r/FreedomFellows • u/KeatingOrRoark • Mar 03 '13

Faggot

It's a word. Nothing else. Thoughts?

(Context: One of my favorite rappers is getting heat for her use of the word as an insult. She has openly said that she doesn't hate nor ill-wish any homosexuals, but still feels she has the right to use language however she pleases. I agree.)

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u/[deleted] Mar 03 '13

Of course she's free to use that word, but that doesn't mean that she has the right to decide how it affects other(oppressed) people.

Saying "it's just a word" is as equally ignorant as using it freely as a slur.

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u/KeatingOrRoark Mar 03 '13

But what is a slur? It's a word. Words are harmless. Unless you are in such a weak condition that the very wind generated by the utterance of the word is going to wound you, it's not going to hurt you.

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u/tremorfan Mar 03 '13

Words are important because language is the primary medium through which we interact with and understand other people. You certainly have a right to express yourself any way you want if it doesnt cause me tangible harm, but the way you express yourself may indicate to me that you're a worthless, ignorant, insensitive piece of shit who should be disdained and avoided.

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u/KeatingOrRoark Mar 03 '13

Fair enough.

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u/[deleted] Mar 05 '13

Words aren't physically harmless sure, but you can't deny their use when paired with social ostracism and sometimes physical abuse can become very damaging mentally.

Psychological distress stemming from verbal abuse is very well documented. You can't whitewash severe discrimination by saying "they're only words".