timberlandko wrote:I think I'd like to go on record here - just as timber. In my not so humble opinion, "towellhead" is an offensive, derisive, mean-spirited epithet. As typical of such idiotic, puerile slurs, it more demeans and embarrasses its wielder than its target, though again typically, the wielder most often is incapable of recognizing, let alone acknowledging, the consequent embarrassment, thus compounding it.
Apart from that, it is, as used on these boards, flame bait - pure and simple trolling. Rising to the bait is just as inappropriate as casting it, and, if anything, dumber. There is no profit to be had allowing a fool to trick you into behaving like a fool, as the fool will simply drag you to his level and beat you with experience. Its a game nobody can win, just playing it is to lose, but since nobody needs to play that game, its a game nobody but a fool needs to lose.
I had started three or four responses to you, Intrepid, and each time I'd see a new post, which would change the content of what I was writing.
Timber's post is bizarre, but it is indicative of the misperceptions that run rampant re my "argument" about "terms." It is a speech issue to me. It wasn't when I first used it. It was an angry epithet, directed towards terrorists. Not Muslims, not Arabs, but terrorists and the mobs of people, who support them. I feel perfectly justified in expressing fury at them, as they aren't a religion or an ethnicity, but a specific mob of people, who I WANTED to insult. When the term was called racist, I thought the fact that I wasn't even thinking about race or religion, important enough to challenge it and explore the dovetailing speech issue. Both of these topics have been of great interest for a long time.
There are other terms that are offensive, but not considered big racial slurs. Towelhead seems to be an attack on the fact that someone chooses to wear a big, towel-like thing on their head--a throw off on attire. It's not a
religious attack, it's not a
racial attack. So, what is the basis for the "attack?" Isn't it a
personal attack, like so many others? That has been my question....the disparity of all these terms, and the "actual" insult of the term towelhead.
I don't like to relinquish control over my meaning.
Anyway, before most of these last five or six posts showed up, I'd PMed someone, who said I should just post the PM and leave it. So, I shall, and I thank him for kindness.
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It appears as though I'm not going to be changing the world. Regardless of what it may seem, I am not crusading for the right to use epithets with impunity. I don't use them IRL, and I've used one here --as directed to terrorists-- once, that I know of.
The issue that interests me is the wide array of terms that are supposed to be derogatory--and why some are reviled and others are not. It seems to be in direct agreement with "society's" view of which group merits special consideration. It is so arbitrary and Big Brotherish, to me.
Anyway, I didn't want you to think I go about using those words. I just feel strongly that censoring speech does minorities and others, affected by racism, more harm than good.
It appears I am alone in this opinion. I am tired of fighting about it, and being misunderstood, so I plan to discontinue this line of discussion. I'll be self-censoring about something I consider important, and I already feel like I've lost something, but I am tired.
<smiles>
One woman protest rests,
~L
<not assy :wink: >
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Intrepid,
If I haven't answered you adequately, feel free to PM.
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