http://dsilvers.wordpress.com/2009/04/30/you-really-need-to-shut-up/ Somewhere in between the white and the black... Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:21:27 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 http://dsilvers.wordpress.com/2009/04/30/you-really-need-to-shut-up/#comment-86 incobalt Sat, 02 May 2009 02:05:04 +0000 http://dsilvers.wordpress.com/?p=277#comment-86 A person can't ask the government to stop their neighbor from using the word "gay" as a derogatory adjective any more than they can sue their government for allowing it to happen. If you never want to be subjected to name-calling of the third-grade kind, then don't play in the third grade. I'm not excusing the behavior, I'm saying blame the instigator, not the medium. People will say what they say. Appropriate reaction is required: either let go of labels, or kindly ask the instigator to quit with the reference. You can't make anyone (not) say anything. A person can’t ask the government to stop their neighbor from using the word “gay” as a derogatory adjective any more than they can sue their government for allowing it to happen. If you never want to be subjected to name-calling of the third-grade kind, then don’t play in the third grade. I’m not excusing the behavior, I’m saying blame the instigator, not the medium. People will say what they say. Appropriate reaction is required: either let go of labels, or kindly ask the instigator to quit with the reference. You can’t make anyone (not) say anything.

]]>