Originally posted by poedxsoldiervet
So what you are saying in a long winded speech there is that if you use a derogatory term, the police should get involved? Do you really want that type of retardation in this country? We have enough retards running it._)

I apologize for using more than three sentences which apparently exceeds the attention span or comprehension limit of some. Nice way to be derisively derogatory there!

We already have such Criminal Laws in all States of the Union. It is called Harassment. Any words or actions that can be construed as patently offensive by the victim can be considered a Misdemeanor.

However, that was *NOT* what I was suggesting in the least. As there is no need to change the various State Harassment laws as they already sufficiently address such an issue.

In the context of the OP of this thread, it was noting the disparity in specific examples of how one derogatory slur in sports is accepted, while the next is given a mild punishment, yet the next is given a severe punishment, when in fact all should be treated with the same stern severity, equally and without bias.

Ideally, derogatory slurs should be condemned equally across society. Let social stigma dictate such, just as it has for Racial slurs for the past decade or two. The threat of ostracization, public denouncement and humiliation has been enough to ensure proper behavior modification from all but the most extreme of racists. No judicial intervention has been needed.

However, this shouldn't be limited to just Racial slurs, as what is the difference between saying hurtful words based upon the color of one's skin compared to saying hurtful words based upon one's sexual preference? They are equally as harming, equally as insidious, and equally as offensive. They should be treated equally when authoritative agencies look to take punitive action. The NFL is not the Police...but they are authoritative for all the players on any NFL team. Within their jurisdiction, they should do as they see fit, so long as it is not disparate from the punitive measures they take against other players. If they decide X against a Player for making racist comments, then they should decide X against another Player for making sexist comments, just as they should decide X against a third Player for making homophobic comments. The punitive measures they choose to take should be equal and without bias across the board...That's a big difference than saying the NFL should always call the Police.

And, might it also be said that your use of the "R" word is patently offensive to those with physical, mental, or learning disabilities. You have successfully used a derogatory slur that subtly promulgates and condones further discrimination against those with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, and a myriad of other disabilities. The use of such a slur not only hurts those it slanders, but it displays one's lack of compassion, consideration, and overall lack of maturity.

Is it really too much to ask that people learn to think before they open their mouth (or use their fingers)?

Asking people to grow a thicker skin never excuses one's own lack of consideration and fore-thought into their choice of words. At some point a person has to grow up and take accountability for the words they recklessly and carelessly use, rather than expecting everyone else to just shrug them off.

Most of us on ATS believe it is wrong for Advertisers or Government to use Subliminal Messaging. Yet, how are slurs any different?

Most of us on ATS believe that it is wrong for Law Enforcement and Government Agencies to do Profiling. Yet how are slurs any different?

Yet somehow it is socially "acceptable" to do these things and shrug it off as harmless when anyone else does it? It is somehow justifiable as blowing off the responsibility unto the victim that is offended rather than taking personal accountability for one's own inconsideration?

There does indeed seem to be a lot of hypocrisy.

Originally posted by fraterormus
Yet, how are slurs any different?

Because the person spewing the slur defends the spreading of this hatred as some god given right through freedom of speech and conveniently denies the self-serving component that is associated with this sort of behavior. It forever goes unacknowledged that these slurs usually make the individual feel better about themselves in some twisted manner.

Stems from insecurities, in my opinion.

I dont know about Austrailia, but here in America we have a first amendment in the bill of rights. That first amendment says we can say whatever the hell we want. Racial slurs hurt feelings, but oh well.

I enjoy the use of derogatory slurs and racist jokes. To me, it's acceptable as long as the other party can find humour in it. If they're used with hate towards another person, then that's when there is no humour and there is ignorance and intolerance that I'd in no way condone.

Sure, calling someone or something "gay" is pretty juvenile but I do so often. I mean, I might have a rather childish sense of humour but if political jokes are seen as the most witty sense of humour call me a preadolescent schoolboy with a potty mouth.

[edit on 2-11-2009 by Whine Flu]

Personally, I don't have any problem with someone who's a bigot on his own time. Well, OK, I *do* have a problem with it, but I feel it's his right. Someone talking among friends, or at a private party, should be free to be as stupid as he wants.

On Twitter, things are a bit different. If this was an account with lots of followers, then this guy deserved a suspension for being offensive. He had to know that his comments would be widly publicized, and that some of the people who saw it would be offended. Now he's being public, and he has to behave himself. Or get spanked.

There's always going to be some knucklehead out there who has a problem with some group or another. There is really no way to stop it. Certainly laws don't stop it. They just make it less obvious, drive it underground. I think that's a start, but it's not enough. We won't be past this until people in general learn to respect others, period. It's coming. We're way better than we were 50 or even 20 years ago. But we still have a long way to go.

Want to get rid of derogatory slurs?

Then tell people to stop being offended over them.

When people stop being offended over these words then the power they wield is gone.

50% of the blame goes to those who use those words

50% of the blame goes to those who let those words offend them.

The topic of this thread keeps getting missed. I'm not asking if it is right or wrong. Personally, I've reached the point where I don't care if you think it is right or wrong. What I am asking is whether or not it is right that society views some as worse than others?

To the people speaking against what I am saying here, answer the following questions.

1. Would you comfortably use the "N" word in a public place surrounded by strangers?

2. Would you comfortably use homophobic slurs in a public place surrounded by strangers?

Answer honestly, if you will.

The simple fact is that there are a lot of people that are comfortable using some slurs in society, and not others. So whether the use of the slur is right or wrong, whether it's about people just being too sensitive. None of that is what we're talking about here. The issue is the lack of parity.