"Offensive" words

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[Akranadas]

I agree with Nev 100%

There are only a few words I hate and Rape is one of them. Remember that next time your calling me a Nazi because I deleted your posts; Okay?

[Kolath]

Nev, I agree with you as well.  Very good post.  Though I'm sure you know how futile it is given the truth of John Gabriel's Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory.

Also, pretty much any word can be considered contentious or strike a sensitive memory, What can you do?

Actually Lionel-Richie, most words are not contentious and do not strike sensitive memories.  In fact it is entirely possible to be civil without a great deal of effort.  Words do matter because they are the vocabulary with which we filter the world around us, which then impacts how we think and act.

[Lionel-Richie]

I disagree. Many words that one would normally not consider to be offensive can be offensive or invoke sensitive memories in another.

It's a person by person basis, which is a problem with the political correctness culture.

What if someone had a family member drown in a pool? The word "pool" stirs up deeper and more hurtful emotions than the word "rape" causes in any of you.

Or even names! A friend or love who died in a tragic way, for example. Saying their name, however common, will invoke strong emotion.

My point is that it's really hard to watchdog vocabulary like that. It's hard to make such standards.

It's easier to draw lines with words that, say, have no dictionary meaning and are meant entirely as hate words (the n word or any racial slur). If you're using that word, there's no way you're being anything other than demeaning (yes...with the exception of stupid thug culture, but that's beside the point).

I mean, honestly, having to tip toe around words that aren't obviously offensive is nothing more than an exercise in frustration. You have to refer to a black person as African American for some reason and you can't refer to someone from European as a European, likewise for anyone from Asia, because we're supposed to be able to differentiate between distant cultures with little difficulty.

My point is, if I even have one, is that politically correct speech is a minefield that doesn't have to be there, really.

That said, I don't run around in games saying "OH YOU GOT RAPED, BOYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE" cause...well, I never smack talk. Ever.

[Kolath]

It's easier to draw lines with words that, say, have no dictionary meaning and are meant entirely as hate words (the n word or any racial slur). If you're using that word, there's no way you're being anything other than demeaning (yes...with the exception of stupid thug culture, but that's beside the point).

Nevyen's point is that "rape" is a word that expresses a really terrible concept.  Why are racial words taboo but words that are derogatory toward women allowed?  It has been co-opted and watered down by being used as a synonym for "defeated" which is what some people object to.  Much like how people object to using the word "fag" as a synonym for "bad" or "wrong" person.

But the bottom line is just have a little respect.  If someone is bothered, respect your fellow community member enough to keep it under control around them.  They aren't expecting you to excise a word from your vocabulary in all contexts, just when speaking to them.  A little decency goes a long way.

[Lionel-Richie]

So are words such as murder and kill not expressing a terrible concept? I cannot think of anything worse than involuntarily ending a human life. You can at least attempt to come back from a rape experience (keyword attempt), but killing someone is final.

But I can see your point, however I realize the importance of context. I remember reading a war novel a few months ago and it's full of death and destruction, but the descriptions of soldiers regularly raping people really struck an emotional cord.

However when I hear "You gon' get raped" within a game or context outside of its sexual abuse definition it doesn't invoke those reactions.

Context, context, context.

[haeso1]

I find it incredible how people have such difficulty showing the smallest amount of courtesy towards others.

I know its such a burden to show any respect towards others, but it would go a long way. The only reason people are such dicks on the internet is because there is a complete lack of consequence.

Its pretty much a given they would get their ass kicked if it was a face to face conversation.

As AMPM said, just learn to use the mute function. If people are intentionally being disrespectful its unlikely they had anything useful to say anywho.

Devils advocate says you should respect my culture, as someone who grew up on the internet, language like this used in these specific contexts, are seen as humorous. If you can't accept context changing the meaning of words, I don't know what else to say other than life must suck being so easily offended.

Maybe if you understand english, you'll understand that context decides the definition. Look up the word "homonym" and then procede with the getting over yourself.

Are people trying to suggest that using a homonym makes me a bad person because of what you choose to correlate that word to regardless of context? Seriously? Consider how often the word "rape" is used, and the context it is used in, understand that the vast majority of the uses of the word are not meant as describing forced sex. Understand that correlating the word to that in today's society, is simply ignorant.

[Thtb]

Arnet you derogatory  to woman when you think rape only means them? As you see from out language use things, idears, concepts and other things can be "raped" (context).

I coud also say; Dont say stupid, its derogatory to man! (as extrem example)

[haeso1]

Arnet you derogatory  to woman when you think rape only means them? As you see from out language use things, idears, concepts and other things can be "raped" (context).

I coud also say; Dont say stupid, its derogatory to man! (as extrem example)

lol, thbt, it's even better with your english, you understand more about the language and you can hardly spell with it :X

[Thtb]

Arnet you derogatory  to woman when you think rape only means them? As you see from out language use things, idears, concepts and other things can be "raped" (context).

I coud also say; Dont say stupid, its derogatory to man! (as extrem example)

lol, thbt, it's even better with your english, you understand more about the language and you can hardly spell with it :X

I can spell 4 letters.

[TodlichPanther]

Or you could respect their wishes.

Why? Rather than having the world conform to what they believe is proper language, how about they learn to deal with it?

your just being an ass for no reason, its a polite request ( most of the time). Just say OK, and refrain from using it, it isnt a nice word and doesnt display your "vocabulary" or "diction", it displays your lack of knowledge of a "proper" word that would be more suitable, and more politically correct.

[Lionel-Richie]

Proper and more suitable? I'm all for extending ones vocabulary, but that sounds like the justification the Romans used in their conquests...

"We bring you BETTER civilization than that off-brand stuff you have."

Saying that the use of such a word displays a lack of any other replacements in the vocab of another is a false assumption. You cannot just talk like you've been doing nightly readings of a thesaurus.

Do you honestly think people swear because they don't know any other word to express the emotion? They do, however in social context these other words are probably less charged or suitable than what they need to use.

Granted, there's a difference between picking an appropriately charged word (which requires a vocabulary and an awareness of context) and just being crass.

[Dragon93]

One very important thing people need to remember, we are all different. We are all brought up differently in different corners of the world. Some people get grounded for swearing, some don't. Some people are young, some are old. Everyone in the community, is different, has been brought up differently, is from a different place, and has seen and been through different things in their lives. You can't stop people swearing or talking in certain ways, or using words in different meanings, just because you don't like it, or those words mean different things to you. I think people just need to suck it up. We are all different and talk differently, every one in the world does, you can't make people change how they talk or what they are, simply because you where brought up differently and don't agree with it.

[Akranadas]

Look guys I'll make it simple for you;

Don't use the word rape or I'll replace it with something different. OKAY?

We've had a number of users request that people don't use it on the forums and I think that is a reasonable request; it's one word, its not like their stopping you from posting on these forums.

Okay done; end of issue.

[fldash]

Can we still say ****?

[Akranadas]

Yes if you want to.

[fldash]