Slippery Slopes

[archangel]

The word "******" was a misspelling of the word Niger...which is a historical fact that slave cargo was listed on the ships manifest as being "Niger" as slaves were exported out of Africa and were sold into slavery by their own people..."Nigers" from the river valley that exported slaves...the manifest just listed the port of export for cargo who happened to be from "Niger"..if the "African American community is not offended by the use of the word "African"then why are they offended by the use of the word "Niger" after all it is in Africa...The only solution to this problem would be to drop the (anything)....American and just say American!

 

[Max Power]

OK. Sure.

My example...walking down the street, using it as a greeting..is not demeaning.

Happens every day in the black community.

So?

That's why I said, "Depending on the context."

You're putting way too much thought and concern on this issue. You have the legal right to say (almost) anything you want. Whether or not something is socially acceptable depends on the setting. This is true for ****** or any other words actually.

 

[kurtsprincess]

Does war corrupt? How do you explain war to a child? There will always be corruptive forces in this world, the job is not to ban them all but to learn how to ignore them. Self control. The government does need to think and parent for you.

I will agree with you CT on the fact that there will always be corruptive forces in the world.

I would ask how one goes about containing the corruptive forces that our children are exposed to?

Good parenting grows exponentially through community support.

 

[ScreamingEagle]

I will agree with you CT on the fact that there will always be corruptive forces in the world.

I would ask how one goes about containing the corruptive forces that our children are exposed to?

Good parenting grows exponentially through community support.

Yeah, CT, don't you know it takes a village? :teeth:

 

[kurtsprincess]

Choose your village wisely!!!!

 

[GotZoom]

So?

That's why I said, "Depending on the context."

You're putting way too much thought and concern on this issue. You have the legal right to say (almost) anything you want. Whether or not something is socially acceptable depends on the setting. This is true for ****** or any other words actually.

I may have a legal right to use the N word, but I promise you that if I do - I will suffer the reprocussions for it. It doesn't matter what context I use it in.

 

[Max Power]

I may have a legal right to use the N word, but I promise you that if I do - I will suffer the reprocussions for it. It doesn't matter what context I use it in.

You also have the legal right to use the word "dipshit," but if you walk down the street calling people dipshits, eventually someone is going to punch you.

What's your point?

And as far as context is concerned, I'm sure that reading Huck Finn in public wouldn't lead to any repercussions.

And I ask again, what IS your point? You want to be able to insult people, without risking getting your ass beat?

 

[GotZoom]

You also have the legal right to use the word "dipshit," but if you walk down the street calling people dipshits, eventually someone is going to punch you.

What's your point?

And as far as context is concerned, I'm sure that reading Huck Finn in public wouldn't lead to any repercussions.

And I ask again, what IS your point? You want to be able to insult people, without risking getting your ass beat?

You just don't have a clue about what is going on do you? Show me where I said I WANT to insult someone. The conversation is what words or phrases are offensive. I am simply maintaining that if a word is offensive, it is offensive. It doesn't matter who says that word.

Certain races and people don't agree.

Therein, lies the problem.

 

[Max Power]

You just don't have a clue about what is going on do you? Show me where I said I WANT to insult someone. The conversation is what words or phrases are offensive. I am simply maintaining that if a word is offensive, it is offensive. It doesn't matter who says that word.

Certain races and people don't agree.

Therein, lies the problem.

Yeah... insults are subjective. This is news to you?

If a friend of mine says to me, "Thanks, fuckhead," I'm not going to get mad, but if some stranger says that to me on the street, I just might.

That's how life is.

And if a black guy uses the words ****** or negro in a derogatory way, I'm sure that plenty of people will get pissed off at that guy too.

 

[GotZoom]

Yeah... insults are subjective. This is news to you?

If a friend of mine says to me, "Thanks, fuckhead," I'm not going to get mad, but if some stranger says that to me on the street, I just might.

That's how life is.

And if a black guy uses the words ****** or negro in a derogatory way, I'm sure that plenty of people will get pissed off at that guy too.

But "fuckhead" isn't a rallying point or all kinds of accusations of discrimination, etc.

I don't know if you get the whole point of this thread or you are just trying to be a PITA.

 

[Annie]

But "fuckhead" isn't a rallying point or all kinds of accusations of discrimination, etc.

I don't know if you get the whole point of this thread or you are just trying to be a PITA.

I'd guess the later.

 

[GotZoom]

I'd guess the later.

Based on past history, I would have to agree.

 

[Max Power]

But "fuckhead" isn't a rallying point or all kinds of accusations of discrimination, etc.

I don't know if you get the whole point of this thread or you are just trying to be a PITA.

No, I just don't have a problem with people using the word ****** in a non-derogatory manner.

I also don't appreciate it when people use it in a derogatory manner, but respect their right to do so.

 

[GotZoom]

No, I just don't have a problem with people using the word ****** in a non-derogatory manner.

I also don't appreciate it when people use it in a derogatory manner, but respect their right to do so.

Good for you.

However, the world doesn't revolve around Max. There are far more people who think just the opposite as you.

 

[Max Power]

Good for you.

However, the world doesn't revolve around Max. There are far more people who think just the opposite as you.

Then that's their problem.

Or your problem apparently.
You've got an issue? Here's a tissue.

 

[GotZoom]

Then that's their problem.

Or your problem apparently.
You've got an issue? Here's a tissue.

And I bet you came up with that all by yourself too.

 

[Max Power]

And I bet you came up with that all by yourself too.

Yeah, I also came up with "Save the drama for your mama," but I'm rarely credited.

 

[speederdoc]

Or you could just call them "Americans" or "people" ...

That is not good enough for many of them, but it would be fine with me.

 

[The ClayTaurus]

I will give you this..but you said "Just because you see something on TV or the internet or whatever doesn't validate you doing whatever you want" in your response to teaching them about porn. I didnt' see the relation.

There are people who have looked at porn, who don't think that sex is casual, and who don't treat women with disrespect because of the porn they saw.

Do you not think it is possible to look at porn and still treat women with respect?

That's exactly what I'm saying. You can look at porn and not have your moral fabric deteriorated. You teach your children so that it doesn't happen.

 

[dilloduck]

What do people think of using a slippery slope argument when discussing an issue? It appears to be a reasoning tactic that I'm seeing pop up more and more. Thoughts on the general idea of the slippery slope?

Interesting question and it brought a few things to mind for me but foremost is the illusions of predictabilty and sense of security.

It would be nice to be positive that everything that has occured will occur again given the exact same set of catalysts and circumstances. Science has gone to great lengths to catagorize matter in this fashion but it can't guarantee ALL predictions based on past events will be accurate. As much as we would like to believe that because A once caused B, it does not mean A will always cause B.

Slippery slope arguments are based on trends, predictions and assumptions that MAY be true but are mostly dependent on playing the odds to the best of our ability.