Originally Posted by sara66
Spoken like someone with privilege. You have never been in a situation where words can and do hurt. People who think that PC isn't needed and should grow a thicker skin need to walk a mile in the shoes of those who ask NOT to be called something. Go back to being civil...um hmm Yeah, you mean where we called people disparaging things "out of love and respect". If that were true we wouldn't be having this conversation. Most of us grew up in a time where we didn't really CARE about other's feelings. Just a couple of days ago I was in a gift shop and they had a bow and arrow set, complete with a depiction of a Native American. Now honestly, I played cowboys and Indians growing up. It seemed harmless. Right? Until I met some Native Americans who pointed out the derogatory stereotypic things that it entailed. I could even expand that game to playing "Army" and the use of terms for what we have considered enemies before. I'm German ancestry, I dare you to call me some of the words that were used.
People just don't get it unless they have had it done to them. The word "girl" infers not adult, immature, not intelligent (wise). It is diminutive, it allows the speaker to talk down to someone. "Quit being such a girl...grow up" Now if you have this fetish to be a little girl, fine. Just don't force it on me or people around me. In the last 50 years we have worked to get everyone on an equal playing field. When someone feels inadequate themselves, they like to bring others to levels below them. So it says a lot to me when someone uses that kind of language. You may think you are being funny, or part of the crowd, but you are just even subconsciously inflating yourself, attempting to be in some sort of control.
But, I can't change people's minds on that in this type of forum. There will always be those who think it's cool or that it makes you part of the group because you OWN the insult. It also opens the door for others to see you as below them. So in a way you are perpetuating stereotypes for yourself.
(addendum seems the transsexuals, who have to live with being called names in real life and the females here who have lived with this for their whole lives get it more than the maleswho seem to take offense to being called out on it)
