Quote:
Originally Posted by H2SO4(aq)
I find being called a ding dong to be offensive. Please do not use that word. You do not know of my lived experience and why I feel that way, so just defer to me on the matter of why it's offensive.
By your logic, literally any word could be offensive.. I give up.
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I think you're missing the real point of this - this particular incident doesn't really matter for the people involved. Shaw doesn't seem like a terrible person, just someone who grew up playing a game where that word was part of the trash talk. It doesn't mean he's homophobic or hates gay people. And, the refs who the slur was directed at clearly weren't offended by it.
The problem is that, with that word being part of the game, it affects players at a much younger age. I have a friend who refs minor hockey and says that the word gets thrown around all the time, at young ages. Which is not really surprising, given that kids see and hear this type of thing from their idols on the ice.
I know it's hard to imagine what it's like to grow up being gay - I have no idea how big of a struggle it would be. But, try to put yourself in the shoes of a parent of a gay child. I know that if I have a gay son and teammates/opponents use the word and it prevents him from having fun playing the sport, maybe even drives him away, I will be very, very upset. It's not the same as other trash talk, and there's no point pretending that it is. With my hypothetical son, if he gets called a "ding dong", I'll gladly tell him to shake it off, and give it back to whoever said it; maybe I'd teach him a couple of choice words to throw back. But, where the word hits on something very personal about his identity, it would be a lot harder to tell him that it's not a big deal, and that he shouldn't take it personally.
If suspending Shaw for a game takes a step towards a more inclusive game at all levels, I'm all for it.