The Official June 2015 Study Group Forum

justabitunusual · Post by **justabitunusual** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 5:42 pm

pushsum123 wrote:
Words take on new meanings over time. In the case of this word, the extremely offensive usage has become the most widely used, and as such most members of polite society would avoid using it so as to avoid any confusion. I am aware of the origin of that word. It's the same word that gives languages like German and Italian the word for bassoon, but in English that word took on an ugly meaning. It is offensive in any context. You would likely not use it in your law school PS for fear of offending a reader or showing poor judgment, and you know that.

thank you for schooling me in what is considered extremely offensive in polite company...so glad you're here to point that out...and you're right i wouldn't use it a ps....but mostly bc i would never have cause to talk ab a bundle of sticks in my ps. I don't use this word in general, but do see people even in the gay community saying it in jest......so if you say it's extremely offensive to you...fine, understood, but in any context is a bit of a stretch.

McJimJam · Post by **McJimJam** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 5:44 pm

Post removed.

JackelJ · Post by **JackelJ** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 5:47 pm

Just because one meaning is the most widely used doesn't mean its the only meaning used. You need to brush up on your identifying flaw skills.

justabitunusual · Post by **justabitunusual** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 5:48 pm

yeah ^^ and people really need to lighten up ITT... it was a joke...how many distasteful jokes are tolerated before someone pulls the "hurt feelings" card?

Shakawkaw · Post by **Shakawkaw** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 5:51 pm

Snore.

pushsum123 · Post by **pushsum123** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 5:51 pm

pushsum123 · Post by **pushsum123** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 5:55 pm

McJimJam wrote:There's an LR/RC lesson here somewhere.

There's also just a lesson about what it means to be a good person somewhere here, and I think it includes avoiding such offensive words whenever possible. And that is definitely possible here because we have other ways to talk about sticks, ones that do not carry with them such hateful connotations.

JackelJ · Post by **JackelJ** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 5:55 pm

dude, no one is saying it isn't offensive to use

Smallville · Post by **Smallville** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 5:57 pm

pushsum123 wrote:
justabitunusual wrote:
pushsum123 wrote:
Words take on new meanings over time. In the case of this word, the extremely offensive usage has become the most widely used, and as such most members of polite society would avoid using it so as to avoid any confusion. I am aware of the origin of that word. It's the same word that gives languages like German and Italian the word for bassoon, but in English that word took on an ugly meaning. It is offensive in any context. You would likely not use it in your law school PS for fear of offending a reader or showing poor judgment, and you know that.
thank you for schooling me in what is considered extremely offensive in polite company...so glad you're here to point that out...and you're right i wouldn't use it a ps....but mostly bc i would never have cause to talk ab a bundle of sticks in my ps. I don't use this word in general, but do see people even in the gay community saying it in jest......so if you say it's extremely offensive to you...fine, understood, but in any context is a bit of a stretch.
If you use that word in the English language, unless to talk about its history and connotations , you will cause offense. You may believe that if it is used to talk about bundles of sticks, people shouldn't be offended, but that does not mean that the word will not cause harm and offense. It is an ugly word, and it is avoided for a reason. I would have thought that we wouldn't need to have this discussion after the It Gets Better movement and, you know, gay kids killing themselves after being tormented by that word, but apparently I was wrong.

I think you're missing the point man. The word can and most often is offensive, no one is saying otherwise. its the ANY CONTEXT part she pointed out. Remember, all it takes is one instance so it is not offensive in ANY CONTEXT. Maybe if you throw in "to me" than we are all well and good and logical. I don't see why you're debating something that isn't really being argued against

McJimJam · Post by **McJimJam** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 5:57 pm

Post removed.

justabitunusual · Post by **justabitunusual** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 5:58 pm

wow, so we should just throw the first amendment out then? great call. I'm pretty sure gay kids didn't kill themselves by being tormented by that word alone...but if they did, that's unfortunate and very disheartening and sad.

But, I'm not just talking ab the correct usage of the original word either, i'm talking ab ppl using it incorrectly in relation to being gay anyway when I said that i have friends in the gay community calling other ppl that as a joke. Many people who have a good sense of humor/ have good self esteem are not offended by much... but if we are going to censor jokes, maybe we should censor all of the sex related jokes in general... including limp P**** for fear that it would be offensive in many contexts.

eta: scooped by smalls

ccordero · Post by **ccordero** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 5:59 pm

pushsum123 wrote:
justabitunusual wrote:
pushsum123 wrote:
Words take on new meanings over time. In the case of this word, the extremely offensive usage has become the most widely used, and as such most members of polite society would avoid using it so as to avoid any confusion. I am aware of the origin of that word. It's the same word that gives languages like German and Italian the word for bassoon, but in English that word took on an ugly meaning. It is offensive in any context. You would likely not use it in your law school PS for fear of offending a reader or showing poor judgment, and you know that.
thank you for schooling me in what is considered extremely offensive in polite company...so glad you're here to point that out...and you're right i wouldn't use it a ps....but mostly bc i would never have cause to talk ab a bundle of sticks in my ps. I don't use this word in general, but do see people even in the gay community saying it in jest......so if you say it's extremely offensive to you...fine, understood, but in any context is a bit of a stretch.
If you use that word in the English language, unless to talk about its history and connotations , you will cause offense. You may believe that if it is used to talk about bundles of sticks, people shouldn't be offended, but that does not mean that the word will not cause harm and offense. It is an ugly word, and it is avoided for a reason. I would have thought that we wouldn't need to have this discussion after the It Gets Better movement and, you know, gay kids killing themselves after being tormented by that word, but apparently I was wrong.

I think you're taking this a little too seriously. Everyone knows it's offensive, but it's being used in jest. People call each other names all the time out of jest and it's not necessary to get emotionally hurt every time it happens.

nlee10 · Post by **nlee10** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 5:59 pm

McJimJam wrote:There's an LR/RC lesson here somewhere.

Dr. Nefario · Post by **Dr. Nefario** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 6:01 pm

Shakawkaw wrote:Snore.

Does GT find your snores attractive?

Rigo · Post by **Rigo** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 6:02 pm

justabitunusual wrote:
pushsum123 wrote:
Words take on new meanings over time. In the case of this word, the extremely offensive usage has become the most widely used, and as such most members of polite society would avoid using it so as to avoid any confusion. I am aware of the origin of that word. It's the same word that gives languages like German and Italian the word for bassoon, but in English that word took on an ugly meaning. It is offensive in any context. You would likely not use it in your law school PS for fear of offending a reader or showing poor judgment, and you know that.
thank you for schooling me in what is considered extremely offensive in polite company...so glad you're here to point that out...and you're right i wouldn't use it a ps....but mostly bc i would never have cause to talk ab a bundle of sticks in my ps. I don't use this word in general, but do see people even in the gay community saying it in jest......so if you say it's extremely offensive to you...fine, understood, but in any context is a bit of a stretch.

Yeah you probably shouldn't tell people of a certain group how they should feel about derogatory terms.

IsThisForReal · Post by **IsThisForReal** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 6:02 pm

pushsum123 · Post by **pushsum123** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 6:02 pm

I didn't say you don't have the right to say it; I said it's a pretty terrible thing to say, especially when used as a pejorative like it was in the cartoon. You have the right to say whatever hurtful and offensive things you want.

Dr. Nefario · Post by **Dr. Nefario** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 6:04 pm

Rigo · Post by **Rigo** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 6:04 pm

Whatever. Not a conversation worth having but the whole "BLACK PEOPLE SAY THE N WORD ALL THE TIME SO I CAN TOO" argument doesn't fly and this is no different.

At the very least err on the side of caution.

TheWalkingDebt · Post by **TheWalkingDebt** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 6:05 pm

162 on timed and 165 on BR (I won't lie, I really rushed the BR). Same raw score as prior test (June 2007). General notes: I did not finish LG section and got -7 on the timed take, (got caught on game 3 for too long and made one stupid mistake on two other games). I think this is the biggest place to take away a positive, because I am typically getting -1 or -0 per game. Shaved 2-3 incorrect answers off both LRs from my previous take. Also shaved 2 incorrect off my previous RC despite it being classified as a harder RC section than the one before.

Still generally bummed. Really hoping to see high 160s or low 170s soon.

ccordero · Post by **ccordero** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 6:07 pm

Why can't people make jokes without someone getting emotionally hurt about it? No one is directing it pejoratively at any particular person. It's a joke.

Some comedians use the word in their jokes all the time, but it's not meant to actually hurt anyone, and I'm sure no one was targeting anyone here.

justabitunusual · Post by **justabitunusual** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 6:08 pm

pushsum123 wrote:I didn't say you don't have the right to say it; I said it's a pretty terrible thing to say, especially when used as a pejorative like it was in the cartoon. You have the right to say whatever hurtful and offensive things you want.

Oh EM GEE...it wasn't meant in that way...and i think most people in this context can see that and beyond TLS land realize that the usage of the word can cause hurt, but here in TLS land, ppl say off the cuff things that can generally be interpreted as offensive by some group at some point but we don't call everyone out on it all the time or that would be half the thread (Raider...here's a novel way to up post count tho)

Rigo · Post by **Rigo** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 6:09 pm

ccordero wrote:Why can't people make jokes without someone getting emotionally hurt about it? No one is directing it pejoratively at any particular person. It's a joke.

Some comedians use the word in their jokes all the time, but it's not meant to actually hurt anyone, and I'm sure no one was targeting anyone here.

Just a little life lesson for the moron masses.
But thanks for your input, random asshat.

Smallville · Post by **Smallville** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 6:09 pm

ccordero wrote:Why can't people make jokes without someone getting emotionally hurt about it? No one is directing it pejoratively at any particular person. It's a joke.

Some comedians use the word in their jokes all the time, but it's not meant to actually hurt anyone, and I'm sure no one was targeting anyone here.

not really sure what you're doing here but its nothing that will make you friends easily... you're arguing for something no one else is.... nor are they good points in general

scooped... wish I had your way with words Rigo

Rigo · Post by **Rigo** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 6:10 pm

justabitunusual wrote:
pushsum123 wrote:I didn't say you don't have the right to say it; I said it's a pretty terrible thing to say, especially when used as a pejorative like it was in the cartoon. You have the right to say whatever hurtful and offensive things you want.
Oh EM GEE...it wasn't meant in that way...and i think most people in this context can see that and beyond TLS land realize that the usage of the word can cause hurt, but here in TLS land, ppl say off the cuff things that can generally be interpreted as offensive by some group at some point but we don't call everyone out on it all the time or that would be half the thread (Raider...here's a novel way to up post count tho)

I think there's a difference between witty banter and racism & homophobia.

My panties aren't all in a knot over it but it's definitely wrong to say.