Sorry Jazz fans – Ben is the NBA Rookie of the Year

[Ron Mexico]

Dude, we just went over this.

Oh yeah, my bad. Dont post when you get home from the bar. Its bad for your health. I apologize for using that word, its not cool.

 

[Getting Traded]

I ascribe to the centuries old nursery rhyme and one we should reflect on when someone insults us:

Sticks and stones will break my bones
But words will never hurt me.

They're just bleepin words, they only have power to hurt you if you give it to them.

 

[LifeOnaPlate]

I don't agree with you; it smacks of censorship. It's like euphemism. And as you have noted, the meaning of words evolve. Why do we have to sugar coat our words. Isn't this what Lenny Bruce and George Carlin were talking about. Yes, I agree we need to be sensitive to the audience and person when we use those word, but they are just words, and in fact, I never use the word, ******. But to my surprise a lot of black people use the word among themselves.

That's because the n word is context-dependent. People have been known to take back words that were originally used to demean them. "Mormon" began as a term of denigration. "Queer" as well. Now you can take "Queer studies" and "Mormon studies" courses at a university.

If you're so fundamentally opposed to censorship then how do you explain your avoidance of racial slurs? Again, I am not arguing that there should be laws about this, or that someone doesn't have the "right" to use these words. I am asking people to think about what the words mean, and how they might be painful for some people to hear. I really don't think it's so hard to make small adjustments like this. I was able to do it, after all.

 

[Archie Moses]

Would not want to go to a stand up comedy act with LifeOnaPlate tbh.

 

[LifeOnaPlate]

I ascribe to the centuries old nursery rhyme and one we should reflect on when someone insults us:

Sticks and stones will break my bones
But words will never hurt me.

They're just bleepin words, they only have power to hurt you if you give it to them.

I think this is a fine sermon to preach to myself. I even talk to my kids about this, again, because I think resilience and grit are important character traits. When I'm being honest, though, I recognize that words actually are powerful. Words have consequences and can cause some of the most severe and lasting pain we experience. I still remember hurtful things I said to my dad twenty years ago, before he died, that I regret to this day. Words definitely hurt. I want my kids to know that, too. I want to remember it myself, because I screw up with language, too.

The little poem is a nice little way to remind myself not to let someone have too much control over me with their words. But words still have consequences.

 

[Ron Mexico]

Would not want to go to a stand up comedy act with LifeOnaPlate tbh.

I would, he is very funny and enjoyable person to be around.

 

[One Brow]

I don't care for this "politically correct" b.s. It's fake and dishonest, and retarded. People should use whatever words they want. If it shows their bias or prejudice, so be it. At least it's transparent. Political correctness is very similar to euphemism, a common method of concealing truth.

I can believe the virtues of simple politeness are beyond your comprehension.

 

[One Brow]

But it depends on your audience and I don't think it applies here.

Because no one in here has kids with varying mental disabilities?

 

[LifeOnaPlate]

I would, he is very funny and enjoyable person to be around.

Oh man warm fuzzies in here.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

We need to refocus this thread on how terrible ben simmons is and reunite before the big game.

 

[Getting Traded]

That's because the n word is context-dependent. People have been known to take back words that were originally used to demean them. "Mormon" began as a term of denigration. "Queer" as well. Now you can take "Queer studies" and "Mormon studies" courses at a university.

If you're so fundamentally opposed to censorship then how do you explain your avoidance of racial slurs? Again, I am not arguing that there should be laws about this, or that someone doesn't have the "right" to use these words. I am asking people to think about what the words mean, and how they might be painful for some people to hear. I really don't think it's so hard to make small adjustments like this. I was able to do it, after all.

I agree with you on this. But it has veered off into the realm of political correctness which I totally oppose. Developmentally Disabled, what a dumb term. I actually use it myself. The problem with retard (its history as a word) is that it gives a real picture of a person who has Down's Syndrome and people find that repulsive. I'm being honest here. When I started to work with people who had such problems, I did find it repulsive but once I got to know them, it didn't bother me any longer. I think the word retard conjurs up a disagreeable image to people, so now we are supposed to avoid facing the reality that these people have some severe disabilities and cover it up with developmentally disabled, a euphemism that is the dishonest use of language. I was an English teacher and I used to cover euphemism in my classes. But I do try to be sensitive about the words I use.

I'm trying to explain my belief. You don't have to agree with it.

 

[LifeOnaPlate]

We need to refocus this thread on how terrible ben simmons is and reunite before the big game.

Maybe we've made some new recruits to the kinder language campaign, though.

But yes, back to the reason for the post. I confess last night I came here with a bag of popcorn in hand, ready to go.