Why is it not misogyny? Would you drop the phrase "Sorry, niggers." so casually into conversation? Probably not (after all, it's racist), but it still uses a segment of society in derogatory fashion.
It's not misogyny because, according to Merriam-Webster's 11th edition, misogyny means "a hatred of women," and the original comment wasn't about that at all.
And it has nothing to do with a segment of society. You're complaining about someone half-jokingly calling us all whiny babies.
"damn" is no longer an issue because most people aren't terribly religious nowadays, at least not enough for people to censor themselves. That's not the case for "bitch".
What your argument tries to do is sneak a false dichotomy onto the table.
It's absolutely true that people are responsible for their feelings. But that doesn't mean you aren't also responsible for your choice of words. By saying that I am responsible for how I feel when I hear the word "bitches," you are trying to imply that you aren't also responsible for choosing to say it. It's perfectly valid to say that we are BOTH responsible for our choices. I should choose to ignore you, and you should choose another word. There is no need to say that one or the other but not both of us should be responsible.
I find your arguments along these lines to be passive-agressive. If you want to hurt other people with words, own up to wanting to hurt other people with words. Don't pretend that it's everyone else's fault. Because surely, if nobody took offense to these particular words, you would hunt around until you could find words that would cause offense.
You choose to use these words and phrases precisely because they have shock value. It's not like you use the word and are surprised it carries some special meaning that offends people. I see elsewhere you have told people to "fuck off." Are you seriously suggesting you weren't trying to give offense? Because if it isn't possible to give offense, why are you trying so hard to offend people??
Greeting groups of people as "sup bitches" is a popular culture phenomenon. It's not used for shock value or to give offence (at least in my social circles....).
My use of both "profane" and non-profane offensive comments in my comments is to drive home my point. It is not intended to hurt others, but merely make them think to themselves "frack it, I'm ignoring him.""What he says would normally offend me, but I'm going to have a nice evening with my wife and kids instead" ...or something along those lines.
If I get anyone to that point then maybe they'll know that in the future, if some anonymous dude dares use the dreadful word "bitch" on the internet, it's best for the sanity of everyone to let it slide.
"Because if it isn't possible to give offense, why are you trying so hard to offend people??"
-gets back in character...- Well I'd say there is a keen difference between "giving offence", which I am of course not doing, and "presenting others the opportunity to take offence". The choice is theirs.
Well I'd say there is a keen difference between "giving offence", which I am of course not doing, and "presenting others the opportunity to take offence". The choice is theirs.
That's the most cowardly thing I've heard all day. But it's only lunch time, so we'll see how it goes.
So much for my attempts to discuss this intelligently, instead of emotionally. I going to consider this one more point of data in support of my hypothesis...
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?
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?"
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.
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.
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.
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.
The meaning of my "pithy one line", which you seem to be completely blinded to for some reason, is that I do not say the word "nigger" casually, but not out of concern for anybodies feelings. Rather, I avoid the word solely because I am paranoid of HR departments, and all things associated. This meaning seemed clear enough to other observers/participants.
Says a lot about you that the inclusion of minorly offensive words or implications can cloud your ability to critically interpret what others are saying. When you allow somebody else to offend you, or make you angry, you are allowing them to impair your thought processes. You are giving others the power to control you.
In order to defend yourself, you must realize that although somebody says something mean, it is up to you if you get angry, and although somebody may say something offensive, it is up to you if you become offended. In the real world, people are going to say shit you don't like. Trying to "correct" their behaviour is the wrong approach.
Not sure the HR department point is a 'pithy one liner'. If they didn't have their power I'd be singing along with Kanye too (there's a difference between using the word 'nigger' which is not racist, and calling someone a 'nigger', which is).
You're showing your disconnection with popular vernacular with your assertion. I'm 22 and girls around me call each other bitches casually (in a friendly, fun way) all the time.
You certainly don't speak on the behalf of any women I know.
Is it because your post is a bunch of poorly conceived bullshit? Is it because you don't really give any time to consider the intent of what's being said and the social context of the terms employed? Is it cause you're looking to be offended?
If you can't provide some analysis of the origins of thoughts and feelings which are presumably your own, maybe you should keep them to yourself till you can.
I cannot explain how much the injection of this in current use irks me.
Is this lack of civility, and appalling misogyny, really needed for satisfying self-expression nowadays?