on a message board where, who knows, it may be your goal to be offensive) but in other situations? Do you call people "retards" in real life; or use the expression "that's retarded?"

For example - working on a problem with one of my long time employees (we've worked together since the company was run out of a broom-closet sized office, we've been through a lot), finally realizing it's due to a really silly mistake I made... he says "oh, I don't know who's the bigger retard here, you for doing that or me for not noticing, but you're the boss so it has to be me.". Would it be better had he used a different term to describe acts of great silliness? I don't think so.

Yes, I hear the expression "that's retarded" occasionally in work situations (mostly uttered by science PhDs and engineers) although I don't think I ever use it myself, preferring "that's silly".

But everyone's avoiding the very obvious here - I used the word that you may or may not like in a very obvious slang meaning, not to refer to any specific person, just to refer to a quality of an action taken by a very large group of people. Why? Because the action was self-defeating, driven by what I perceive as backwards opinions, and overall, well, incredibly stupid.

roni then used a term that has no such casual slang use, only a very vicious direct use, to refer to me and RH personally, refused to apologize or even to take the easy way out, which we both offered him as we know he's a good guy.

That "the group" is defending that action is surprising at the very least.

[melliedee]

Originally Posted by ProfessorPibil

For example - working on a problem with one of my long time employees (we've worked together since the company was run out of a broom-closet sized office, we've been through a lot), finally realizing it's due to a really silly mistake I made... he says "oh, I don't know who's the bigger retard here, you for doing that or me for not noticing, but you're the boss so it has to be me.". Would it be better had he used a different term to describe acts of great silliness? I don't think so.

Yes, I hear the expression "that's retarded" occasionally in work situations (mostly uttered by science PhDs and engineers) although I don't think I ever use it myself, preferring "that's silly".

But everyone's avoiding the very obvious here - I used the word that you may or may not like in a very obvious slang meaning, not to refer to any specific person, just to refer to a quality of an action taken by a very large group of people. Why? Because the action was self-defeating, driven by what I perceive as backwards opinions, and overall, well, incredibly stupid.

Yes, but just because you're insisting that you're using the expression as harmless slang doesn't make it harmless. The comparison is only apt if we agree that the term can sub in for those other qualifiers; hence, "retard" = backward and incredibly stupid (in your example). It doesn't matter if you were not actually thinking of, say, people with Downs. Just because you didn't mean or intend to evoke that group doesn't mean that your readers won't make that leap for you. That's the way communication theory works: the writer implies; the reader infers. Your implication doesn't have to be intentional to produce the same result.

In written communication it costs us very little to use inclusive language, what conservatives usually wrongly label "PC," as if referring to people and groups respectfully is some kind of chore, or, worse, some conspiracy of the thought police to rob us of our word choices.

As for "scum," I told someone to F-off last week, so I'm not trying to school people on how to be more polite or wrangle apologies out of you or anyone else. Just that we think about our ethos (or its destruction) based on our word choices. Yours, for example, was sort of shot after that comment about the southern primary voters. But I think you knew that, and I think you knew the reaction it would get based on previous exchanges on this very forum.

[Robinhood]

Originally Posted by melliedee

Yes, but just because you're insisting that you're using the expression as harmless slang doesn't make it harmless. The comparison is only apt if we agree that the term can sub in for those other qualifiers; hence, "retard" = backward and incredibly stupid (in your example). It doesn't matter if you were not actually thinking of, say, people with Downs. Just because you didn't mean or intend to evoke that group doesn't mean that your readers won't make that leap for you. That's the way communication theory works: the writer implies; the reader infers. Your implication doesn't have to be intentional to produce the same result.

In written communication it costs us very little to use inclusive language, what conservatives usually wrongly label "PC," as if referring to people and groups respectfully is some kind of chore, or, worse, some conspiracy of the thought police to rob us of our word choices.

As for "scum," I told someone to F-off last week, so I'm not trying to school people on how to be more polite or wrangle apologies out of you or anyone else. Just that we think about our ethos (or its destruction) based on our word choices. Yours, for example, was sort of shot after that comment about the southern primary voters. But I think you knew that, and I think you knew the reaction it would get based on previous exchanges on this very forum.

Mel i gotta say that if you think PP was looking for that reaction that he got from Roni by saying "retards" your grasping at straws. I think thisthing was blown way out of proportion.imho .I don't see eye to eye with PP on some issues but i just can't see him being that callous to use that discription with the intent to offend or look for a confrontation to the degree of last nights. This kind of reminds me when you look at the review section on consumer sights . I believe that more reviews are done by disgruntled consumers than satisfied ones, ergo i agree with PPs summation that most people would understand that his comment was said with no ill intent towards special needs people ,however there will always be those few that find something offensive with certain words or phrases. Eg. i didn't find Ronis remark calling me and PP scum horrible but someone else might have taken great offense to it. All in all i think the reaction from Roni is understood but will that stop PP,myself or others from using that term in future conversations? I certainly would think twice about it. As i pointed out to Roni , i am sure Obama would think twice about special Olympics comments .After all we are only human and i think that Roni played a part in this with his reaction. It would have been better i feel if he politely pointed out PPs error in use of words instead of fueling the fire by calling people SCUM. Which was a DIRECT insult.

[user 6507]

g-zus...I take a break for a few days and all sorts of shit happens and I'm not even involved..

[Mikey]

Originally Posted by StephenB

g-zus...I take a break for a few days and all sorts of shit happens and I'm not even involved..

You can get it started today!

[roni]

Originally Posted by StephenB

g-zus...I take a break for a few days and all sorts of shit happens and I'm not even involved..

Pobrecito

[user 6507]

Originally Posted by Mikey

You can get it started today!

Actually, arrogance and name calling isn't that much fun. Being face to face with assholes who hide behind keyboards and seeing what they are made of in real life is a lot more fun...

[D33RHUNT3R]

Originally Posted by Mnbruce

Is it true that the DOW closed yesterday at it's highest level since 2007?

oh woohooo...

If thats all ya got ... We are doomed

[melliedee]

Originally Posted by Robinhood

Mel i gotta say that if you think PP was looking for that reaction that he got from Roni by saying "retards" your grasping at straws. I think thisthing was blown way out of proportion.imho .I don't see eye to eye with PP on some issues but i just can't see him being that callous to use that discription with the intent to offend or look for a confrontation to the degree of last nights. This kind of reminds me when you look at the review section on consumer sights . I believe that more reviews are done by disgruntled consumers than satisfied ones, ergo i agree with PPs summation that most people would understand that his comment was said with no ill intent towards special needs people ,however there will always be those few that find something offensive with certain words or phrases. Eg. i didn't find Ronis remark calling me and PP scum horrible but someone else might have taken great offense to it. All in all i think the reaction from Roni is understood but will that stop PP,myself or others from using that term in future conversations? I certainly would think twice about it. As i pointed out to Roni , i am sure Obama would think twice about special Olympics comments .After all we are only human and i think that Roni played a part in this with his reaction. It would have been better i feel if he politely pointed out PPs error in use of words instead of fueling the fire by calling people SCUM. Which was a DIRECT insult.

I didn't say he was looking for a reaction from roni. PP has been involved with this conversation about the word before. He knows that Gingele takes extreme offense because of her son; he's gone round with her on this one before. I have no doubt that he knew he was stirring the pot by using that word---you're free to think otherwise.

[D33RHUNT3R]

Originally Posted by melliedee

I didn't say he was looking for a reaction from roni. PP has been involved with this conversation about the word before. He knows that Gingele takes extreme offense because of her son; he's gone round with her on this one before. I have no doubt that he knew he was stirring the pot by using that word---you're free to think otherwise.

Some people are just looking to be offended...

[Mnbruce]

Originally Posted by D33RHUNT3R

oh woohooo...

If thats all ya got ... We are doomed

Wow, you sure stuck it to me good there DH!

But then I doubt you really comprehend what this means anyway.

[melliedee]

Originally Posted by D33RHUNT3R

Some people are just looking to be offended...

Yes, I'm sure ProfPib didn't really mean to say that southern voters who gave Santorum the win last night were "retards" or "backward" or "incredibly stupid." Keep on defending him, Phil. He's really got your back.

[horizon200]

Originally Posted by Luv2Dance

gee thanks

No problem....just let me know what color you'd like...Oh and did I mention you MAY be responsible for S&H?

[Mikey]

Originally Posted by StephenB

Actually, arrogance and name calling isn't that much fun. Being face to face with assholes who hide behind keyboards and seeing what they are made of in real life is a lot more fun...

I guy can dream......