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by anthonyb 5593 days ago
That's hair splitting terminology. If you say or do something which you know the majority of people will find offensive, then that's effectively giving offense.

You didn't answer the original question, either: would you drop the phrase "Sorry, nigger." into casual conversation? If not, why not?
1 comments
burgerbrain 5593 days ago
Your question is irrelevant. The word being discussed is "bitch" or "bitches", which I most certainly do use often and causally.

You are in charge of if you get offended. It is a decision you and only you can make.

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anthonyb 5593 days ago
Hardly irrelevant - it's called reductio ad absurdum. If you limit yourself by not using certain words in conversation, then you're confirming that those words are generally offensive, and that using them would give offense.

It's why the legal system has the concept of the "reasonable person", but I prefer "Do you talk to your mother with that mouth?"

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burgerbrain 5593 days ago
The only reason I do not casually use the word nigger in public is because unlike god, HR departments appear to be omnipresent.

"Do you talk to your mother with that mouth?"

Yes, I do. And if that bothers you, kindly fuck off. You have no place telling me what I may or may not say in the presence of my mother.

If an adult loses their temper in public, they are rightfully looked down upon. If an adult publicly becomes offended, I similarly look down upon them.

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anthonyb 5593 days ago
Right - so you're a racist, misogynistic idiot who'd rather put up pithy one liners and tell me to fuck off than address the point. Glad we got that cleared up.
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burgerbrain 5593 days ago
Says the poster who was previously complaining about ad hominems...

No, I'm just an adult who recognizes that words only have the power that you give them. If you wish to continue to allow your emotions to be a slave to the language of others, that is your prerogative; but don't expect others to follow you.

And yes, I addressed your question. Read the parent comment of your post again.

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anthonyb 5592 days ago
You didn't address the question, you dropped a pithy one liner about HR departments. And you're still avoiding the issue by playing silly philosophical games. Of course words have meaning and power, particularly ones which are derogatory towards sections of society.

And that's all I'm going to say - this thread has gone on long enough.

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