A few comments on the replies of [MENTION=9811]Coriolis[/MENTION] to [MENTION=20035]anticlimatic[/MENTION]...
There is a big difference between using gender-neutral words and avoiding terms like kike or nigger.
Indeed - there is a HUGE difference.
Words like "kike" or "nigger" are derogatory. Their use is not based on a desire to communicate in a civilized manner.
Words like "server" and "officer" factually correct, and thus in my opinion - not subject to being written off as "needlessly politically correct language."
Use of terms like "sexual assault" instead of "rape" is of unclear benefit to me. When you hear the word "rape" - it's pretty clear what that means; but when you hear "sexual assault" it is much more vague - it broadens the scope of what could have happened, and thus downplays the severity of the charge at hand.
Gender-neutral words simplify being factually correct, since servers, police officers, and hosts of other roles that used to be men-only are now filled by both men and women.
Agreed 100%. Nicely stated.
I can think of no situations in which accuracy is compromised by calling someone a Kike rather than a Jew, unless one is directly quoting a bigot.
It's all a matter of intent, isn't it?
Does the person uttering such words intend to insult and defame? Usually so, right?
However, there are uses of other words that may or may not be construed as rude, depending on the delivery (and the reputation) of the speaker, as well as the company they are in when speaking as such.
For instance, I know I would not be offended if a friend of mine who is Jewish referred to me as Catholic, and vice versa - I know my friends and my friends know me.
Also, if a friend of mine who is black referred to me as white - I honestly wouldn't care, and vice versa - again, there is a mutual understanding and respect between us all.
But if someone were to go off ranting about all the things they hated about Catholics, or Jews, or white people, or black people - then things go down an entirely different path.
I offer the above simply as a "grey area" between two extremes for the sake of identifying one...
You are right that Te does not care about intent, and looks mainly at the factual content of the word. This is why it has no patience with political correctness, just factual accuracy.
That's interesting. I'm a Ti user and am hell bent on sticking to factual accuracy, and have no patience for political correctness.
I know there's more at play than just Te/Ti alone, just thinking out loud really...
I don't remember explaining a distinction between insults and political correctness. If anything, I think political correctness can easily run amok into people seeing insults behind every bush; meaning they readily assign ill intent to people who are simply ignorant of the current preferences for terminology. Otherwise, they would simply explain their preference, like [MENTION=14015]Urarienev[/MENTION]'s friend did.
THIS.

umpyouup:
Words themselves cannot give offense. The offense comes from the negative thoughts and experiences people come to associate with them. Just look at the many ways we have referred to people of African descent over the last century. We still have the NAACP and United Negro College Fund, established at a time when Colored and Negro were considered acceptable, two terms no longer in favor.
An interesting example of how organizations can exist far longer than the norms of the times they were established in.
Companies, charities, churches, and organizations of all kinds can re-name themselves at any time.
I wonder if the leadership of the NAACP and the United Negro College Fund have considered this option?
Perhaps they don't feel those words to be an issue?
Stuff to ponder...
Insults are an interesting type of speech. People want in the abstract to define an insult by the intent behind it, but people who feel insulted will define an insult by how they perceive it.
WOW!!!
You can try to insult me but fail, either because I don't find the comment insulting, or I just cannot take it personally. Similarly, lots of people feel insulted by comments that are very well and kindly meant. This is why I prefer to focus on the actual content of the statement.
Exactly.
If I think someone said somebody said something that was rude/insulting to me - I give them the benefit of the doubt and ask them to re-state what they just said because I did not understand it.
What they say after that is a great indication of their true thoughts/beliefs, and most importantly the intent of what they were saying to you - and that gives you the clarity needed to reply appropriately.
If you make a point to do these things, the rest generally takes care of itself.
Absolutely.
It's always awesome reading your posts; thanks for sharing your insights.
-Halla74