Offensive Words And The Use Of Them

Peter Parka

Well-Known Member
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A South Park episode got me thinking about this. The boys used the word faggot to describe a bunch of annoying bikers and it ended up with them getting the meaning of it changed to describe annoying people and being gay not meaning you're a faggot. I kind of subscribe to this view. I think it's more about how you use the word, rather than what the word is. It's just too hard to legally differenciate between an offensive and non offensive way of using it. Like everything, words evolve and even at the same time different things mean different things to different people. In the USA fag is an offensive word to describe a gay man, in Britain it means a cigarette. In Britain, sticking two fingers up at someone is offensive and confrontational, in the USA it means two. I dunno exactly where I'm going with this but what are your thoughts on the matter?
 
A South Park episode got me thinking about this. The boys used the word faggot to describe a bunch of annoying bikers and it ended up with them getting the meaning of it changed to describe annoying people and being gay not meaning you're a faggot. I kind of subscribe to this view. I think it's more about how you use the word, rather than what the word is. It's just too hard to legally differenciate between an offensive and non offensive way of using it. Like everything, words evolve and even at the same time different things mean different things to different people. In the USA fag is an offensive word to describe a gay man, in Britain it means a cigarette. In Britain, sticking two fingers up at someone is offensive and confrontational, in the USA it means two. I dunno exactly where I'm going with this but what are your thoughts on the matter?
I agree with you. One of my worst words to use is retard or retarded. I've not used it much over the last few years but it crops up every so often and i use it in the terms of its meaning rather than what it was associated with in the past. For me the word retard just means ridiculous and has no relation to exceptional people with disabilities.


So i may see something i think is weird and say, " omg that's so retarded."

My friends all use it as well, its just part of our slang here.
 
I agree with you. One of my worst words to use is retard or retarded. I've not used it much over the last few years but it crops up every so often and i use it in the terms of its meaning rather than what it was associated with in the past. For me the word retard just means ridiculous and has no relation to exceptional people with disabilities.


So i may see something i think is weird and say, " omg that's so retarded."

My friends all use it as well, its just part of our slang here.

Funny you should bring that word up, I feel the same way about it. I have a mental condition so should find that word offensive more than most but I only do if it's a dig at someone who has a mental condition because they have a mental condition.
Like I said, it's not the word but how you use it.
 
My friend was saying the movie "Lady and the Tramp" has the word bitch in it like 10 times.

*runs to Disney collection* I have to see this now lol.

I'm way tired of all the PC bull. People get butt hurt WAY too easily. I especially hate feminism. It's so ridiculous that so many women are so sensitive because of a stupid sandwich joke lol. As far as the term "faggot" is concerned, I know gay guys that use the word to describe an idiot. Some of my female friends and I call each other bitch, slut, whore lol. It's all in fun. I agree with Peter that it has mostly to do with what context you use it in. Even then though, there will always be people who will be offended by EVERYTHING so it wouldn't even matter to them if you're joking. :dunno
 
*runs to Disney collection* I have to see this now lol.

I'm way tired of all the PC bull. People get butt hurt WAY too easily. I especially hate feminism. It's so ridiculous that so many women are so sensitive because of a stupid sandwich joke lol. As far as the term "faggot" is concerned, I know gay guys that use the word to describe an idiot. Some of my female friends and I call each other bitch, slut, whore lol. It's all in fun. I agree with Peter that it has mostly to do with what context you use it in. Even then though, there will always be people who will be offended by EVERYTHING so it wouldn't even matter to them if you're joking. :dunno
I want some faggots and peas
 
I agree with you. One of my worst words to use is retard or retarded. I've not used it much over the last few years but it crops up every so often and i use it in the terms of its meaning rather than what it was associated with in the past. For me the word retard just means ridiculous and has no relation to exceptional people with disabilities.


So i may see something i think is weird and say, " omg that's so retarded."

My friends all use it as well, its just part of our slang here.

I hate when people look at me dirty for using this word. If someone has disabilities, it doesn't necessarily make them retarded. There are lots of different levels of autism. The word retard literally means SLOW. It's also used in writing music.
 
*runs to Disney collection* I have to see this now lol.

I'm way tired of all the PC bull. People get butt hurt WAY too easily. I especially hate feminism. It's so ridiculous that so many women are so sensitive because of a stupid sandwich joke lol. As far as the term "faggot" is concerned, I know gay guys that use the word to describe an idiot. Some of my female friends and I call each other bitch, slut, whore lol. It's all in fun. I agree with Peter that it has mostly to do with what context you use it in. Even then though, there will always be people who will be offended by EVERYTHING so it wouldn't even matter to them if you're joking. :dunno


Well said, now go make me a sandwich.
 
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