Momanohedhunter
Rookie
- Banned
- #21
Words are, in themselves, devoid of offence.
It is ALWAYS the percieved intent behind the world which offends.
Not really... words are given meaning both by their intent and by their historical or cultural connotations. (e.g. "******" is offensive because it was used along with violence and force to keep African Americans slaves, and to keep whites in power.) You say that "It is ALWAYS the perceived intent behind the world which offends." However, if I walked up to you and said "I think you're a really smart guy," you would not feel offended, even if I had intended to offend you. This is because the cultural connotation of "smart" is positive.
When I was young, and in grade school I saw a fight break out between a white kid and a black one. As it was broken up, the teacher was chewing the two kids out and the white kid told the teacher something along the lines if " I dont have to listen to you because you are a stupid ******". The teacher who was known to be mean and was in fact black, stopped, put a hand on each of the boys shoulders and told the boy that that word meant ignorant, and that those who used it didn't have what it takes to get by in the world, and that he was in fact the ******. Since then, that is what it has meant to me. Tone of voice and body posture play into it as well as the mindset of the person being called the name. We give words there power over us. We decide weather or not they offend us. Those who hear the word really give it its power to offend. If we thicken our skin some and realize that we are smarter and better then those offensive words imply then they will fail to matter and will stop being used.