(11-06-2015, 03:58 AM)V Wrote: This is the crux of my argument: laissez faire word choice is not practical. Effective communication demands not only knowing what words mean, but knowing how they will be heard.
This was never part of the argument, and is therefore irrelevant.
The ideas presented in this vein so far are twofold:
1.) One group of people does not mind a word. Another group does. The group that does mind the word is saying that it should never be said to anyone, ever. Is this an invalidation of the other group's viewpoint?
2.) Someone says a word without knowing its connotation, or intending to use it in a different light, despite knowing that it may cause offense to certain people. Is this person therefore a bigot, regardless of their intent or actual understanding of the word?
No one is using either of these points to argue that you can say whatever you want, whenever you want.