Quote:
Originally Posted by Derek Sutton
Equality is not about words, it’s about actions. Being told what we can and cannot say, what we should or should not say, or what is or isn’t offensive helps create division and further apathy towards true equality, be it race, religion or sexuality.
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It’s nobody’s job to make you feel less apathetic about the treatment of people who are Black, or gay, or Indigenous, etc. That’s your job. Do it or don’t, but don’t have a fit about minorities are making it easy for you not to care. That seems like a “you” issue.
To that point, it’s being told what you can and can’t say without consequence, it’s being told what you should or shouldn’t say to avoid negative consequences, it’s not just being told what is or isn’t offensive, it’s people sharing that these things are or aren’t actually offensive to them, it’s sharing a different perspective to your own.
I’m just not sure why this seems like a new and dangerous idea to you. History both current and past is absolutely littered with words that carry consequences. You can’t tell your boss he’s a ####ing loser without risking consequences. You can’t call your wife a dirty skank without risking consequences. You can’t call your kids pathetic bastards and say you don’t love them without risking consequences. And you can’t sit around in a work meeting and say n***** without consequences. So, why are you acting like this is a novel idea? Because you’re mad people can’t say the n-word without consequences? Really?
Like welcome to the same world you were born into. Words carry consequences. Nobody can stop you from saying any word you want whether directed to someone or not, but words have consequences and you need to grow up and figure that out because it’s not new.
If you want to have a discussion around whether the consequences are too harsh for certain words, that’s a really valid discussion to have. But if you whining about words having consequences period, I’m not sure what planet you’re living on.