I can only fall back to my original question: if someone tells you that they are offended by something you've said (or written), do you apologize and stop using it or do you give them a history lesson as to why you used the word in the first place?

For the record, I saw someone who was offended by the word 'lame' fairly recently (http://community.livejournal.com/ffrantsrants/231603.html) - does it really cost me anything not to use the word anymore?

Who does it hurt to change one's language to be sensitive to the feelings of other people?

If I were really generous, I could maybe come up with 100 words and phrases that either I feel are offensive or that someone else has told me are offensive to them personally. What does it cost me not to use those words and phrases any longer?

It costs me time and effort, certainly. It also requires me to put thought into what I say and to be more creative when I'm looking for a way to describe something.

Why use 'pussy' when I can say that someone is a weak-willed individual with the spine of a jellyfish? Why not use thesaurus.com to find a more clever way of saying something?

Why is it so important to hold onto these words at all?