The internet.

[Millinex]

Why is it, that people are so outrageously protective, and butthurt over words said on the internet? Why is it that everywhere on the internet (outside of gaming forums) people on the internet are amazingly easily offended by words such as "mongoloid" and "retard".

Does anyone else feel like America specifically is catering more and more to the people with 0 spine, the people who are afraid of confrontation and standing up for themselves? I mean growing up, I could make fun of another kid, he'd make fun of me back. How days I'll make fun of him, get expelled from school, and the parents would sue me.

Just seems so silly that so many people can't handle themselves and feel the need to cry about everything now, and it makes me greatly sad to see America's freedom of speech caving in to cowardice.

Thoughts?

 

[bitsy]

"mongoloid" and "retard".

Personally I'm offended by them in real life.

There are a lot of offensive terms for other people. If you want to appear that you have a spine, trot into your nearest ethinc neighbourhood and call a large man the N-word. Then you'll have a spine - probably embedded in your nose, but hey.

If someone is called a word that they find offensive, would you respect them if they stood up for themselves? Or would you deride them for being too easily offended? Can't quite make out your position on this point.

Unfortunately freedom of speech entails making decisions and behaving like an adult. You have the freedom to call people whatever you want. They likewise have the freedom to object. And if society as a whole objects, then maybe it's time *you* stopped being a crybaby on the internet and got the message?

 

[BooBoo18]

sticks and stones can break your bones but names can never hurt you. I remember that and think I heard that phrase a million times. That was my thing I don't care what you call me. I must have a pretty thick skin. But with the news filled with children getting bullied I think people are just highly sensitive about what other people say. We are expanding into the feeling and sensitive decade. LOL

 

[Nova_C]

Freedom of speech does not mean people are required to provide you with a soapbox to voice your opinion. Forums are private property and as such, there is no obligation for the owner to pay out of pocket to distribute your opinion to others.

This is one of my favorite things. People simply do not understand what 'Freedom of speech' means. It does not mean you get to say anything you want to anyone you want anywhere you want. It has never meant that. It means that the government cannot punish you for what you say with some very specific exceptions (Inciting a riot, for example, or yelling 'fire' in a theater for a more traditional example).

Besides, the 'internet' does not just exist in America, but is worldwide. This forum specifically is heavily American by membership, and is owned and operated by an American, but many sites and forums are run by people of other countries, where law is different and thereby, the attitudes and expectations of the owner may be different. It's up to you to conform to the community you are attempting to belong to, rather than forcing them to conform to accommodate you.

Further, 'mongoloid' and 'retard' are very offensive terms. Mongoloid, while having a scientific definition (Along with Caucasoid and Negroid), has been commonly used as a racist term, a usage which I fully believe you are using since Obama is not of primarily Mongoloid descent, but more likely of Caucasoid and Negroid descent. You were specifically using it in the racist context, which is ridiculously offensive and the people here do not tolerate such things. 'Retard' is very similar, in that it is an offensive, prejudiced term that is used as a pejorative against people of mental disability and, again, was totally unsuited to your usage and was meant to offend.

I get the feeling 'freedom' is something you don't understand, nor do you respect it since you seem to thing it only applies to things you do, and not the things that others do that may hamper your self-deluded belief that you get to do whatever you want without criticism.

Well, good luck with that.

PS. Gaming forums are one of the worst places for people being 'butthurt' because they tend to be populated by people like you. IE. People who are butthurt that they get criticized for being an awful person.

The PA forums excepted, of course. The PA forums are a shining beacon of hope for the internet.

 

[Kali]

I believe on the internet you have to be more careful with your words than in real life. You can't depend on a facial expression or body language for more information about how it's all meant. Plus other people than the one you are talking to can see what you are saying (in case of forums for example). So even when you call somebody a name in good jest, somebody else could be disturbed by it, not knowing exactly what the relation between the first two is... am I making sense?
I use a lot less nice words irl than on the internet. I can call my best friend the b word, and she will laugh and call me something in return. And nobody will be offended.
Is it a shame I can't do that here? Bwah, don't think so. It's no fun to get people angry at you over just a word, when you didn't mean it like it "sounded". And as I can't use body language to make that clear, I won't use them. I know enough other words to make myself understood
About "mongoloid" and "retard" I'm on the fence though. People get angry when you use words like that, I guess because they're so frequently used in a very negative way. So to use words like that on the internet, where so many people that don't know you can see what you're saying, is ... I don't know... kind of asking for it?

 

[dave partington]

Freedom of Speech allows you to make the choice about what you say.


If a person chooses to make an example of themselves, that is their choice and I will respect their choice, though I may not agree with it.

Evidently your choice got you banned.

 

[Susan]

There is a time and a place where showing a little etiquette is appropriate. Once you are told that certain terms are not appropriate in a certain place, such as this forum, simply accept it. This is a privately owned and operated website and everyone must follow the few rules set down by the owner. What is worse than your use of these terms is your complete lack of respect for any authority that is simply telling you the few rules which apply to this forum.

 

[Rich Z]

Posting offensive and derogatory slurs on a site while being anonymous really isn't any overly impressive display of "backbone", now is it? :laugh:

It's pretty easy to pretend you are a 280 pound hulk when there are no repercussions forthcoming from the target of your slurs for your lack of social graces online towards others.........

Quite frankly, I have found it pretty much to be universally true that someone who can't make their point without resorting to profanity or overtly derogatory name calling is just severely lacking in cerebral capacity and/or maturity. And to be perfectly honest, I would just as soon not have such people hanging around here......

 

[Ricky87]

Zero spine??...It's a fact that people who name-call are the most insecure people out there. Having spine is when you build the courage to accept your own self so much that you don't feel the need to criticize other people to feel significant.

 

[crotalis40741]

Posting offensive and derogatory slurs on a site while being anonymous really isn't any overly impressive display of "backbone", now is it? :laugh:

It's pretty easy to pretend you are a 280 pound hulk when there are no repercussions forthcoming from the target of your slurs for your lack of social graces online towards others.........

Reminds me of my trucking days and the C.B. rambo brigade. Was so many driveby butt whoopins done on channel 19. The funny part of it was off the radio the rambo would be buying the other a cup of coffee. I never have been able to figure out why some have to have conflict to make thier lives seem better. What ever happened to respecting your fellow human being? Rich you are so right with what you have stated here.

 

[Drizzt80]

What ever happened to respecting your fellow human being?

Exactly.

D80

 

[starsevol]

Some people are not worthy of respect, but it is very important to treat others the way you wish to be treated, or at least try like heck. You know, make an effort not to be a total poophead!

 

[Michael823]

If someone takes offense to a word, it really doesn't matter what you think of that word. It only matters that they asked you to respect their discomfort with the word, and you should have the maturity to heed the warning.

And if you're getting expelled for using those words... GOOD! I'm glad to see that some schools actually do make an effort to provide a safe environment for all kids (of every background) to learn. I actually felt that schools are becoming too obscene, too vulgar, and too unsafe for some children to be in. So kudos to whoever expelled you!!!

If you don't know the meaning of a word, then a situation causes you to understand, then it's a learning experience. But if you already know that some people find it offensive, and you continue to use it, than you'll learn the hard way. Some people just don't comprehend the meaning of what they say, so of course if you have a group of kids who speak like that together, you're going to have them loosely exchanging these insults back and forth. And maybe your friend finds it okay, so therefor you also do. But that's why some children don't learn to have humanity for all people, because they have only experienced what is acceptable through their environment, which probably reflects very little of the world at large. And when you are confronted with something different, such as someone with "special needs", it's a natural reaction to think "that's different". But to use their differences as a way of treating them less than is just shameful, and I wish more schools took the extra step in punishing that type of abusive behavior.