Originally posted by: Landstandr
Originally posted by: montanafan
I can't believe that there are people in this thread telling others what they can and cannot be offended by. They defend their right to view the phrase how they wish while in the same breath denying others their right to view it as they see it. Could this hypocrisy stem from the knowledge that they are not likely to be verbally attacked or beaten senseless by a group of Christians when they use the phrase around them? Something tells me that these same people would not be throwing the "N word" around in a room full of young black men. Why is that? Would you tell them they have no right to be offended by it?
Feel free to be offended by whatever the hell you'd like to be offended by. Don't feel free to force me to not offend you. Today, asking me not to offend you is all you can do - whereby in the past you would have been able to round everyone up who "blasphemed" and kill or torture them. Ahhh.. the good old days of Theocracy where Christians could (and Muslims still do) keep everyone else down and not have to worry about being offended by what others do.
The difference in your example between blacks and Christians is that people willfully choose to be Christians, belong to churches, follow the Christian religion. If there is one thing in the world most appropriate for ridicule by others - it is the choices you make in life and the things you believe. These are all mental constructs of your own creation - and truly define who you "are". If you take offense to someone else challenging (offending) your beliefs, you probably aren't too sure in your own beliefs. People with well thought out beliefs don't get angry when someone else challenges those beliefs.
Your arguments make no sense if they are meant to address what I said.
Where did I say that I would try to force you not to offend me? I said that I would walk away. If you want to go back to the past, your example of rounding up those who believe differently than you applies to Christians who were thrown to the lions for not following the norm as well. And it does not apply to the reality of the example I gave of not being afraid of being attacked and beaten by Christians when you choose to so blatantly offend them. Mine is the more normal scenario which only emphasizes the fallacy of yours in today's world.
As to comparing the example of blacks and the N word, do they not willfully choose to be offended by that term? Is it not a mental construct of their own creation of who they are or are not? Is it not a choice they make and a thing they believe? Are their beliefs appropriate for ridicule? Your own arguments support my reasoning.
And where did I say that someone else using that phrase challenges my beliefs? How in the world is that even possible? It expresses their beliefs, but has absolutely no affect on mine. It's a phrase I don't like to hear because it brings up unpleasant thoughts of the consequences associated with its usage, but it doesn't challenge my beliefs in any way. How does that even apply?
As for your first sentence, thank you, I will feel free to be offended by whatever I choose, and if you feel free to offend me I guess "it is a choice you make and truly defines who you are".
In case you missed it, the point of my post was that I believe the definition of who you are for most people should be one who respects other people's right to believe as they choose and who takes others' feelings into consideration when they are in a public place. If that offends you, feel free to address it, but please stick to what I say and not what you want to read into it.
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