Politically Toxic

[abaris]

I don't mind respecting someone's sensibilities, but not at the expense of language. It doesn't hurt me to be considerate, but the idea of bowing to strictures which can strip language of meaning is obnoxious.

My feeling is that no one can offend me without my permission. I think the same holds true of others; they must allow themselves to be offended.

If you truly find something offensive, is not the best way to confront it speaking out against it? Cockroaches hate sunlight. Why close the shutters?

I agree with your sentiment of noone being able to insult without permission. To feel insulted it takes some level of respect prior to the attempted insult.

I also agree with the cockroach part, since it ties perfectly into my main argument against what goes for PC culture these days. It only brushes the issue under the rug to ferment and fester there. Someone feeling like saying Nigger won't stop thinking Nigger and to act accordingly just because someone says "naughty boy, wash your mouth". Someone feeling like degrading women won't suddenly turn into the perfect gentleman. And someone feeling like calling gays faggoths won't suddenly take part in a gay pride parade.

Better drag them out to the open instead of giving the appearance of being a great, loving and tolerant community when we're anything but.