Proposed Mosque Near Ground Zero

[Outlaw]

Originally Posted by paposeco

Q: how many folks here on this thread, let alone on this site, have used the words, "nuts", "wacko" nut-jobs" ??

I'm not sure, I haven't been counting and I'm sorry you're feeling singled out and victimized. I think you might be missing my point. FA took exception to your language and indicated that to you directly, yet you continue to use and defend your use of... that very same language.

A better question might be how many people purposely used that language after the exception was taken?

Whether or not I agree with FA's position regarding the main issue of this thread, I think in the least, we should respect another member's sensitivity to language. Language that I find dehumanizing and used to perpetuate inaccurate stereotypes of the mentally ill.

Originally Posted by paposeco

What are you going to do censor everybody that does use such "offensive" language?

I'm not interested in censoring you or anyone else for that matter and I'm sorry you feel censored. Censorship implies the suppression of language, specifically your language, by someone in a position of power...that clearly isn't the case here.

I'm interested in participating in conversations with people who behave sensitively and compassionately of their own volition. When someone has indicated a particular sensitivity to language, my hope is that the sensitivity is respected as one person's truth, and that their truth is upheld and honored...That's all really.

Originally Posted by paposeco

Tell me, did you also contact others (in private too) that responded to the thread and got on their case about these 'offensive' words?

You asked...

Originally Posted by paposeco

This is a democracy, if there are folks here that were offended by me and my opinion, please let me know.

...So I did.

In addition, I responded to you specifically because you indicated in this thread and in another thread that FA was the only person who took exception to your language. That clearly isn't the case, so I let you know privately that I also took exception to and currently take exception to, your continual use of the same language. I am happy to take this conversation back to private or to another thread entirely.

We may not intend to offend, but words can be like bullets and our keyboards like guns...if someone gets hurt, doesn't it make sense to put the safety on?

I think we need to be sensitive when using language that historically, has been derogatory. I think we should be especially sensitive when it feels like our insensitivity is targeting people who are already marginalized, like people with psychiatric disabilities.

Originally Posted by paposeco

you may use words to express yourself that I may find offensive

I may, and if I do, I hope you let me know that you found my language offensive, so that I can minimize the damage I do with my words.