That's not derailing at all. I remained fully within the subject at hand from the getgo.
We'll have to agree to disagree on that one. (http://www.derailingfordummies.com/)
All I can say at this point is that it's very easy for you to say that it removes hurt to be educated on the history. The last thing that someone who's been offended by something someone else said or did wants to hear is that the only reason that they're offended is because they're ignorant as well as oversensitive.
And as far as the "rule of thumb" goes... *headdesk*. No, there's never been a law to that effect. HOWEVER, it's certainly become part of our culture to THINK that there was, hasn't there? And because of that misconception, every time someone uses that phrase it can subtly reinforce misogyny.
This isn't only about historical accuracy, I'm sorry to say. Believe me, as a fellow student of history, I wish that education was the answer to these issues, but it isn't. This is about how words and phrases are perceived within our culture and how they can shape our thinking towards homophobia, sexism and racism, whether we intend for them to do so or not.
I like to believe that most people aren't intending to be racist, homophobic and/or misogynistic when they use these expressions, but their lack of intent isn't a 'get out of hurt/offense free card'. People are responsible for what they say and do that hurts other people, however intentionally or unintentionally they do so.
If I say something hurtful or offensive without realizing that it, I still owe the person who was hurt by it an apology. The best analogy I've yet heard is stepping on someone's foot. Very few people go out of their way to step on someone else's foot, but they are still expected to apologize for the hurt even though they didn't mean to do it. The person who was stepped on isn't expected to say, "Oh, I'm sorry that my foot was in your way."
no subject
We'll have to agree to disagree on that one. (http://www.derailingfordummies.com/)
All I can say at this point is that it's very easy for you to say that it removes hurt to be educated on the history. The last thing that someone who's been offended by something someone else said or did wants to hear is that the only reason that they're offended is because they're ignorant as well as oversensitive.
And as far as the "rule of thumb" goes... *headdesk*. No, there's never been a law to that effect. HOWEVER, it's certainly become part of our culture to THINK that there was, hasn't there? And because of that misconception, every time someone uses that phrase it can subtly reinforce misogyny.
This isn't only about historical accuracy, I'm sorry to say. Believe me, as a fellow student of history, I wish that education was the answer to these issues, but it isn't. This is about how words and phrases are perceived within our culture and how they can shape our thinking towards homophobia, sexism and racism, whether we intend for them to do so or not.
I like to believe that most people aren't intending to be racist, homophobic and/or misogynistic when they use these expressions, but their lack of intent isn't a 'get out of hurt/offense free card'. People are responsible for what they say and do that hurts other people, however intentionally or unintentionally they do so.
If I say something hurtful or offensive without realizing that it, I still owe the person who was hurt by it an apology. The best analogy I've yet heard is stepping on someone's foot. Very few people go out of their way to step on someone else's foot, but they are still expected to apologize for the hurt even though they didn't mean to do it. The person who was stepped on isn't expected to say, "Oh, I'm sorry that my foot was in your way."